Evans Mills, NY-A beautiful June Saturday night welcomed race fans to the 2nd Annual Zeigler ’67 Legends Night at the Evans Mills Raceway Park. This event paid tribute to the track founding Zeigler Brothers, who hosted the first racing action in August of 1967. There were several contingency bonuses throughout the night, including prize money for winning heats races for all classes. Fans were also treated to a classic car show in the midway and a parade during intermission.
The features started off with the Excess Storage Pro Late Models. Rylee Gill and James Kiah started on the front row. The leaders would make contact coming off turn 4 on the first lap. Gill would recover and lead the first lap. Terry Gardner was able to get by Kiah to inherit second place. Gill would get out to a 4-car length lead, but Gardner would chase him down. Gardner, who has been quick in the first two races would pressure Gill lap after lap, but could not find a way around last year’s track champion. Gill would lead all 15 laps and earn his first victory of the season.
Pro Late Model Results:1)Rylee Gill, 2)Terry Gardner, 3)James Kiah, 4)Chuck Meyer, 5)Tyler Papin, 6)Jeff Kirkby, 7)Frank Brown
The Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends were next onto the speedway for their 15-lap feature. Two early cautions flew before completing a scored lap. Once the racing resumed, Joel Hall and Brayton Malbeuf started on the front row. Hall looked strong early and jumped out to a healthy lead. Malbeuf tried to reel in the leader, but it was to no avail. Hall led from start to finish, earning his first win of the season.
INEX Legends Results:1)Joel Hall, 2)Brayton Malbeuf, 3)Devin Thornton, 4)Jayden Hall, 5)Aaron Wilmot, 6)Cody Draper, 7)Quillon Dann, 8)Damon Bush, 9)Carrie Carr, 10)Landen Herring
The 2nd Annual Zeigler ’67 rolled onto the speedway next with Chris Finocchario and Brian Rygielski bringing the 23-car field to the green flag. Finocchario would take the early lead as Rygielski struggled on the start. Tony Pettinelli would move up to the second position on the opening laps. By the fifth lap, Bryan Sherwood would find a groove to his liking on the outside. He would get by Pettinelli and set his sights on Finocchario. Sherwood stayed committed to the high groove as he closed in on the leader. By lap 10, Sherwood would be side by side with Finocchario and cleared him coming out of turn 2 and take the lead of the race. Three cautions on laps 12, 14 and 18 slowed the field, with the latter taking out two front running cars. Finocchario and Joe Papin would make contact on the frontstretch, ending both of their chances for a victory. On the restart Sherwood would have a new challenger in Kreig Heroth. They both would elect to start on the front row, but it would be Sherwood remaining the leader. Sherwood would start to extend his lead in the middle portion of the race as the high side showed its speed. Two final restarts came on lap 44 and 55 but Heroth could not find a hole to get by Sherwood. The final 10 laps saw Andre Roggie march his way to the front. He looked to be the fastest car in the closing laps, working his way to third in a hurry, but eventually ran out of laps. Sherwood would lead the final 57 laps to win his first race of the season and take home $1967 winning purse.
Sportsman Modified Results: 1)Bryan Sherwood, 2)Kreig Heroth, 3)Andre Roggie, 4)Taylor Caprara, 5)Kaden Rogers, 6)Bryce Bailey, 7)Dylan Bancroft, 8)Jeff Pringle, 9)Steven Sherwood, 10)Joel Hargrave, 11)Randy Brunelle, 12)Scott Dinzler, 13)Corey Trombley, 14)Matt Sharkey, 15)Kyle Hart, 16)Tony Pettinelli, 17)Rick Brunelle, 18)Joey Clark, 19)Chris Finocchario, 20)Joe Papin, 21)Brian Rygielski, 22)John Ramsey, 23)Jason Rarick
The final feature of the evening was the Stewart Shops Sport Compacts and the Fenix U-Pull U-Save Thunderstocks. Kevin Greenfield started on the pole with Chuck Powelczyk on the outside. Greenfield would get the early lead as Powelczyk kept pace. Greenfield kept his car glued to the bottom of the track as Powelczyk tried to make the outside work. Greenfield would have the answer and lead all 20 laps to win the sport compacts feature. The Thunderstocks feature saw close racing in the final laps. Jared Gilson held the top spot as last week’s feature winner Justin Burns chased him down after starting deep in the field. Burns would get close to Gilson, but the laps would run out. Gilson went on to win his first feature race in the Thunderstocks.
Sport Compacts Results: 1)Kevin Greenfield, 2)Chuck Powelczyk, 3)Sam Curcie, 4)Angela Pettinelli, 5)Bridget DeMarse
Thunderstocks Results:1)Jared Gilson, 2)Justin Burns, 3)Mike Marcinko, 4)David Liscum, 5)David Paige, 6)Collin Bauter, 7)Colby Goodale, 8)Tim Greenfield
Next weekend EMRP hosts all weekly divisions of racing presented by STOP DWI of New York. The Kinney Drugs Sportsman Modifieds, Excess Storage Pro Late Models, Christman Fuel Service INEX Legends, Stewart’s Shops Sport Compacts and Fenix U-Pull U-Save Syracuse Thunderstocks will all be in action, plus the first round of spectator racing. Pit gates open at 3pm, General Admission at 5pm and racing starts at 6:30pm. Pit pass $35, Adults $15, Military $13, Children 10-17 $10 and under 9 free with paid Adult