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RGeeProductions
08-16-2010, 01:46 PM
JOHN BEATTY JR. HOLDS OFF WAYNE ANDERSON TO SCORE FIRST CAREER RIVERHEAD RACEWAY VICTORY

The first career victory in NASCAR Modified racing is memorable for any driver and for John Beatty Jr. of Valley Stream his will be indeed very memorable. Beatty held off a hard pressing Wayne Anderson, a former five time Riverhead Raceway champion, to post his first ever victory in a 35-lap Whelen All American Series feature. Beatty, a Rookie driver earned $1,425 for his efforts and he was just one of three drivers on the night that visited victory lane for the first time.

Early in the contest Beatty jousted with Al Ermmarino, the pole sitter for the race lead, a battle that lasted the first four laps of the tilt before Timmy Solomito moved to second on the fifth lap. Solomito, looking for his second straight win in his family owned racer, pressed Beatty for the lead until Chris Young came along and tested the sophomore driver for second, thus allowing Beatty to pull away some. Young was able to work his way past Solomito for second on lap 16, with Wayne Anderson entering the fray as well as he moved to third and quickly tested Young for second. Racing into the first corner in tight quarters Anderson made slight contact with Young on lap 21 with the latter spinning and drawing what would be one of several yellow flags in this contest, many of which involved championship contenders Tom Rogers Jr., Chuck Steuer and John Fortin along the way.

Once to second Anderson, who boasts 31-career wins at Riverhead in addition to his five track titles, went right to work on leader Beatty. Wayne sent his car into the corner toward the high side of the track trying to set Beatty up for an inside pass exiting the corners, a move that he made very popular over the years. Looking every part a tested tough NASCAR Modified veteran John Beatty Jr. was up to the challenge each and every lap over the final 13-laps of the race protecting his inside line and in turn driving the Freeport Collision across the line for a very popular first career win in just his 16th start in a NASCAR Modified.

"I can't thank my guys enough for this, especially my dad who gives us all we need to go racing" Beatty proclaimed after exiting his winning mount. "What makes this even more special is to be able to hold off a driving legend like Wayne Anderson, for that I have to give credit to my spotter Jarrod Hayes; he might get a bonus tonight," quipped Beatty.

Try as he might for his 32nd career win Wayne Anderson of Yaphank drove the Eastport Feeds Chevy home for runner-up money, while John Fortin of Holtsville fought through a tough night to place third after an early race tangle in his Triangle Pub Chevy. Timmy Solomito of Islip and Eddie Brunnhoelzl III completed the top five.

Chris LaSpisa of Shirley rebounded in fine fashion after some recent engine issues with his second Late Model win of 2010 in a 25-lap affair. LaSpisa, who lost an engine in July, quickly moved his racer out front at the throw of the green from his pole position and in fact would lead wire to wire. At the outset Ken Alfano gave chase to LaSpisa over the first 7 circuits before Mike Bologna made an inside pass entering the third turn to take over the position. Bologna, who has authored three wins this season was looking to continue his hot 2010 campaign, but close, would be as good as it got for Mike. Chris LaSpisa, steering the McBetts Racing Engines entry was equal to the task and would drive to his 3rd career Late Model victory. Afterwards Chris noted, "Richie from McBetts, I can't thank him enough, when we first repaired the motor we discovered another issue and he just kept working away and here we are". Mike Bologna of Huntington was second in the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Chevy, while Roger Oxee of Peconic overcame engine issues during practice to score a third place finish in the North Fork Sanitation Pontiac.

Second generation driver Bill Wegmann Jr. of Patchogue was another first time winner as he topped the 20-lap Blunderbust feature event. Wegmann jumped right out front from the pole and over the first 14 laps of the contest was pursued by Scott Sepe who ran second, with Bill Portney Sr. All three drivers are basically independent drivers and as the trio made up the first three spots early in the race all the heavy hitters were stuck trying to make their way through the pack. On lap 15 Portney, seeking his second triumph of the year worked his way by Sepe for second and set his sights on Bill Wegmann Jr., but there would be no stopping the Crackerjack Auto Supply driver as he drove to victory lane for the very first time. Bill Portney of Lake Ronkonkoma would drive the J&R Fuel Oil Chevy across the line for second place money, while Scott Sepe of Ozone Park enjoyed his best finish of 2010 with third place money in his self financed Buick. Indeed it was a night for the underdog in the Blunderbust main event.

There is no better way for a points leader to assure his competition can't get closer to him in the championship chase but by going out and winning the feature event and that is exactly what Super Pro Truck point leader Roger Turbush of Riverhead did in their 20-lap feature. Former SPT champion Frank Dumicich Sr. broke out front early with son Frank Jr. giving chase over the first six laps before he was sent to the pits during a yellow flag for leaking fluid. When the green waved again on the 7th lap it was Lou Maestri running second for a lap before Roger Turbush snuck by on lap 8 and the chase was on. After spending 7 laps behind Dumicich, Turbush in the Rheem Air Conditioning Chevy made his bid for the lead on lap 15 and by the time they began the 16th lap Roger was the new race leader. Over the final four laps Turbush would show the way and drive to his division leading fourth Super Pro Truck win of the season. Frank Dumicich Sr. of East Quogue was runner-up in the Wesemann's Sand & Mason Supplies Ford, while Chris Turbush of Riverhead was third in the Bill Lyons Equipment Sales Chevy.

The third first time winner actually was the first driver to turn the trick on the evening, as Anthony Cacioppo of Medford won the Legend Race Car feature event in a race that was set to go 20-laps, but was cut short to 12-laps by the time limit. For Cacioppo the victory was a very sweet one as it completed his comeback from a horrific crash into the third turn exit gate that cut his 2009 season short in one of the hardest hits ever at the 61-year old facility. Jim Byrne set the pace of the race for the first four laps before his car faltered in the ignition area starting the 5th lap. Byrne was able to escape to the infield moving Anthony Cacioppo to the race lead with Mike Malone second. Malone tested Cacioppo for the lead and at one point passed Anthony, but that lap was never recorded due to one of many caution flags. That moved Anthony Cacioppo back into the lead and after a single file restart a third turn incident involving Tom Rogers Jr and Bryan Johnson ended the race some 12-laps and 35 minutes later. For Anthony Cacioppo and the Cacioppo Racing Team that meant a trip to victory lane, while Mike Malone of Shirley in the PDR Engines entry was second and "Wild" Bill Hiscock of Bridgehampton was third in the Bridgehampton Tank Cleaning racer.

Michael Wahl of East Islip notched his first win of 2010 when he bested the 10-lap Skid Plate Race in his Krazy Kars entry.

NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. John Beatty Jr. 2. Wayne Anderson 3. John Fortin 4. Timmy Solomito 5. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 6. Dave Brigati 7. Bill Park 8. Al Ermmarino 9. Amber Fortin 10. Chris Young 11. Chuck Steuer 12. Frank Saladino 13. Ken Darch 14. Kevin Orlando 15. Mike Mortimer 16. Tom Rogers Jr. 17. Justin Bonsignore 18. Dan Jivanelli 19. Kevin Nowak

Late Models 25-laps: 1. Chris LaSpisa 2. Mike Bologna 3. Roger Oxee 4. Kevin Metzger 5. Scott Kulesa 6. Ken Alfano 7. Mike Mortimer 8. Ralph Stanzione 9. Craig Lutz 10. Artie Pedersen 11. Shawn Patrick 12. Daryn Miller 13. Peter Eriksen

Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Bill Wegmann Jr. 2. Bill Portney Sr. 3. Scott Sepe 4. Tom Pickerell 5. Terry Stiles 6. Chris LaSpisa 7. Scott Maliszewski 8. Bill Wegmann Sr. 9. Michael Rommeney 10. Fred Nolan 11. Tim Mulqueen 12. Jack Handley Jr. 13. Gary Caldwell 14. Kevin Rommeney 15. Tom Sullivan 16. Paul Parisi 17. Tommy Walkowiak 18. Ralph Corsini 19. Bryan Sescila 20. Rob Bader 21. Ray Shannon

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

Legend Race Cars 12-laps (time limit): 1. Anthony Cacioppo 2. Mike Malone 3. Bill Hiscock 4. Chris Young 5. Kevin Nowak 6. Timmy Solomito 7. Justin Strumpf 8. Tom Rogers Jr. 9. Jay Sendlewski 10. Kyle Soper 11. Tony Naglieri 12. Jim Sylvester 13. Tom Marsh 14. Cody Triola 15. Vinny Delaney 16. John Beatty Jr. 17. Glenn Maningo 18. Bryan Johnson 19. Kyle Ellwood 20. Chris Turbush 21. Silas Hiscock Sr. 22. Jeffery Goodale 23. Tom Sherman 24. Jim Byrne

Skid Plate Race 10-laps: Winner-Michael Wahl

Bob Finan