WEEDSPORT, NY (May 4, 2026) – For just the third time in nine seasons, Weedsport Speedway’s season opening Icebreaker 50 saw the green flag on Sunday afternoon and it was Alex Payne running away with a dominant green to checkered win in DIRTcar Big Block Modified action, worth $5,000.
Gray skies and unseasonably cool temperatures saw officials start the day’s events two hours ahead of schedule, with more than 100 racecars enjoying a full day of action on the Weedsport oval.
Hunter Hollenbeck and Jerry Lobdell Jr. would join Payne atop victory hill, topping their respective DIRTcar Sportsman and Empire Street Stock divisions.
A total of 28 DIRTcar Modifieds took the green flag on Sunday with an all-Payne front row consisting of Alex and Zach Payne for the start of the day’s featured 50-lapper. It would be Alex wasting little time darting to the head of the pack, utilizing the outside lane of a tabletop smooth Weedsport surface, which saw racing across three grooves in the main event.
Starting from third, Alex Yankowski quickly settled into the second position with Jimmy Phelps making an early charge from sixth to third in the No. 98H.
In what would turn out to be a green to checkered main, Payne would cruise to a comfortable lead from the get-go, with Yankowski and Phelps locked in a tight battle for the runner-up position in lapped traffic. Eventually Phelps would clear, leaving Yankowski in his wake as he did his best to try and chase down Payne at the front of the field.
The four-position charge from Phelps would fall short however, as Payne’s momentum on the top side of the speedway propelled him to a 5.366-second victory over the course of the 50-lapper for his first official DIRTcar Big Block Modified win of 2026.
Yankowski would settle for third ahead of Larry Wight and Zach Payne in the front five positions. Peter Britten, Darren Smith, Michael Maresca, Tim Sears Jr. and Erick Rudolph would land inside the top ten at the end of the afternoon.
Modified qualifying heat wins were secured by Phelps, Brandon Walters and Maresca.
An impressive 53-car field opened the DIRTcar Sportsman Series Central Region on Sunday and it was Hunter Hollenbeck standing tall to collect his first career series victory, worth $1,000.
Hollenbeck was engaged in a terrific three car battle for the lead which included polesitter Connor Crane and Austin Germinio. Unfortunately for Germinio, he tagged the inside retaining wall battling for the top spot, which relegated him to the rear of the field.
From there Hollenbeck only had to keep Crane at bay, which he was able to do across the completion of the 30-lap main event.
Tony Finch II, Chris Crane and Richard Murtaugh filled the top five with Taylor Wason, Mike Fowler, Tyler Stevenson, Frank Guererri and David Hackett Jr. locked in the top ten spots.
Jerry Lobdell Jr. made a drive from seventh to the win in the Empire Street Stock main event to cap off the afternoon on Sunday. Lobdell claimed a cool $1,000 for topping the 21-car field as Josh Pangrazio, Marc Minutolo, Luke Boom and Jimmy Grant chased him across the line.
The day’s 30-lapper saw Teddy Morseman, Glenn Whritenour, Mike Welch, Gene Sharpsteen and Ely Mangirelli complete the top ten.
Weedsport Speedway returns to action on Sunday, May 24 for the Super DIRTcar Series Heroes Remembered 75. The best of the best in Big Block Modified racing will be accompanied by the DIRTcar Sportsman, as well as the winged warriors of the CRSA Sprint Car Series.
Advanced sale reserved seating for the Heroes Remembered 75 is available for $35 with adult general admission set at $30, youth admission (11-17) priced at $15 with kids 10 and under FREE. Advance ticket sales are available through May 17.
Tickets can be purchased online by clicking on the tickets tab at the top right-hand corner of the speedway’s website at www.weedsportspeedway.com.
Hospitality suites are also now available for all events in 2026. Weedsport’s suites offer an unmatched experience, high above the racing surface, and provide a perfect setting for a group party or corporate night out. Call Weedsport Speedway’s main office at (315) 834-3067 for pricing and availability.
Visit www.weedsportspeedway.com or follow Weedsport Speedway via Facebook at www.facebook.com/weedsportspeedway and Twitter @WeedsportSpdwy for more information.
Weedsport Speedway
Weedsport, NY
Icebreaker 50
Box Score:
DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds (50-laps): 1. 70A – ALEX PAYNE, 2. 98H – Jimmy Phelps, 3. 84Y – Alex Yankowski, 4. 99L – Larry Wight, 5. 7Z – Zach Payne, 6. 21A – Peter Britten, 7. 12 – Darren Smith, 8. 7MM – Michael Maresca, 9. 83X – Tim Sears Jr., 10. 25R – Erick Rudolph, 11. 32R – Ronnie Davis III, 12. 11 – Matt Caprara, 13. 6 – Matt Stangle, 14. 19 – Tim Fuller, 15. 3RS – Dalton Slack, 16. M1 – Dave Marcuccilli, 17. 5H – Amy Holland, 18. 72 – Ajay Potrzebowski, 19. 30 – Nicholas Root, 20. 7 – Paul Mancini, 21. 27Z – Dylan Zacharias, 22. 63 – Bryon Worthing, 23. 11T – Jeff Taylot, 24. 88H – Chris Hulsizer, 25. 160 – Max Hill, 26. 7B – Mitchell Bard, 27. 22 – Brandon Walters
DIRTcar Sportsman Series Central Region (30-laps): 1. 72 – HUNTER HOLLENBECK, 2. 711X – Connor Crane, 3. 0F – Tony Finch II, 4. 711 – Chris Crane Jr., 5. 33 – Richard Murtaugh, 6. 410 – Mike Fowler, 7. 07W – Taylor Wason, 8. 28 – Tyler Stevenson, 9. 113 – Frank Guererri, 10. David Hackett Jr., 11. 9 – Taylor Doxtater, 12. 6 – Josh Sokolic, 13. 18 – Gavin Eisele, 14. 64 – Tyler Corcoran, 15. 28S – Brian Harber, 16. 78JR – Nigel Pendykoski, 17. 711V – Nick Ventura, 18. 10J – Josh Livingston, 19. 16X – Savannah Laflair, 20. 25 – Evan Nugent, 21. R1 – Riley Rogala, 22. 6M – Cody Manitta, 23. 7G – Tyler Guzzardi, 24. 10H – Trevor Houghton, 25. 54 – Sullivan Dickey, 26. 10G – Austin Germinio, 27. 39B – Matt Brewer, 28. 714 – Chris Darling, 29. 92 – Frank Sibley Jr., 30. 41S – Chase Spoor
Empire Street Stock Series (30-laps): 1. 2L – JERRY LOBDELL JR., 2. 64 – Josh Pangrazio, 3. 25B – Marc Minutolo, 4. B00M – Luke Boom, 5. 36 – Jimmy Grant, 6. 44 – Teddy Morseman, 7. 15 – Glenn Whritenour, 8. 00 – Mike Welch, 9. 7 – Gene Sharpsteen, 10. 57 – Ely Mangirelli, 11. EX – Dale Houghtaling, 12. 9 – Aksel Jensen, 13. 15B – Brian Butler, 14. 25J – Joe Giardina, 15. 0W – John Zimmerman, 16. 79 – Adam Leubner, 17. 88 – Dan Gardner, 18. 06 – Mike Wilbur, 19. 12 – John Burritt, 20. 0Z – Butch Zimmerman, 21. CJ1 – CJ Gurerri
2026 Weedsport Speedway Schedule:
Sunday, May 24
Heroes Remembered
Super DIRTcar Series
DIRTcar Sportsman
CRSA Sprint Cars
Tuesday, June 30
ESS Speedweek
DIRTcar 358-Modified Series
ESS Sprint Cars
Fireworks
Saturday, July 25
Empire State Challenge Weekend
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars
DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds
Sunday, July 26
Empire State Challenge Weekend
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars
DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds
Saturday, August 1
Port City Stampede
All-American Rodeo
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Women’s Professional Rodeo Association
Sunday, August 16
SummerFAST
Super DIRTcar Series Hall of Fame 100
DIRTcar Sportsman
Mod Lites
Sunday, September 6
Cavalcade Cup
Super DIRTcar Series Cavalcade Cup 100
DIRTcar Sportsman Classic 75
Hoosier 600 Microsprint Tour
Friday, September 18
Page Trucking Big Rig Nationals
American Big Rig Series
About Weedsport Speedway: Officially opened for the first time on July 24, 1955 – the Weedsport Speedway 3/8 mile dirt oval has produced a legendary list of drivers and champions including Will Cagle, Danny Johnson, Bob McCreadie, Alan Johnson, Jack Johnson, and Dave Lape to name a few. In 2018, Weedsport introduced the all-new Weedsport Kartway, just outside of the Speedway’s main pit area, to begin to foster the next generation of racers, crew members and race fans. Couple the racing with state-of-the-art camping and track amenities, unmatched on-site television production capabilities, plus the ability for large scale concert productions and Weedsport is one of the marquee entertainment venues in the country.