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Jon Rivers and John Venuto Visit Genesee Victory Lane
Rich Vleck, BATAVIA, NY (August 16, 2008)- On a glorious night for racing, an efficient show was run off under optimum track conditions for Castle Products Night.
Jon Rivers was a double beneficiary in the Castle Powered Late Models, first when leader Dave DuBois developed a flat right rear under a lap 16 red flag and would have to head pit side, and second when Brian Farnsworth, who inherited the lead, slid up the track on lap 17 and opened the door for the lead.
Rivers, of Basom, scored his second win of the season in his Darrell’s Auto Service No. 85, leading the final four circuits to close in on the points lead.
“I was confident I could get around Brian (Farnsworth), but he has come a long way and did a great job,” noted Rivers in Victory Lane.
Farnsworth pressured Rivers to the finish, and would hang on to score his best finish in the No. 1. JJ Mazur would stay solid with a third place run. Justin Chaddock and Jason Bridge would complete the top-five with point leader Dave DuBois rebounding from the tire problem to finish sixth.
John Venuto swept the night in the Troyer Chassis Sportsman Divison, capturing both his first heat and feature wins on the 2008 season. It was just what the Elba driver needed to put him back in the point race.
“This is awesome! I’ve been waiting for it all year and we finally hit it,” said a jubilated Venuto in Victory Lane, who became the eighth different winner of the year in this highly competitive class.
Venuto took the lead on a lap six restart from rookie Mike O’Brien and held a steady lead over the pack the rest of the way, avoiding the wrecks and moving around the lapped cars for his first feature victory since May of 2007.
The win for Venuto in the M&T Trucking No. 44v, coupled with the issues of the other front runners in the point standings, helped to put the night’s winner back into a tie for the point lead with just two races left.
Ricky Newton was steady on the inside to score an impressive second place run in his No. 11N. Behind him were rookies Mike O’Brien and Jason Hallett, placing third and fourth, respectively. Steve Schumacher would rebound from early problems to complete the top-five.
The top-three in points entering the night all struggled to produce their regular results. Don Spatarico came home in seventh with Rob Pratt ninth and Stubby Pangrazio 11th.
Mike Martin missed the Original Pizza Logs Pro Stock heat race while he was attending a wedding, but would make it count in the feature as he would climb to the front to score his fourth win of the season.
Martin, of Lockport, took the lead over on lap 12 when Pete Stefanski was penalized for an event just before that caution. Stefanski would make it a battle coming back to the checkered flag, but would come up just short.
Early leader and heat winner Butch Zimmerman would hang on for third with Eric Greenlief and Steve Lewis completing the top-five.
Jeb Walworth went back-to-back in the Power Trip Energy Drink Street Stock Feature, taking the lead on the final lap from Lee Zimmerman when the two made contact in turn one. The result would put the No. 71z in the pits after the ensuing contact and Walworth in Victory Lane for the third time this season.
Dan Pries scored the win in his heat and held on for a solid second place showing. Dave Downs and Matt Pfalzer, who also won heats, were ahead of Ken Hixenbaugh, who rounded out the top-five.
Russ Wassner scored the win in the Professional Driver Institute Feature for his second race in a row at Genesee. After missing last week due to motor problems, a borrowed engine saw the No. x82 pick up a sweep of the weekend with a win at Black Rock on Friday night as well.
Wassner took the lead coming to the white flag from Alan Kemp, who suffered a problem and would end up fading to fourth on the final circuit. Dan Norton would rebound from a pair of problems to place in second, just ahead of Duane Pingrey. Kemp and Dylan Cecee would complete the top-five.
P.J. Havens broke out to a quick lead in the DML Driveway Sealing Bandit Feature and dominate his second event in a row. Havens was strong in front of the pack while Chad Dickinson and Tom Urban got together in the final corner battling for second. The result would be Randy Barclay Jr. capturing second while Urban would take back the points lead with his third place finish.
Racing will continue next week at 6:00 p.m. with the Midstate Vintage Stockcars making their annual visit.
Genesee Speedway Results: 8/16/2008-
Castle Products Night
Castle Powered Late Model Feature (20 Laps)- JON RIVERS, Brian Farnsworth, JJ Mazur, Justin Chaddock, Jason Bridge, Dave DuBois, Rich Hale, Ron Magavero, Tom Baker, Bob Babbitt, Pete Waldron, Tim Kauffman, Billy Burd, Doug Jones.
Lap Leaders- Farnsworth 1-10, DuBois 11-16, Rivers 17-20.
Heat Winners- Farnsworth, Babbitt.
Troyer Chassis Sportsman Feature (20 Laps)- JOHN VENUTO, Ricky Newton, Mike O’Brien, Jason Hallett, Steve Schumacher, John Baker, Don Spatorico, Brian Sage, Rob Pratt, Greg Mrzywka, Stubby Pangrazio, Rob Richmond Jr., Justin Wright, Ross Vleck, John Panattoni, Kerry Ball, Don Ogden, Tim Downs, Henry Maier, Guy Steffen.
Lap Leaders- O’Brien 1-5, Venuto 6-20.
Heat Winners- Baker, Venuto.
Original Pizza Logs Pro Stock Feature (15 Laps)- MIKE MARTIN, Pete Stefanski, Butch Zimmerman, Eric Greenlief, Steve Lewis, Scott Stolzenburg, Ryan Worthington, Jesse Repass, John Gagner.
Lap Leaders- Zimmerman 1-9, Stefanski 10-11, Martin 12-15.
Heat Winner- Zimmerman.
Power Trip Energy Drink Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- JEB WALWORTH, Dan Pries, Dave Downs, Matt Pfalzer, Ken Hixenbaugh, Colton Chappius, Nathan Arnold, Jeremy Denton, Jason Babbitt, Steve Austin, Bill Kowsky, Byron DeWitt, John Fry, Lee Zimmerman, John Carlson, Dave Bansmer, John Giles, Carl Shetler, Gary Donnelly, Chip Wood, Kevin Mitchell.
Lap Leaders- Arnold 1-2, Pries 3-6, Zimmerman 7-19, Walworth 20.
Heat Winners- Pries, Pfalzer, Downs.
Professional Driver Institute Mini Stock Feature (15 Laps)- RUSS WASSNER, Stubby Pangrazio, Duane Pingrey, Alan Kemp, Dylan Cecce, Mike Sweeney, Brian Norton, Bobby Dickinson, Jason Hull, Pat Powers, Mark Forsha, Ed Neal, Brandon Aradine, Samantha Burch, Randy Barclay, Tom Amico.
Lap Leaders- Forsha 1-3, Kemp 4-13, Wassner 14-15.
Heat Winners- Aradine, Forsha.
DML Driveway Sealing Bandits (10 Laps)- P.J. Havens, Randy Barclay Jr., Tom Urban, Chad Dickinson, Paul Matuzak, Darryl Carnes, James Maier, Sarah Johnson.
Lap Leaders- Havens 1-10.
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