PDA

View Full Version : 06/05/10 - Riverhead Raceway



RGeeProductions
06-07-2010, 05:10 PM
DONNY LIA WHEELS WAYNE ANDERSON'S CAR FROM 16TH PLACE TO RIVERHEAD RACEWAY VICTORY SATURDAY

When 2009 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Donny Lia of Jericho was named the guest driver for Wayne Anderson's legendary #15 NASCAR Modified at Riverhead Raceway Saturday most knew Donny would give the machine a good run. Living up to their expectations Lia didn't disappoint them and drove from a 16th place starting berth to victory lane on New York State Fraternal Order of Police night. While the triumph was Lia's 7th career victory at Riverhead, it was the 32nd time Anderson's car sat in victory lane, but the first without Wayne at the controls.

Snake bitten Dave Brigati jumped to the early lead and for the first 15 laps of the event appeared as though he had ridden himself of the bad luck that has plagued his race team to date in 2010. Chris Young chased Brigati over the first 14-laps of the race, with several drivers, including Timmy Solomito, jockeying for third. It was at this point of the race when some strange things began to take place in the race. Mike Andrews Jr. was racing just a car length or two off the race leaders when suddenly his right front suspension collapsed entering turn one sending him hard into the wall. Mike had some sore ribs but was otherwise okay. On the following double file restart Chris Young and Timmy Solomito got caught up as they entered turn three dropping them from second and third.

On the ensuing restart Brigati again assumed his role as race leader, but the racing gods frowned upon him once again as exiting the fourth turn to start the 16th lap Brigati's left front suspension failed sending him into a wild spin at the start/finish line. Many were able to avoid Brigati's idle machine until Bill Park who had no place to go came along and hit him head on. Brigati would later return but Park suffered heavy damage. Although Park was okay, he was done for the night. Donny Lia, who carved his way from 16th to the top five suddenly found himself the race leader with Chuck Steuer and Tom Rogers in tow. When the green light winked back on Lia in the Eastport Feeds Chevy was able to pull away over the final 20-laps while Steuer and Rogers tussled for second, Rogers worked his way by Chuck on lap 18 for the position.

Over the final half of the race Donny Lia carefully worked his way around some lapped cars which would be his only concern as he drove to the checkered flag for a very popular win. "This might just be the best car I've ever had here at Riverhead" Lia boasted after being greeted by a beaming car owner Wayne Anderson. "I have to thank Eastport Feeds, Kenny, Mike and Wayne's entire crew, this was a lot of fun to come back here where it all started for me nine years ago". Lia, a part time driver on the Camping World Truck Series, concluded. When Anderson was quizzed as to who the guest driver would be June 12th he quipped, "maybe I'll put one of the crew guys in it next week".

Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue remains on his roll finishing second in the Frankie's Towing Chevy giving him two wins and two runner-up finishes in the last four races. Chuck Steuer of Bohemia crossed the line third in the Northeastern Office Equipment Chevy, while Eddie Brunnhoelzl III of Levittown and points leader John Fortin of Holtsville completed the top five.

Kenny Hyde Jr., who in a just a week or so will graduate Patchogue-Medford High School, won his first career Figure Eight feature event in a race that found the time limit running out after a mere four laps were run. Kenny is the youngest driver to ever win a Figure Eight feature. Hyde in the Gershow Recycling Intrepid dueled for the lead for the first two laps with his father Kenny Sr., before Scott Pedersen worked his way to second on lap three. Just like the Legends the week previous, the Figure Eights just could not get going and with thunderstorms to the north combined with numerous cautions the time limit was enforced and race deemed official. Afterwards Hyde, 17 noted, "hey I'd like to see the race go 15-laps, but a win is a win and I'll take it". Scott Pedersen of Shirley was second in the Land Air & Water Environmental Camaro, while Roger Maynor of Bay Shore placed third in the Edward Horton Builders Chevy.

Chris McGuire of Shirley notched his second win of 2010 when he topped the 30-lap, double point Charger feature event. In pre-race qualifying Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead set fast time at 13.429 earning a $100 bonus from Brigandi Brothers Automotive, but Jeremy drew 6th in the redraw while Chris Turbush picked the pole. At the throw of the green Turbush quickly bolted to the race lead with Eric Lutz running his first Riverhead race in some time, hot on his heels. On Lap 8, racing off the second turn, the two got together and by turn three Chris spun, clipping the right side of his father, Dan Turbush, in the process, but "Dynamite" Dan was able to scamper away. After Lutz was placed at the rear of the field, Dan Turbush was the new race leader, but the contact from Chris would rear its ugly head on lap 11 when his muffler fell off drawing a caution flag for debris. By track rules, you can't race without a muffler and Dan was done for the night. Chris McGuire, who was already testing Danny for the lead became the new race leader with Kevin Orlando right behind in second. Over the final 19-laps of the contest the duo ran one-two, with McDermott sitting third and at the checker it was a career milestone 10th victory for Chris McGuire in the Long Island Fiber Exchange Ford. Kevin Orlando of Calverton crossed the line second in the RP Landscaping Dodge, while Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead was third in the Suffolk Precast Chevy.

Tim "Lightening" Mulqueen of Levittown was another driver enjoying a first career victory as the former Freeport Stadium competitor won the 20-lap Blunderbust feature event. Scott Sepe in search of his second career win and first in eight years jumped into the early race lead with Russ Skippon giving chase for the first two laps before he was passed by Bill Portney Sr. Just after the halfway mark Sepe began to spin after contact from behind, with Portney also getting out of shape alongside drawing the yellow flag. The restart found Timmy Mulqueen the new race leader with "Turbo" Tom Sullivan second and waiting in the wings right behind that tandem were Tommy Walkowiak and Scott Maliszewski. Over the closing laps Timmy Mulqueen hit his mark in the Remove-It-Man Demo entry and drove to his first career win in his third season of racing in the class. Tom Sullivan of Massapequa was runner-up in the Custom Exteriors Lincoln, while Scott Maliszewski of Deer Park was third in the Rush Hour Towing Chevy.

After a tough race the week before the Legend Race Cars rebounded nicely with a competitive 20-lap main event that found Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue scoring his first career win in the class. Chris Turbush broke to the early race lead with Anthony Cacioppo giving chase for the first 3 circuits. Tom Rogers Jr. worked his way by Cacioppo fro second on lap 4 and just two laps later while chasing Turbush for the lead a yellow flag waved for a minor incident. The double file restart that followed saw Rogers ride the outside lane in his Joseph Danisi Truck Sales Sedan to the race lead with Cacioppo remaining second. Late in the race both Kevin Nowak and Chris Young made some noise when they raced to the second and third positions behind Tom Rogers Jr., but the laps ran out on the duo and Tommy now has a Legend Race Car win to add to his portfolio. Kevin Nowak of Medford was runner-up in the Racing Creations machine, while Chris Young of Calverton crossed the line third in the Ray The Plumber backed entry.

Brian Savoy of Lake Panamoka won the second Skid Plate race of 2010 in a 10-lap contest that started 13 cars. Paul Fox jumped to the race lead at the drop of the green flag and was in total control of the event when he spun off turn two late in the race. That moved Savoy, a Car Rollover past champion into the lead which he'd never surrender in the Albin Avenue Auto Salvage racer.

Enduro veteran Bob Haeger of Hampton Bays, whose father used to promote the old Westhampton Speedway oval, scored the win for the 6-Cylinder Enduro division in a 50-lap contest. Shawn Wanat fresh off running the same car in the prior Skid Plate race took the lead early in the race with Haeger in tow. While enjoying a fairly comfortable lead Wanat suddenly saw his left front wheel come lose off his car ending his bid for victory. Bob Haeger moved his Haeger Home Improvements machine into the lead, a lead he'd never relinquish. Gene Burbol of Brookhaven was runner-up in the Gene's 112 Service Center mount, while the Gregor Well Drilling entry of Jeffrey Gregor of Bridgehampton placed third.

[B](continued)

RGeeProductions
06-07-2010, 05:10 PM
NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. Donny Lia 2. Tom Rogers Jr. 3. Chuck Steuer 4. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 5. John Fortin 6. Timmy Solomito 7. Amber Fortin 8. Al Ermmarino 9. Dave Brigati 10. Frank Saladino 11. Tommy Sekulski 12. Kevin Orlando 13. Chris Young 14. Brad Van Houten 15. Ken Darch 16. Bill Park 17. John Beatty 18. Jerry Solomito 19. Frank Russo 20. Mike Andrews Jr.

Figure Eights (time limit): 1. Ken Hyde Jr. 2. Scott Pedersen 3. Roger Maynor 4. Dennis Scott 5. Tom Ferrara 6. Mike Mujsce 7. Ralph Tasso 8. Bob Dalke 9. Ken Hyde Sr. 10. Will Farrell 11. Arne Pedersen

Chargers 30-laps: 1. Chris McGuire 2. Kevin Orlando 3. Jeremy McDermott 4. Chris Turbush 5. Jay Henschel 6. Eric Lutz 7. Erin Dumicich 8. Brian Doyle 9. Daryn Miller 10. Tom Anderson 11. CJ Lehmann 12. Allen Reeves 13. Derek Stachecki 14. Dan Turbush 15. Frank Dumicich

Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Tim Mulqueen 2. Tom Sullivan 3. Scott Maliszewski 4. Tommy Walkowiak 5. Tom Pickerell 6. Bill Wegmann 7. Michael Rommeney 8. Ray Shannon 9. Bryan Sescila 10. Russ Skippon 11. Fred Nolan 12. Bill Portney Sr. 13. Scott Sepe 14. Rob Bader 15. Ygnacio Adams 16. Jason Wegmann 17. Alexandra Sweeney 18. Paul Parisi

Legend Race Cars 20-laps: 1. Tom Rogers Jr. 2. Kevin Nowak 3. Chris Young 4. Anthony Cacioppo 5. Tony Naglieri 6. Timmy Solomito 7. Tom Sherman 8. Chris Rogers 10. Chris Turbush 11. Bill Hiscock 12. Jay Sendlewski 13. Glenn Maningo 14. Silas Hiscock Sr. 15. Larry Altholtz 16. Vinny Delaney 17. Bryan Johnson 18. John Harley 19. Jeffrey Goodale 20. Jim Byrne 21. Mike Malone 22. Paul Dodorico 23. Kyle Soper 24. Johnny Brand

6-Cylinder Enduro 50-laps (top five) 1. Bob Haeger 2. Gene Burbol 3. Jeffery Gregor 4. Scott Setek 5. Robert Endlekofer

Bob Finan