Big Crowd & Big Wins At The Dirt Track At Genesee’s 42nd Season Opener

Story By: JEREMY PERRY / THE DIRT TRACK AT GENESEE – BATAVIA, NY – Spring rolled in with horsepower and high hopes Saturday night as The Dirt Track at Genesee kicked off its 42nd season of weekly racing in front of a crowd unlike anything seen at the fairgrounds in over two years.

The grandstands were packed, the weather was perfect, and the energy was electric as fans gathered to witness the dawn of the James and Nicole Gayton era—a new chapter for a historic track.

With 177 days of hard work behind the scenes to prepare the facility, track crew members Jim Johnson and Ricky Cooper earned high praise for delivering fast, smooth track conditions from start to finish—a remarkable feat this early in the season. Racers responded with a night of tight battles, emotional victories, and green-flag dominance.

The action kicked off with the Conte’s Auto Street Stocks, where Josh Pangrazio of Oakfield, NY, returned to form. Starting from the front row alongside Jesse Quatermous, Pangrazio quickly took the lead and never relinquished it in a blazing six-and-a-half-minute, caution-free feature.

While Pangrazio set the pace, all eyes were on Byron DeWitt, who charged from 7th starting position to 3rd by lap four. DeWitt’s momentum continued as he passed Jimmy Grant for second and began reeling in the leader through heavy lapped traffic. On the final lap, DeWitt was glued to Pangrazio’s rear bumper but couldn’t find a way by. Pangrazio crossed the line to collect the first feature win under the Gayton ownership and his first since 2022.

A field of 20 cars took the green in the Weis Performance Mini Stocks, with Mike Becker and Racelyn Lippa leading the way. Lippa claimed the lead at the start, but the early story was Rocco Conte, who rocketed from 7th to 2nd before the race’s only caution flew.

On the restart, Conte pounced. While he slipped into the lead, Lippa fell back as Brian Johnson, Seth Johnson, and Robert Knapp II surged forward. With just a few laps remaining, the tension ramped up as Seth Johnson and Knapp closed in on Conte. But the veteran held his ground, taking the checkered flag in emotional fashion.

“You take it for granted when you win a few in a year,” Conte said in Victory Lane, eyes misty. “Then you go a year without one and have some tough luck—and man, this makes it all worth it.”

Phil Vigneri III, defending Sportsman champion from Elba, NY, showed he hasn’t missed a beat. After starting 4th in the Kolb Family Automotive Sportsman feature, Vigneri powered past Ray Bliss for the lead on lap four.

Despite multiple restarts and strong challenges from Ricky Newton, Vigneri controlled every restart with precision. Chris Hawkins earned hard charger honors, moving up six spots, but it was Vigneri’s night from the moment he got out front.

“I love this car, I really do,” he said post-race. “Every year we talk about upgrading, but I keep saying no—this thing is just too good. And tonight… man, what a track. To have a surface like this in Week 1? That says a lot about where this place is headed.”

The Radiators Plus 63 Bandits saw only one car in the feature—Bradley Weis—after mechanical trouble sidelined young Carson Shetler following the heat race. While fans didn’t get a wheel-to-wheel show, Weis was given valuable seat time, taking solo laps to gain experience. It’s a reminder that the development of youth drivers is a core part of Genesee’s long-term vision.

The Blue Diamond Racing Products Novice Sportsman division delivered a great show as Cole Susice of Ransomville, NY, and Lucas Newton brought the field to green. Newton grabbed the early lead using the low line, but Susice found speed around the outside and reclaimed the top spot just before a lap-five caution.

After a yellow for contact between Matt Radzio and Newton, Susice took control on the restart and steadily pulled away, securing his first win of the season and establishing himself as one to watch in the division.

The Callahan Towing RUSH Late Models wrapped up the night’s action, and Dave Dubois of Corfu, NY, made sure to leave no doubt about his intentions this season. After winning the 2024 track championship without a single feature win, Dubois wasted no time, jumping to the lead at the drop of the green and never looking back.

The race ran clean aside from a lone caution for Doug Ricotta, who suffered a flat tire. TJ Downs pulled off and into the infield early with mechanical issues. In Victory Lane, Dubois was direct: “We’re here to win races. Championships are great, but the main goal is always the checkered flag.

Racing returns Thursday, May 15th at 7:00 PM, with hot laps scheduled for 6:30 PM, proudly presented by Wiseguy Racing, a longtime fixture at the fairgrounds.

Fans are encouraged to come early, enjoy the facilities, and take in what promises to be another night of family-friendly racing. If the season opener is any indication, the 2025 campaign at Genesee is going to be one for the books.
Conte’s Auto Street Stocks (20 laps) – JOSH PANGRAZIO, Byron DeWitt, Jimmy Grant, Rich Conte, Jesse Qutermous, Dale Rissinger, Damian Long, Anthony Muscato, Chuck Mogavero, Mike Kelly, Donald Almekinder, Bobby Lippa Jr, Mike Fellows, Jeff Almekinder, Carl Shetler Sr – DNS, Trent Chamberlain – DNS
Heat race winners – Byron DeWitt & Trent Chamberlain

Weis Performance Mini Stocks (20 laps) – ROCCO CONTE, Seth Johnson, Robert Knapp II, Racelyn Lippa, Eric Brumstead, Eric Weis, Ryan Hessler, John Carlson, Chris Skobjak, Kevin Napier, Brian Johnson, Cody Wise, Paige Gayton, Mike Becker, Zachery Virgilio, Wesley Hughes, Chris McGuire, Amber Lang, Mike Dinehart – DNS, Dylan Strade – DNS
Heat race winners – Rocco Conte, Robert Knapp II, Cody Wise

Kolb Family Automotive Sportsman (25 laps) – PHIL VIGNERI III, Ricky Newton, Ray Bliss, Greg Mrzywka, John Venuto, Tony Pangrazio, Chris Hawkins, Gordy Hermanson Jr, Noah Pangrazio, Dan Kolb, Sam Hoxie, Andrew Clark, Joe Mickey
Heat race winners – Phil Vigneri III & Sam Hoxie

Radiators Plus 63 Bandits (6 laps) – BRADLEY WEIS, Carson Shetler – DNS
Heat race winner – Carson Shetler

Blue Diamond Racing Products Novice Sportsman (15 laps) – COLE SUSICE, Guy Steffen, Lucas Newton, Matt Radzio, Paul Marshall, Edward Cook
Heat race winner – Cole Susie

Callahan Towing Rush Late Models (20 laps) – DAVE DUBOIS, Jon Rivers, Doug Ricotta, Billy Dubois, TJ Downs, Michael Hetzel – DNS
Heat race winner – TJ Downs