Alex Payne Victorious In Gary Montgomery Memorial Friday At Outlaw Speedway

Story By: KENNY SHUPP / OUTLAW SPEEDWAY – DUNDEE, NY – Alex Payne has knocked on the Outlaw Modified feature door numerous times since making the full time move into the track’s premier division several seasons ago.

Fortunately for the third generation Canandaigua speedster, he was able to wrestle the top spot sway from two-time 2024 feature winner, Ajay Potrzebowski on lap twenty and then go on to his first Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Ram, Modified feature triumph of the young season.

A pair of third generation young guns in Ajay Potrzebowski Jr and Billy Paine would lead the twenty-car field to the opening green for their thirty-lap feature with Ajay Jr. getting the early jump. Alex Payne would be assigned the seventh spot on the opening grid but wasted little time in getting through traffic and set sail for Potrzebowski for the top spot. 2023 Track Champion, Cory Costa looked like the driver that won last year’s title in contesting within the lead group early on, however an incident with Payne while challenging for the lead sent the Painted post speedster to the trailer making it an exceedingly rare DNF for Costa. By lap twenty, Payne had caught up to Ajay Jr. and this had all the makings of a classic battle we have witnessed between two of the hottest Modified drivers in the northeast with Payne making the winning move on the next circuit and from there go to his first trip to the Outlaw Speedway Victory Lane in 2024. For Potrzebowski Jr. it was a tough pill to swallow having already won twice at the track in “24” after taking home the 2022 Track Championship, but nonetheless another solid finish.

The Doctor, Danny Johnson would begin the thirty-lap grind outside row two and advance one spot to round the top three podium.

Jeff Daugherty put on a masterful performance and with the help of only a pair of yellow flags to bunch the field drove from seventeenth to fourth as he was chased across the line by Ron Cartwright Jr. who began the event in fifth and that is right where he finished.

Six through ten went to Kreg Crooker who advanced some six spots in finishing sixth at the finish as his upstart team continues to turn heads. Jim LaRock moved forward from eleventh to nail seventh at the double checkers chased across the line by Bossman Tyler Siri who improved from fourteenth to finish eighth.

Brady Fults would begin the event right behind Will Shields and follow him the entire distance as the pair rounded the top ten.

The RUSH Crate Late Model Series made their lone appearance for the 2024 season and the nationally acclaimed touring group did not disappoint as thirty-three of the best in the business converged on the Fast 4/10 of a mile clay oval.

The old saying goes, “If you put a smooth and fast racing surface out there the drivers will respond” and they did as Mr. Excitement, Jeremy Wonderling led the entire distance in claiming yet another Gary Montgomery Memorial.

For the Scio, NY speedster it clearly showed why he is the reigning RUSH Crate Late Model Series Champion as he dominated the night winning his heat, dash and wrapping up the night with a convincing win in the 30-lap feature, his third in the last five attempts at Outlaw Speedway.

Jared Miley and Brock Pinkeruos would begin the event in the second and third starting positions, but neither had anything for the high flying Wonderling as pair had to settle for second and third, respectively.

Former Outlaw Speedway RUSH CLM Track Champion, Chad Homan was fourth at the finish followed by Damian Bidwell.

RUSH Series Champion, Montgomery Memorial winner and Canisteo, NY native, Bryce Davis began the event in fifteenth and put on a steady drive to claim sixth followed by Joe Martin, Daryl Charlier, 2023 Woodhull Raceway RUSH CLM Track Champin, Austin Allen and Craig Graham

Wonderling’s margin of victory was a full four seconds over runner-up Miley.

Clayton Tarabori would come away victorious in the RUSH CLM Non-Qualifiers feature.

For a more concise wrap up of the entire RUSH Crate Late Model portion of the Gary Montgomery Memorial including time trials, heat and B Main wins, contingencies as well as the Non Qualifiers event simply go to www.myracepass.com or www.rushlatemodels.com.

Carter Crooker has shown plenty of speed throughout the early part of the 2024 season wherever he goes. However, a string of bad luck, wrong place at the wrong time have kept the fourth generation Savona, NY teenager out of victory lane.

However, on this night Crooker was not to be denied in the Sunrise Insulation/Knapp and Schlappi Lumber 602 Crate Sportsman feature as he shot into the early lead off his front row stating position and lead all twenty-five laps in claiming the victory.

Justice Mayo would line up third on the opening grid and quickly dispose of veteran competitor, Dale Welty and set sail for Crooker.

A trio of caution flags would slow the pace and keep the field bunched, however on each restart, Crooker was able to hold Mayo at bay with no less that a second separating the pair throughout the entire distance as they crossed the finish line to complete the twenty-five lap affair with Crooker’s margin of victory just a car length.

Mayo would claim the runner-up spot, his best showing thus far in 2024 as Darly Krebs would begin the event in row four and steadily move forward in rounding the podium finishers.

Carter Crooker’s good friend and teammate, Ben Feldman would line up alongside of Krebs and ride home for fourth chased across the line by veteran Dundee speedster, Brent Ayers.

Dale Welty back slid a few spots from his front row starting spot to claim sixth as he was followed by 2022/2023 Sportsman Track Champion, Chris Fisher.

Rounding out the top ten were a trio of Addison, NY veteran drivers as Donnie Lawson was able to hold off neighbors Tim Guild and Kenny Peoples in the stacked twenty-five car field.

Like Carter Crooker before him, Gene Sharpsteen has had a monkey on his back all season.

However, the veteran competitor was finally able to shake off all the gremlins in taking home his first Swarthout Recycling Street Stock win of the season.

Sharpsteen took full advantage of his pole position starting spot for the twenty-lap feature which saw three caution flags slowing the pace. Jered Hill would start the feature outside row four and quickly move to second but that is as far as his charge would go as he had to settle for the runner-up spot.

The story of the race was sophomore competitor, Joe Giardina who began the event in fifth, raced with the lead pack the entire distance and crossed the line in third for one of his best runs at Outlaw Speedway.

Giardina was followed across the line by Dundee native Carl Cleveland who claimed fourth while Tim Grady would advance from ninth to complete the top five.

Zach Teed, Jesse Tuthill, Sparky Hills and Damen Decker would follow in tow.

In the Addison, Corning, Hornell and Wellsville NAPA sponsored Hobby Stock Division it appeared like Willy Easling was well on his way to picking up win number one on the season.

Easling would wrestle the top spot away from Marc Minutolo on lap four and drive away from the field, however his brilliant effort would come up four laps shy as a mechanical issue sidelined the Beaver Dams, NY teenager denying him a sure trip to victory lane on lap sixteen.

From there Doug Batterson would inherit the lead and go on to his second consecutive win as he was followed by Justin Eldredge who led the field to the opening green.

Tyler Burnell would advance from eighth at the start to complete the podium finishers.

Ed Stevens and Jeredd Dennis would both put on consistent runs to complete the top five.

Phil Yaw would lead the charge of the next group of five across the stripe followed by Marc Minutolo who led the the opening three circuits before drifting back to seventh.

Jesse Ballance rode home for eighth with Easling and Kaiden Dgien completing the top ten.

The Nature Boy, Mike Stone and Don Potter would bring the fifteen car Winner’s Circle Deli Mini Stock feature to the opening green for their twenty-lap feature, but it was Willy the Kid Easling quickly disposing of everyone as he shot into the early lead from inside row three and never look back.

Not even a handful of caution flags that kept his pace slowed and the field tight could slow down Easling as he cruised to his second win of the campaign as he held a comfortable three second advantage over Michael Dickerson who had to settle for second.

Jason Smart began the event inside row seven, using the multitude of caution flags to his advantage in moving forward as he nailed third at the finish.

Craig DeCamp and Jeremy Bunn would go on to complete the top five.

Michael Morton, Connor Eric, Gavin Hall, Mike Stone and 2023 Track Champion, Brian Grant would complete the top ten finishers.

For Easling, who does double duty in both the Hobby and Mini Stock Divisions he was within just four laps of sweeping the night a fete which has not been done since Glen Whritenour competed in both the IMCA Modified and Street Stock Divisions several years ago when he won multiple features as well as the track titles in both divisions.

Congratulations to all competitors.

Up next at Outlaw Speedway, Owner/Promoter, Tyler Siri will wrap up the month of May with a special $5 Fan Appreciation Night which is sure to pack the track.

On the May 31 card it will be a Regular Super 5 Show featuring the Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds, the Sunrise Insulation/Knapp and Schlappi Lumber Sportsman and the Swarthout Recycling Street Stocks.

Also, in action it will be the NAPA Hobby Stocks, the Winner’s Circle Deli Mini Stocks featuring a mixture of both front and rear wheel driven 4 -cylinder creations along with the Fritz Masonry Youth Bandit Division running a feature only event.

OUTLAW SPEEDWAY GARY MONTGOMEY MEMORIAL RACE RESULTS. 5/24/2024

FRIENDLY CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM, MODIFIEDS (21 cars) 30 lap feature.

ALEX PAYNE, Ajay Potrzebowski Jr., Danny Johnson, Jeff Daugherty, Ron Cartwright Jr., Kreg Crooker, Jim LaRock, Tyler Siri, Will Shields, Brady Fultz, Billy Paine, Jake Dgien, Dave Rauscher, Steve Paine, Tommy Collins Jr., Tommy Paine, Adam Coots, Gil Tegg, Alan Johnson, Cory Costa, Bobby Varin.

RUSH CRATE LATE MODEL SERIES. (33 cars) 30 lap feature.

JEREMY WONDERLING, Jared Miley, Brock Pinkerous, Chad Homan, Damian Bidwell, Bryce Davis, Joe Martin, Daryl Charlier, Austin Allen, Craig Graham, Kyle Zimmerman, Brian Knowles, Jim Rasey, Kurt Stebbins, Brad Mesler, Cody Dawson, Dusty Waters, Benjamin Easler, AJ Miller, Ashton Briggs, mike Wonderling, Tob Pitcher, Austin Hauser, Bill Taylor, Jason Knowles.

Non -Qualifiers Race.

CLAYTON TARABORI, Brandt Graham, Jacob Tubbs, Alan Chapman, Rickie Loucks, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Smith, Chuck LaFleur.

SUNRSIRE INSULATION/KNAPP AND SCHLAPPI LUMBER SPORTSMAN. (25 cars) 25 lap feature.

CARTER CROOKER, Justice Mayo, Darly Krebs, Ben Feldman, Brent Ayers, Dale Welty, Chris Fisher, Donnie Lawson, Tim Guild, Kenny Peoples, Blake Parsons, Ray Bliss, Loren Lincoln, Scott Torbitt, George Schweigart, Karl Comfort, Brett Buono, Bryan Rhodes, Andrew Clark, Collin Brown, Tony Velez, Brandon Grover, Ethan Decker, Greg Crooker, AJ Lloyd.

SWARTHOUT RECYCLING STREET STOCKS. (11 cars) 20 lap feature.

GENE SHARPSTEEN, Jared Hill, Joe Giardina, Carl Cleveland, Tim Grady, Zach Teed, Jesse Tuthill, Sparky Hills, Damen Decker. DNS, Chris Woodard, Dustin Maynard.

ADDISON, CORNING, HORNELL, WELLSVILLE NAPA HOBBY STOCKS. (13 cars) 20 lap feature.

DOUG BATTERSON (2), Justin Eldredge, Tyler Burnell, Ed Stevens, Jeredd Dennis, Phil Yaw, Marc Minutolo, Jesse Ballance, Willy Easling, Kaiden Dgien, Bob Maynard, Brian Lloyd, Zach Pipe.

WINNERS CIRCLE DELI MINI STOCKS. (16 cars) 20 lap feature.

WILLY EASLING (2), Michael Dickerson, Jason Smart, Craig DeCamp, Jeremy Bunn, Michael Morton, Connor Erick, Gavin Hall, Mike Stone, Corky Grant, Kenny Hunt, Don Potter, Mike Ayers, Chris Davis, Lee Ftitz, Brady Richardson.