Kent Wins in Chemung Mods n That's Jesse Kent By Carol Houssock

Conditions were perfect for Friday night racing at Chemung Speedrome. Northeast ATV sponsored the program, which found a new winner in the headline division. Jesse Kent from Horseheads, NY dominated the Buckley's Automotive Modifieds for a career-first win. Others parked in the Ferrario Auto Team of Sayre victory lane included Mike Nichols (Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks), Anthony Gullo (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), Joey Bevacqua (Four Cylinders), and Joey Allowatt (Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros).

Jesse Kent has been close all season. Everyone knew it was just a matter of time before he'd park his #26 in victory lane. The time was Friday night, and he did it by sweeping the action in the Buckley's Automotive Modified division. Kent started on the outside of the front row but beat Jody Buckley to the front on the opening lap. Nick Morich and point leader Lee Sharpsteen had a great battle going for third. Morich was there, and Sharpsteen was third by lap eight. The pair stayed together while Kent checked out and built up a sizeable lead over Buckley. Morich dove to the inside of Sharpsteen as they entered turn one. He didn't back off and clipped the pit wall, which ended his great run at lap 17. Kent was up to Buckley's challenge on the restart and, over the remaining 13 laps, recorded the fastest times of anyone all night. Sharpsteen caught and then got around Buckley to take over second. As the checkered flag waved it was first seen by Kent, who earned his career-first victory at Chemung in the headline division. "The car was so fast. My grandfather (George Kent) and cousin work so hard on this, and no one can set up a modified like my grandfather," he said. Jesse Kent, a single dad, said he's saved money when and where he could to race. "I thank my sponsors, family, everyone whoís been behind me in this. It's so appreciated." Kent has parked in Chemung's victory lane before but never in a Modified, a goal he's had for several years. Sharpsteen was second, ahead of Buckley, Tyler Harbst, and Morich.

In the Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks, things got rolling when Frank Chapman, Jr. and Bradley Mister won the heat races. When his son's car broke and was unable to start the feature, Chapman, Jr. vacated his seat so that Frank III could stay in the points. Mister and Chad Lane brought the field to the green for the 25-lap feature. Lane got loose on the opening lap and both Jason Duke, Sr. and Terry Potrzebowski spun with nowhere to go. With Lane restarting at the rear, that brought Mike Nichols up to the front row and he led the way. Point leader Nick Robinson passed Mister and was up to second. A pair of later cautions bunched up the field and had Robinson restarting alongside Nichols. On both restarts it was Nichols who maintained his race lead. He went on to win, followed across the stripe by Robinson, Jason Duke, Jr., Charlie Sharpsteen and Duke, Sr. "This car is a rocket ship. I knew I had a fast car if it didn't blow up," Nichols told the crowd.

Anthony Gullo's new comfort zone is inside his stout hobby stock, which frequently parks in victory lane. Friday night he swept the action when he, Dave Decker, and Mike Nickels won the heats, and Anthony went on to win the 20-lap Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stock feature. Mike Lattimer and George Nichols, Jr. made up the front row, with Lattimer taking the early lead over Mike Bailey. Following a lap four restart, point leader Josh Parker took the top spot. Meanwhile, Gullo was on a tear and advanced from 11th to fifth in three laps. The final caution, with 12 laps remaining, found Parker and Tom Shaffer in the front row. As the laps clicked off, Gullo continued moving forward and was up to fourth, then third, and then second. Parker was still atop the leader board, but his advantage was shrinking. With two laps to go, Gullo made his race-winning pass. Lap traffic nearly changed the outcome, with Gullo doing a little bounce off the wall. He held on for the exciting win. Parker had to settle for second, followed at the finish by Shaffer, Gene Purvis, and Nickels.

Joey Bevacqua, the Four-cylinder point leader, padded that lead a bit by winning another 20-lap feature. Greg Moldt took the heat race and was a factor in the feature. Bevacqua started from the pole and showed Moldt and Matt Jenkins the way off turn two on the opening lap. As the race progressed, his lead increased but then decreased when Moldt turned it up a tick. Over the final five laps Moldt received a one-spot penalty for rough riding when he nearly turned the leader. The caution-free race ended with Bevacqua, Jenkins, Moldt, Jason Peck and Ricky Lane making up the top five.

Five young drivers competed in the Serendipity Ice Cream Bandolero division. The night belonged to Outlaw driver Joey Allowatt, who swept both the heat and their 10-lap feature. While he drove away, he left behind a good battle for second between newcomer Jordan Smith from Liberty, NY, and point leader Devin Gullo. Allowatt held on for the win, over Smith, Gullo, Madison White, and Allison Smith.

Buckley's Automotive is the nightly sponsor this Friday, July 28th, of a regular five-division program featuring the Buckley's Automotive Modifieds, Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks, Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks, 4 Cylinders and Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros. But that's not all, as mechanics will have a shot behind the wheel in Hobby Stock and 4 Cylinder races. Pits open at 4:00, grandstand at 5, practice starts at 6 and the first green flag flies at 7. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $5 for kids ages 5 to 12, and free for kids ages 5 and under. For information, log on to the track's website: chemung-speedrome.com, go to Facebook, go to Chemung Speedrome n Racing at the Drome on Facebook, or call Ray Hodge, Promoter, at 607-483-3468.

Of Note:

* A fan from Chemung won $341 in the 50/50 drawing. He's leaving for vacation, on his upcoming birthday, with some extra cash for the family.

* Joey Allowatt, driver of the #99 Bandolero, sang the national anthem then ran to his car for his heat race, which he won.

Northeast ATV Night Results:

Buckley's Automotive Modifieds (30 Laps): JESSE KENT, Lee Sharpsteen, Jody Buckley, Tyler Harbst, Nick Morich
Heat: Kent

Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks (25 Laps): MIKE NICHOLS, Nick Robinson, Jason Duke, Jr., Charlie Sharpsteen, Jason Duke, Sr., Bradley Mister, Frank Chapman III, Chad Lane, Kalysta DeMark, Abe Romanik, Terry Potrzebowski, Donnie Russell, DNS ñ Frank Chapman, Jr.
Heats: Frank Chapman, Jr., Mister

Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): ANTHONY GULLO, Josh Parker, Tom Shaffer, Gene Purvis, Mike Nickels, Dave Decker, Luke Nickels, Ethan Roberts, Brandon Ameigh, Mike Bailey, Chuck Nichols, Cullen Sharpsteen, George Nichols, Jr., Mike Lattimer, Ben Perry, Jimmy Hill, Ray Dann, Bruce Kinner
Heats: Decker, L. Nickels, Gullo

Four Cylinders (20 Laps): JOEY BEVACQUA, Matt Jennings, Greg Moldt, Jason Peck, Ricky Lane, Ron Manwaring
Heat: Moldt

Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros (10 Laps): JOEY ALLOWATT, Jordan Smith, Devin Gullo, Madison White, Allison Smith
Heat: Allowatt