5.22.21 Genesee Speedway Results
Rich Vleck, BATAVIA, NY, (May 22, 2021)- On a night sponsor by Close Racing Supply, tight action would be the story throughout the night with incredible action producing great storylines in Victory Lane.
Dave DuBois had waited a long time to get back to Victory Lane, so when he saw his opportunity to pounce on the lead, he knew he could not wait.
DuBois, of Corfu, made a bold pass on the outside of leader Jimmy Johnson coming to complete lap 16 and then held on to score his first Late Model feature win since June of 2019. In a feature that was run earlier in the program because it was held over from the May 1st rainout, “The Outlaw” used what was left of the cushion to rocket his way up to the lead and move by the defending track champion.
“I could see Jimmy (Johnson) was not letting his car drift up as much in turn four so I knew I had to go by him before he figured it out,” noted the 8-time 360 Late Model Track Champion. “I started to ride up on the jersey barrier but Jimmy and (Paul Grigsby, who he passed for second on lap 13) both ran me really clean and gave me just enough room to get by.”
After a caution on lap 1, the 25 lap feature ran off without caution, allowing for some open track to race on. Paul Grigsby made an early bid at Johnson for the lead, but he and Doug Ricotta came together, which allowed DuBois to close. After DuBois moved in front, Johnson would collect his No. 39J and make a late-race charge on the high side but would have to settle for second. Paul Grigsby brought home his No. 24 in third while Bill Holmes outdueled Doug Ricotta for fourth in a spirited battle.
The second Late Model Feature was held at the end of the night and had all of the spectators on the edge of their seat throughout. Jeremy Wonderling jumped to the early lead with a power slidejob on Jimmy Johnson, while Bill Holmes capitalized on the opportunity and stole second from Johnson in the process. Holmes immediately applied pressure on the leader but Wonderling was too strong. The dynamic of the race would flip on lap eight though when the No. 3J went off in turn three and had to pull off an impressive move just to miss crashing in to the fence. Wonderling would be done for the night, so it was up to Bill Holmes to hold every one off, and that’s just what he was able to do.
Holmes, of East Concord, scored a win for the second-straight Saturday, withstanding a ferocious charge at the end from past champions JJ Mazur and Jimmy Johnson to win the 25-lap event. Even though Mazur was able to peak his nose under the No. 8, Holmes was just focused on hitting his marks to capture the win.
“I don’t know if I had anything for Jeremy,” said Holmes afterwards. “I thought I did early on but then he pulled away but when he broke I saw JJ on the (leaderboard) and knew he was going to be right there. I thought I heard him but knew that the top was pretty dominant like it often is and if I consistent that’s what would win it for me.”
Mazur and Johnson engaged in a thrilling battle for second for much of the race. Even though they were running side-by-side, the duo was still reeling in Holmes. Once Mazur cleared Johnson’s No. 39J, he caught the leader and with two laps to go started to look for the lead. Coming to the white flag though, Johnson looked to the inside of Mazur and forced the No. 13 to play defense as well as offense. Mazur would peek to the inside of Holmes at the finish but would settle for second, just ahead of Johnson in third. Paul Grigsby and Doug Ricotta rounded out a fast top five.
Austin Susice had a bushel of near-wins over the last five years at Genesee, but it was not until Saturday Night that he captured a Sportsman Feature Victory. Susice, of Ransomville, was just as shocked as anyone to be able to park in Victory Lane when the 25-lap event was over.
“I did not think with the year we’ve been having that we’d win one of these,” admitted Susice. “We blew an engine here two weeks ago, had trouble at Ransomville and now we make our first feature start of the year and won it.”
Susice started on the outside pole but saw polesitter Brandon Michaud jump out to the early advantage. On a lap four restart, Susice got a better run on the outside and jumped in front of the No. 132. While he would hang on from there, it was far from easy.
“It was either checker or wrecker up on the top line tonight, and thankfully we were checkered,” declared Susice afterwards, who had won features at other tracks just never at Genesee. “I knew Brandon was down low but if I hit my marks I knew I would get the momentum off the top.”
As Susice pulled away for the victory, Brandon Michaud would hang on to the runner-up spot for his best finish in Batavia as well. Michaud would fend off point leader Phil Vigerni, who made a fast move from sixth to third on a late-race restart to finish on the podium. Noah Walker and Dave Conant completed the top five.
Bill Taylor won his first heat race in two years on Saturday Night, he also captured his second win of the season, making the pass on Brandon Sherwood for the lead on lap six then having to fend off Sherwood all the way to the finish. Taylor, of Arcade, used a low line which allowed him to launch off the bottom of turn four and keep the No. 87 of Sherwood at bay. Sherwood used the high line to keep things interesting, but a caution with 3 laps remaining killed his long run speed and he would have to settle for second, he best career finish at Genesee. John Zimmerman drove up to third while Damian Long rallied from an early race incident to finish in fourth. Dale Rissinger Jr. completed the top five.
Dante Mancuso won his second-consecutive Mini Stock Feature, making the move on Andrew Gayton on a lap 6 restart and then pulling away to win the 15-lap event. Mancuso, the two-time division champion from Batavia, said consistency was the key to drive from his fifth starting spot to the front in his No. 1. For the second race in a row, Andy Schumaker would finish runner-up to Mancuso to help him pad his point lead. Defending champion Brad Whiteside drove up to third back in his familiar No. 46 while Andrew Gayton and Brandon Shepard rounded out the stout top five.
Jake Bansmer scored his third win of the year in the Novice Sportsman Feature, taking the lead from Allison Dewitt on lap 2 and then driving off to the victory. Tyler Guzzardi would move up to finish second in the 15-lap event while Dewitt held on to third.
Alexis Traxler stayed perfect on the year as she won her fourth Bandit Feature of the season. Despite leading throughout, the Warsaw driver fought some challenges in the closing laps to keep her car from pushing up close to the wall on the exit of turn four. As she was able to hang on for the victory, Hailey Weis made her first start count with a runner-up finish, holding off Seth Johnson at the line.
Afternoon showers hit the Genesee County Fairgrounds but gave way to plenty of sunshine to enable to show to move off at a brisk pace. Racing action continues next Saturday with the first appearance of the season by the RUSH Late Model Touring Series. For more information, visit www.Genesee-Speedway.com.
Genesee Speedway Results: 5/22/2021- Close Racing Supply Night
Cornerstone Eye Associates RUSH Late Model Feature Made-Up from 5/1 (25 Laps)- DAVE DUBOIS, Jimmy Johnson, Paul Grigsby, Bill Holmes, Doug Ricotta, Billy DuBois, Bill Button, Jon Rivers, TJ Downs, Austin Hauser, Brian Kotarski (DNS), Austyn Fugle (DNS), Mark Sundt (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Johnson 1-15. D. DuBois 16-25.
Cornerstone Eye Associates RUSH Late Model Feature (25 Laps)- BILL HOLMES, JJ Mazur, Jimmy Johnson, Paul Grigsby, Doug Ricotta, Dave DuBois, Austin Hauser, Bill Button, Austyn Fugle, Billy DuBois, TJ Downs, Austin Kotarski, Jeremy Wonderling, Brian Kotarski, Jon Rivers.
Lap Leaders- Wonderling 1-7, Holmes 8-25.
Heat Winners- B. Kotarski, Johnson.
Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman Feature (25 Laps)- AUSTIN SUSICE, Brandon Michaud, Phil Vigerni III, Noah Walker, Dave Conant, Cam Tuttle, Adam Hilton, Ray Bliss, Jim Harbison, Larry Vick, Ryan Barrett, Tony Muscato, Emmett Waldron, TJ Newton, Kyle Richner, Jessica Kriegisch, Tim Nies, Byron Dewitt, Mike Eastman.
Lap Leaders- Michaud 1-3, Susice 4-25.
Heat Winners- Conant, Michaud, Vigneri.
Yasses Trucking & Construction Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- BILL TAYLOR, Brandon Sherwood, John Zimmerman, Damian Long, Dale Rissinger Jr., Carl Shetler, Phil Schepis, Chuck Mogavero, Shawn Hazlett, Jesse Qutermous, Mike Kelly, Tom Baker, Robbie Knapp.
Lap Leaders- Sherwood 1-5, Taylor 6-20.
Heat Winners- Zimmerman, Taylor.
Pellegrino Auto Sales Mini Stock Feature (15 Laps)- DANTE MANCUSO, Andy Schumaker, Brad Whiteside, Andrew Gayton, Brandon Shepard, Don Whiteside, Ashley Harbison, Brad Shepard, Rocco Conte, Jessica Schleede, James Gayton, Gary Hopkins, Cole Susice, Robert Knapp, Eric Weis, Olivia Coniber, Caleb Wolcott, Brian Johnson, Tom Knapp, Rich Conte, Curtis Rung Jr.
Lap Leaders- A. Gayton 1-5, Mancuso 6-15.
Heat Winners- Mancuso, Schumaker, A. Gayton.
Novice Sportsman Feature (15 Laps)- JAKE BANSMER, Tyler Guzzardi, Allison Dewitt, John Livingston Jr., Bailey Logsdon, Andrew Joy.
Lap Leaders- Dewitt 1, Bansmer 2-15.
Heat Winner- Bansmer.
DML Sealing Bandits (10 Laps)- ALEXIS TRAXLER, Hailey Weis, Seth Johnson, Morgan Coniber, Grayson Harding, Nicholas Lipone, Jonathan Logsdon.
Lap Leader- Traxler 1-10.