6.26.20 Genesee Speedway Results
Rich Vleck, BATAVIA, NY, (June 26, 2020)- It was a rare Friday Night race at Genesee with a new division and 100 cars in the pits, but the results looked very similar to the opening night with the top drivers visiting Victory Lane.
Jimmy Johnson dominated the RUSH Late Models for the second straight race to open up 2020 and Kyle Inman did the same in the DIRTcar Sportsman class. Unlike last time where they drove up through the field to do it though, the got the benefit of a favorable draw to lead all 25 laps of their respective races.
Johnson, of Oakfield, had pulled out to over a three second lead 15 laps in to the feature when the first caution flag came out, which opened up the doors for his pursuers to get back to his bumper; it did not matter much though as the No. 39J was perfect on the ensuing restarts to revisit Victory Lane.
“The car has been really good for me and anytime you can go 2-for-2 to start of the year something must be going right,” stated Johnson after the race. “I wish the fans were here but we’ll take it.”
As Johnson was driving off to the win, Bill Holmes was a solid second just never able to do enough to reel in the leader. With Holmes second, it was Dave DuBois charging forward to finish in third, just ahead of teammates JJ Mazur and Brian Kotarski, who rounded out the top five.
Kyle Inman started on the outside pole and had to work hard to take the lead from Sarah Johnson to complete the opening circuit just .015 seconds ahead; from that point on no driver was be even close to the No. 20k. Inman, of Darien, was prolific in his new racecar was quality restarts on the bottom of the track and a smooth line higher up the speedway under green flag conditions.
“To build this car the way we did and put in bars and use our basic setup it’s just great to be running like this,” admitted Inman after the race.
With Inman holding the field at bay, Sarah Johnson worked hard in the closing laps to ensure her runner-up showing by holding off the advances of Cam Tuttle, who charged from 8th to finish in third. Dave Conant rebounded from an early race incident to finish in fourth while Phil Vigneri III rounded out the top five.
Josh Pangrazio picked up where he left off in 2019 as the defending track champion dominated the Street Stock feature to score the win. Pangrazio took the lead on a lap 3 restart from Bill Taylor and then drove away to win by nearly four seconds. Taylor crossed in second for the second time in 2020. Coming to the finish line, Damian Long cut a tire, which allowed Pat Powers to steal third away. Long held on for fourth while Tommy Kemp ran up to round out the top five.
It was an emotional win for Rich Conte in the Mini Stock Feature, who not only won at Genesee for the first time, but led wire-to-wire to win the special 15-lap feature held in memory of his father, Rich as well as Mike Holford. With extra money put up from Conte’s band of Wise Guys, as well as Weller’s Garage, the No. 717 showed the way throughout to keep a healthy distance over James Gayton and Ashley Harbison, who were also looking to get back to Victory Lane for the first time at Genesee in a few years. As Conte was scoring the win though, Gayton’s No. 10 broke off the final corner, collecting Harbison in the process. Chris Leone was the first to sneak underneath and finished in second while Brad Whiteside crossed in third. Eric Brumsted and Andrew Gayton completed the top five.
The Novice Sportsman made their first appearance on Friday Night with eight cars in attendance with 16-year-old Dylan Duhow leading the field to win the heat as well as the feature. Duhow, of Appleton, took the lead from Tim Nies on lap 3 and then held a pretty wheel to comfortably win the 15-lap feature. Ryan Barrett crossed in second while Jacob Vick completed the podium.
Jake Bansmer had to fight hard to win the Bandit Feature two weeks ago but on Friday Night the youngster was in total dominance leading wire-to-wire. The East Aurora driver held a pretty wheel on the top of the track stay perfect on the season. Tyler Guzzardi held Brian Gregory off to finish in second.
Genesee Speedway is slated to return to action next Saturday, July 4th with another six-division showcase. This date is subject to change though. For more information visit www.Genesee-Speedway.com.
Genesee Speedway Results: 6/26/2020-
A-Verdi Night
Cornerstone Eye Associates RUSH Late Model Feature (25 Laps)- JIMMY JOHNSON, Bill Holmes, Dave DuBois, JJ Mazur, Brian Kotarski, TJ Downs, Alan Chapman, Tim Schram, Austyn Fugle, Billy DuBois, Jon Rivers, Greg Mrzywka, Jeff Hauser, Beamer Guzzardi, John Woodward, Paul Grigsby, Kenny Begnouche, Mark Sundt, Dustin Waters, Doug Ricotta (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Johnson 1-25.
Heat Winners- Mazur, Waters, Holmes.
Sterling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman Feature (25 Laps)- KYLE INMAN, Sarah Johnson, Cam Tuttle, Dave Conant, Phil Vigneri III, Jonathan Reid, Jim Harbison, Noah Walker, Byron Dewitt, TJ Newton, Kyle Richner, Dan Michaud, Zack Sam, Mike Taddonio, Larry Vick, Ricky Newton, Dan Kolb, Ray Bliss, Jordan Moden.
Lap Leader- Inman 1-25.
Heat Winners- Vigneri III, Reid, Conant.
Yasses Trucking & Construction Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- JOSH PANGRAZIO, Bill Taylor, Pat Powers, Damian Long, Tommy Kemp, Dustin Goss, Jesse Qutermous, Dale Rissinger, Dan Brumsted, Shawn Hazlett, Dan Schulz, John Zimmerman, Doug Jones, Mike Kelly, Matt Tracey, Dennis Cummings, Robert Knapp, Brandon Sherwood, Doug Chappius, Chip Wood, Mike Childrose (DNS), Byron Dewitt (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Taylor 1-2, Pangrazio 3-20.
Heat Winners- Pangrazio, Zimmerman, Long.
Pellegrino Auto Sales Mini Stock Rich Conte/Mike Holford Memorial Feature (15 Laps)- RICH CONTE JR., Chris Leone, Brad Whiteside, Eric Brumsted, Andy Gayton, Don Whiteside, Cody Wise, Rocco Conte, Olivia Coniber, Larry Wise, Chris McGuire, James Gayton, Ashley Harbison, Jessica Schleede, Cody Griffin, Shauna Knapp, Andy Schumaker, Donald Hermanson, Cole Susice, Jeff Wynes, Brad Shepard, Dante Mancuso, Brandon Shepard, Bailey Logsdon, Chris Miller (DNS), Dylan Stradd (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Conte 1-15.
Heat Winners- Harbison, Susice, Conte.
Novice Sportsman Feature (15 Laps)- DYLAN DUHOW, Ryan Barrett, Jacob Vick, Michael McCarthy, Tim Nies, John Livingston Jr, Allison Dewitt, Andrew Joy.
Lap Leaders- Nies 1-2, Duhow 3-15.
Heat Winner- Duhow.
DML Sealing Bandits (12 Laps)- JAKE BANSMER, Tyler Guzzardi, Brian Gregory, Greenley George, Randy Gregory.
Lap Leaders- Bansmer 1-12.
Heat Winner- Bansmer.