CHEMUNG, N.Y. -- Chemung Speedrome had hosted a couple races over the years for dirt drivers who wanted to try their luck on the asphalt. This year’s schedule included a full day for several divisions, and the show proved to be a crowd-pleaser. Ray Bliss won the Sportsman Modified feature in dominating fashion. Also picking up wins under perfect weather conditions were Ajay Potrzebowski (Street Stocks), James Freeman (FWD 4 Cylinders), James Kreidler (RWD 4 Cylinders), and Dayton Cote (Juniors). Race fans were also winners on Sunday, as the entire program was well received.

Loren Lincoln and Casey Pavlick lined up in the front row for the start of the 25-lap Sportsman Modified feature. Lincoln took off, leaving Pavlick in a good battle with Ray Bliss for 2nd. Bliss found what he wanted on the 4th lap and he took over. Chris Silvers, who had started 4th, was also in the mix pressuring Pavlick for 3rd. That battle ended on the 8th lap when Pavlick’s car broke and he retired. When racing resumed Bliss took off and worked on putting a cushion between him and the duo battling for 2nd. Lincoln had the spot but Silvers was right there with him. As the laps clicked off, Lincoln gradually pulled away from Silvers but never had enough to reel in the leader. Bliss took the checkered flag, his first-ever on an asphalt surface. Lincoln had to settle for 2nd, with Silvers, Rick Willsey and Chris Clemens all leaving with top-5 finishes. “This was fun,” Bliss said from victory lane. “Ray Smith usually runs this car but they asked me to give it a try today and here we are.”

Josh Nobriga and Nick Robinson, a former Junior competitor at Chemung, brought the Street Stock field to the green for their 25-lap feature and Nobriga prevailed. Robinson had Nathan Peckham dogging him for 2nd, a spot he eventually took. Caution came out when Kevin Morrison spun with 8 laps complete. On the restart Nobriga took off, leaving a 3-wide battle for 2nd involving Ajay Potrzebowski, Peckham and Robinson. Nobriga drifted high, gave Potrzebowski the inside lane on the 12th lap, and both he and Peckham passed. Peckham then went to work on Potrzebowski while both lapped cars. Rick Sharpsteen lost a tire and brought out the 2nd caution with 5 laps remaining. While under caution Peckham headed to the pits, handing over 2nd to Robinson. He tried repeatedly to get around Potrzebowski but this one went to Potrzebowski. He parked the #72 in victory lane, having just beat Robinson, Nobriga, Jared Hill and Rich Green.

Fourteen front wheel drive 4 Cylinders took the green for their 20-lap race. James Freeman, who started 2nd, led early but Dan Wood stayed with him through 2 caution periods and their subsequent restarts. Following a restart the field went 4-wide into turn 1. As Kenny Underwood slowed, Wood took over the lead and Freeman tried several times to reclaim what he’d lost. The 4th, and final, caution came when Bill Birdsall slowed on the backstretch with 3 to go. Freeman waited and made his race-winning pass while Wood lost several spots in the final laps. Mike Taylor ended up in 2nd, followed to the line by Nick Griest, Wood and Allison Pierce.

In 4 Cylinder rear wheel drive action, James Kreidler powered around the topside from his 2nd starting spot and took the lead. He was challenged by Gregg Turner and Eric Ellsworth but never lost the top spot. Late in the race Turner headed to the pits with a flat tire that was changed, to the delight of the crowd, by a mass of humanity who lifted the car rather than fumble with a jack. That brought Eric Ellsworth up to 2nd and Skip Dean to 3rd for a 3-lap dash, and Kreidler was on top of his asphalt game. He got the win in the 20-lap feature over Ellsworth, Mark Wallenbeck, Turner and Chad Ayers.

The 12-lap Junior feature took 3 tries to get going, but once it did they ran the 12 laps from green to checkered. Dayton Cote, a regular in Chemung’s youth division, put 4 dirt tires on the car and then proved there just might be a home track advantage after all. Dylan Ceece gave him a good run for it but Cote took the win.

This weekend Chemung slashes the adult grandstand admission price in half for the annual Pack the Track Night. Fans will also enjoy a pit party during intermission. Pits open at 4, grandstand and practice at 5, with the first race getting the green at 6:30. For more information go to www.chemungspeedrome.net. Chemung Speedrome and the Whelen All American Series – Short Track Racing At Its Best!

RESULTS

Sportsman Modifieds: 12 Ray Bliss, 2L Loren Lincoln, 7 Chris Silvers, 24 Rick Willsey, 21 Chris Clemens, 21x Eric Williams, 2 Chuck Winslow, 18 Casey Pavlick

Street Stocks: 72 Ajay Potrzebowski, 15 Nick Robinson, 22 Josh Nobriga, 93 Jared Hill, 35 Rich Green, 26 Jesse Kent, 90 Nathan Peckham, 3 Jason Rhodes, 5A Rich Sharpsteen, 8G Louie Gordinier, 5 Mike Warren, 48 Mike Williams, 53 Butch Dibble, 94 Bobby Hall, Jr., 71s Steve Sharpsteen, 73 Kevin Morrison

FWD 4 Cylinders: 8 James Freeman, 71 Mike Taylor, 23J Nick Griest, 50 Dan Wood, 53 Allison Pierce, 44B Kurtis Benjamin, 4B Ken Benjamin III, 81 Bobby Edwards, 63 Joe Birdsall, 88 Bill Birdsall, 31J David Jenkins, 16 Kenny Underwood, 17 Chris Taylor, 19J Brandon Clapperton

RWD 4 Cylinders: 79 James Kreidler, 14 Eric Ellsworth, 24 Mark Wallenbeck, 00 Gregg Turner, 9A Chad Ayers, X Skip Dean, 46 Brian Grant, 2 Tracy Dunn, 24hrs Shawn Gleason, 44 Ted Morseman

Juniors: 49 Dayton Cote, Dylan Ceece, 24 hrs Fred Peters, 24 Josh Wallenbeck, 46 Cody Morehouse