7/24/2025
The Dirt Track at Genesee
Barry and Anstett Cash In on Redemption at Genesee Kartway
BATAVIA, NY – On a picture-perfect Wednesday night at the Genesee County Fair, Genesee Kartway took center stage. With 34 entries across seven divisions, a lively crowd on hand, and fair rides glowing beyond turns 3 and 4, it was a celebration of racing done right — from 5-year-old rookies to veteran competitors finding redemption.
The night opened with a crowd-pleasing Power Wheels Demo Derby for the kids and closed under the lights with a 100-lap Enduro, won by Brad Shepard, followed by Brian Johnson and Zach Stiles. In between, fans were treated to competitive go-kart features, breakout wins, streaks extended — and one big sweep by a driver who made the most of every lap.
The Xtreme Budget Predator division was the first to the green flag, with Jeffery Anstett of Newfane, NY starting up front alongside Joey Surman. The duo picked up right where they left off last week, running nose-to-tail for the early laps.
That’s when the story took a turn.
Running second, Surman suddenly pulled into the pits under green, ending his run. A yellow on lap 11 reset the field and gave Thomas Vullo a chance to challenge Anstett, but there would be no upset this time. After heartbreak on the last lap one week ago, Anstett sealed the deal, leading the final laps and scoring a long-awaited win.
“After the last two times we’ve been here, this place owed me one,” Anstett said in victory lane. “This means a lot. I retired four years ago — this is all my wife’s fault. She told me I should take the Predator out, so I brought it. Now I’m hooked.”
In the Novice division (ages 5–8), Kensley Martinez continued her dominance, leading every lap of the feature. But behind her, Xavier Cook delivered one of the most heartwarming runs of the night — showing major improvement and completing the full race distance without going a lap down, a first for him this season.
The Senior Lites feature was all Clayton Cain, who started on the front row with Timothy Lonnen. Cain jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, running smooth and consistent lap after lap to claim his first Senior Lite win of 2025 at Genesee Kartway.
“It’s a driver’s track,” Cain said. “Be smooth, hit your marks, and we got it done. We’re pretty good right now.”
Cain wasn’t done.
In the night’s final karting feature — the Senior Heavy class — he returned to the front row alongside Josh Nearhood. Matthew Barry joined the mix quickly, trading the lead back and forth with Cain in the early corners. After a yellow for Joey Surman, Cain took control and never gave it back, sweeping the night and grabbing his third straight (Lites & Heavy) win at Genesee.
Hendrick Dingeldine continued his hot streak in Junior 1, starting up front with Tucker Hazlett and holding off the field from the jump. A quick caution for Kenny Cook didn’t slow him down — Dingeldine reset and pulled away for his second straight feature win.
“This feels insane,” said Dingeldine after climbing out of his kart in victory lane.
The Junior 2 and Junior 3 classes ran together in a fast-paced feature that once again showed how deep the youth talent pool is at Genesee Kartway. Olivia Barry of Albion, NY, led lap one and looked to upset the unbeaten Ryan Mahar, who entered the night with a perfect season in both heats and features.
But Mahar was shuffled back to fourth early by Chase Powers and Will Holmes, while Barry stayed clean and quick out front. Mahar clawed back to second with three to go and set his sights on Barry, who remembered all too well the sting of a final-lap mistake that cost her the season opener.
This time, she was perfect.
Barry hit every mark, never left the door open, and held off Mahar in the cleanest, most composed drive of her young career — earning her first win of the 2025 season in Junior 3.
The summer racing continues as the calendar flips. Genesee Kartway returns Friday, August 1st at 7:00PM, with all divisions back in action for what promises to be another exciting night of short-track competition.
Photo Credit: EM Nearhood Photography
Full results on My race pass
Article Credit: Jeremy Perry
Submitted By: Jeremy Perry