Story By: KENNY SHUPP / OUTLAW SPEEDWAY – DUNDEE, NY – Ajay Potrzebowski Jr. of Elmira, NY has been on a mission throughout the season at the Outlaw Speedway in Dundee, NY and this past Friday night was o exception as he lined up in lucky position number seven on the grid, methodically worked his way through the field and took over the top spot on lap eighteen and from there go on to win four of the 2024 season in the high profile Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modified Division.
Third generation brothers Tommy and Billy Paine of Seneca Falls, NY would bring the nineteen-car field to the opening green, but it was local second gen pilot, Brady Fultz assuming the lead on lap two from his outside row two starting spot.
However, Fultz lead would be short lived as a broken rear end on his machine would end what could have been a good feature finish on lap five.
From there another second gen driver in Ron Cartwright Jr. would assume control of the thirty -lap feature on lap six and lead the next dozen laps before Potrzebowski would make his winning pass and from there cruise on to the victory.
All the while the leaders were slugging it out for the win, Bobby Varin was blasting through the field and by lap twenty-five was up to second and closing on Potrzebowski.
But Potrzebowski was able to maintain a comfortable margin in route to win four on the campaign.
Varin, who already has a pair of feature wins to his credit in 2024 plus a number of other top five finishes would have to settle for the runner-up spot after beginning the thirty lap grind in position sixteen and with only a couple of caution flags to bunch the field he had to do it the old fashioned way by getting up on the wheel of his potent Tyler Siti owned TEO number eighteen machine.
The Hurricane, Steve Paine began the event in spot five, raced within the lead pack the entire distance and when the double checkered flags waved found himself rounding out the top three podium finishers.
Coming into the night Alex Payne was in control of the Modified point standings and he once again put on a solid drive advancing from tenth to fourth with early race leader, Ron Cartwright Jr. drifting late to complete the top five.
Prior to the Modified Feature the King of the Ring one on one elimination event was staged with Johnstown, NY veteran, Bobby Varin wearing the cape and crown.
In the Sunrise Insulation/Knapp and Schlappi Lumber Crate Sportsman twenty-five lap A Main Ben Feldman and Andrew Clark were both looking for their first feature win of 2024 as they would lead the twenty car field to the opening green with Feldman of Savona, NY getting the jump and lead laps one through nine before being passed by Brent Ayers of Dundee who assumed control until lap twenty-one when Feldman would retake the top spot and from there go on to his first “W” of the year
Like the Mighty Modifieds before them, the Sportsman also had just two yellow flag slow downs which meant for plenty of green flag action with Feldman and Ayers crossing the line one/two for their best finishes of the season with current second place point getter, Daryl Krebs holding off two- time Hoosier Tire Track Champ, AJ Lloyd as the pair would cross the line in third and fourth. 2023/2023 American Racer Tire Outlaw Speedway Track Champion, Chris Fisher picked up a win on July 5, but had to settle for fifth on this night solidifying his current third position in the point tally with just a handful of point paying shows left.
Zach Teed and Carl Cleveland would bring the fourteen car Swarthout Recycling field to the opening green flag for their twenty- lap feature, but it was inside row four starter, Damon Decker leap frogging half the field and assuming control early on and from there go onto his third win of the season backing up prior wins on May 31 and June 14, 2024.
Piloting his George Miller owned and prepared creation, Decker was the class of the field as he cruised to a four second victory over veteran pilot, Gene Sharpsteen who had to settle for another runner up finish.
Third place went to Brett Crawford who had one of his best runs of 2024 after beginning the event in fifth with Jared Hill and Chris Woodard completing the top five finishers.
In NAPA Hobby Stock twenty-lap feature action a pair of 2024 class feature winners in Doug Batterson and Marc Minutolo would lead the charge into turn one with Batterson getting the jump and lead the entire distance of the caution free event.
However, for Batterson his third trip to the Outlaw Speedway Victory Lane did not come easy by any means as he had to hold off relentless pressure from two-time 2024 winner, Willy Easling of Beaver Dams.
Lap after lap Easling hounded Batterson as the pair distanced themselves from the field and as the white rag waved it was still uncertain who it would be taking the win as Easling once again tried to make a move. However, Batterson was able to fend off a last lap challenge and hold on for the win which had fans on their feet.
Jeredd Dennis of Addison, NY was able to work by Minutolo to round out the podium with two-time 2024 winner Minutolo finishing fourth.
Jesse Balance would begin the twenty-lap affair in spot seven and advance a pair of positions to complete the top five.
The Winner’s Circle Deli 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks offers a mixture of both front and rear wheel driven creations as fifteen machines reported to the Fast 4/10 of a Mile Oval for their twenty-lap feature go.
2023 Track Champion, Brian Corky Grant would bring the field to green and lead the opening pair of circuits before giving way to Willy Easling who would take control of the top spot-on lap three and never look back in route to win five on the season once again in convincing style.
Easling would begin the event in spot seven and mow the field down and with only a pair of caution flags coming on laps one and two he had clear sailing lapping up to the fourth-place machine at the finish.
June 14 and July 11 winner, Jason Smart would be a distant second, yet another solid run as former Track Champ, The Nature Boy Mike Stone would complete the podium.
Rounding out the top five were early event leader Grant and Connor Erick who lined up fourth on the opening grid and lost one spot in claiming fifth.
Early in the evening the Fritz Masonry Youth Bandits took to the speedway for their ten-lap feature event and making it four straight wins and four on the season it was Elmira native and second-generation high school student, Zach Daugherty claiming the victory.
Once in control Daugherty was able to maintain a four second advantage over Aiden Gardner as the lead duo would be the only ones to complete all ten laps.
Third place went to Connor Crane equaling a pair of third place finishes he had earlier in the season.
Fourth was claimed by May 3, 2024, feature winner, Parker Cunningham with Danica Hall and Kassitie Clugstone completing the field.
Congratulations to all competitors.
Up next at Outlaw Speedway on Friday, July 26 it will be the 9th Annual Steve Kent Memorial Summer Nationals where the ULMS Super Late Models and the ESS 360 Sprints will both make appearances.
In addition, the SCDRA Front Wheel Drive Touring Series will make their first ever trip to the famed Yates County Oval.
Modifieds, Street Stocks and Sportsman are also on the card with all three divisions racing for full points.
OUTLAW SPEEDWAY TID BITS.
Mother Nature was good to track owner, Tyler Siri and his staff as beautiful conditions greeted everyone on $5 Fan Appreciation Night which also included Autograph Session as well as Christmas in July Bike Give Away, Santa Clause as well as a King of the Ring for the Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds which was claimed by Bobby Varin.
The Fast 4/10 of a Mile was once again smooth as glass, fast and wide allowing for plenty of three and four wide race action.
A capacity crowd was once again on hand to enjoy the competition with the entire program run off in just under four hours including six features plus the Modified King of the Ring.
With the Summer Nationals set to go on the final Friday in July it will mean just one month of racing will be left to determine the top point finishers in all the regular five adult weekly divisions plus the Youth Bandits.
Drivers in all classes will be jockeying for position with only four point paying shows remaining heading into the Double Point Season Championship Night on Friday, August 30, 2024.
OUTLAW SPEEDWAY RESULTS. Friday, July 19, 2024
$5 Pack the Track Night. Christmas in July. Autograph Night. Modified King of the Ring.
FRIENDLY CHEYSLER, DODGE, JEEP, RAM MPDIFIEDS. (19 cars) 35 lap feature.
AJAY POTRZEBOWSKI JR. (4), Bobby Varin, Steve Paine, Alex Payne, Ron Cartwright Jr., Tommy Collins, Tommy Paine, Billy Paine, Tyler Siri, Stacy Jackson, Kreg Crooker, Gil Tegg, Steve Gray, Adam Coots, Mike Maresca, Brady Fultz, Jim LaRock, Jeff Daugherty, Danny Johnson.
Modified King of the Ring. BOBBY VARIN.
SUNRISE INSULATION/KNAPP AND SCHLAPPI LUMBER CRATE SPORTSMAN. (20 cars) 25 lap feature.
BEN FELDMAN, Brent Ayers, Karl Comfort, Daryl Krebs, AJ Lloyd, Chris Fisher, Behr Grover, Cayden Lawson, Carter Crooker, Andrew Clark, Brett Buono, George Schweigart, Blake Parsons, Brandon Grover, Greg Crooker, Scott Torbitt, Vince Vitale, Bryan Rhodes, Dale Welty, Tim Guild.
SWARTHOUT RECYCLING STREET STOCKS. (14 cars) 20 lap feature.
DAMON DECKER (3), Gene Sharpsteen, Brett Crawford, Jared Hill, Chris Woodard, Joe Giardina, Carl Cleveland, Zach Teed, Jim Buck, Charlie Fulton, Jesse Tuthill, Tim Grady, Rich Conte, Sparky Hills.
ADDISON, CORNING HORNELL, WELLSVILLE NAPA HOBBY STOCKS. (8 cars) 20 lap feature.
DOUG BATTERSON (3), Willy Easling, Jeredd Dennis, Marc Minutolo, Jesse Balance, Tyler Burnell, TJ Grady, Justin Eldredge.
WINNERS CIRCLE DELI MINI STOCKS. (15 cars) 20 lap feature.
WILLY EASLING (5), Jayson Smart, Mike Stone, Corky Grant, Connor Erick, Scott Lehman, Aaron Robinson, Brady Richardson, Mike Ayers, Elle Grant, Chris Davis, Gavin Hall, Lee Fritz, Ricky Vanzile. DNS. Jeff Moore.
FRITZ MASONRY YOUTH BANDITS. (6 cars) 10 lap feature.
ZACH DAUGHERTY (4), Aiden Gardner, Connor Crane, Parker Cunningham, Danica Hall, Kassitie Clugstone.