Keith Youngs Grabs Career-First Sunoco Modified Win in Chemung’s Season Finale

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Keith Youngs Grabs Career-First Sunoco Modified Win in Chemung’s Season Finale

by Carol Houssock

(Chemung, NY) Chemung Speedrome closed out the 2021 season with a special two-day Russ Tubbs Memorial. On Saturday, the wins went to Keith Youngs (Sunoco Modifieds), Charlie Sharpsteen (Super Stocks), and Nick Robinson (4 Cylinders). Friday’s action included the Marion Decker Hobby Stocks, 4 Cylinders, and the INEX Bandoleros. Winners on Friday included Randy Mathews (Hobby Stocks), Nick Robinson (4 Cylinders) and Kalysta DeMark (Bandoleros). Robinson picked up a nice bonus, available to a 4 Cylinder driver who could win both days. The two-day finale received primary sponsorship from Buckley’s Automotive and Ferrario Auto Team, and associate sponsorship from eight businesses that had helped the track all season.

A career-first win in the Sunoco Modified division is even more special when it’s a sweep, and that’s what took place for Keith Youngs. He and regular season champion Tony Hanbury won the two heats and eight drivers drew for the top eight starting positions for the 40-lap feature. Charlie Sharpsteen started from the pole and led the first two laps before the first of five cautions. Contact sent Tony Jilson into the backstretch wall and out of the race. TJ Potrzebowski, lined up second for the restart, took the lead on lap three. He held the top spot while Hanbury, Kevin Youngs and Scott Wylie all dropped out with either damage or a motor issue. Zack Curren was also on the move and had taken over second, with Sharpsteen back to third. Things changed for Potrzebowski, however, when he spun off turn two and Curren went to the rear for contact. That put Sharpsteen back in charge, with Keith Youngs beside him for the final restart. Sharpsteen had pressure from both Youngs and Potrzebowski over the final ten laps. Youngs held on for a career-first win, with Potrzebowski, Sharpsteen Curren and Kyle Youngs in the top five.

Nick Robinson and Charlie Sharpsteen won the two heats in the Insinger Performance Super Stocks, racing in memory of the late Ed McGuire. Robinson drew the pole and Brian DeMark drew second for the start of the 30-lap event. Things ended before they started for Cody Frantz, who broke on the parade lap. Once things got going it was Robinson who led the first two laps. The first of just two cautions came when DeMark and Chad Lane got together and set up a lap three restart. Sharpsteen got to the inside of Robinson’s backup car and made what became his race-winning pass. As the race went on it became a four-car breakaway with DJ Shaw and Brian DeMark joining the leaders. When Derrick Tarbox spun with 10 laps remaining it was the final chance for Lee Sharpsteen, who had overtaken DeMark for third, to take the lead. Charlie was on his game and held on for the win, this time over Robison, Lee Sharpsteen, DeMark and Chad Lane.

The Robinsons, Nick and Monica, won the two heats for the 4 Cylinder division. Luck of the draw put Nick last. Having won the night before, he was in a position to win a $300 bonus if he could win this 25-lapper. Tom Shaffer and Matt Jenkins made up the front row but it was Greg Moldt, who had started third, who had the lead on the opening lap. Nick Robinson worked the traffic quickly and took over the top spot by lap five. He and Moldt then exchanged the lead a couple times, the last of which came with a bold move by Robinson when he chose the right way to get around a lap car. From then on he built his lead over Moldt on each ensuing lap. When lap 25 clicked off, Robinson knew his 4 Cylinder mission was accomplished. “This car is a best. I had the piece to beat this weekend,” he told the crowd. Moldt, the regular season champion, finished second. Matt Jenkins, Monica Robinson and Dustin Pruyne rounded out the top five.

The Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks had a lot on the line Friday night with the largest car count all year for the Lace Decker memorial. Chuck Nichols, Josh Parker and Randy Mathews won the three heats and the top four from each drew for the best dozen starting spots. Nichols and Dave Decker drew best and started on row one for their extra-distance 30-lap feature. Decker led the way before being passed by Mathews. The first of four cautions came as Rich Sharpsteen was passing a lap car. Five laps later that same lap car spun and brought out the caution. Mathews went back to work leading the way while Decker was holding off Parker. Two additional cautions, for solo spins, bunched up the field. As the race neared its end it boiled down to a two-car breakaway. Decker tried his best but this one, and the $1,000 to go with it, went to Randy Mathews. Decker was second, followed by Parker, Doug DeKay, and Sharpsteen. “It was fast, that’s for sure,” Mathews said from victory lane.

Nick Robinson and Greg Moldt got things going Friday in the Russ Tubbs Memorial, a special 25-lap event, by winning their heats. Monica Robinson and Tom Shaffer drew the front row spots and the first three laps had three different leaders – Robinson, Shaffer, and eventual winner Nick Robinson. Once in front he put a huge gap between himself and Moldt, who was up to second. The only caution came when Dustin Pruyne slowed to a stop in turn two just past the halfway point. When the race resumed Moldt stayed with Robinson for a few laps, but the leader again built a sizeable lead over his teammate. Nick, who has been running this car in several post-season special shows, took the win over Moldt, Shaffer, Joey Bevacqua, and Monica Robinson.

The final INEX Bandolero event of the year began on Friday with just four of the seven youngsters who were on hand at the beginning of the night. Heat winner Cullen Sharpsteen started from pole and led the opening lap in their 10-lap Russ Tubbs Memorial. He held the top spot before losing it to Kalysta DeMark on lap four. A lap later Sharpsteen spun and brought out the only caution. DeMark, racing in the Outlaw age group, pulled away on the restart and by lap seven the field was spread out. She took the win, followed by Joey Allowatt, Derrick Vogler and Sharpsteen (Bandit winner).

Next up is the season-celebrating banquet, to be held this year on November 20th at the Best Western Grand Victorian Inn in Sayre, PA. More information is forthcoming on the track’s website: chemung-speedrome.com, or official Facebook page: Chemung Speedrome – Racing at the Drome, or you can call Ray Hodge, Promoter, at 607-483-3468.

Of Note:

Associate sponsors for the weekend included Jolly Farmer, Waverly Pharmacy, Wilber Auto Sales, Knappy’s Auto Body, Chemung Soft Water, Marion Decker Insurance Agency, Sam’s Bar and Grill, and Zack’s Grill.

The Marion Decker Agency truly remembered and honored the late Lace Decker. In addition to sponsoring the Hobby Stock division all season, Marion showed up with t-shirts for the fans and all drivers in the class had bandanas on their left pillar just as Lace had done. She also ensured that the race winner would take home a big trophy and $1,000 for this win.

Friday’s 50/50 winner from Waverly took home $250. On Saturday the Elmira winner pocketed $308.
During intermission on Friday kids competed on the front stretch in pedal car races. Nick Robinson and Greg Moldt served as the two flaggers, and they ran a two-lap showdown in larger pedal cars when the kids were finished with their heats and features. Robinson took that win as well.

Friday’s best victory lane comment came from Kalysta DeMark after her Bandolero win: “I did pretty well….I think.”

Buckley’s Automotive and Ferrario Auto Team of Sayre Results (Saturday):

Sunoco Modifieds (Russ Tubbs Memorial): KEITH YOUNGS,
TJ Potrzebowski, Charlie Sharpsteen, Zack Curren, Kyle Youngs, Gunnar Zeiner, Scott Wylie, Tony Hanbury, Kevin Youngs, Tony Jilson
Heats: Keith Youngs, Hanbury

Insinger Performance Super Stocks (Ed McGuire Memorial): CHARLIE SHARPSTEEN, Nick Robinson, Lee Sharpsteen, Brian DeMark, Chad Lane, Derrick Tarbox, Dennis Beardslee, DJ Shaw, Cody Frantz, Matt Visingard (DNS)

Heats:
Robinson, C. Sharpsteen

4 Cylinders (Russ Tubbs Memorial): NICK ROBINSON, Greg Moldt, Matt Jenkins, Monica Robinson, Dustin Pruyne, Colton Ingerick, Tom Shaffer

Heats: N. Robinson, M. Robinson

Buckley’s Automotive and Ferrario Auto Team of Sayre Results (Friday):

Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (30 Laps, Lace Decker Memorial):
RANDY MATHEWS, Dave Decker, Josh Parker, Doug DeKay, Rich Sharpsteen, Bruce Kinner, Tyler Harbst, Kalysta DeMark, Chuck Nichols, Dave Machuga, Dalton Decker, Kenneth Ward, Jason Clagstone, Luck Nickles, Fred Mathews, Ben Perry

Heats: Nichols, Parker, R. Mathews

4 Cylinders (25 Laps, Russ Tubbs Memorial): NICK ROBINSON, Greg Moldt, Tom Shaffer, Joey Bevacqua, Monica Robinson, Dustin Pruyne, Matt Jenkins

Heats: Robinson, Moldt

INEX Bandoleros (10 Laps, Russ Tubbs Memorial): KALYSTA DEMARK, Joey Allowatt, Derrick Vogler, Cullen Sharpsteen (Bandit winner), DNS: Devon Gullo, Michael Bast, Reese Faulisi

Heats: Bast, Sharpsteen
 
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