Garrett Zacharias Takes NY Super Stocks Feature Win At Chemung Speedrome; Mod Hat Trick To Tony Hanbury

Story By: CAROL HOUSSOCK / CHEMUNG SPEEDROME – CHEMUNG, NY – The Chemung Speedrome welcomed Empower Federal Credit Union as the night’s sponsor for the first time.

Employees watched a 5-division program won by Tony Hanbury (Sunoco Modifieds), Garrett Zacharias (Super Stocks), Greg Moldt (4 Cylinders), Josh Parker (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks) and Derrick Vogler (INEX Bandoleros).

The New York Super Stocks made their first of two stops this year at Chemung, where home track advantage played out, big-time. It was also a night when all five feature winners had also won their qualifying races earlier in the evening.

Tony Hanbury waited almost three years for a Chemung win and now has three in a row in the Sunoco Modified division. “This is the first time I’ve ever won three in a row,” he said from the Midstate Basement Authorities Victory Lane. He and Charlie Sharpsteen won the two heat races that helped set the field for their 40-lap feature. Sharpsteen led early but Hanbury passed him and took over on lap five, leaving Sharpsteen and TJ Potrzebowski in a battle with Teddy Bowen. Once Potrzebowski had second, he and Hanbury broke away from a new battle for third involving Sharpsteen and a hard-charging Zack Curren. At the halfway point Bowen spun and set up a great restart, with Tony and TJ running side-by-side for a few laps. The second, and final, caution came out with 14 laps remaining. Again, Hanbury was up to the challenge, and he held on over those remaining laps for his third win in a row. Potrzebowski finished second, followed by Curren, Keith Youngs and Lee Sharpsteen. “I felt the 72 a couple times and the car freed up a little tonight,” Hanbury said before thanking his sponsors, crew, family, and the fans. Empower Federal Credit Union is a sponsor on the colorful #72 driven by Potrzebowski.

Sometimes there really is such a thing as home track advantage. That turned out to be the case when the New York Super Stock (NYSS) series rolled into Chemung. Track regulars Garrett Zacharias, Frank Chapman, Nick Robinson and Charlie Sharpsteen won the heat races, where the top two from each drew for the top eight starting spots. Amber VanOrden and Zacharias drew the top two numbers and started the 50-lap race from the front row. Zacharias led from the get-go and survived five restarts for cautions. Chapman ran third and then second for the whole race, while Robinson worked the traffic to stay with the leaders. Dylan Bancroft was solid on this night and worked the traffic to perfection and he was up to fourth. Robinson ran with him and was able to make the pass for third. A late caution set up a green/white/checkered finish. Over those two laps Robinson took third, but no one was able to pass Zacharias. He held on for his first-ever NYSS win. “50 laps. That’s a lot of laps for me. I’m a little guy,” he said after climbing from his stout #71z. Runner-up Frank Chapman, one of Chemung’s veteran racers, had a different take on things after his solid run. “Let’s go another 50.” Robinson was third, establishing a Chemung sweep of the top three positions.

“That was exciting, for me at least,” Greg Moldt said from victory lane following his sweep of 4 Cylinder action. He and teammate Zack Jaynes won the heat races, and the field was set for the 20-lap feature event. The first of two cautions came out with just one lap recorded when a three-wide deal went sour, and Monica Robinson spun. Joey Bevacqua led lap two, but Moldt took over a lap later, leaving Bevacqua in a tight battle with Jaynes for second. While they rode side-by-side, Moldt pulled away and had a nice lead when Ricky Lane slowed and brought out the caution with seven to go. Moldt held off Jaynes on the restart and went on to score the win. Jaynes, Bevacqua, Robinson and Dustin Pruyne finished in the top five.

Josh Parker got back to his winning ways in the Marion Decker Hobby Stock division, winning both his heat race and 20-lap feature. Parker led every lap and only had to sweat one restart when Tyler Harbst turned Genevieve Yamelski in turn four. Randy Mathews, making his first start, was impressive. He and Dave Decker stayed with Parker over the final 13 laps, but Parker had his line well covered and he went on to win his fourth feature this year. Mathews finished second, with Decker, Harbst and Luke Nickles all in the top five.

Derrick Vogler is on a mission as evidenced by his performance in the INEX Bandolero division. It looked like an almost certain win got away just short of the finish. He regrouped, however, under caution then found victory after the green/white/checkered finish. The race got off to a sloppy start when all but Vogler and Kalysta DeMark spun. When the race resumed Vogler and Justin Teresak pulled away. Teresak got in to Vogler in turn four on the last lap, putting the race under caution. A subsequent caution moved Vogler closer to the front, and over the final three laps he reclaimed the lead and got the win over Michael Sinagra, Teresak, Michael Bast (Bandit winner) and Cullen Sharpsteen.

This Friday night Chemung closes out the month of June remembering the late Ed Bidlack in the Insinger Performance Super Stock division. The 42-lap race represents the second of four races in the Valley Collision & Auto Body Super Stock Challenge. The night also includes the Sunoco Modifieds (40 laps), 4 Cylinders (20 laps), the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 laps) and the INEX Bandoleros (10 laps). Pit gates open at 4 PM, grandstand gate at 5, practice at 6 and racing at 7. Admission is $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under.

For information, log on to the track’s website: chemung-speedrome.com, ‘like’ us on Facebook: Chemung Speedrome – Racing at the Drome, or call Ray Hodge, Promoter, at 607-483-3468.

Of Note:
The 50/50 winner from Nichols, NY left with $603 in winnings.

The Bandolero feature was halted for about ten minutes due to a very light rain when much of the area had what would have been race-ending showers.

Empower Federal Credit Union Night Results:

Sunoco Modifieds (40 Laps): TONY HANBURY, TJ Potrzebowski, Zack Curren, Keith Youngs, Lee Sharpsteen, Teddy Bowen, Pat Judson, Charlie Sharpsteen, Kyle Youngs, Bryan Sherwood
Heats: C. Sharpsteen, Hanbury

Sunoco New York Super Stocks (50 Laps): GARRETT ZACHARIAS, Frank Chapman, Nick Robinson, Dylan Bancroft, Jimmy Steffenhagen, Nate Peckham, Evan Rygielski, Jason Duke, Sr., Jason Duke, Jr., Brian Hallett, Amber VanOrden, Jason Dinzler, Paul Godby, Andy Cocilova, Frank Petroski, Jim Yamelski, Cole Hicks, Lee Sharpsteen, Jacob Gustafson, DJ Shaw, Mike Hyman, Bill Frisbie, Jr., Charlie Sharpsteen, Tim Faro, Kirk Willis (DNS), Gary Noe (DNS)
Heats: Zacharias, Chapman, Robinson, C. Sharpsteen

4 Cylinders (20 Laps): GREG MOLDT, Zack Jaynes, Joey Bevacqua, Monica Robinson, Dustin Pruyne, Jason Peck, Matt Jenkins, Ricky Lane, Mike Ferris
Heats: Jaynes, Moldt

Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): JOSH PARKER, Randy Mathews, Dave Decker, Tyler Harbst, Luke Nickles, Genevieve Yamelski, Cliff Miller
Heat: Parker

INEX Bandoleros (10 Laps): DERRICK VOGLER, Michael Sinagra, Justin Teresak, Michael Bast (Bandit winner), Cullen Sharpsteen, Kalysta DeMark, Joey Allowatt, Chase Sinsabaugh
Heats: Vogler, Teresak