Young Legends standout Max Zachem made the trip from Preston,
Connecticut to Bethel, New York for the final race of the 2008
season at the reopened and renamed Bethel Motor Speedway, and
the trip was definitely worth the 15-year-old’s time, as he
collected his 12th Legends win of the 2008 season and the $250
payday. Zachem has run roughly 50 races so far this season, and
his win at Bethel was his second in as many weeks, as the
teenager recorded a win at the Legends Car Fall Classic at
Mountain Speedway just last weekend.
Two heat races were run to determine the starting lineup. The
heats were won by Mike Malone and Greg DiCanio, both regulars at
Long Island’s Riverhead Raceway. By virtue of their heat race
wins, Malone and DiCanio started the feature on the front row.
Malone grabbed the early lead, but caution waved on lap 1 after
John Hugate spun on his own.
Malone and DiCanio again lined up on the front row for the
restart. The two put on a tight side-by-side battle for the lead
that lasted four laps, until the two made contact coming off of
turn 2 on lap 5. Malone’s car careened through the infield, and
DiCanio’s car slid back across the track. Hugate hit the left
rear of DiCanio’s car after it had come to a rest at the
entrance to turn 3. All drivers involved were able to continue,
and rejoined the rear of the field.
Zachem restarted on the pole, with New Jersey’s Matt Maring
on the outside pole. Zachem shot out front, and immediately
began to distance himself from the rest of the cars. Malone
worked his way back through the field, using an inside pass to
take second from Maring on lap 16. Malone then set his sights on
Zachem.
During the closing laps of the race, Malone closed the gap
and was right on Zachem’s back bumper. Zachem held on to the top
spot, however, going on to collect the win. Malone finished
second, with Maring third. DiCanio came back to finish fourth,
and Joe DiGracia rounded out the top five.
Legends feature (25 laps): MAX ZACHEM, Mike Malone, Matt
Maring, Greg DiCanio, Joe DiGracia, John Lotti, John Hugate.
Source: Tracy
Chirico/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
November 2, 2008
