Sharpsteen Takes Late Race Advantage For the Win at Chemung
By Shylo Fuchs
After struggling to get this feature underway due to several early cautions prior to lap one we
would get 3 laps in the books before car #21 piloted by substitute driver Tommy Markham would
slow on the front stretch and draw another yellow flag. On the way to securing another lap we
would see the #15 of Nick Robinson who was running in the fifth position go around in turn four
due to a right front flat on his borrowed ride.
We would accomplish just one lap before the #44 of Jake Wylie would go around in between
turns one and two landing nose to nose with our last race winner in the #1, Gary Noe. Race
control would make the call for single file restarts to try to get some racing in the books and it
would work.
The #17 of Ajay Potrzebowski would remain in the lead until lap 8 when the top three runners,
Potrzebowski, #3 of Jimmy Steffenhagen Jr. and the #89 of Frank Chapman would go three
wide coming out of two for the lead and it would go to Steffenhagen.
Steffenhagen would defend his lead through multiple cautions for spun cars but, Chapman
would be hanging on to the runner up position with stiff competition chomping at his rear
bumper. Potrzebowski, Sharpsteen and Willis would all be looking to find their way into the top
spot.
Tony Hanbury in the #29 would be sitting just outside the top five after driving his way from his
15th starting position. He would slip past Josh Hunter and then spend several laps battling the
#75 of Zach Willis for the fifth place position. He would overtake Willis on lap 17 but, Willis
would not accept this fate. Willis would retake the fifth position just 5 laps later and then the
battle up front would really start to heat up.
Lee Sharpsteen in his #34 would be challenging Ajay Potrzebowski for the number three spot.
He would take it on lap 24 and then as the cars came around the leader of Steffenhagen would
experience an unfortunate short in his electrical system and drop out of the lead to the inside of
turns 3 & 4. This would line up the #89 of Frank Chapman and the #34 of Sharpsteen on the
front row for one final double file restart.
Sharpsteen would take advantage and jump out into the lead and Chapman would quickly fall to
fifth place giving Potrzebowski, Willis and Hanbury two spots advantage of their positions prior
to the final caution. They would finish Sharpsteen, Potrzebowski, Willis, Hanbury & Chapman
for the top five.
Big Time Service Hard Charger Award was given to the #90 of Nate Peckham who gained 13
positions going from his starting position of 19th to his 6th place finishing spot.
Thank you to all our series sponsors, Sunoco Racing Fuels, Insinger Performance, F/A
Products, Big Time Service, Aratari Auto Color, Nytric Electrical Contractors, Ken Tibbles
Roofing, Rapid Express Transport Services and Midstate Basement Authorities. And also thank
you to the Chemung Speedrome for hosting us for this event.
Heat Winners: #77 Garrett Zacharias, #04 JP Harbst, #75 Zach Willis
Feature Finish: #34 Charlie Sharpsteen, #17 Ajay Potrzebowski, #75 Zach Willis, #29 Tony
Hanbury, #89 Frank Chapman, #90 Nate Peckham, #25 Joel Gleason, #23 Robert Fink, #44
Jake Wylie, #37 Jason Dinzler, #54 Amber VanOrden, #71 Eric Handley, #7 Josh Hunter, #13
Aaron Higgins, #5 Jacob Gustafson, #31 Ron Underwood, #3 Jimmy Steffenhagen Jr., #04 JP
Harbst, #21 Tommy Markham, #46 Cole Hicks, #77 Garrett Zacharias, #1 Gary Noe, #15 Nick
Robinson, #72 Mike Nichols
