By kyohnson 
Sportsman Heat Race at Genesee Speedway on August 27, 2016 Batavia, New York Photo Rick Franclemont/Francletography
In Batavia, New York, the long-awaited racing season had finally arrived, and to mark the occasion, the practice day not only served as a tantalizing prelude for the race teams but also added an extra layer of excitement for the upcoming 2017 season. On a pleasantly cool yet partially sunny afternoon, the 1/3-mile Genesee Speedway emerged as the centerpiece, presenting itself in pristine condition, with only rare instances of dust dancing amidst an incredibly smooth racing surface that encircled the oval. This was a golden opportunity for the teams to gear up and prepare for the arduous season ahead. A total of 66 teams took to the track for the testing session, and among them, three modified cars achieved the remarkable feat of clocking the best time of the day, bringing it down to an astonishing 17.3 seconds. All six weekly divisions were well-represented, with at least 7 cars in each, and the sportsman division reached a high of 17 cars. Once the practice sessions came to an end, the track was meticulously watered to set the stage for the Spring Fling 100-lap Enduro. Exactly 50 cars took the green flag, and within a matter of just a few laps, the vibrant paint jobs were completely covered in a deep layer of mud. During the course of the race, a total of five red flags were unfurled, which brought about a wide spectrum of variability and unpredictability. A total of six lead changes took place throughout the event, and none were more notable than the moment on lap 76 when the leader, Harry Vosburg’s #12H, failed to start after a red flag, thereby squandering his two-lap lead. Dale Rissinger Jr. then inherited the lead and proceeded to pass every remaining car in the final 24 laps, ultimately claiming victory in his Chevy Lumina. Jason Roncone managed to recover from the early incidents and finished in second place, while Micah Brown rounded out the top three. The Genesee Speedway will lie dormant next Saturday as it prepares for opening night on Saturday, May 6, when Kohorst Custom Homes & Remodeling presents a Super 6 program that is set to commence at 6:00 P.M. This will mark the kickoff of the first of 20 race dates, featuring a visit by the ULMS Super Late Models on Thursday, July 6, and the highly anticipated first-ever Topless Crate Nationals on September 16th and 17th. Genesee Speedway is conveniently located just off Batavia on Route 5 at the Genesee County Fairgrounds, offering Saturday Night racing on the 1/3-mile dirt oval. It showcases a diverse range of divisions, including Crate Late Models, Sportsman Modifieds, 360 Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bandits. For more information, be sure to visit www.Genesee-Speedway.com.