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The 2005 racing season started with a lot of uncertainty for the Tony Hanbury. The #84 SST racer had a new car owner and new equipment. Tony would need to adapt quickly in order to contend for the SST championship. His driving ability, communication skills, and a knowledgeable crew overcame these challenges. Tony remembers, “There is always a learning curve with new equipment. You need to stay focused and figure out what the car wants. I am fortunate to have a great team. Their effort made the car competitive every week.” Tony and his team went on to capture the 2005 SST Series Championship.
The racing career of Tony’s started at Shangri-La Speedway. He started racing Microds in 1991. Tony recalls, “My family got me started in racing. My dad, grandparents, and Aunt Patti (Pruitt) helped me put the Microd together. Billy Ray, Patti’s husband, gave me a lot of tips.” Tony continued to race Microds the next year. The 1992 season would be the last racing for sometime to come. Though Tony was not racing, he continued to watch Patti and Billy Ray at Shangri-La Speedway. In 2000, Tony returned to racing at Tioga Speedway. He was now competing in the Sportsman Modified division. In his first year back, he finished eighth in points. The following season, Tony placed in the top five of Tioga Sportsman. In 2002, Tony moved up to a modified and raced at Tioga on Friday nights, Chemung on Saturday nights, and ran the entire ROC tour. The 2002 season established Tony as one of the best Modified drivers. He won the 2002 Modified rookie of the year at both Tioga Speedway (3rd in Modified points) and Chemung Speedrome (3rd in Modified points). In addition, Tony was ROC rookie of the year and finished 4th in points for that series. Success was no stranger to this young racer in 2003. Tony won his first championship at Tioga in the Legends division. 2003 and 2004 found Tony visiting Tioga victory lane twenty five times. The 2004 season was very successful. Tony captured the 2004 Tioga Motorsports Park Modified championship, 2004 ROC North championship, 2004 Overall ROC championship, and the 2004 WCIS Modified championship. In 2005, Tony had two new owners for his SST and Modified teams. Tony said, “This was the most gratifying year because of the challenges. Both teams had to figure out the new equipment. We were not sure how long that would take.” The answer to that question was not very long. At the end of the season, Tony repeated as WCIS Modified champion. In addition, he also was the 2005 SST series champion and second in Chemung SST Modified points. Tony also raced at Wall Township Speedway. He said, “I got a call from Malcom Campbell who asked me to race his Legend car for the Turkey Derby. The first day, we started near the front and placed second. The next day, we started deep in the thirty car pack and got another second.”
Tony will be very busy for the 2006 race season. He will be competing at Spencer Speedway in the Modifieds and SST Modifieds, SST modifieds at Chemung, all Modified races at WCIS, and an occasional ROC Modified race. Tony has enjoyed success everywhere he has raced. He particularly likes the racing at Wyoming County Speedway. He said, “I really enjoy the racing there because it is a multiple groove track. You can pass on the outside or the inside. Jim Majchrzak and his staff do an excellent job. If the track was closer (2 ˝ hour drive one way), I would race there every week. We will definitely be defending our WCIS Modified championship for the third year in a row."
The #84 SST racer has enjoyed a great deal of success. Tony said, “I have two different teams that provide me with great cars. Both teams have exceptional talent. I am thankful to have these people on my team.” Tony continued, “I would really like to thank Vic Hooker for all the help he gave me up until this year. He is the person who supported me for my first two years in Modified Racing. My family, the Zacharias family, #84 SST car owner, John Knowlton have given an enormous amount of support. I am grateful for all the help they provide.” The SST team #84 is made up of the crew chief, Bob Hanbury, Homer, John Emms, Cliff Rought, Doniel Lewis, and Carol Emms. The Modified #00 team consists of crew chief, Terry Zacharias, Bob Hanbury, John Emms, Doniel Lewis, and Donny Winslow.
The second year of SST racing series has come to an end. The series is continuing to grow in 2006. The series is now competing at Spencer, Chemung, Lancaster, Oswego and Wyoming County International Speedway where it all began. In 2005, there were seventy-eight SST drivers who competed for the title with a total of 120 participants visiting regional SST ‘Home Tracks’. The Super Short Track Racing Series is proud to have Tony Hanbury as the new SST Champion.
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