5.14.22 Genesee Speedway Results
Rich Vleck, BATAVIA, NY, (May 14, 2022)- After the first two nights of the 2022 season, only a handful of drivers had got the opportunity to get to Victory Lane, but for drivers like Bill Holmes and Cam Tuttle, who each had won five races a division championship last season, two races without capturing the checkered flags was a long enough of a wait and did something about it on Saturday Night.
After afternoon rains gave way to bountiful sunshine, Bill Holmes (Late Models) and Cam Tuttle (Sportsman) each led 25 laps of their respective features to return to glory on Saturday Night at Genesee Speedway. Both had felt a struggle in the first two weeks and were glad to get back to their 2021 form.
In the Late Model feature, Holmes had to outduel Jon Rivers for the lead on the opening circuit. Holmes dove deep from the bottom in turn three and was able to fend off the crossover move by Rivers to complete that lap. Later in the race, Rivers would run the No. 8 back down as the duo reached lapped traffic which made things dicey heading to the end. Despite being slowed by the lapped car, Holmes as able to retain the lead as Rivers’ No. 85 was unable to capitalize.
“Things have been just a little different to start this year,” admitted Holmes in Victory Lane after he recorded finishes of sixth and seventh to open up 2022. “Jon (Rivers) ran us clean and I wasn’t sure where to go with the lapped traffic but it worked out.”
Rivers would settle for second as his No. 85 was strong for the second-straight week. Point leader Doug Ricotta held off JJ Mazur for third while Billy DuBois fended off Jimmy Johnson at the line to round out the top five.
The Sportsman feature was a similar story, with Tuttle having to get in front of Dave Conant in the opening laps, then having to deal with the stout competitor down the stretch to earn his return to Victory Lane.
“We just were not good to start the year, so we made wholesale changes on the car today to try and match the spring conditions,” said Tuttle after his win, who he dedicated to his Grandfather on his birthday. “The car worked great up on the top, only the lapped cars made things interesting there for a second.”
Tuttle’s lead did indeed all but evaporate down the stretch as his No. 35T struggled to find a line around lapped traffic. Conant was able to close but would have to settle for second. Noah Walker would cross in third for the second-straight week while last-week’s winner Jim Harbison was fourth. Brandon Michaud rounded out the top five.
Rich Conte pulled off a stunner in the Street Stock Feature as he ran down Sherman Gage on the final lap to pick up his first-career win in the division. Conte, of Bergen, held a pretty wheel in second throughout the race while Gage was the class of the field, but with two laps to go Gage’s No. 21s began to slow and his lead of over two seconds evaporated as he suffered a flat tire and would hand over the lead to Conte’s No. 717 in the final set of corners as a beautiful slidejob was executed to take the lead. Also following Conte through was Bill Taylor, who finished a close second ahead of last week’s winner Tommy Kemp. Gage would slip back to fourth while Byron Dewitt rounded out the top five.
After Conte took “The Wise Guys” to Victory Lane, Bill Weller Jr. did the same in the following race as he captured the win in the Mini Stock Feature. Weller, who had placed the engine in his No. 69jr at 3:30 earlier in the day, chased down James Gayton in the opening laps for the lead and passed him on lap seven and never looked back to claim the win. Weller was able to slice his way through lapped traffic to strengthen his lead over Gayton, who would settle for second. Dylan Strade scored a heat win and finished in third while last week’s winner DJ Williams and Olivia Coniber rounded out a fast top five.
Allison Dewitt stayed perfect in Novice Sportsman Feature action, winning her third race of the season. Dewitt had trouble in the heat race and was unable to finish, but rallied back in the 15-lap feature, taking second on the opening lap and then taking the lead from John Livingston Jr. on the second circuit. Late in the race, heat winner Casey Jonathan closed the gap on the leader but was unable to make a pass and would settle for second. Livingston would finish in third.
Seth Johnson won a thrilling Bandit Feature for his second win of the season. Johnson, of Castile, had a great battle with Tyler Foster for the lead through the middle of the race, with Foster showing the way in the groove the completion of lap seven when his No. 53 got loose off the fourth corner and snapped around after contact from Johnson. Foster would be unable to finish while Johnson would drive off to the win over Morgan Coniber, who rallied from an opening lap spin for her career-best finish. Nicholas Lipome finished third after cutting a tire on the final lap.
All six divisions will be back in action next Saturday Night with a 6:00 start time. For more information, visit www.Genesee-Speedway.com.
Genesee Speedway Results: 5/14/2022-
Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel Night
Cornerstone Eye Associates RUSH Late Model Feature (25 Laps)- BILL HOLMES, Jon Rivers, Doug Ricotta, JJ Mazur, Billy DuBois, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck LaFleur, Dave DuBois, David Stolzenburg, TJ Downs.
Lap Leaders- Holmes 1-25.
Heat Winners- Rivers, Ricotta.
Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman Feature (25 Laps)- CAMERON TUTTLE, Dave Conant, Noah Walker, Jim Harbison, Brandon Michaud, Ryan Barrett, Byron Dewitt, Kyle Richner, Ray Bliss, Michael McCarthy, Dan Kolb, Larry Vick, Phil Vigneri III, Tyler Guzzardi.
Lap Leader- Tuttle 1-25.
Heat Winners- Conant, Barrett.
Yasses Trucking and Construction Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- RICH CONTE, Bill Taylor, Tommy Kemp, Sherman Gage, Byron Dewitt, Jesse Qutermous, Dale Rissinger Jr, Mike Kelly, Chuck Mogavero, Joe Skinner, Zach Walsh, Jacob Vick.
Lap Leaders- Gage 1-19, Conte 20.
Heat Winners- Taylor, Kemp.
The Detail Shop Mini Stock Feature (15 Laps)- BILL WELLER JR., James Gayton, Dylan Strade, DJ Williams, Olivia Coniber, Robert Knapp, Josh Schosek, Jessica Schleede, Eric Brumsted, Cole Susice, Tom Knapp, Brian Johnson, Ashley Mackey, Zric Schosek, Chris McGuire, Cody Wise.
Lap Leaders- Gayton 1-5, Weller Jr. 6-15.
Heat Winners- Williams, Strade.
Novice Sportsman Feature (15 Laps)- ALLISON DEWITT, Casey Jonathan, John Livingston Jr., Bailey Logsdon.
Lap Leaders- Livingston 1, Dewitt 2-15.
Heat Winner- Jonathan.
DML Sealing Bandit Feature (10 Laps)- SETH JOHNSON, Morgan Coniber, Nicholas Lipome, Jaeden Tarr, Racelyn Lippa, Joey Swick, Tyler Foster.
Lap Leaders- Foster 1-6, Johnson 7-10.