7/3/2025
Genesee Kartway
Stars & Stripes Showdown Kicks Off with McCollister’s Breakthrough Victory
BATAVIA, NY — Night one of the Stars & Stripes Showdown at Genesee Kartway delivered the biggest crowd and kart count of the season, kicking off the holiday week in spectacular fashion. More than 40 karts filled the pit area while the grandstands reached their fullest capacity so far this year, creating an electric atmosphere for a jam-packed evening of racing.
The night opened with the Senior Lites division, where Timothy Lonnen and Clayton Cain brought the field to green. Cain led the opening lap before spinning in turn three and four, collecting Lonnen and handing the lead to Joey Surman. On the restart, Surman looked strong, but it was Aidan McCollister of Buffalo, NY, who took the lead just four laps after the restart. Despite multiple cautions—including one for Brett Rowles on lap 14 and another for Lonnen on lap 19—McCollister held his line and composure, going on to win his first feature of the season at Genesee Kartway. “I was nervous—that was a lot of restarts, more than I would like,” McCollister said in Victory Lane. “I felt like I was good once we got going, but man, that was a long race.”
In the Novice division, featuring drivers aged 5 to 8, Xavier Cook and Kensley Martinez were the only two entrants. The race ran caution-free and provided both drivers with valuable seat time as they continue to develop. Martinez showed smooth consistency, leading every lap and claiming her second feature win of the season.
The Junior 1 division followed, featuring drivers aged 8 to 10. Hendrick Dingeldine and Brentley Greene of Newfane started up front, but it was Tucker Hazlett who wasted no time moving through the field, taking the lead by lap three. A yellow on lap 12 for Kenny Cook and Blake Snyder bunched the field back up. Then, on lap 18, contact between Hazlett and Dingeldine—who were running first and second—brought out the final caution and sent both to the rear of the field. Greene inherited the lead and made the most of the opportunity, staying smooth and focused over the final two laps to score the feature win.
The Xtreme Budget Predator division was next, with Joey Surman and Jett Wilcox leading the field to green. Surman paced the first five laps before Timothy Lonnen took over. A caution for Michael Pfendler reset the field, and Surman regained the lead shortly after. Despite cautions on laps 9, 12, and 13, Surman kept hitting his marks until lap 22, when trouble struck. Both Surman and second-place runner Jeffery Anstett encountered problems, opening the door for Gary Gow of Olcott, NY. Gow had started 8th and worked his way methodically through the field before capitalizing on the leaders’ misfortune to take a well-earned feature win.
In the combined Junior 2 and 3 division for ages 10 to 15, four karts—Ryan Maher of Amherst, NY, Cole Schumacher, Olivia Barry, and Chase Powers—ran green to checkered in one of the cleanest races of the night. Barry led the first four laps until contact moved her to the back of the pack. Maher then took over the lead but had Schumacher right on his bumper for the remainder of the race. Despite relentless pressure, Maher never cracked and held on to win by just 0.092 seconds in a nail-biting finish.
The Senior Heavy division closed the night, with Clayton Cain of Newfane, NY, and Josh Nearhood starting on the front row. Cain jumped out to a commanding lead, and it wasn’t until lap 14 that a yellow for Timothy Lonnen brought the field back together. On the restart, Cain again pulled away—this time from Joey Surman—and looked to be in control. A final caution on lap 20 for Nearhood didn’t change the outcome, as Cain stayed locked in to take the feature win. “Just hit your marks, be good to go,” Cain said in Victory Lane. “We skipped weekly points racing in Canada to grab some money—and that’s what we did.”
The next regular show for Genesee Kartway will be Friday, July 11th, with heats and features beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Photo Credit: EM Nearhood Photography
2 entries
Kids Novice (5-8 years old)
A Feature 1: 1. 3K-Kensley Martinze[2]; 2. 25-Xavier Cook[1]
5 entries
Junior 1 (8-10 years old)
A Feature 1: 1. 7-Bentley Greene[2]; 2. 8-Blake Snyder[4]; 3. 13-Tucker Hazlett[3]; 4. 24-Kenny Cook[5]; 5. 28H-Hendrick Dingeldine[1]
4 entries
Junior 2 - 3 (10-12 years old)
A Feature 1: 1. 33R-Ryan Maher[1]; 2. 56-Cole Schumacher[2] 3. 12-Olivia Barry[1]; 4. 5C-Chase Powers[2]
8 entries
Senior Lites
A Feature 1: 1. 69-Aidan McColiister[4]; 2. 10JR-Paige Gayton[6]; 3. 3J-Joey Surman[5]; 4. 12OZ-Timothy Lonnen[1]; 5. 00-Brett Rowles[3]; 6. 115-matthew barry[8]; 7. 5-Austin Biggins[7]; 8. 5C-Clayton Cain[2]
10 entries
Senior Heavy
A Feature 1: 1. 5C-Clayton Cain[1]; 2. 115-matthew barry[9]; 3. 12OZ-Timothy Lonnen[7]; 4. 3J-Joey Surman[5]; 5. 00-Brett Rowles[6]; 6. 5X-Glen Klumpp[4]; 7. 69-Aidan McColiister[10]; 8. 25-Josh Nearhood[2]; 9. 44-Jeremiah Salami[3]; 10. 21-Clayton Greenlief[8]
13 entries
XTreme Budget Predator
A Feature 1: 1. 9G-Gary Gow[8]; 2. 136-David Pangrazio[11]; 3. 3J-Joey Surman[1]; 4. 61-Jeffery Anstett[10]; 5. 32-Thomas Vullo[9]; 6. 87-David covert[12]; 7. 69-Mason Werth[6]; 8. 21-Michael Pfendler[5]; 9. 12OZ-Timothy Lonnen[3]; 10. 126-Gregory Speck[4]; 11. 14-Jack Freeman[7]; 12. 169-Patrick Maher[13]; 13. 24-Jett Wilcox[2]
Article Credit: Jeremy Perry
Submitted By: Jeremy Perry