Jeremy Wonderling Claims Clayton Downs Memorial at Genesee
Dave Conant Scores Second Sportsman Win of Season
Rich Vleck, BATAVIA, NY, (July 30, 2022)- A perfect weather day greeted race fans and fairgoers alike at the Genesee County Fairgrounds on Saturday Night. On the dirt track side, the Clayton Downs Memorial was an event that saw lots of preparation go in and the results were a full field of Late Models that was filled with storylines.
Jeremy Wonderling’s nickname is “Mr. Excitement”, but on Saturday Night a better one might have been “Moses”, because somehow, someway, he was able to drive through calamity in front of him and find his way to the front. Wonderling, of Wellsville, led the final 16 laps of the 33-lap Clayton Downs Memorial for his fourth win of the season, this one resulting in a payday of $2,033. Wonderling had a great car, but he also had luck on his side.
“I don’t know how I got through that first wreck,” admitted Wonderling in Victory Lane about the wreck on a lap 7 restart that saw the top two of David Pangrazio and John Waters come together and collect half of the field. “I’m not sure what happened in front of me I was just glad to not be in it.”
After that big wreck, Wonderling found himself in second trailing Jimmy Johnson, who took the lead and was solid until just after halfway, when his No. 39J got spun around while in lapped traffic, which would hand the lead over to Wonderling’s No. 3J for good.
“Jimmy was good and I wasn’t sure if I could pass him outside of the preferred groove so I knew lapped traffic would be my chance,” Wonderling added. “It is important to be patient with lapped traffic and it worked in our favor.”
After those two close calls, Wonderling was able to drive away from Paul Grigsby for his fourth win at Genesee in 2022. Grigsby would settle for second while the battle was on for third. Doug Ricotta, who was involved in the lap seven wreck, would drive back up to third with a late-race move on JJ Mazur, who would settle for fourth. David Pangraizo rallied from his incident while leading to rally back to round out the top five.
The Sportsman division ran off a clean 25-lap feature, with every circuit being led by Dave Conant as “Cadillac” would score his second win of the season. In order to win Conant would have to get out of his comfort zone.
“I think everyone knows I like to run the bottom but after watching the late models I knew that’s where I had to be,” said Conant after the event.
Conant saw a serious challenge from point leader Cameron Tuttle down the stretch as the No. 35T was able to reel him in with three laps remaining but could not set up a move on the bottom of the track. Tuttle would have to fall back in line and settle for second while Noah Walker used a strong restart on lap 17 restart to run up from 8th to 3rd, where he would finish. Jim Harbison passed Jacob Bansmer on the final lap to finish in fourth.
Dennis Cummings knew that the high line would be the way to Victory Lane in his street stock, but when he is No. 74D started getting lose he had multiple competitors breathing down his neck; but when one more false move would have him surrender the leader Cummings hit his marks and held on for the win. Cummings, of Wellsville, ended up leading all 20 laps for his second win of the season in Batavia. The 2018 Champion was pressured early on by Brandon Sherwood, who faded on lap 13 when he suffered a flat left rear tire. On the ensuing restart Byron Dewitt gave pressure to the leader by running the bottom lane and looked like he could take the lead at any point, but that was when Cummings was at his best and refused to make a bobble to give up the win. Dewitt would have to settle for second while point leader would run to third. Mike Kelly and Adam DePuy would round out the top five.
James Gayton scored his fifth-straight win in the Mini Stock Feature, his sixth of 2022. Gayton took the lead on the opening lap but would see Bill Weller Jr. take over the top spot before that circuit was completed. Gayton was able to get back in front of him by lap three and then checked out to capture a comfortable victory. Olivia Coniber ran to a solid second while Eric Brumsted held off a hard-charging Cole Susice for third. Jessica Schleede rounded out the top five.
Kasey Coffey made his first appearance to the Genesee Speedway pay off in a big way as the youngster dominated the 15-lap Novice Sportsman Feature. Coffey had his No. 32c running lap times after than every Stirling Lubricants Sportsman except one but wanted to make sure he knew his way around the 1/3-mile and clearly he figured it out quickly. A wild battle was on behind Coffey, with Allison Dewitt driving up to finish in second, moving in front of Greenley George, who rounded out the podium.
The Bandit Feature came right down to the final lap as Tyler Foster ran down leader Seth Johnson and was setting up a pass for the lead but spun around in turn one and allowed Johnson to run off to his sixth win of the year. Morgan Coniber was able to move up to finish second while Jonathan Logsdon rounded out the podium.
The Sharp Mini Late Models made their first appearance and had a wild battle to the finish. Chris White led the first nine laps but was knocked out of the race while leading, handing the lead over to Trey White. White would have to battle wheel-to-wheel to withhold the advances of Carson Wonderling but was able to do so and would capture the win and the sweep of the night.
Racing action returns next Saturday, August 6, with the NY6A Micro Sprints joining the six weekly divisions at 6:00. For more information, visit www.Genesee-Speedway.com.
Genesee Speedway Results: 7/30/2022-
Clayton Downs Memorial Night presented by The Hangover Crew
Clayton Downs Memorial Cornerstone Eye Associates RUSH Late Model Feature (33 Laps)- JEREMY WONDERLING, Paul Grigsby, Doug Ricotta, JJ Mazur, David Pangrazio, Alan Chapman, Jim Mazur, Brian Kotarski, Dave DuBois, Chad Homan, Billy DuBois, Carl Shetler, Jimmy Johnson, Dan Bennett, Dave Stolzenberg, Todd Chapman, TJ Downs, John Waters, Brady Wonderling, Bill Holmes, Chris Fleming, Jon Rivers, Harry Halliday (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Pangrazio 1-6, Johnson 7-16, J. Wonderling 17-33.
Heat Winners- Pangrazio, J. Wonderling, Johnson.
Stirling Lubricants DIRTcar Sportsman Feature (25 Laps)- DAVE CONANT, Cameron Tuttle, Noah Walker, Jim Harbison, Jacob Bansmer, Kyle Richner, Ryan Barrett, Phil Vigneri III, Brandon Michaud, Ray Bliss, Larry Vick, Michael McCarthy, Dan Kolb, Tyler Guzzardi, Evan Nugent, Jacob Vick, Gordy Hermanson, Jessica Kriegisch, Greg Mrzywka.
Lap Leader- Conant 1-25.
Heat Winners- Bliss, Tuttle, Richner.
Yasses Trucking and Construction Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- DENNIS CUMMINGS, Byron Dewitt, Bill Taylor, Mike Kelly, Adam DePuy, Dale Rissinger Jr., Pat Powers, Jason Quigley, Jeff Almekinder, Bobby Lippa Jr., Brandon Sherwood, Rich Conte, Damian Long, Jesse Qutermous.
Lap Leaders- Cummings 1-20.
Heat Winners- Dewitt, Sherwood.
The Detail Shop Mini Stock Feature (15 Laps)- JAMES GAYTON, Olivia Coniber, Eric Brumsted, Cole Susice, Jessica Schleede, Alexis Traxler, Mike Dinehardt, Aric Schosek, Jeremy Hughes, Bill Weller Jr., Darrell Moyer, Tom Knapp, Robert Knapp, Rocco Conte (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Weller 1-2, Gayton 3-15.
Heat Winners- Coniber, Weller.
Ron & Newt’s Sales and Service Novice Sportsman Feature (15 Laps)- KASEY COFFEY, Allison Dewitt, Greenley George, Casey Jonathan, John Livingston Jr., Paul Marshall, Doug Walsh Jr., Mike Taddonio (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Coffey 1-15.
Heat Winner- Jonathan.
DML Sealing Bandit Feature (10 Laps)- SETH JOHNSON, Morgan Coniber, Jonathan Logsdon, Nicholas Lipome, Tyler Foster, Joey Swick, Hannah Moyer (DNS).
Lap Leaders- Johnson 1-10.
Heat Winner- Foster.
Sharp Mini Late Models (10 Laps)- TREY WHITE, Carson Wonderling, Chris White.
Lap Leaders- C. White 1-9, T. White 10
Heat Winner- T. White.