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JAN LEATY RETURNS, CLAIMS TIOGA’S
SOUTHERN TIER 200 The first order of business was the running of time trials for the Modifieds. Counting the better of 2 laps, the fastest dozen earned their way into the feature and a draw for the top 12 starting spots. Eric Beers appeared to earn a new track record until he came up light on the scales and had the record run disqualified. Lee Sherwood, multi-time track champion, had fastest time and the first shot to draw the pole. That’s exactly what he did, and Tony Hanbury drew #2 to fill the front row. With the cars lined up along the front stretch, and race teams gathered, ROC Promoter and former Tioga Speedway Promoter Andy Harpell introduced each driver. Gentleman Jim Zacharias, a track Hall of Fame member, shook each driver’s hand. He then spoke about the track and thanked everyone for coming to the final race before saying good-bye. For his final duty at the track he gave the command to start the engines. For one of his final duties, Promoter Chris Zacharias waved the white flag. Lee Sherwood and Tony Hanbury brought the 32-car field to the green and Sherwood led the way, with Hanbury, Jan Leaty, Matt Hirschman and TJ Potrzebowski in the top 5. By lap 15 Hirschman got around Hanbury, but he reclaimed the spot by the 20th lap. Sherwood, however, had a big lead evaporate when Dan Kurzejewski, driving the Frisbie-owned mount, slowed with motor trouble. On the restart Hanbury got the better of Leaty and he ran nose-to-tail with leader Sherwood. Two cautions near the lap 50 mark kicked pit strategy into the equation, as each team had to pit past lap 50. Leaty, George Kent, and Hirschman opted to go in for service. Sherwood and Hanbury went back to work when the green came back out and on lap 64 Hanbury found the opening he’d been looking for and took over the lead in the famed gold #71 owned by the Zacharias family. As lap 100 approached Hanbury, Hirschman and Eric Beers were contesting for the $1,000 prize for leading that lap. That money went to Hanbury. When Rusty Smith went off the track in turn 3 it set up more pit stops, including the top 3, and Leaty was the new race leader. George Kent’s final run ended on lap 135, when the yellow #26 slowed in turn 2. His retirement for the race ended yet another story at the track where he had claimed multiple championships and nearly 100 feature wins. When racing resumed Leaty had Rusty Smith, Zane Zeiner and Potrzebowski chasing him. With less than 50 laps remaining Leaty began to pull away, leaving Smith and Zeiner locked in a great battle for 2nd. Three more caution periods between laps 177 and 200 brought the field together in single-file restarts. Each time Leaty proved to be superior. Smith tried everything to stay with him, but Zeiner lost 3rd to Hanbury. He also went to the outside groove to get past Smith but came up short. Over the final 2 laps, with the crowd on its feet, Leaty remained fast and steady. As he crossed the stripe he got the checkered flag from head flagger Gary Folk, Jr. and former flaggers Jim Burleigh and Steve Kellogg. Watching 4 checkered flags wave in unison was quite a sight. Leaty brought his car around, drove nose-first against the guide rail by the flagger’s stand, and let ‘er rip. The tire burnout would have impressed John Force, and the crowd showed their appreciation when it was over. “This
place finally treated me good,” he said after the win. “It’s been a while
since I was here but the track and I go way back. This is a great feeling.”
For his efforts he claimed the $8,000 first place money, a huge trophy, and a
special grandfather clock put together by promoter Chris Zacharias. Time trial qualifiers: Lee Sherwood, Matt Hirschman, TJ Potrzebowski, Bill Chandler, Zane Zeiner, George Kent, Chuck Hossfeld, Tommy Cloce, Jan Leaty, Tony Hanbury, Billy Putney, Pete Brittain Heat winners: Rusty Smith, Eric Beers, Dan Kurzejewski |
Branich Motorsports |
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