6/19/2025
The Dirt Track at Genesee
Senior Heavy Drama Ends Barry’s Perfect Night as Surman Capitalizes
Despite stormy weather looming across Western New York, Genesee Kartway was spared from the rain on race night — with only a few sprinkles during feature events. Mother Nature held off just long enough to deliver another evening of go-kart racing action Wednesday night.
The Senior Lites division kicked things off with Albion’s Matthew Barry and Timothy Lonnen on the front row. Lonnen, fresh off two feature wins last week, led the opening five laps of the 15-lap showdown. But on lap 6, Barry powered to the front and held a steady line lap after lap. Meanwhile, eyes turned to Paige Gayton, who started in fourth and got past Lonnen by lap 7. She quickly chased down Barry but couldn’t find a way around him. With Barry hitting his marks he picked up his first feature win of the season.
Next up was the Junior 1 division (ages 8–10), with Tucker Hazlett of Corfu, NY, and Hendrick Dingeldine leading the field to green. Hazlett took early control, but a small mistake on lap 4 gave Dingeldine a brief chance at the lead. Hazlett responded immediately, reclaiming the top spot on lap 5 and never looking back — earning his second feature win of the year.
The Junior 3 division (ages 12–15) followed, with Olivia Barry and Ryan Maher of Amherst, NY, starting up front. Maher, who usually races in the Junior 2 class (ages 10–12), made the jump up after being the only entrant in his regular division — and he didn’t disappoint. Barry led the first lap, but Maher moved past her on lap 2, with Chase Powers also overtaking Barry a lap later. Maher extended his lead to 1.195 seconds after Powers secured second and eventually pulled away to win by 2.083 seconds. It was Maher’s second feature win of the season, and his first in Junior 3 competition.
In the Xtreme Budget Predator division, Jack Freeman of Kenmore, NY, returned after a win the previous week and looked unstoppable again. Freeman opened up a huge 11.761-second lead until a caution flew on lap 6 for a spin by David Covert. On the restart, Patrick Maher gave chase but couldn’t close the gap. Freeman surged ahead to take his second win of the 2025 season, this time by 6.7 seconds.
The night’s final feature brought fireworks in the Senior Heavy division, where Matthew Barry and Aidan McColister led the field. Barry, looking to sweep the night after heat race wins and a Senior Lites victory, was spun in turn 3 on lap 2 after contact from McColister. Race control sent McColister to the tail of the field, shaking up the race.
Timothy Lonnen and Joey Surman inherited the front row on the restart. Lonnen took the lead and looked poised to grab his second straight win of the season. But with just two laps to go, Lonnen spun on his own exiting turn 2. Barry clawed back to second, but it was Joey Surman who held off the field to steal the victory and end Barry’s dream of a perfect night.
Looking ahead, Genesee Kartway returns Friday, June 27 at 7:00 PM. Thanks to Handyman for Hire and 585 Auto Repair, extra cash is on the line:
$200 will be added to the division with the highest kart count
Another $200 goes to the second-highest kart count division
Winners in those classes will receive $100 extra, while second and third will each take home $50 more, in addition to the standard purse.
Photo Credit: EM Nearhood Photography
Kids Novice (5-8 years old)
A Feature 1: 1. 25-Xavier Cook[1]
Heat 1: 1. 25-Xavier Cook[1]
Junior 1 (8-10 years old)
A Feature 1: 1. 13-Tucker Hazlett[2]; 2. 28H-Hendrick Dingeldine[1]; 3. 24-Kenny Cook[3]
Heat 1: 1. 28H-Hendrick Dingeldine[1]; 2. 13-Tucker Hazlett[2]; 3. 24-Kenny Cook[3]
Junior 2 (10-12 years old)
A Feature 1: 1. 33R-Ryan Maher[1]
Heat 1: 1. 33R-Ryan Maher[1]
Junior 3 (12-15 years old)
A Feature 1: 1. 33R-Ryan Maher[2]; 2. 5C-Chase Powers[3]; 3. 12-Olivia Barry[1]
Heat 1: 1. 12-Olivia Barry[1]; 2. 33R-Ryan Maher[3]; 3. 5C-Chase Powers[2]
XTreme Budget Predator
A Feature 1: 1. 14-Jack Freeman[1]; 2. 169-Patrick Maher[2]; 3. 87-David covert[3]
Heat 1: 1. 14-Jack Freeman[2]; 2. 169-Patrick Maher[1]; 3. 87-David covert[3]
Senior Lites
A Feature 1: 1. 115-matthew barry[1]; 2. 10JR-Paige Gayton[4]; 3. 12OZ-Timothy Lonnen[2]; 4. 69-Aidan McColiister[5]; 5. 3J-Joey Surman[3]
Heat 1: 1. 115-matthew barry[5]; 2. 12OZ-Timothy Lonnen[3]; 3. 3J-Joey Surman[4]; 4. 10JR-Paige Gayton[2]; 5. 69-Aidan McColiister[1]
Senior Heavy
A Feature 1: 1. 3J-Joey Surman[4]; 2. 115-matthew barry[1]; 3. 12OZ-Timothy Lonnen[3]; 4. 69-Aidan McColiister[2]; 5. 25-Josh Nearhood[6]; 6. 44-Jeremiah Salami[5]
Heat 1: 1. 69-Aidan McColiister[1]; 2. 115-matthew barry[2]; 3. 12OZ-Timothy Lonnen[3]; 4. 25-Josh Nearhood[4]; 5. 44-Jeremiah Salami[5]; 6. 3J-Joey Surman[6]
Submitted By: Jeremy Perry