By RICH VLECK
BATAVIA, NY – Brad Mesler is fast just about anywhere he competes at, but it had been a little while since he has gone to Victory Lane. So when he dominated the 20-lap Crate Late Model Feature, it was clear how much it meant to him and his team.
Mesler, of Wellsville, led all 20 laps of the event on Carquest Auto Parts Night at Genesee Speedway for his first win at the track in one full calendar year. After getting to the track and missing the draw, Mesler had to claw his way forward in the heats, but it paid off at the end.
The race was slowed on the opening circuit when Doug Ricotta and Josh Pangrazio were collected in an incident in turn one. After that incident, the race would click off the next 17 laps without incident, allowing Mesler to run away and hide. Two late-race restarts would point leader JJ Mazur to take a bid at the lead, but did not have anything for the No. 24B, who became the fifth different feature winner in the Crate Late Models this season. Mazur would cross in second, with Andy Michael coming home in third. Jimmy Johnson and Jon Rivers rounded out the top five.
Kyle Inman stayed on his hot streak, winning his third feature in a row at Genesee, and fourth in the last five races. After the first three race starts resulted in just one completed lap, a single-file restart allowed Polesitter Ryan Susice to drive out to the lead, but Inman, of Darien, was on the charge, driving by Ray Bliss Jr. for second on lap five and then eating at the lead until he made a pass on Susice for the top spot on lap 10. The race would run to the end without a caution, allowing Inman to win in style. Susice would finish a strong second, while Matt Steffenhagen held off Andrew Smith for fourth. Ray Bliss Jr. would hold off his dad in the closing laps for a solid top-five finish.
Dave DuBois led the first eight laps of the ULMS Super Late Model Feature on Thursday, so he rolled in to the 360 Late Model Feature with plenty of momentum, and used it to dominate the 20-lap event for his second win of the year. DuBois, of Corfu, said one small adjustment this week made the difference to hold a healthy advantage throughout the race. While DuBois was smooth sailing, each time a caution came out during the event it was for a driver inside the top five having a problem. First it was John Zimmerman, followed by Tommy Kemp, then Brian Kotarski, and lastly Zack Carley with one lap remaining while running second. Kemp would rebound the best, as he drove back up to come home with a runner-up finish despite having a tight condition. He passed Rich Hale on the final lap, who was able to score a fine third place finish. Tom Baker and Wally Wade completed the top five.
Byron Dewitt used a fresh flat-black look, some new shocks, and an engine tune-up to get to the front of the Street Stock Feature by lap nine and drive away to win his third feature of the year. Dewitt, the point leader from LeRoy, worked hard to get by leader Mike Jackson after Jackson had taken the top spot from Dalton Martin when Martin went pitside. Dewitt’s lead over Jackson did not build much over the second half of the race, but Jesse Qutermous was applying pressure to MJ late in the event, but was unable to get by, as Jackson held on for second with Qutermous battling through a trying day to finish in third. Butch Zimmerman and Kenny Begnouche completed the top five.
To conclude the night, Brad Shepard held off the late hard charges of Donald Newton to claim his second win in the last three Mini Stock Features. Shepard, of LeRoy, took the lead from Lee Hicks on lap three and pulled out to a strong lead before the races lone caution flag flew on lap 11 for Dante Mancuso, who stopped in turn four while running in third place. On the restart, Newton applied pressure to the leader, pulling even with the defending champion with two laps remaining. Newton made one last bid in the final set of corners but would have to settle for second, with Mike Taddonio crossing in third, ahead of Eddie Kowalczyk. Mancuso would rally to round out the top five.
Bailey Logsdon used the momentum of her first career win on Thursday Night to dominate en route to a dominating performance. Logsdon, took the lead on lap three from Trinity Reynolds and despite a mid-race caution never wavered once she got to the top spot. Crossing in second was point leader Jessica Traxler, followed by Adam Jackson. Olivia Coniber and Marcus Jackson rounded out the top five.
Next Saturday, July 15, Beamer’s Sales & Service will present Autograph Night, which will feature all six weekly divisions in competition, starting at 6:00 P.M. For more information, visit www.Genesee-Speedway.com.
Genesee Speedway Results: 7/8/2017-
Carquest Auto Parts Night
MHL Performance Crate Late Model Feature (20 Laps)- BRAD MESLER, JJ Mazur, Andy Michael, Jimmy Johnson, Jon Rivers, Bill Holmes, Zack Carley, TJ Downs, Kyle Murray, Carl Shetler, Val Stephens, Billy DuBois, Josh Pangrazio, Beamer Guzzardi, David Pangrazio, Doug Ricotta.
Lap Leaders- Mesler 1-20.
Heat Winners- Rivers, Ricotta.
Cornerstone Eye Associates Sportsman Feature (20 Laps)- KYLE INMAN, Austin Susice, Matt Steffenhagen, Andrew Smith, Ray Bliss Jr, Ray Bliss, Brett Clarke, TJ Newton, Zachary George, Ray Smith, Sarah Johnson, Shane O’Grady, Tony Muscato, Jim Harbison, Chuck Kuhn, Eddie Kowalczyk, Carl Inman, Tim Downs, Greg Mrzywka.
Lap Leader- Susice 1-10, K. Inman 11-20.
Heat Winners- Mrzywka, Inman, A. Smith.
Ken’s Charcoal Pits BBQ 360 Late Model Feature (20 Laps)- DAVE DUBOIS, Tommy Kemp, Rich Hale, Tom Baker, Wally Wade, John Zimmerman, Jacob McConnell, Shawn Hazlitt, Austin Kotarski, Zack Carley, Brian Kotarski, Bob Bartlett, Tommy Butler (DNS).
Lap Leaders- DuBois 1-20.
Heat Winners- DuBois, Carley.
Yasses Trucking & Construction Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- BYRON DEWITT, Mike Jackson, Jesse Qutermous, Butch Zimmerman, Kenny Begnouche, Bill Taylor, Ryan Allen, Jason Babbitt, Brian Monahan, Dustin Goss, David Liles, Bill Button, Bill Kowsky, Tiffany Rumsey, Kenny Cook, Dalton Martin, Roy Amadick.
Lap Leaders- Martin 1-3, Jackson 4-7, Dewitt 8-20.
Heat Winners- Martin, Dewitt.
Pellegrino Auto Sales Mini Stock Feature (15 Laps)- BRAD SHEPARD, Donald Newton, Mike Taddonio, Eddie Kowalczyk, Dante Mancuso, Ryan Allen, Chad Dickinson, Mike Jackson, James Gayton, Tony Kulesza, Cole Hicks, Lee Hicks, Jenn Galbo, Bobby Dickinson, Ruben Coffey (DNS), Doug Brown (DNS).
Lap Leaders- L. Hicks 1-2, B. Shepard 3-15.
Heat Winners- Shepard, Taddonio.
DML Sealing Bandits (12 Laps)- BAILEY LOGSDON, Jessica Traxler, Adam Jackson, Olivia Coniber, Marcus Jackson, Trinity Reynolds, Allyson Rider, Jessica Schleede (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Reynolds 1-2, Logsdon 3-12.
Heat Winner- Traxler
