BATAVIA, NY (August 2, 2008)- Once again on a Saturday, the storm clouds found a detour around Genesee County and allowed racing to get in. The end result would be the largest car count in years and a night to remember a great ambassador of racing.
With the white flag flying in the Troyer Chassis Sportsman, there were still four drivers that had a chance to easily lead the next time around; as it would turn out, consistency would be the way for Greg Mrzywka to get to Victory Lane.
Mrzywka, of Holley, took the lead from rookie Henry Maier on lap five and did the job holding off past champions Brian Sage and Rob Pratt for the win.
On the races final restart, Pratt moved from fourth to second and began to pressure the No. 04 of Mrzywka. Pratt nearly lost control of his No. p38 in turn two though and would give the leader just enough room to hold on.
It was Greg’s first win since 2006 at the 1/3-mile. He would also become the seventh different winner in the division this season.
Pratt would hang on for second, with Brian Sage, who was so fast early on, slipping to third. Rounding out the top-five would be Stubby Pangrazio and Don Spatorico, the top two in points.
The Castle Powered Late Models simply could not get into a rhythm in their feature, with six cautions falling in the first six laps. In an effort to allow the solid field to regroup, the decision was made to send the cars to the pits to run at the end of the night. As it would turn out, the hard 11:00 p.m. curfew would end up postponing the event until August 16, when the race will be completed. J.J. Mazur had taken the lead just before the final caution.
Jeb Walworth inherited the lead in the Power Trip Energy Drink Street Stock Feature on lap 7 when Nathan Arnold took his car pit side. He would stretch out his advantage and cruise to his second win of the year.
Walworth survived a number of challenges to defeat Colton Chappius Jr., Lee Zimmerman, Matthew Pfalzer and Jason Babbit.
Russ Wassner shook off the bad luck of 2008 by picking up the first win in the Professional Driver Institute Mini Stock Feature.
Wassner took the lead on lap three from Mike Sweeney and held him off on the race’s only restart on lap 9. He would pull away in the closing laps to continue his streak of winning seasons.
Behind Wassner was Sweeney, Dan Norton, Rick Johnson and point leader Brandon Aradine.
P.J. Havens became the eighth different winner in the DML Driveway Sealing Division, taking the lead early and winning the final event of the night over James Maier and Tom Urban.
Genesee Speedway Results: 8/2/2008-
American Cancer Society Jack Veach Memorial Night
Castle Powered Late Model Feature (15 Laps)- Postponed until 8/16
Lap Leaders- T. Pangrazio 1, Mogavero 2-5, Mazur 6-
Heat Winners- Rivers, Babbitt, Boyle.
Troyer Chassis Sportsman Feature (20 Laps)- GREG MRZYWKA, Rob Pratt, Brian Sage, Stubby Pangrazio, Don Spatorico, John Baker, Steve Schumacher, Sandy Pembleton, John Panattoni, Justin Wright, Guy Steffen, Henry Maier, John Venuto, Jason Hallett, Ricky Newton, Rob Richmond Jr., Tim Downs, Kerry Ball, Don Ogden.
Lap Leaders- Downs 1-2, Maier 3-4, Mrzywka 5-20.
Heat Winners- Baker, Downs.
Power Trip Energy Drink Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- JEB WALWORTH, Colton Chappius Jr., Lee Zimmerman, Matthew Pfalzer, Jason Babbit, Jeremy Denton, John Fry, John Giles, Dave Downs, Dave Conant, Mark Loveland, Dave Bansmer, Dan Pries, Nathan Arnold, Bill Kowsky, Chip Wood, Kevin Mitchell, Kyle Rupp, Steve Austin, Darrel Moyer.
Lap Leaders- Arnold 1-6, Walworth 7-20.
Heat Winners- Loveland, Walworth.
Professional Driver Institute Mini Stock Feature (15 Laps)- RUSS WASSNER, Mike Sweeney, Dan Norton, Rick Johnson, Brandon Aradine, Alan Kemp, Randy Barclay, Jason Hull, Samantha Burch, Duane Pingrey, Tom Amico, Ed Neal, Sean McKeller, Bobby Dickinson, Pat Powers, Mark Forsha.
Lap Leaders- Sweeney 1-2, Wassner 3-15.
Heat Winners- Aradine, Johnson.
DML Driveway Sealing Bandits Top 3 (8 Laps)- P.J. HAVENS, James Maier, Tom Urban.
Lap Leaders- Maier 1, Havens 2-8
