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RGeeProductions
07-26-2010, 08:48 PM
BILL PARK MOVES TO THIRD ON ALL-TIME RIVERHEAD RACEWAY WIN LIST WITH SATURDAY NIGHT VICTORY

Former four-time Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified champion Bill Park of Manorville scored his second win of the 2010 Whelen All-American Series this past Saturday night when he won the 35-lap feature event for his 32nd career victory at the historic quarter mile facility. The win gives Park sole possession of third on the all-time win list at Riverhead behind the late "Charging" Charlie Jarzombek (63) and Jim Malone Sr. (50).

The front row of Amber Fortin and Al Ermmarino did battle for the lead on the first lap of the race with Ermmarino leading by a nose over the sophomore driver Fortin who soon yielded second to Park who passed her to the inside on lap 2. For the following nine laps Park glued himself to "Fast" Al's rear spoiler and waited for an opportunity to make a bid for the lead. The opportunity came on 12 when the 63-year old Park slipped below Ermmarino for the lead with Al now doing the pursuing from second position.

The race had a nice long green flag run until the 23rd lap when Timmy Solomito lost the handle when his car, leaking water off the fourth corner, forced him into a spin and the 2009 Rookie of the Year then nosed his car into the wall drawing the only yellow of the race. On the ensuing double file restart defending NASCAR Modified champion John Fortin powered under Ermmarino to take over second, but like Al before him, John could only watch as Bill Park in the JAD Carpet Showcase Chevy pulled away to the milestone victory.

"I want to dedicate this win to my brother Jerry who passed away suddenly this week" an emotional Bill Park noted in victory lane, "I can't say enough about my crew. They worked all week long on this car while I took care of family matters". Park who has openly been critical of the new double file restart past halfway policy in 2010 didn't seem so bothered by the 23rd lap restart, "Jack Merkel gives us great power and I was able to get away from Al and John and we have even a better piece coming soon, but without a major sponsor we might have to pick and choose our races for the rest of the year".

John Fortin of Holtsville was runner-up in the SGS Stone Works Chevy, while Al Ermmarino of Brookhaven crossed the line third. However in post race technical inspection Ermmarino was found to have an un-approved carburetor and was set to last position in the 18-car field. That moved points leader Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue into third in the Frankie's Towing Chevy, while Chuck Steuer of Bohemia and Wayne Anderson of Yaphank rounded out the top five. Rogers now leads Steuer by eight points in the 2010 title chase, 502 to 494.

Mike Bologna of Huntington continued his career Late Model season winning his third feature of 2010 for his fifth career triumph in the class. Artie Pedersen led "Mighty" Mike Mortimer for the first three laps of the contest when an early race yellow waved setting up a double file restart. On that restart it was deemed by NASCAR Officials that Pedersen went before the yellow box in turn four and he was sent to the rear of the field moving Mortimer into the lead with Mike Bologna now alongside for the restart. When the green flag dropped Mike Bologna dropped the hammer down and outran Mortimer to the first turn and the race lead in his PCHS Race Engines Chevy. Once in the lead, Bologna who came to the 2010 season with two career Late Model wins drove on to victory. Points leader Kevin Metzger of Massapequa slipped under Mike Mortimer for second on the 11th lap and that is where the defending champion finished in his V&J Auto Body Chevy. Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen of Baldwin rebounded from being sent to the rear of the field early in the race for a third place tally in his Harley Davidson of Nassau County entry. Metzger now leads Roger Oxee by 30-points in the 2010 championship battle, 414 to 384.

Subbing for the recovering Ralph Tasso, former two-time Figure Eight champion Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue made a triumphant return to the class when he won their 15-lap feature event. After starting dead last in the 12-car field Tom Rogers Jr. carefully sliced and diced his way towards the front where Ken Hyde Sr had been leading since the start of the race. Hyde was first tested by Tom Ferrara for the race lead before Rogers got by Tom for second on lap 7. Just after Rogers completed his pass of Ferrara a yellow flag waved setting up a double file restart. When the green light winked back on Tom Rogers Jr. got the measure of Ken Hyde for the race lead with Ken running in second until the 11th lap when he was passed Scott Pedersen for the position. It mattered not to Tom Rogers Jr. in the S&H Welding Chevy as he wheeled Tasso's entry to victory lane for his 15th career win in the division which ties him with Tom Ryan for 8th on the all-time win list. Scott Pedersen of Shirley was runner-up in the Land, Air & Water Environmental machine, while Roger Maynor of Bay Shore once again had to recover from a late race pit stop to finish third in the Edward Horton Builders Chevy. Maynor takes over the points lead from Arne Pedersen by 10 364 to 354.

Popular driver Michael "Cheesebox" Rommeney of Maspeth scored his first career Blunderbust victory when he won their 20-lap main event, his first of two victories on the evening. Steering the Dog Me Out hot dog stand racer Rommeney wasted no time asserting himself as the car to beat jumping from the pole to the race lead. "Turbo" Tom Sullivan chased Michael for the first three circuits of the race before giving way to veteran Scott Sepe on lap 4. Sepe then spent the next 10 laps running second to Rommeney who lap after lap kept building his lead over Scott and the remainder of the field. Sepe was re-passed for second by Tom Sullivan on lap 15 as Tom ducked under Scott but by like Sepe could only watch as Michael Rommeney raced to victory. Tom Sullivan of Massapequa would have to be content with runner-up honors in the Custom Exteriors Lincoln, while "The Pistol" Paul Parisi of Riverhead made a late race charge to finish third in the Tidewater Dock Building Chevy. Heading into this week's 30-lap, double point tilt Tommy Walkowiak leads Tom Pickerell by a comfortable 68 markers, 512 to 444.

Tom Sherman of Farmingdale backed-up his opening night Legend Race Car victory in May with his second win of 2010 making him the first repeat winner in the class. Jeffery Goodale and Jim Byrne ran one two for the first two laps of the race before Byrne, during a yellow flag on lap two, was sent to the rear for jumping the initial start. That moved Tom Sherman alongside Goodale and when the race resumed Goodale held onto the lead over Sherman for the next five laps of the race. Sherman, a veteran driver who has Mini-Modified, Late Model and Modified racing in his resume, worked on the second year driver trying to find an opening which he did to take the lead on lap 12. Both Mike Malone and Kevin Nowak also worked their way by Goodale and set sail for leader Tom Sherman in his Oval Speed Unlimited sedan, but Tom was not to be caught on this night and drove to victory lane. Mike Malone of Shirley in the PDR Race Engines entry was runner-up, while Kevin Nowak of Medford was third in the Racing Creations machine. Nowak, with that finish, assumes the points lead by 18 over defending champion Tony Naglieri, 268 to 250.

Robin Schewire of East Quogue won his second 8-Cylinder Enduro of 2010 as he bested a 31 car field in a 60-lap affair. Veteran driver Jason Carpenter led the way over the first 22 laps of the contest before two-time defending champion Dege Russell took over the top spot on lap 23. Russell's lead was short lived as he was then passed by Dominic Ranieri on the 26th lap and Ranieri, one of the all-time leading winners in the class, looked like he would add to that total. However Dominic's sponsor and good friend Robin Schewire had other plans as he put his Westhampton Auto Salvage Chevy past Ranieri on lap 41 and led the rest of the way. Dominic Ranieri of East Northport was runner-up in the Spare Parts Racing Chevy, while Frank Martines of Shirley was third in the Safe Guard Security entry.

In perhaps one of the hardest hitting Full Size School Bus Demolition Derby contests ever, brothers Michael and Kevin Rommeney, battled for the victory which Michael won with one last bone jarring blast. The hit was so hard it collapsed the roof of Kevin's bus, which sent Michael rushing out of his bus to check on his younger brother. Kevin was okay and the fans roared with approval while Michael was one relieved winner.

(continued)

RGeeProductions
07-26-2010, 08:48 PM
NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. Bill Park 2. John Fortin 3. Tom Rogers Jr. 4. Chuck Steuer 5. Wayne Anderson 6. Dave Brigati 7. Justin Bonsignore 8. Amber Fortin 9. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 10. Ken Darch 11. Frank Saladino 12. John Beatty 13. Sean McDonald 14. Steven Booker 15. Chris Young 16. Timmy Solomito 17. Mike Mortimer 18. Al Ermmarino

Late Models 25-laps: 1. Mike Bologna 2. Kevin Metzger 3. Peter Eriksen 4. Shawn Patrick 5. Roger Oxee 6. Artie Pedersen 7. Daryn Miller 8. Mike Mortimer 9. Ken Alfano 10. Ralph Stanzione

Figure Eights 15-laps: 1. Tom Rogers Jr. 2. Scott Pedersen 3. Roger Maynor 4. Tom Graff 5. Tom Ferrara 6. Will Farrell 7. Dennis Scott 8. Ken Hyde Sr. 9. Mike Mujsce 10. Ken Hyde Jr. 11. Arne Pedersen 12. Jim Donaldson

Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Michael Rommeney 2. Tom Sullivan 3. Paul Parisi 4. Ray Shannon 5. Bill Wegmann Sr. 6. Tommy Walkowiak 7. Ron Langdon 8. Chris LaSpisa 9. Rob Bader 10. Fred Nolan 11. Jack Handley Jr. 12. Gary Caldwell 13. Scott Sepe 14. Tom Pickerell 15. Scott Maliszewski 16. Bill Portney Sr. 17. Tim Mulqueen 18. Bill Wegmann Jr. 19. Kevin Rommeney

Legend Race cars 20-laps: 1. Tom Sherman 2. Mike Malone 3. Kevin Nowak 4. Jeffery Goodale 5. Tony Naglieri 6. Vinny Delaney 7. Justin Strumpf 8. Jay Sendlewski 9. Glenn Maningo 10. Chris Rogers 11. Johnny Gloor IV 12. Jim Sylvester 13. Tom Rogers Jr. 14. Silas Hiscock Sr. 15. JD Abrahams 16. Jim Byrne 17. Chris Young 18. Kyle Soper 19. Bryan Johnson 20. Timmy Solomito 21. Bill Hiscock 22. Jim Pape Jr. 23. Chris Turbush 24. Anthony Cacioppo

8-Cylinder Enduro 60-laps (top five): 1. Robin Schewire 2. Dominic Ranieri 3. Frank Martines 4. Bob Baker 5. Donald Lawrence

Bob Finan