Lots of racing action locally

Shangri-La II

The Spalding Foundation for Injured Drivers presented an action filled day of racing to a near capacity crowd on Saturday, Aug. 8 at Shangri-La II Motor Speedway. Winners included John Markovic (Mighty Modifieds), Scott Nurmi (ASA Late Models), Jimmy Zacharias (Sportsman Modifieds) and Dylan Terry (Street Stocks).

Danielle Buchek and Chris Zacharias brought the Mighty Modifieds to the green for their 40-lap feature. Chris. Zacharias and 3rd place starter Jim Storace wasted no time clearing Buchek heading into turn one. Storace went to the lead with C. Zacharias on his tail as John Markovic ran in the 3rd position in the opening laps. The first caution came out on lap three when veteran driver Ken Canestrari spun in turn four. When the field went back green, Markovic cleared C. Zacharias for the 2nd spot and looked to reel in race leader Storace as the top five ran bumper to bumper. Jimmy Zacharias moved into the top three on lap eight passing C. Zacharias and then worked on Markovic for 2nd as the two battled side by side down the back straight while Storace continued to lead. On lap 16, race leader Storace suffered mechanical problems heading into turn 1 and went pit side giving the lead to Markovic with Tony Hanbury now in the 2nd spot. The field continued to shuffle positions with Jimmy Zacharias passing Hanbury for 2nd. At the halfway point of the race, Markovic, J. Zacharias and Tony Hanbury was the top three and all battled nose to tail. Hanbury went to the inside of J. Zacharias on lap 22 to take over the 2nd position once again as Rick Zacharias also got around for 3rd. The caution flew on lap 34 as Danielle Buchek suffered mechanical problems heading into turn one and Canestrari spun to avoid. Buchek's mechanical problem forced officials to red flag the race as fluids went down the front straight. Following a 20 minute clean up process, Markovic took the field back green in a single file restart with just five laps remaining and would hold on to score his 2nd win of the 2009 racing season in the division. Hanbury crossed the line in 2nd, R. Zacharias finished 3rd, J. Zacharias finished 4th and C. Zacharias completed the top five. Jim Storace and John Markovic won the 10-lap heat races held for the division.

The ASA Late Models had its highest car count of the 2009 racing season as 10 signed into the pit area for competition. The streak of bad luck for Scott Nurmi finally came to an end when he won both Twin 20 races held for the division to secure the best average finishing position and his first win at the speedway. Travis Fisher, Jim Lamoreaux, Rick Smith and Paul Koehler rounded out the top five. Scott Nurmi and Ben Reynolds won the 10-lap qualifying heat races.

Paul Johnson and Lee Sharpsteen made up the front row for the 30-lap feature event for the Sportsman Modifieds. Johnson jumped out to the early lead and 3rd place starter Justin Petcosky followed and took over 2nd. On lap two, Petcosky took the lead coming off of turn two, Rick Zacharias moved into 2nd and Jimmy Zacharias took 3rd as the all cleared Johnson. R. Zacharias passed Petcosky for the lead on lap seven with J. Zacharias following close behind as Petcosky fell to 3rd. J. Zacharias fought his way to the lead in turn three on lap nine moving R. Zacharias back to the 2nd spot. At the halfway point of the event, J. Zacharias was the leader ahead of R. Zacharias, Petcosky, Tony Hanbury and John Wilber who completed the top five. With 5 laps remaining, Hanbury battled bumper to bumper with Petcosky for the 3rd position. J. Zacharias would score the win by four car lengths over R. Zacharias who finished 2nd. Petcosky held on for 3rd, Hanbury finished 4th and Wilber rounded out the top five. The 8-lap heat races was won by Paul Johnson and Lee Sharpsteen.

Dylan Terry made it back to back wins for the Street Stock division by winning the 20-lap feature event from his 4th place starting position. AJay Potrzebowski finished 2nd, Chad McDonald finished 3rd, Frank Chapman, Jr. finished 4th and pole sitter Derrick Tarbox completed the top five. Terry celebrated with victory donuts on the front straight. Derrick Tarbox won the 8-lap qualifying heat race.

The schedule for this Saturday, Aug. 15 features a full program of racing for the Mighty Modifieds (40 laps), ASA Late Models (30 laps), Sportsman Modifieds (30 laps) and Street Stocks (20 laps). Pit Gates Open at 11 a.m., Grandstand Gates at 1 p.m., Practice at 2 p.m. with the first race hitting the track at 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12 and kids five and under are always free. For more information, visit www.shangrila-2.com. Shangri-La II Motor Speedway and the American Speed Association (ASA) - Concrete Does Kick Asphalt!

Chemung Speedrome

Chemung Speedrome packed a lot of racing into its Saturday night program. Daren Scherer picked up his 2nd NASCAR Weekly Modified feature win in eight starts. Terry Potrzebowski also grabbed win No. 2 in a rather wild Super Stock race. Gene Purvis picked up a pair of 4 Cylinder feature wins, while others in victory lane included Matt Priscott (INEX Legends), Zach Curren (North East Mod Lites), and Andrew Bickford (Bandoleros). The final race of the night almost didn't get run. As light rain moved in, the 4-Cylinder drivers initially gave a thumbs-down to the track. But they stayed out there, the rain stopped, and officials then opted for a 15-lap race. Rain moved back in as the cars were loading up.

It took two attempts to get the 30-lap NASCAR Weekly Modified feature underway. On the first try Gary Coon turned Lee Sharpsteen around and both went to the rear for the 2nd try. Charlie Sharpsteen, a former track champion, powered his way around pole-sitter Jody Buckley and he led the way. Daren Scherer, who had started 4th, was up to 2nd and Bobby Osgood was running 3rd. Scherer made what resulted in his race-winning pass on the 6th lap. Coon brought out the 2nd, and final, caution when he spun while working the 10th lap.

The restart had Bobby Osgood beside Scherer in the front row, just ahead of Buckley and JR Kent. While Scherer drove away, Kent fought for 2nd. He got it, but not without Osgood on his tail. The pair battled lap after lap while Scherer added to his advantage. At the halfway point Scherer's lead was up to a dozen car-lengths and the battle continued for 2nd place. Tim Gullo, meanwhile, had worked his way up to 3rd and he started reeling in the pair.

This one turned dramatic on the final lap. Scherer took the white and cruised around the track with no threats in sight. Osgood and Kent, side-by-side for 2nd, tangled in turn four. As they spun, the checkered flag flew over car No. 3 and the race was over. Gullo crossed the stripe in 2nd, followed by C. Sharpsteen, Buckley and L. Sharpsteen. Following the race Kent and Osgood let each other know how they felt about that last corner, and each left the track upset at the outcome of some too-close racing.

Ken Evans and Chuck Nichols lined up in row one for the 25-lap Super Stock feature and Nichols prevailed. On the 2nd lap Evans got caught up with Brittany Jack, who would become a factor later in the race as well. Brandon Ameigh lined up beside Nichols for the restart but Terry Potrzebowski spun and the lap did not score. Jeff Goodwin made a move from 3rd to 1st on that lap but caution came out a lap later when the Evans machine slowed and leaked fluid on the track. When the race resumed it was Mike Nichols who had worked his way through the pack and up to 2nd, with Potrzebowski following him. The 4th caution came out on the 10th lap when Chuck Nichols and Jack tangled on the backstretch. Both dashed to the pits for service. Mike Nichols took the lead on the restart but when his car broke he gave the lead back to Goodwin. The 5th, and final, caution flew for an incident involving Jack and Brandon Ameigh. Officials gave her the black flag, which she ignored and parked in turn two. Just as the tow truck was about to tow her to the parking lot she drove back to her pit. Over the final six laps Potrzebowski set up a move on Goodwin and it worked. He picked up his 2nd win of the year, this time over Goodwin, Hank Buchanan, Ameigh and Jack.

In INEX Legends action Richie Vanderpool went from 4th to 1st on the opening lap. The caution came out quickly when Andrew Stotler and Cody Frantz spun in turn two. That put John Shepherd beside Vanderpool for the restart. Again Vanderpool prevailed, but Matt Priscott soon shadowed him. The pair pulled away from the pack but, Daren Scherer got through that group of cars and started to reel in the lead duo. When Andy Brigham spun on the 8th lap it doubled up the field for the restart. It took two laps to do so, but Scherer got around Priscott and then Vanderpool on lap 10. Two laps later Scherer broke while leading, and Priscott took over. The final caution, for a spin by Brigham, set up a 6-lap run to the checkers. Priscott was flawless and kept Vanderpool behind him as he set up his 2nd feature win of the year. Vanderpool was 2nd, followed by Art Priscott, Steve Stull and Stotler. "My father told me he was going to win tonight," he joked in victory lane. All agreed that if a father had to lose, losing to his son isn't such a bad deal. Matt is on target to win his 2nd consecutive Legends championship.

The 4-Cylinder division ran a pair of races, the first of which had been rained out on June 28. Archie Haner held off Gene Purvis the first two laps but a caution on lap three negated his pass for the lead. Phil Haner hit the back stretch wall hard, collecting Bob Curren and Jeremy Potrzebowski. Haner was done for the night. When the race resumed it took Purvis three laps to get the lead. The only other caution in the 20-lap race came when Joe Lane spun in two. During the yellow Jeremy Potrzebowski pitted with a flat tire. His crew worked fast and he made it back out after his courtesy lap. Haner reclaimed the lead on the restart but Purvis got it back on the 13th lap. Potrzebowski made a beautiful move in turn 2 and got around Haner, but had no time to run down the leader. Purvis crossed the stripe first, followed by Potrzebowski, Haner, Lane and Ryan Purvis.

In the regularly scheduled 4-Cylinder feature, shortened to 15 laps when light rain began to move in, Archie Haner led early before losing the top spot to Jeremy Potrzebowski on lap six. His spin, the result of a tire gone flat, brought out the only caution with 6 laps remaining. Potrzebowski lost the grip and spun in turn two while working lap nine. The restart put Haner back on top and Purvis lined up 2nd. Purvis quickly set up a move on the leader and he made it work as lap 10 went up on the board. He held on for his 5th win this year, but 2nd on the same night. "I've always hoped I could do this but never had, until tonight. This team is great and I thank all of them for their help," he said from victory lane. Potrzebowski rallied back to finish 2nd, ahead of Haner, Joe Lane and Ryan Purvis.

Zach Curren ran his North East Mod Lite with the NASCAR Weekly Modifieds and won his 6th race in 11 starts.

Andrew Bickford easily won his 7th trophy in seven tries in the Bandolero division, this time beating newcomer Anthony Riforgiato.

This week Chemung presents a regular program on its annual Whelen Night/Cameron Night. Fans are reminded that Chemung will be racing the following weekend on Sunday (Aug. 23 at 2 p.m.), when the Cup Lite Series joins the regulars for their 2nd race of the year. For this weekend, however, pits open at four, grandstand and practice at five, with the first race getting the green at 6:30 p.m. For more information go to www.chemungspeedrome.net. Chemung Speedrome and the Whelen All American Series - Short Track Racing At Its Best!

Eastern Speedway Promotions

The Eastern Speedway Promotions ran on Saturday.

In the Scratch Main Adam Mittl took first, followed by Warren Diem, Casey Donholt, Tuff McBride and Dave Clark.

In the Handi-cap Main Dee Holdren took first, followed by McBride in second, Mittl in third, Keith Hawkins in fourth and Corey Brooks in fifth.

Mike Hammond won Support-A, followed by Brian Bailey, Dwight Basa, Ray Barondick and Vinnie Oliver.

The ATV PRO winner was Stoney Ray, followed by Steve Kappler in second and Carl Bartlett in third.

Finally, in Junior Speedway action Roger Roberts won, Spencer Portaro in second and Dakota Crone in third.