Chemung Loses Season Opener, ROC Show Postponed By Carol Houssock

(Chemung, NY) Race teams, fans, and track employees were ready to roll on Saturday, May 7th for the 2022 season opener at Chemung Speedrome. Uninvited guest, Mother Nature, spoiled the party, saturated the grounds, and promised more of the same on Saturday. Track officials had no choice but to cancel the event on Friday afternoon.

We're talking with Joe Skotnicki from the ROC to come up with a date that will work and not conflict with the race teams, many of whom race at other tracks or another series, Promoter Ray Hodge stated. We hate to lose an event, but we want our teams to be able to compete and put on a great show for our fans here at the "Drome." That new date will be released once it has been determined.

The opener will now take place on Friday, May 13th on Northeast ATV Night. The track's five regular divisions will now all kick off their season on the same night. The program this Friday now includes the Sunoco Modifieds (35 laps), Insinger Performance Super Stocks (25 laps), Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (20 laps), Four Cylinders (20 laps) and Bandoleros (10 laps).

"Based on two weeks of open practice and private testing, all five championships will be hotly contested this year," Hodge added. Many veteran drivers are returning to mix it up with some rookies. Tony Hanbury (Modifieds), Garrett Zacharias (Super Stocks), Josh Parker (Hobby Stocks) and Greg Moldt (Four Cylinders) and Chase Sinsabaugh (Bandoleros) will return in defense of their 2021 titles, leaving one of the two titles open for a new face this year. Derrick Vogler has moved up to a Super Stock and plans to run closer to home.

Pit gates open this Friday at 4:30 and grandstand opens up at 5:00. Practice gets underway at 6 PM, with the first competitive heat race taking the green at 7 PM. Anyone wanting more information can find it on the track's Facebook page (Chemung Speedrome - Racing at the Drome) or website (chemung-speedrome.com). Or, call the track at 607-483-3468.