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05-23-2010, 04:56 PM
TOM ROGERS JR CONTINUES RIVERHEAD RACEWAY HOT STREAK SATURDAY WINNING 35-LAP MODIFIED FEATURE

Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue continued his recent hot streak at Riverhead Raceway when he won the 35-lap NASCAR Modified feature in Whelen All-American Series action. Rogers roared from his 10th starting position to score the $1,450 victory, his 10th career triumph.

After an ominous start the 35-lap contest which actually would go green to checker saw Timmy Solomito and John Beatty Jr. tussle for the lead for the first two laps before Timmy's car owner Dave Brigati slipped by Beatty for second on the third lap. The two team cars snake bitten in the first three weeks of the season with tough luck looked as though they'd right the ship with a one-two finish. However Tom Rogers Jr. had a different game plan and on lap 6 worked his way by Brigati for second and then went to work on Solomito for the lead.

It would be entering turn three on the 10th lap that Rogers ducked under Solomito in a bid for the race lead, a bid that would payoff for Tom as they raced off turn four. With the door open under Solomito, Eddie Brunnhoelzl III also slipped by the sophomore driver for second after starting the event in the 6th spot. Eddie was able to keep pace with Tom Rogers Jr. for the remainder of the race and was hoping to make a late race run on Rogers but that bid never materialized. At the checker it was Tom Rogers Jr. wheeling the Frankie's Towing entry across the line first.

In victory lane Rogers was asked what the secret was to his recent hot streak, "nothing at all really" Roger pointed out. "This is the same set-up we had when I won the championship in 2004, I have to give credit to my crew though, they keep after it and it shows in our performance". Tommy concluded, "I have to thank Bellecon Acrylic Asphalt Sealing and Frank Vigliarolo of Frankie's Towing, we're running for the title this year, but without them we wouldn't be able to race at all".

Eddie Brunnhoelzl III of Levittown was runner-up in the Senix Creek Inn Chevy, with early race leader Timmy Solomito of Islip placing third in the WPW Growers Chevy. Dave Brigati of Calverton and Howie Brode of East Islip completed the top five.

Defending Late Model champion Kevin Metzger of Masapequa scored a clean sweep in Late Model action as he set fast time before going out to lead all 50-laps of their double point contest. Metzger toured the quarter mile in 12.793 to earn the Brigandi Brothers Automotive fast time award worth $100. In the redraw Kevin drew the outside pole, while "Mighty" Mike Mortimer picked the pole. When the green lights came on Kevin Metzger was able to outgun Mike Mortimer for the lead with a quick yellow flying on lap 2. On the ensuing double file restart Metzger would continue out front with Chris LaSpisa working underneath Mortimer for second and it would be LaSpisa that would chase Metzger for the lead for until the 21st lap. Once again a double file restart would create a change for position in second as Artie Pedersen Jr. got under LaSpisa for position when the green flag waved. Over the final half of the race Kevin Metzger in the V&J Auto Body was able to stay out front and earn his 12th career Late Model title while padding his points lead in the process. Artie Pedersen of center Moriches had a great run for runner-up money in the Sherwin Williams Paint Chevy warding off Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen of Baldwin who would wind-up third in his Harley Davidson of Nassau County entry.

Arne Pedersen of Mastic Beach topped the 15-lap Figure Eight feature event to score his first career win. Pedersen served notice right at the start of the race he was the man to beat taking the lead over Ken Hyde and Johnny Vullo, both of who chased Arne for the first two laps. The third circuit found Roger Maynor coming to second and the all-time leading race winner at Riverhead Raceway went to work on Pedersen for the lead. In fact on a 9th lap restart Maynor actually got the jump on Pedersen for the lead, but when a quick caution a few laps later waved NASCAR Officials deemed it too good a jump and swapped Pedersen back out front and Maynor to second. Learning his lesson to not let Maynor get the drop on him again Arne Pedersen jumped back into the lead when the race resumed and he lead the remainder of the way in his Dun-Rite Lawn Sprinkler Intrepid. Roger Maynor of Bay Shore would have to settle for second in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Chevy, while Ralph Tasso of Bohemia overcame an early race tangle for third in the Royal Star Landscaping Chevy.

"The Cranberry Kid" Chris Turbush of Riverhead drove to his 21st career Charger victory, his second of 2010 in a 20-lap affair. Daryn Miller stepped out lead the race early on with Tom Anderson and Erin Dumicich testing him over the first four laps. On lap five Brian Doyle raced his way to second and he was battling Miller for two laps when a yellow waved on the 7th lap. During the pace laps under caution Miller's car was leaking water and the leader was forced to pit with a broken water pump. Doyle now became the race leader with Chris Turbush in tow and Brian was hoping to keep Chris at bay for his 2nd career victory. However on lap 14 Chris Turbush put United Panel Pontiac out front for good to drive to victory lane adding to his point lead in the process. Brian Doyle of Ronkonkoma drove to a second place tally in the Mechanical Systems machine, while Erin Dumicich of E. Quogue would cross the line third in her Action Auto Glass Camary in a fine showing.

Mike Albasini of Flushing would go wire to wire in a non-stop 20-lap Super Pro Truck feature event for his first win of 2010. Albasini, the defending champion in the division leaped into the lead at the throw of the green from his outside pole position, with pole sitter Shaun Gouldsbury settling into second and with no yellow flags it appeared that is how they'd finish. Roger Turbush would make some noise in the second half of the race as he and Gouldsbury would battle for second, which was just fine with race leader Albasini. The final two laps of the race saw Turbush on lap 19 get by Gouldsbury for second, but in the final corner Shaun repaid the favor by slipping by Turbush racing towards the finish. At the checker it was "The King of Queens" Mike Albasini scoring his 6th career SPT win in the Hollis Court Collision Chevy and afterwards he dedicated the win to he late father. Shaun Gouldsbury of Commack was runner-up in the LIRV Sales Dodge, while Roger Turbush of Riverhead would have to be content with third place money in the Allied Air Conditioning Chevy.

The 4-C Supers ran their first official race ever at Riverhead Raceway in the JoJo Good Energy 15 with Mike Wrenn of Medford leading all the way in a non-stop contest. Wrenn steering the JoJo Good Energy 4-C made a bold move for the lead on the first lap as he threw his car into the third and fourth corner with a vengeance on the outside groove taking the race lead, a lead he would never surrender. Donald "Woot" Lawrence of Hampton Bays would drive his Peconic Auto Repair entry home for runner-up money, while Ron Merlino of Franklinville, NJ was third in the Mach-1 Performance racer.

Never say never and that is exactly what Shawn Wanat of Riverhead did in the 60-lap 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro as he won the race despite spinning out twice during the event. Both times Shawn spun he kept his foot in the throttle to recover to stay in contention for the lead which he took for good on lap 52 to score the win in his Spits Speed Shop truck. Rob "The Racer" McCormick of Calverton was runner-up in the McCormick Motorsports Chevy with Jimmy Badalato of Lindenhurst third in the Cozza Motorsports Chevy.

Another first at Riverhead Raceway Saturday night as a 12-lap Skid Plate Race took place with Shawn Wanat hot off his Truck Enduro win breaking out front and leading all the way in his Solar Salon Tanning machine.

NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. Tom Rogers Jr. 2. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 3. Timmy Solomito 4. Dave Brigati 5. Howie Brode 6. Bill Park 7. Justin Bonsignore 8. Chuck Steuer 9. John Fortin 10. Jimmy Blewett 11. Ken Darch 12. Chris Young 13. John Beatty 14. Amber Fortin 15. Al Ermmarino 16. Frank Saladino 17. Dennis Krupski 18. Sean McDonald 19. Tommy Sekulski 20. Jerry Solomito 21. Kevin Orlando 22. Steven Booker

Late Models 50-laps: 1. Kevin Metzger 2. Artie Pedersen 3. Peter Eriksen 4. Shawn Patrick 5. Mike Bologna 6. Ralph Stanzione 7. Daryn Miller 8. Chris LaSpisa 9. Ken Alfano 10. Mike Mortimer 11. Roger Oxee 12. Jeremy McDermott

Figure Eights 15-laps: 1. Arne Pedersen 2. Roger Maynor 3. Ralph Tasso 4. Ken Hyde Jr. 5. Ken Hyde Sr. 6. Tom Ferrara 7. George Brown 8. Dennis Scott 9. Mike Mujsce 10. Scott Pedersen 11. Bob Dalke DQ-Johnny Vullo

Chargers 20-laps: 1. Chris Turbush 2. Brian Doyle 3. Erin Dumicich 4. Chris McGuire 5. Jeremy McDermott 6. Kevin Orlando 7. Tom Anderson 8. Frank Dumicich Jr. 9. Dan Turbush 10. Derek Stochecki 11. Peter Cataldo 12. Jay Henschel 13. Daryn Miller 14. CJ Lehmann

Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Mike Albasini 2. Shaun Gouldsbury 3. Roger Turbush 4. Lou Maestri 5. Chris Turbush 6. Frank Dumicich Jr. 7. Dave Koenig 8. Frank Dumicich Sr. 9. Anthony Vecchio 10. Kevin Scharfenberg 11. Erin Dumicich 12. Kathleen Hallock 13. Frank Scimeca Jr. 14. Anthony Daleo 15. Keith Rotzi 16. Matt Odwazny 17. Bryan Quilliam 18. Peter Rotzi

JoJo Good Energy 4-C Supers 15-laps: 1. Mike Wrenn 2. Donald Lawrence 3. Ron Merlino 4. Joe Jackson 5. Bob Wrenn 6. Harry Weed 7. Anthony Merlino 8. Steve Wrenn 9. Wes Gilbert

4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro 60-laps (top three): 1. Shawn Wanat 2. Rob McCormick 3. Jimmy Badalato

Skid Plate Race 12-laps: Winner- Shawn Wanat.

Lori Sullivan