News Director 
Story By: JEREMY PERRY / GENESEE SPEEDWAY – BATAVIA, NY – On a day when the persistent light rain seemed determined to dampen the spirits of everyone at Genesee Speedway, the track crews refused to let the weather dictate their fate.
But just as the rain threatened to become a constant companion, the skies began to transform, the clouds parting to reveal a brilliant blue expanse that gradually deepened into a warm, sunny evening.
Doug Ricotta of Warsaw, NY, emerged victorious in the BDK Construction Rush Late Model feature race, capping off a dramatic and challenging night. Ricotta’s journey to the winner’s circle was far from smooth, as he made contact with Bill Holmes early in the race, causing damage to Holmes’ vehicle and prompting a yellow flag. Later, Austin Hauser took the lead, only to have his momentum halted when a lap car driven by Bill Button made contact with him, sending Hauser spinning and dashing his hopes. Ricotta seized the opportunity, inheriting the lead and holding on for the final five laps to claim his first feature win of the season in his 37th year of racing.
Noah Pangrazio of Elba, NY, dominated the Vigneri Racing Novice Sportsman Division competition, leading all 15 laps of the race from start to finish. Starting alongside Guy Steffen on the front row, Pangrazio seized the opportunity and never looked back, taking the green flag to the checkered flag without relinquishing his lead. Pangrazio’s point lead continues to grow with this impressive victory, solidifying his position at the top of the standings.
Dale Rissinger and Jesse Qutermous led the pack to the green flag in the Star Graphics and Apparel Street Stock Class, starting from the front row. Qutermous, hailing from Stafford, NY, quickly seized the lead as Trent Chamberlain made contact with Rissinger, slowing the high side lane and allowing Qutermous to take command. The lone yellow flag of the night waved for Sherman Gage, who came to a stop in turn 4, but Qutermous maintained his composure on the restart. DeWitt, restarting in second, occasionally seemed to have the faster car but struggled to overcome Qutermous due to difficulties with corner exit. Ultimately, Qutermous secured his third feature win of the season, showcasing his mastery of the track and cementing his position as a formidable competitor in the class.
Paige Gayton and Carson Shetler led the field to the green flag in the Dan Kolb Family Automotive Bandits division, starting from the front row. Gayton, hailing from East Pembroke, NY, has been on a tear since July 6th, showcasing significantly increased speed and backing it up with impressive results. Gayton dominated the competition in this outing, crossing the finish line by a commanding margin of over half a track to claim her fourth feature win of the season.
John Venuto and Phil Vigneri III, from Elba, NY, led the field to the green flag in the Stirling Lubricants Sportsman class, starting side by side on the front row. Venuto initially took the lead, holding the top spot for the first two laps before Vigneri made a bold move to the outside, seizing control of the race. Following a lap-four restart due to a yellow flag, the field became spread out across the fairgrounds, with drivers racing aggressively until lap 19. At that point, Ricky Newton’s attempt to pass Ray Bliss resulted in a mechanical failure, bringing out the final yellow flag of the night for the sportsman class. Vigneri hit his marks flawlessly in the closing laps to secure his sixth feature win of the season.
The Detail Shop Mini Stocks concluded the night’s racing action, with James Gayton of East Pembroke, NY, taking the early lead, closely pursued by Robert Knapp II. However, the dynamics of the race shifted on lap 9 when Mike Becker experienced a flat tire exiting turn four, and Knapp made contact with him, forcing Knapp to pit for swift repairs. Despite the setback, Knapp impressively rebounded, restarting in 9th position and skillfully navigating his way back to a 4th-place finish, securing a strong points night. Nevertheless, the spotlight shone brightest on Gayton, who led every lap and achieved back-to-back feature wins. This triumph was made even more special by the fact that it marked the first time Gayton and his daughter, Paige, had won on the same night, creating a heartwarming and memorable moment for the Gayton family.
Next week will be an unforgettable event at Genesee Speedway as the Pinnacle of Power returns to town! The Big Block Modifieds will be battling it out in the highly anticipated Quest for the West race, and you won’t want to miss it! Mark your calendars for Thursday, with racing starting at 7:00 pm sharp.
Vigneri Racing Novice Sportsman feature (15 laps) – NOAH PANGRAZIO, Guy Steffen, Paul Marshall, Matt Radzio
Heat race winner – Guy Steffen
BDK Construction Rush Late Models feature (25 laps) – DOUG RICOTTA, Dave Dubois, Billy Dubois, Austin Hauser, Jon Rivers, Brian Knowles, Bill Button, Mike Hetzell, Bill Holmes, Zack Carley
Heat race winners – Dave Dubois & Doug Ricotta
Star Graphics & Apparel Street Stock feature (20 laps) – JESSE QUTERMOUS, Byron DeWitt, Damian Long, Trent Chamberlain, Dale Rissinger, Rich Conte, Jeff Almenkinder, Sherman Gage, Kenny Begnoche, Mike Kelly
Heat race winners – Byron DeWitt & Jesse Qutermous
Dan Kolb Family Automotive Bandits feature (12 laps) – PAIGE GAYTON, Lucas Newton, Carson Shetler
Heat race winner – Paige Gayton
Stirling Lubricants Sportsman feature (25 laps) – PHIL VIGNERI III, Ray Bliss, John Venuto, Colby Adamczak, Chris Hawkins, Gordy Hermanson, Dillon Adamczak, Greg Mrzywka, Tony Pangrazio, Dan Kolb
Heat race winners – John Venuto & Phil Vigneri III
The Detail Shop Mini Stocks feature (15 laps) – JAMES GAYTON, Joey Swick, Racelyn Lippa, Robert Knapp II, Jessica Petry, Eric Weis, Michael Dickerson, Gary Hopkins, Mike Dinehart, Chris Soladay, Seth Johnson, Chad Moden, Mike Becker, Bill Kapelke, Olivia Coniber
Heat race winners – James Gayton & Robert Knapp II
