WCIS

By Dan Turner, WCIS Speedway announcer

It’s that time a year again for the temperature to dip, the leaves to change color and the Wyoming County International Speedway to hold their Annual “Shoot Out at the Bullring”.   As always it’s one of the Crowning Jewels that most drivers, car owners and team would like to win and close out their season.   That’s very evident by the car counts the picturesque 1/3 mi. banked asphalt facility draws in on this mid-October race.   Over 60 cars on hand for the Friday night potion of the Shoot out and 80 plus cars in the pits for Saturday night.   Those hardy fans that were in attendance for both shows, got to see some awesome racing to cap off their 2018 racing season.

Friday night was the kick off for Shoot Out weekend at the Blacktop Bullring.   As mentioned over 60 cars packed the pits for this chilly October evening.   31 4 Cylinders were on hand to flex their muscle and try and take home the winners portion of the Shootout’s expanded payout.   Top 3 from each of the four heats (won by Jankowiak, Gustafson, Moldt and Pierce) redrew for the feature starting position.  The front was full of talent as a pair of perennial and former multi time feature winners, Jimmie Pierce Jr and Jacob Gustafson would lead this class to green.   With 26 cars taking the green, It took no time and the leaders were moving in on lap traffic.   The battle for number one was on between the 66 of Gustafson and the 26 of Pierce.  Thru a handful of caution, the most, scary was the 14s of Sean Sickles that lost control and hiyt the large heavy equipment tires at the end of the pit wall were cars exit the track.   Sean was ok thou the car may not see the track again.  After a few more minor cautions we would see the Moldt #51 make his way to the front and challenge Gustafson.  Andy J in the London #89 would soon be racing for a possible win.   It was all Gustafson in the JG Autowerks #66 machine collecting another win.   “We had a pretty good car, thanks to Dad and I want to thank all the Polish people out there” per Jacob  : )

A healthy car count for our entry level class the Super 6 class.   Many invaders from Spencer and other tracks came to close out their season.   About a dozen came to flex their muscle at the Perry NY speed complex.   It was not big surprise to find the Multi time Spencer Speedway champion in Victory lap. Hallett was followed by the 89 of Brandon Allen and the Heat race winner Andy Cocilova in his 93.

Capping of the Friday night festivities would be the SST Super Stocks running their last race of 2018 with 50 laps the distance.    This was the who’s who of Super stock racing in NY.  Holland, Spencer, Lancaster, Chemung, all represented by their best.   Horvatits and Tim Welshans would pace the field to the green.   It was Joe Horvatits taking the early lead and showing his muscle.   The caution would fly early and as Horvatits slowed something broke on the #4 and he would take a hard hit into the first turn wall and end his night.   Then it was a race as Mike Chenaille, Eric Stone, Dan Majchrzak, Ted Welshans and eventually the 17x machine of Zach Meyers would all get near the front to lead some laps.   In the end it was 2018 track champion Zach Meyers taking the top spot a little after half way, with his smooth calculated driving style worked well with the cool track temperature and lack of grip on the track.

And that was all just in Friday night’s action.   Saturday would prove to be a whole new story with the Addition of the SST Modifieds and the NYSuper Stocks invading the 1/3 mile Power plant.  It would be Sandra Vogler Mem.51 laps for the NY Super Stocks.  The fantastic 4 cylinders were back and as exciting as ever. Then we closed our season with a great SST Modifieds show, The Jim Pierce Mem 100 lap event.

The 4 cylinder class would start our night as a fitting build up to the NYSS and the SST Modifieds.  Some of the drivers and teams could not make the Saturday night show and some new faces were in attendance to make for one excellent racing program.   Early muscle was shown by the heat winners, Gustafson, Schosek and Pierce. In all division tonight the top twelve qualifiers all redrew for their starting spots.   As the green flew it became obvious that this cold track was not just an issue for the Super Stocks and Modifieds, the 4 Bangs were feeling the effects also.  Two laps in it was the #27 stopped on the back straight. Lap 4 it was Monica Greene‘s # 5 having some issues.   Then he drivers settled in and ran off 9 laps before the 1x and9 would drew a yellow.   Local fan favorite Jimmie Pierce Jr. bid for the win on a night of racing named after his late father Jim Pierce, would fall short with engine problems.   A few more cars would come together on the restart causing another yellow.   Then the 4 cylinders would take the green and roll thru the 25 lap mark and close the season at Perry.   Jacob Gustafson would go back to back and dominate the feature tonight.   Gustafson was followed by Greg Moldt in his #51, and with a great run was the #05 of Otis Bradshaw, taking the show position.

For New York Super Stocks Press release and results see their website Nysuperstocks@gmail.com 

What better way the close out a great season than to put 28 of the best Modified drivers and machine on the track for 100 green flag laps in memory of one of our great friend and former SST Modified Champion, Jim Pierce.   This race was renamed after Jim, last year after his untimely passing.  It’s a race many mark on their calendars in March to race in memory of their good friend and competitor.   The guys with the fastest toys started showing their strength as Smith, Dietz, Potrzebowski and Hanbury all picked up the heat race wins.   I can promise you one thing about the Wyoming County Intl. Speedway.   @8 cars running 100 laps for a pretty substantial check to the winner will NEVER get you a boring race.   Its not a ride around til 10, 20 or 30 laps remaining.   Its a lot of pride and bragging right to carry all winter how well you fared at the Shoot out.   Patrick Emerling drew the pole to start this race.   He would be surrounded by other great drivers, Hanbury, Nye, Smith, Andy J, Timmerman and WCIS regulars Bookmiller, Knapp, Majchrzak, Fuchs and Bradshaw.

It only took a few green flag laps to produce our first caution as 22z Billy Ray Pruitt and the 96 of Gary Coons tangled.   Restart everyone was playing nice til lap unlucky 13.   Pruitt and  Tim Nyes came together and that put Billy Ray on the hook and done for the night.   Lap 16  saw Joe Evans come to a stop in turn 4 and a double spin with Tim Nyes and the 74 of Sherry Hogan. Racing continued thru a few more cautions as the lead was being swapped amongst, the 07, 51, 15 and a few others wanting the lead.  After a restart on lap 39 it was chaos on the front straight as Hanbury in the Gary Noe 1H car was outside the Emerling 07 for the restart and as they cross the start/finish line smoke and sparks and Hanbury was hard into the outside retaining wall, done for the night.   Under red flag conditions Emerling stated “he felt a bump but did not   Know if he made comtact with the 1H machine”  as the wreck was being cleared we talked with the top 5 drivers to get their game plan.   As we finished talking a loud banging was going on.   That was Tony Hanbury using his helmet to beat on the roof and wind screen of Emerling’s 07 ride.    Track safety crews stopped the malay and Hanbury was escorted away.

It was a few more cautions and a couple bent up racecars and the last caution came at lap 84 when a few cars came together and Sherry Hogan doing a great job of driving got spun and gathered it up and drove away before the balance of the field was baring down on her and it could have been a big wreck.   In the end it was Emerling picking up his second Jim Pierce Mem win in as many years.  “ We had the opportunity to run the Whelen Modified Tour this weekend, but Jim wa a good friend of ours and we thought it Important to honor him and run here at the Bullring.” Said Patrick.   He was followed across the line by Andy J. and Rusty Smith.

FRIDAY OCT. 12 RACE RESULTS
Mike Shaughnessy Memorial WCIS Super Stocks (50 Laps): ZACH MYERS (17x), Ted Welshans (39), Daniel Majchrzak (14), Mike Chenaille(14s), Nik Welshans (41), Eric Stone (09), Frank Kline (33), Kyle Skoney (55), Kory Lanni (29), Eric Haistreiter (47), Paul Flye (94), Nick Robinson (3), Joe Horvatits (4), Scott Gleed (03), Jay Canonico (13), Tim Welshans (32) Did Not Start: Cole Hicks (46)
Qualifying Winners: Tim Welshans, Zach Myers

4 Cylinders Dash 4 Cash (20 Laps): JACOB GUSTAFSON (66), Greg Moldt (51), Andy Jankowiak (89), David Brunka (28), David Heimes ( , Joe Brunka (27), Dan Dressel (09), Monica Green (5), Kyle Casper (10), Tom Lalomia Jr (8L), Jeff Landwehr (15), Braedon Suffoletta (9), Triston Kline (7x), Kathie Ricketson (44), Jody Krieb (1x), Adam Killingbeck (73), Kenny Ham (19), Russ Bulger (32b), John Klamut (7), Kevin Kocher (31), Ryan Palmer (10x), Jimmy Pierce (26), Josh Schosek (37ny), Kory Lanni (18), Sean Sickles (14s), Dominic Rafferty (29jr) Greg Krause (24) 
Did Not Start: Dave Harbst (2h), Justin Saas (2), Jesse Hurley (22), Bob Palmer (32)
Qualifying Heat Winners: Andy Jankowiak, Jacob Gustafson, Jimmy Pierce, Greg Moldt

6 Cylinders (25 Laps): BRIAN HALLETT (36), Brandon Allen(89), Andy Cocilova (93), John Parthemer (95), Frank Parsons (14), Tim Faro (98), Alison Knoepfler (35), Chris Deyoe Jr (14d), Tammi Bennett (78), Robert Cassidy (16), Mike Chenaille (14s)
Qualifying Winner: Andy Cocilova

SATURDAY OCT. 13 RACE RESULTS
Jim Pierce Memorial SST Modified (100 Laps): PATRICK EMERLING (07), Andy Jankowiak (41j), Shawn Nye (51), Kevin Timmerman (17), Alan Bookmiller (40), Ricky Knapp (11), Zack Curren (94), Sherri Hogan (74), Steve Fuchs (4), Gary Coon (96), Chad Nugent (42), Carrie Bolton (6j), Scott Wylie (44), Toad Bradshaw (00), Jake Vernon (27), John Barber (01), Daniel Majchrzak (14), Neal Dietz Jr (84), Joe Evans (91), Tony Hanbury (1H), Tim Nies (86), Gary Noe (1), Billy Ray Pruitt (22z), Cassie Logsdon (09) 
Failed to Qualify: Tom Alloco (6), Timmy Lewis (41), Beth Dennie (16), Jennifer Dennie (22), Jay Withey Jr (29), Wayne Baker (B51), Nathan Michelsen (68), Don Pringle (96r) 
DQd Smith(15),  Potrzebowski(72)
Qualifying Winners: Rusty Smith, TJ Potrzebowski, Tony Hanbury, Neal Dietz Jr

Sandra Vogler Memorial New York Super Stock Series (51 Laps): SCOTT WYLIE (98), Shaun Frarey (38), Josh Hunter (7), Dylan Bancroft (91), Scott Adams (68), Zach Willis (75), Nick Robinson (15), Eric Brown (48), Jason Dinzler (40), Amber Vanorden (17), Nate Peckham (90), Jim House (76), Brian Wozniak (85), Matt Larrivee (12), Eric Haistreiter (47), Andy Cryan (09), Joel Gleason (25), Charlie Sharpsteen (34), Cole Hicks (46), Sam Rotunda Jr (5), Chris Vogler (51), Mike Hyman (87), Jimmy Steffenhagen (61), Cody Frantz (0), Josh Schoonmaker (84), Zac Petrie (37)
Failed to Qualify: Joe Fetzer (2), JP Harbst (04), Steve Perez (88), Eric Hadley (71), Griffin Miller (6)
Qualifying Winners: Dylan Bancroft, Nick Robinson, Scott Wylie, Joel Gleason

4 Cylinders (30 Laps): JACOB GUSTAFSON (66), Greg Moldt (51), Otis Bradshaw (05), Tom Lalomia Jr (8L), Corey Copeland (89), David Brunka (28), David Heimes ( , Charles Palmer (10), Joe Brunka (27), Dan Dressel (09), Bob Palmer (32), Jesse Hurley (22), Triston Kline (7), John Klamut (7k), Ryan Palmer (10x), Braedon Suffoletta (9), Kenny Ham (19), Jody Krieb (1x), Kevin Kocher (31), Russ Bulger (32B), Jeff Landwehr (15), Jimmy Pierce Jr (26), Justin Sass (2), Alex Brown (04), Josh Schosek (37ny), Monica Green (5)
Qualifying Heat Winners: Jacob Gustafson, Jimmy Pierce Jr, Josh Schosek
Results funished by Steven Petty

Press release and results for Wyoming County International Speedway
By: Dan Turner /Speedway announcer

As the 2018 whines down, everyone thought turn to one of biggest racing weekend in the Northeast.   Known as the Shootout at the Bullring.   It’s a 2 day event this year with racing starting Friday night Oct 12th and more racing Saturday Oct 13th.  To cap off the fall weekend is the 100 lap Jim Pierce Memorial race.   Why is this race so important?   Well first it’s a tribute to a great Driver, Mechanic and family man.  Jim Pierce was a SST Modified driver that was well respected and a great wheel man.   Was always helping others no matter what class you ran, Mod, Super stock, 4 cylinder.   It also helps that it’s a significant payday for the winner of $2600. (26 being Jim’s racing number).  Details of the racing itinerary and camping info can be found on the tracks web site www.wcisbullring.com 

With the Shoot just a few weeks away, many drivers and crews were on hand to try and get some good note and set up for the big race that caps off racing for 2018 at the Wyoming County Intl. Speedway.   It was a full house in the garage area with nearly 70 cars signed in to race.   And for those that came to watch most definitely got their money’s worth with fantastic racing and some flared emotions on the speedway.   

I was told by an older gentleman in the midway area, “it’s a great night of racing, when you have 4 to 8 cars all with a very capable of winning in any given class, “ and he was right.   The smallest of cars are the 4 cylinders, but they are far from the smallest in excitement.   1/3 of the cars in this division have won feature in 2018.  Sickles and Sass where the two guys pacing this field to green.  It would take no time for the non-regular, but 3x winner in 2018, Jacob Gusafson to jump out front from his third starting spot.   Most thought the race was for the seconf position, but we were all wrong as the 2x winner of Greg Moldts would find his way to the front and the #26 The Shadow Jimmie Pierce Jr would come from last starting spot to battle with Moldts and then start running down Gusafson.   Jacob had to put together 25 almost perfect laps to keep the Pirce and Moldts behind.   That’s exactly what he did.   “She’s a lil' banged up, Thanks Jody, but it’s mostly cosmetic, it’s still a rocket,” said Gustafson.   

Super 6’s got a bit of good new on this night.   With all the effort by local teams and participation from other track‘s teams, Super 6 will be a weekly class at the Blacktop Bullring in 2019.   Great to give new drivers and crews a great entry level class and they have a  whole winter to get a car and get it prepared for 2019.   More invaders were on hand than WCIS regulars.   Parthemer and last weeks winner Barrett Schenk brought this highly compitive fields to green for their 20 main event.   Schenk wasted no time in showing why he is a track champion and that last week’s win was no fluke.   Hallett in the #36 had a valient effort to no avail as his right rear tire was going bad for the mid point in the race, but would hang on for second as new comer or first time to Wyoming this season, Brandon Allen would put his #89 in third at the conclusion of the Super 6 feature.

SST Super Stocks, this is where the emotion and tempers flared tonight.   Mike Chenaille and Scott Gleed would bring this field to green for their 50 lap event.   Both Chenaille and Gleed have had terrible luck. Gleed, all year in the features as he has won some heats.  Chenaille was had bad luck in the second half of the season.   Both looking to turn it around and close out 2018 strong.   Gleed and Chenaille would battle for the lead and it was not long befor the Stealth missle of Joe Horvatits would take control of the race.   Thru a few cautions and restarts, Horvatits was dominating.   His closest competition was the 17x of Meyers the 2018 track champion and the 14 of Dan Majchrzak.

Early in this feature there seemed to be some bad blood between Majchrzak and Meyers from the previous week.   Last week these two came together in a heat race cutting down a tire on the 17x and the 14 bent a rear axel.   Both would make repairs and run the balance of the night.   That brings us to tonight where you have two very good drivers that was not going to cut any slack to the other.   Early in the 50 lap main these two were racing hard and they made contact with each other entering turn 3.   Both cars heading for the concrete wall that always wins.   Majchrzak hit the hall a ton and the right side of the car climbed the wall doing significant damage to the Majchrzak machine.   Meyer on the other hand had significant damage to his right side.   What appeared to be mostly cosmetic, as Meyers went pit side and was checked over by his crew.   Meyers would return and get a very respectful second for the night.

Lots of action on the speedway for the Modifieds.  As I stated earlier, a bunch of invaders came to the track to shake down their cars in preparation of the BIG Shootout at the Bullring  October 12th -13th.   Twenty six cars on hand and that calculates into tons of action on a 1/3 mile speedway.    After the redraw, Bro Bradshaw would be on the pole with last weeks winner Alan Bookmiller to his outside.    Then it looked like the who’s who of Modified drivers, Rusty Smith, Tony Hanbury, TJ Potrzebowski, John Barbar, Patti Pruitt and our weekly runners.  Rick Knapp Jr,(2018 WCIS Champion),  Dan Majchrzak, the Bradshaw Brothers and the Dennie Girls.   A great start for all and it would not last as the first a a handful of cautions would slow the field.

The first was the #66 of Geoff Sharkey, seems the fuel cap came off and he was spilling fuel on the track.  Back to green and bookmiller had the lead with Bradshaw second and the charging Rusty Smith on his way to the front.   Hanbury, Potrzebowski and Majchrzak and Knapp were bidding their time and making their way to the front.   The surface of the Bullring is not overly abusive to tires, but these seasoned racers were not going to waste the tires in the first have of the race.  They all knew they needed some tire in the last 10 -15 laps if they wanted a shot at the win.

About 20 laps in it was Smith , Hanbury and Potrzebowski in the top three positions and as the restart happened it seemed Smiths car when wide forcing Hanbury up in the marbles.   Hanbury gathered it up and we stayed green, a few laps later Hanbury passed Smith and coming down the front straight Hanbury repaid the favor as he break checked Smith allowing Potrzebowski to blow by both cars.   That was short lived as both Hanbury and Smith would get back by the Potrzebowski  #72.   Then it seemed every 20 or so laps we would draw a caution and that would tighten the field back up and add to what could be a lot more drama.   Lap 25 the Billy Kosachook would spin his #19 machine.   Lap 32 the Timmy Lewis car would come to a stop in the infield just off the racing surface in turns 1 and 2.  Lap 55 saw the 6j machine of Carrie Bolton loose the handle and spin her ride off turn 2 and slide thru the grass on the back straight away.

The last caution flew on lap 85 with Jen Dennie looping her #22 ride off turn four.   This left us with a 15 lap shoot out, sort of a look into the future and see who was best prepared for the 100 laps tonight as well as the Jim Pierce Memorial race in a few weeks.  Hanbury was on point, Smith at the ready and local runners Knapp and Majchrzak representing WCIS well.   Also representing the speedway wall was the fact our four lady racers were all running together and in the top ten. Cassie Logsdon, 7th, Beth Dennie 8th, her sister Jen 9th and Carrie Bolton rounding out the top ten.  So the 15 lap shoot out.  The questions were answered soon as the green fell for the last 15 circuits or 5 miles.   It looks as if the top ten or so had played it just about perfect.  Hanbury jumped out front, smuith in second followed by Knap, Majchrzak and Potrzebowski.

Winner circle interviews were as expected, “Well Rusty ran me up in the loose stuff cause he knew we were a rocket on restarts, so after a few laps and the tires were cleaned off we got back around him and repaid the favor”  Smith said “ Tony has run into us before and this is twice I let him gather it up and we raced on, next time I won’t be so nice”.   So with the Writing on the wall it will be interesting at the very least to see if this power struggle of two very talented drivers carries thru to the Shoootout at the Bullring October.

Order your pictures and video of the Sept. 1st race and you decide who was right and wrong at www.mmsportsphotos.com  or www.racingfanchaser88.com 

The new 2018 Shootout at the Bullring format will be as follows:

Friday, Oct. 12th
WCIS Super Stocks (50), 6 Cylinders (25), 4 Cylinder Dash-4-Cash (20)
SST Modified Pit Stop Challenge during intermission
- 4 person crew/driver in-car
- 2 right sides
- $100 bonus to winning crew + 2 new air tire changing guns
Entertainment/Camp Fires to Follow

Saturday, Oct. 13th
SST Modified Jim Pierce Memorial 100 (100), NYSS Sandra Vogler Memorial 51, 4 Cylinders (30), Vintage Racecars (15)
SST Modified Race is $2,600 to Win! 

Sunday, Oct. 14th
Rain date for either days events

4 Cylinders          Heats:  O.Bradshaw,  J.Gustafson
1) J.Gustafson,  
2) J.Pierce Jr,  
3) G.Moldts,  
4) O.Bradshaw,  
5) J.Klamut,  
6) S.Sickles,                   
7) K.Ricketson, 
8) J.Sass,  
9) M.Hurlburt,  
10) K.Kocher,  
1) M.Virts,  
12) K.Landcastle,                
13) D.Heimes (DNS)

Super 6             Heats:  J.Parthemer,  B.Hallett
1) B.Schenk, 
2) B.Hallett,  
3) B.Allen,  
4) J.Parthemer, 
5) R.Cassidy,  
6) F.Kline,  
7) A.Cocilova,      
8) T.Faro, 
9) A.Knoepfler, 
10)  C.Parsons  

Super Stocks          Heats:  D.Majchrzak,  J.Horvatits
1) J.Horvatits,  
2) Z.Meyers,  
3) P.Flye,  
4) S.Gleed,  
5) E.Hastreiter, 
6) C.Hicks,  
7) K.Lanni,          
8) F.Kline,  
9) K.Skoney,  
10) D.Majchrzak, 
11) M.Chenaille, 
12) B.Raycroft,  \
13) E.Stone (DNS)

SST Modifieds         Heats:  A.Bookmiller,  R.Smith,  P.Pruitt
1) T.Hanbury,  
2) R.Smith,  
3) R.Knapp Jr,  
4) D.Majchrzak,  
5) Tj.Potrobowski,  
6) T.Bradshaw,    
7) C.Logsdon,  
8) B.Dennie, 
9) J.Dennie,  
10) C.Bolton,  
11) T.Lewis,  
12) Z.Kosachook,               
13) A.Bookmiller,  
14) P.Pruitt,  
15) B.Bradshaw,  
16) S.Fuchs,  
17) J.Barber,  
18) N.Michielsen,  
19) B.Kosachook, 
20) B.Kosachook Sr,  
21) G.Sharkey,  
22) D.Kluth,  
23) J.Matzen,  
24) T.Alloco,  
25) J.Whithey, 
26) G.Noe (DNS)