Parrow Cops First Land Of Legends Crown; Sobotka Three-Peats; Grant & Minutolo Go Back-To-Back

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Story By: STEVEN OVENS / LAND OF LEGENDS RACEWAY – GENEVA, NY – Bobby Parrow in 305 Sprint Cars celebrated his first Land of Legends Raceway title in 2024 while Zach Sobotka earned his third-straight championship in Sportsman.

Jimmy Grant in Street Stocks and Marc Minutolo in Hobby Stocks were awarded again after capturing back-to-back full-fender crowns.

Sobotka celebrated his third-straight Land of Legends track title with an average finish just over third-place with an average starting position of 13th-place due to the handicap. system in place. Sobotka noted an expected change to his 2025 plans.

“We really liked the sprint car, they are so much fun to drive so we’re not sure just how much Sportsman stuff we will do this year,” Sobotka said.

Based on his comments it is reasonable to believe that fans in Canandaigua can still anticipate seeing Sobotka for both weekly 305 Sprint competition and the three visits by the CRSA Sprints. Sobotka took the checkered flag first at a CRSA event in 2024 but the win was disallowed after not making weight, quickly proving the No. 38 team could be really fun to watch in 2025.

Like a fine wine getting better with age, at 56 winged veteran Parrow collected his first-ever points crown at the revered Ontario County half-miler. His potent #80 Shaw mount backed by Seneca Meadows Inc, Young Agency, Re/Max Revolution and Proctor Enterprises carried the Waterloo warrior to a pair of A-Main victories and 10 Top-5 finishes in 11 events, claiming six qualifying races along the way.

Grant locked up his second straight and third overall Land of Legends Street Stock championship in 2024. Grant claimed seven of eleven features on the year to have the title well in hand come the final points night. The driver of the “Wild Willy’s Special” also captured a home turf win when the Empire Street Stock Series was in town for the Ontario County Fair race.

The charismatic competitor “Mr. Smooth” Minutolo brought the fire in acceptance of his sixth overall track title at the Canandaigua speedplant. Minutolo donned his best sunglasses and megaphone to walk to the stage. For the first time in his career, Minutolo won back-to-back track championships in the Lloyd’s Contracting Hobby Stocks. With five wins, including some gifted in last lap heroics and post-race infractions, Minutolo’s consistency and trips to victory lane helped him best Nate Peckham and Danny Kerrick.

Cole closed out the program by handing out the 2024 Land of Legends Raceway Employee of the Year to head flagger and track utility tool “The Rooster” Scott Hixson. Hixson was celebrated in his contributions to the raceway that far exceed his role as the waver of flags that maintain the safety of all competitors. On race days, Cole leans on Hixson’s knowledge in meteorology to help make informed decisions on cancellations. Cole also noted that Hixson offers his time to help with facility work and upgrades that take place while nobody is watching.

 

LEGEND LEDGER

305 Sprint Car driver Alan Buchanan received the track’s Sportsmanship Awards for 2024. Rookies of the Year went to Nick Ventura in Sportsman and Cameron Moss in 305 Sprint Cars.

Blane Smith was the reluctant recipient of the annual ‘Hard Luck’ award after a season where bad luck struck numerous times.

Mike Welch from Street Stocks and Justin Jacoby were awarded Best Appearing Car this season.

Dillon Paddock was awarded the Land of Legends Raceway “Highlight of the Year” for his victory on July 4th. The victory lane video uploaded to the track’s Facebook page garnered over 10,000 video views, making it the overwhelming choice as Highlight of the Year.

Ethan Gray and Parrow also presented a special 305 Sprint Car Ambassador Award to popular pit area fan “Joe Crunch”.

 

APRIL 26 PRACTICE SESSION LAUNCHES 2025 CAMPAIGN IN CANANDAIGUA

Earmarked with its grand-opening for stock cars in 1953 and now the Ontario Co. Fairgrounds on the brink of staging oval track racing for a 62nd season, the 2025 Land Of Legends Raceway schedule leads off with a day of ‘open’ practice on Sat. April 26. Any type of race car is welcome for the evening event that runs 6:00-9:00pm with pit gates unlocked at 3:30pm and grandstand seating offered free of charge.

The first official race action gets underway on Sat. May 3 when the rescheduled Top Gun Shootout for Street Stocks headlines a fast-paced five-star show of mighty Pepsi Big-Block Modified, Stirling Lubricants Sportsman, 305 Sprint Car and Hobby Stock classes. With the Hobby Stocks finishing off their portion of the Top Gun Shootout the following weekend, New Legends Sportsman make it an even half-dozen on May 10.

 

2024 Land Of Legends Raceway Point Leaders & Award Winners

Stirling Lubricants Modified Sportsman: ZACH SOBOTKA-Champion, Nick Root-2nd, Matt Guererri-3rd, Frank Guererri Jr.-4th, James Henry-5th, Tim Lafler-6th, Dave Conant Jr.-7th, Paul Guererri-8th, Kasey Coffey-9th, Karl Comfort-10th.

Rookie – Nick Ventura, Hard Luck – Torrey Stoughtenger. 2024 feature winners: Root (3), Sobotka (2), M.Guererri, Lafler, Coffey, Nick Cooper, Kevin Ridley, Tyler Corcoran, Richard Murtaugh III.

 

MighTea Boba 305 Sprint Car: BOBBY PARROW-Champion, Darryl Ruggles-2nd, Dillon Paddock-3rd, Timmy Lotz-4th, Ethan Gray-5th, Dan Craun-6th, Lance Dusett-7th, Alysha Bay-8th, Randy Years-9th, Matt Rotz-10th.

Rookie – Cameron Moss, Sportsmanship – Alan Buchanan, Highlight of the Year – Dillon Paddock. 2024 feature winners: Parrow (2), Ruggles (2), Paddock (2), Johnny Kolosek (2), Lotz, Dusett, Rotz.

 

Eldredge & Sons Scrap Recycling Street Stock: JIMMY GRANT-Champion, Mike Welch-2nd, C.J. Guererri-3rd, Marc Minutolo-4th, Patrick Hobbs-5th, Chris Woodard-6th, John Burritt-7th, Jared Hill-8th, Ronald “Bundy” Metcalf-9th, Rick Crego-10th.

Best Appearing Car – #00 Mike Welch. 2024 feature winners: Grant (7), Welch (2), Guererri, Minutolo.

 

Lloyd’s Contracting Hobby Stock: MARC MINUTOLO-Champion, Nathan Peckham-2nd, Daniel Kerrick-3rd, Justin Eldredge-4th, Blane Smith-5th, James Werner-6th, Brighton Grant-7th, Justin Jacoby-8th, Eddie Stevens-9th, Dan Korpanty-10th.

Hard Luck – Blane Smith, Best Appearing Car – #88 Justin Jacoby. 2024 feature winners: Minutolo (5), Kerrick (3), Eldredge (3), Tyler Burnell.

 

Maguire Ford of Canandaigua New Legends Sportsman: 2024 main event winners: Chase Spoor (4), Tyler Foster (2), Kyle Ridley, Evan Gray, Justin Sick, Mike Schultz.

 
 
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