RPW Exclusive: Tyler Jashembowski Wins OCFS’ 104th Anniversary Big Block Modified Feature
News Director 
Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – MIDDLETOWN, NY – The Jashembowski name has been around the Orange County Fair Speedway for many years. And the family has had their share of success.
Frank Jashembowski has won in both Big and Small Blocks. Ray Jashembowski has won in the Big Blocks. Bob Jashembowski won some Rookie Sportsman wins in recent years.
But on Saturday night at OCFS, Tyler Jashembowski scored what might be the biggest win in the family history as he dominated the 50 lap 104th Anniversary Big Block Race.
The win was Tyler’s first career Big Block win and it carried a $6,000 payday.
“We’ve been working hard this season and we’ve had some setbacks,” said a jubilant Tyler in Victory Lane. “Winning here has been my dream since I was a little kid.”
Jashembowski grabbed the lead from polesitter Bob Hentschel at the start and was never challenged at all during the feature, even sprinting away from the the all time OCFS feature winner Brett Hearn on some restarts.
Hearn passed Steve Dodd on lap 12 for 2nd, but Jashembowski was just too fast for even a Jet on this evening.
Dan Creeden raced from 14th to 3rd for another good finish that is going to help get him a very good points finish this season.
Tyler Boniface showed good speed in advancing from 12th to finish 4th. Bob McGannon started 10th and quickly moved into the top 5. He ran a steady race to finish 5th.
Jimmy Horton finished 6th. Anthony Perrego was able to race from 15th to 7th. Steve Dodd finished 8th, Craig Mitchell was 9th and Dillon Steuer 10th.
“I got a little itchy when I saw Hearn and Creeden battling for 2mde, but I knew that I had a good car,” Jashembowski said. “I knew that if I hit my marks on the bottom that I could win.”
The Sportsman feature event from August 12 that was postponed by rain was the first event on Saturday’s event schedule. John Bockhorn passed Joey Conklin on lap 5 for the lead and was able to fend off some serious challenges from Jeff Higham to take the win.
Higham made several good bids for the lead, looking very strong going into turn 3. But Bockhorn consistently got good runs off the turns and at the end of 20 laps, he had an .86 advantage. Higham finished 2nd while the points leader Brian Krummel finished 3rd.
Michael Sabia finished 4th and Drew Boniface 5th. Completing the top 10 were Nick Giardini 6th, Ryan Neiger 7th, Tyler Peet 8th, Kacey Hufcut 9th and Gary Edwards III 10th.
In the regularly scheduled feature, Brian Krummel quickly moved from 16th into 5th spot by lap 5. He passed Dylan Smith for 2nd on lap 13. But it took Brian 6 laps to run down and pass Brock Miller to take the win as he continues his drive to the Sportsman championship.
Miller, who won a Rookie Sportsman win earlier, nearly held off Krummel and finished 2nd. Smith finished 3rd. Joey Conklin finished 4th and Anthony Falanga 5th.
Rounding out the top 10 were Michael Sabia 6th, Tyler Peet 7th, Dillon Gannon 8th, Kasey Hufcut 9th and Drew Boniface 10th.
Willis Mann didn’t lead a lot of Saturday’s Rookie Sportsman race, but he led when it most counted, at the checkered flag to collect the win.
Ronnie Shauger looked to be on his way to a win until final lap contact from a car that was 4 laps down ended his chance for victory.
Following Mann at the finish were Justin Miller 2nd, Chris Weslowski 3ed, Andrew Sabo 4th, Shauger 5th and Caleb Van Noordt 6th.
Racing resumes at OCFS on Saturday, September 9th as it will be Champions Night. Next saturday, August 26th, Diesels of New York will be having another meet at the fairgrounds.
