DUNDEE, N.Y. – Ajay Portzebowski Jr. emerged as the victory of the 49-lap Mike Jackson Memorial for crate sportsman on Friday evening at New York’s Outlaw Speedway.
Alex Payne took the lead from Will Shields one lap into the Mike Jackson Memorial feature and held off Shields during some early restarts. Chris Fisher and Tommy Collins fought for third, but Potrzebowki had a fast car and moved into the top-five on lap 14 and sailed around the duo a couple of laps later.
A caution on lap 23 changed the game when Payne went to the pits, handing the lead to Shields. The lead only lasted two laps as Potrzebowski roared around him to take the top spot at halfway.
The story of the race’s second half was the amazing charge back through the field by Payne, as he tore through the pack running the outside lane while Portzebowski and Shields continued to battle for the lead.
Karl Comfort had make his was from the 15th starting spot to third and was also threatening to join the lead battle, but pulled into the pits with an issue on lap 43. At that point Payne was up to third and grabbed second on the restart, but did not have enough time to catch Potrzebowski, who brought it home for a $1,919 payday with lap money and contingency monies added to his total.
Finishing behind Payne was Shields, Collins, and Donnie Lawson.
Other winners on the night included Danny Johnson in the Friendly Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/RAM Outlaw Modifieds, Jordan Thomas in the Lane’s Yamaha 360 Sprints, Dylan Cecee in the Stan’s No Tubes Street Stocks, Scott Lehman in the Winner’s Circle Deli 4 Cylinders and Will Easling in the Addison/Corning/Hornell/Wellsville NAPA Hobby Stocks.