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Rich Vleck, BATAVIA, NY (May 10, 2008)- With a record-high car count for opening night, clear skies above, and a mass audience thirsting for the start of the season, the green flag dropped on the 2008 Genesee Speedway Season, and rarely was it replaced by the yellow.
Jim Johnson might not have had the best Castle Powered Late Model on opening night, but he did all the things that counted to park it in Victory Lane for the second lid lifter in a row at his hometown track.
“I didn’t have a lot to work with, so I just tried to hook it in the turn and hold off (Jon Rivers),” said Johnson in Victory Lane.
Rivers pressured the No. 93J throughout the finale of Gates Electric Supply Night at the Genesee Speedway, but as the race wore on, Johnson hit his marks each time around the 1/3 mile and was able to hang on to win by over a half-second.
The race was marred with yellow flags early on, but after lap seven, only one more yellow flag period was displayed on the speedway.
With the top two pulling away T.J. Newton appeared to have third place in hand, but a mechanical failure with three laps to go sent him pit side. That opened up a fierce battle between Bob Babbitt and JJ Mazur for the spot, with Babbitt holding him off. Tim Kauffman made it through the pack from an early race spin to round out the top five.
Stubby Pangrazio broke a long winless streak to score the popular win in the Troyer Chassis Sportsman Division.
“It’s been a long, long time,” said an exhausted Pangrazio in Victory Lane. “I haven’t won a sportsman race in 20 years.”
Pangrazio inherited the lead on lap nine when early race pacer Steve Schumacher got collected when the lapped car of Henry Maier spun in front of him. Brian Sage, who was in second at the time, was also collected and relegated to the pits for the remainder of the event.
Stubby was solid out in front but Rob Pratt began closing the gap on the lead. On the final circuit, Pratt climbed over the right rear of Pangrazio in turn one and spun the No. P38. That set up a one-lap sprint to the finish in which Pangrazio would survive to score the win.
Placing behind the No. 0 was Don Spatarico, who started back in 14th. John Venuto worked his way to third, with Justin Wright and John Baker completing the top five.
The Original Pizza Logs Pro Stocks had a caution before a lap was in the books, but the final 20 laps would go green and see Pete Stefanski hold off Butch Zimmerman in a thrilling finish.
Stefanski, the defending track champion, put his new car in front early and would never relinquish the spot. He was then treated to an interview in Victory Lane from April Stefanski, Miss Genesee Speedway.
The event also featured the Regional Truck Pro Trucks as the two combined for the All-Pro Challenge. Chris Leroux was the strongest truck early but a mechanical problem forced him to the infield, opening up the door for Doug Buckley to place best in class.
After Stefanski and Zimmerman, a fierce battle ensued between Eric Greenlief, Brett Martin, and Don Barnes, who swapped third spot on numerous occasions. As they were coming across the lines, Greenlief slowed, allowing Martin and Barnes to make it three wide as they moved under John Veach’s Double Checkered. Greenlief would hold off Martin and Barnes by less than .2 of a second.
The Power Trip Energy Drink Street Stock Feature saw Lee Zimmerman stalk the Power Trip No. 74 of Jeb Walworth, and then use a lap 17 restart to jump in front and never look back.
Zimmerman put his No. 71x in Victory Lane after winning his heat to capture a sweep on the night.
“Green flag racing I wasn’t going to catch the kid, he’s just so smooth,” said Zimmerman of his battle with Walworth. “I wasn’t really expected to get anywhere, but the next thing I know I was on the inside and just hanging out from there.”
The first 12 laps ran caution-free, with Zimmerman and Walworth, along with Doug Jones, pulling away from the field. Matt Pfalzer spun while running fifth to bring out the yellow and bunch up the pack. After the final caution for Mike Shetler stopping in turn four, the battle was on to the finish.
As Zimmerman and Walworth duked it out for the lead, Doug Jones looked to have third in hand, but a flat tire on the final lap relegated him to fifth. Colton Chappius and Kenny Begnouche moved around Jones to place third and fourth, respectively.
Dan Norton, who didn’t win a heat race last year, not only picked up his qualifier on the first night of the season, he also captured the win in the feature, leading all 15 laps en route to the victory in the Professional Driver Institute Mini Stock Feature.
Brandon Aradine and Randy Barclay were reeling in Norton, especially after the lone caution on lap 12. Norton hung strong on the restart though and put his No. 0 in Victory Lane on night one.
Aradine was able to hang on to second, with Barclay close in tow for third. Rounding out the top five was Russ Wassner and Mark Forsha.
Kailey Wassner captured the inaugural DML Driveway Sealing Bandit Feature, pulling off the “Spin and Win”.
On lap four, Wassner spun in turn three while leading and put a sure victory in question. Wassner was running in second behind Brad Dickinson, but he spun the No. 328 coming to the white flag, putting him to the back and opening up the door for Wassner.
On the final restart, Chris Johnson, who had inherited the lead, spun in turn one, which was all that Wassner needed, as she scored her first career win after three years of competition both at Genesee, as well as at Black Rock.
Brad Dickinson rebounded to come home in second, with Randy Barclay Jr. completing the podium. It was the shortest race but had twice as many lead changes as the other five features combined.
A total of 86 cars and trucks were on hand for the first race of the year. Next week at Genesee it will be another Super 6 Racing Card, as Kerry Ball Motorsports and Totem Pole Smokes and Gas presents Foar Score Club Night. For more information, visit www.GeneseeSpeedway.com.
Genesee Speedway Results: 5/10/2008-
Gates Electric Supply Night
Castle Powered Late Model Feature (20 Laps)- JIM JOHNSON, Jon Rivers, Bob Babbitt, JJ Mazur, Tim Kauffman, Rich Hale, Pete Waldron, Brian Kotarski, Ron Magavero, Dave DuBois, Carl Shetler, T.J. Newton, Justin Chaddock, Jason Bridge, Billy Burd, Tom Baker, Brian Farnsworth.
Lap Leaders- Johnson 1-20.
Heat Winners- Babbitt, Johnson.
Troyer Chassis Sportsman Feature (20 Laps)- STUBBY PANGRAZIO, Don Spatorico, John Venuto, Justin Wright, John Baker, Ricky Newton, Tim Downs, Greg Mrzywka, Don Ogden, Rob Richmond Jr., Rob Pratt, Mike O’Brien, Jason Hallett, Bill Gill, Brian Sage, Henry Maier, Kerry Ball, Steve Schumacher (DQ).
Lap Leaders- Schumacher 1-9, Pangrazio 10-20.
Heat Winners- Schumacher, Pangrazio.
Original Pizza Logs Pro Stock/ Regional Truck Pro Truck All-Pro Challenge (20 Laps)- PETE STEFANSKI, Butch Zimmermann, Eric Greenlief, Brett Martin, Don Barnes, Doug Buckley, Bill Edminster, Ralph Champion, Ryan Worthington, Scott Stolzenberg, Christian Thompson, Jesse Repass, Jim Burch Jr., Chris Leroux, Mike Martin.
Lap Leaders- Stefanski 1-20
Heat Winners- Stefanski, Barnes.
Highest Finishing Pro Truck- Buckley.
Power Trip Energy Drink Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- LEE ZIMMERMAN, Jeb Walworth, Colton Chappius, Kenny Begnouche, Doug Jones, Joey Spicola, Matt Pfalzer, John Giles, John Fry, Carl Shetler, Kevin Mitchell, Jeremy Denton, Dave Bansmer, Steve Austin, Frank Lord Jr., Mike Shetler, Nathan Arnold.
Lap Leaders- Walworth 1-17, Zimmerman 18-20.
Heat Winners- Walworth, Zimmerman.
Professional Drivers Institute Mini Stock Feature (15 Laps)- DAN NORTON, Brandon Aradine, Randy Barclay, Russ Wassner, Mark Forsha, Alan Kemp, Bobby Dickinson, Ed Neal, Pat Powers, Duane Pingrey, Samantha Burch.
Lap Leaders- Norton 1-20.
Heat Winners- Notron, Aradine.
DML Driveway Sealing Bandits (10 Laps)- KALIEY WASSNER, Brad Dickinson, Randy Barclay, Chris Johnson, Tom Urban, Sarah Johnson.
Lap Leaders- Wassner 1-3, C. Johnson 4-5, Dickinson 6-8, C. Johnson 9, Wassner 10.
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