“Jimmy Zacharias Takes NASCAR Sunoco Modified Win and Track Title at Chemung” by Carol Houssock
(Chemung, NY) Friday afternoon Jimmy Zacharias posted on his Facebook page that he was going to win Chemung Speedrome’s NASCAR Sunoco Modified race and win the 2010 track championship. Hours later he posted that he had just celebrated both accomplishments in victory lane. Brittany Jack picked up her 2nd feature win in the Street Stock division, it was win #5 for Gene Purvis in the 4 Cylinders, and Mike Alcaro smoked the INEX Legends field and scored his 13th feature win. Others who can boast of their track championships include repeat winners Mike Nichols (Street Stocks), Justin Petcosky (INEX Legends) and Gene Purvis (4 Cylinders). A big crowd turned out for the season finale and to give proper thanks to track manager Jody Buckley.
Three drivers entered the final 40-lap NASCAR Sunoco Modified feature separated by just 12 points. Jimmy Zacharias led JR Kent by 9 and Bobby Osgood was just 3 more points back in 3rd. When the green flag dropped Zacharias helped launch Kent to the top spot down the front stretch and the pair ran together with Osgood 3rd. The first caution flag came out on the 7th lap when Zack Curren and Curtis Cowles got together in turn 4. That put Kent and Zacharias in row 1 with Osgood lined up behind Kent. While Osgood and Zacharias fought each other for 2nd, Kent remained on top.
By the 10th lap Zacharias had claimed 2nd and he started to close the gap between himself and Kent. Curren spun with 17 laps complete and bunched up the field once again for the restart. That was all Zacharias needed, as he powered his way around Kent and took the lead on the 18th lap. Kent’s fabulous season ended when the rear of his #16 broke on the 22nd lap and he was out. Zacharias proved he had the car to beat once again, and his big lead turned into another dominant run when he began to lap the slower cars.
He sailed below the checkered flag knowing that he had just done what he set out to do. His 3rd feature win of the year sent him home with the hardware, but the NASCAR championship sent him home with a whole lot more. Osgood’s 2nd place finish, and Kent’s troubles, enabled him to finish the year 2nd in points. This was an awesome accomplishment for Osgood, who ended the year just 16 points away from the leader despite missing a race. Rusty Smith picked up another 3rd place finish in the race, followed by TJ Potrzebowski and Larry Jaynes. Zacharias and Kent won the 2 heat races.
Mike Nichols and Jeff Goodwin both wanted the 2010 Street Stock championship but Nichols started their feature with a 27-point advantage. Both won their respective heat races. Both wanted the limelight, but neither bothered to ask Brittany Jack how she felt about all that. By the end of the 25-lap feature, she had earned the respect of her competitors and the appreciation of fans by scoring her 2nd feature win this year. Jack started 4th but maneuvered around Bill Frisbie, Sr., John Lane and Terry Ostrander and she led the opening lap. Nichols and Goodwin went 3-wide with John Lane but Nichols claimed 2nd and he started to reel in Jack. Lap after lap Nichols looked high, then looked low but he never mustered up what he needed to overtake that stout #6 of Jack. While that battle went on, fans also watched Terry Potrzebowski chase down and run with Goodwin for 3rd. At the end of the caution-free race Brittany Jack put another entry in the Speedrome history book with her 2nd win. Ironically, it was Nichols she held off on August 6th when she got her career-first win. This one was a nearly identical performance. “The car was perfect. I knew he was there and I knew if I could clear the lap car we were good,” she said from victory lane. Nichols finished 2nd and locked up the title, while others in the top 5 included Goodwin, Potrzebowski and Ostrander.
Justin Petcosky did exactly what he had to do to win another INEX Legends championship. In qualifying he, Richie Vanderpool and Joe DeGracia won their respective heat races. But the crowd also saw Mike Alcaro’s car put out a plume of smoke and get towed to the pits during his heat. When the 22 cars lined up for their 25-lap feature Alcaro was there, starting in the 11th row. Cody Frantz dove to the inside and went from 4th to 1st on the opening lap. AJ Griffin was right with him and took over the lad on the 6th lap. As the pair entered turn 4 Griffin got loose and spun, taking hits from Chris Young and Ravin Schrantz. Frantz reclaimed the top spot when the race resumed but Richie Vanderpool got around him, bringing Justin Petcosky with him. Petcosky found the inside lane coming off turn 4 and he took the lead on lap 10. Fans were also observing Alcaro’s #8 working the traffic and he was battling for 2nd with Vanderpool by the 15th lap. Once he overtook Vanderpool he set his sights on Petcosky’s #77. The battled for several laps but Alcaro passed Petcosky and went on to score his 13th win, giving new meaning to the term ‘smoking the field’. Petcosky’s 2nd place finish sealed the deal for the track championship. Vanderpool finished the race in 3rd and the season in 2nd. Frantz and Kevin Nowack rounded out the top 5 in the race.
The night started out ok for the 3 members of the Haner family who competed in the 4 Cylinder division as Phil won their heat race. When the green flag flew for their 20-lap feature Haner made a nice move coming off turn 2 and he led the way. Archie Haner followed suit while Gene Purvis took on a battle with Frank Morich for 3rd. Purvis settled that score when he got to the inside of Morich off turn 2 on the 6th lap and he was up to 3rd. The first caution came out when the lead duo, Phil and Archie Haner, got together. Phil joined Nick Haner, who had already retired from the race, in the pits. Purvis, 3rd at the time, became the new leader when racing resumed, and that was a gift he did not return. But the issues weren’t over for the Haner’s; as Archie’s brakes failed in turn 4 and he went into the foam blocks. Purvis then had Milton Price lined up beside him for the restart, but he stayed focused on the big picture. Purvis, on this night, won both the battle and the war when he scored his 5th feature win and another track championship. Price finished the race 2nd, followed by Morich, Paul Burns, Jr., and Ryan Purvis.
Jimmy Zacharias, Brittany Jack and Gene Purvis were somewhat surprised to learn that their season-ending races were ROC qualifiers. They will now represent Chemung Speedrome at the 60th Race of Champions weekend in Oswego September 24th and 25th.
According to track owner, Bob Stapleton, Chemung will continue to run on Friday nights in 2011 under NASCAR sanctioning. He urged everyone to watch the track’s website,
www.chemungspeedrome.net for all of the off-season news. For this season, however, many will forever be grateful to Jody and Lisa for their efforts.
Results:
NASCAR Sunoco Modifieds (40 Laps) JIMMY ZACHARIAS, Bobby Osgood, Rusty Smith, TJ Potrzebowski, Larry Jaynes, Zack Curren, Curtis Cowles, TJ Zacharias, JR Kent, Corey Mosher, Matt Clemens, Terry Zacharias
2010 Champion: Jimmy Zacharias
Street Stocks (25 Laps) BRITTANY JACK, Mike Nichols, Jeff Goodwin, Terry Potrzebowski, Terry Ostrander, Jim Potrzebowski, John Lane, Ken Evans, AJ Griffin, Bill Frisbie, Sr. (DNS)
2010 Champion: Mike Nichols
INEX Legends (25 Laps) MIKE ALCRO, Justin Petcosky, Richie Vanderpool, Cody Frantz, Kevin Nowack, Stephen Hershey, Kevin Wilkins, Andrew Stotler, Corey Mosher, Art Priscott, Brandon Michael, Van Michael, Matt Priscott, John Bacon, Matt Evans, Andrew Bickford, JD Abrahams, Ravin Schrantz, Barry Schrantz, AJ Griffin, Chris Young, Joe DeGracia
2010 Champion: Justin Petcosky
4 Cylinders (20 Laps) GENE PURVIS, Milton Price, Frank Morich, Paul Burns, Jr., Ryan Purvis, Kyle Ferris, Archie Haner, Phil Haner, Nick Haner
2010 Champion: Gene Purvis
