CHEMUNG, N.Y. – Zack Curren headlined the list of winners during Mid-Season Championship night Friday at the Chemung Speedrome.
Confidence is a powerful tool, as demonstrated in the 40-lap Sunoco Modified feature.
“I was confident after last week, figured we had a shot at it, and here we are,” Curren said after climbing from his car in victory lane for the second consecutive time after winning the Sunoco Modified feature.
Earlier in the evening Tim Gullo and Zane Zeiner won the two heats that set the field for the feature. Getting it going was tough as the front row starters, Pat Judson and Gullo, got tangled and others stopped to avoid contact. Judson and Dave Bellis were done but the restart had Zeiner and Curren moving up to the front row. Curren took the lead.
As the field worked the second lap, sparks flew when John Wilber and Charlie Sharpsteen touched. Sharpsteen was up against the wall, while Wilber took evasive action and headed down the turn one access road. Both were able to continue.
Curren held off Zeiner on the restart but Zeiner had yet another opportunity when Keith Youngs and Judson got together on the front stretch, ending the race for both drivers. Once again Curren kept Zeiner at bay and started to build up a lead when point leader Zack Knowlden caught and tried to overtake Zeiner. Their battle was classic. Knowlden led lap 33, Zeiner led 34. So it went, as Curren got further away from their battle for second.
The final lap was a dandy. Curren took the checkered flag and Knowlden nipped Zeiner for second. Bryan Sherwood and Gullo rounded out the top five.
“Zane is one of the best there is and to hold him off was huge,” Curren told the crowd. “We did change the car a little from last week even though most people don’t think we did. And we may make a few more changes this week.”
Other winners included Mike Nichols (Super Stocks), Greg Moldt (4 Cylinders), Kyle Youngs (INEX Legends), Josh Duke (Bandolero Outlaw) and Derrick Vogler (Bandolero Bandit).