RGeeProductions
06-20-2011, 05:47 PM
JUSTIN BONSIGNORE TOPS RIVERHEAD RACEWAY WHELEN ENGINEERING NIGHT MODIFIED FIELD
Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville saw an opening under Tom Rogers Jr. with just over ten laps remaining in the NASCAR Modified feature Saturday night and he took full advantage to score the victory in the 35-lap Whelen Engineering Night event at Riverhead Raceway. The triumph was Justin's 4th career win and was worth $1,450 to him and his car owner Ken Massa.
Over the first five circuits of the race Ken Darch and rookie Jason Agugliaro swapped the lead back and forth before the defending NASCAR Modified champion Tom Rogers Jr. burst upon the scene on lap 6 to take control of the top spot, with Shawn Solomito quickly moving to second. On lap 8 Bonsignore slipped under Solomito for second and he then quickly set sail for race leader Rogers. The duo ran nose to tail over the next 16 circuits with Bonsignore closing in on the rear bumper of Rogers numerous times.
Sensing that Tom was using up his right rear tire Justin stayed with his game plan to wait for an opening under the leader and indeed on lap 23 Rogers got into the turn a bit too hot, opening the inside lane just enough to allow Bonsignore to slide underneath. By the time the tandem hit the start/finish line Justin Bonsignore was the new race leader but Tom Rogers wasn't throwing in the towel. Rogers quickly tried a crossover move on the lap after Justin took the lead and in a series of late race restarts tried to catch him off guard off the fourth corner.
No matter what was thrown his way Justin Bonsignore in the M3 Technology Chevy was ready for it and he drove under the checkers first for the popular win. "I can't say enough about this team and my owner Ken Massa" Justin boasted afterwards, "we've had a rough start on the WMT, but all he wants to do is go racing, heck we're going racing at Stafford on Friday before we go to Monadnock for the WMT race Saturday, he's that dedicated".
Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue was runner-up in the Joe & Debbie Ambrose Chevy, while Shawn Solomito of Islip, fresh off an 11th place finish at Thompson Speedway in a Modified Racing Series events, was third which completed a successful weekend in his Acme Sanitary Service Chevy. Dave Brigati of Calverton and point leader John Fortin of Holtsville were fourth and fifth.
The 15-lap Figure Eight main event was a matter of survival and the driver who survived the best was Tom Ferrara of Holbrook who drove to his 4th career win. Before the race had hit the halfway point Tom Rogers Jr. and Roger Maynor both fell from the race while in contention for the win with broken rear suspensions, Maynor was actually leading the race when he suffered his part failure. That moved Mike Mujsce into the lead for the restart but when he hit the throttle in his machine it simply shut off and his teammate Tom Ferrara did all he could not to run over him. On the restart Tom Ferrara raced his way to the lead, chased first by Dennis Scott and later by Tim Farrell for the win. In the end however it was the Bill Beener Tree Service entry of Tom Ferrara winning the survival of the fittest for the win. Tim Farrell of Mastic was runner-up in the Willmart Painting Chevy, a career best with 2010 Rookie of the Year Dennis Scott third in the Cheesebox Racing Monte Carlo.
For his 27th career Charger win three-time defending champion Chris Turbush of Riverhead was in the right place at the right time to post his second win of the 2011 campaign. Allen Reeves set the pace over the first three laps of the race before Brian Doyle raced his way by for the lead. Doyle would be tested by Reeves and later Eric Zeh for the top spot before his stiffest challenger in the form of Ray Minieri moved to second on lap 9. Doyle and Minieri waged a fantastic side by side race for the lead that would only be interrupted by a yellow flag, much to the disappointment of the fans on hand. With just five laps to go exiting turn four Doyle and Minieri touched sending them into a semi-spin off the turn and Chris Turbush seized the moment and drove his Meadowbrook Sweeping Pontiac into the race lead and eventual win. Once in the lead there would be no stopping Chris who ranks third and the all-time win list for the class. "Radiant" Ray Minieri of Bay Shore made a nice recovery for runner-up in the Mr. Beery's Pub Pontiac, with points leader Chris McGuire of Shirley third in the Gershow Recycling Ford.
Tom Pickerell of Huntington did something Saturday that not many have done before, pass Tommy "The Wildchild" Walkowiak for the race lead and victory in a 30-lap Blunderbust feature event. Walkowiak set a new track record in time trials with a circuit of 14.968 and actually drew the pole in the redraw. Tommy earned $50 from Brigandi Brothers Automotive for the fast time award. At the drop of the green Walkowiak out ran Scott Sepe, the outside pole sitter, to turn one and the race lead with Rob Bader racing to second. On the second cycle Tom Pickerell was able to slip past Bader for second and he then quickly turned his attention to leader Walkowiak. Entering the third turn on lap 9 Pickerell saw an opening under the race leader and he quickly "shot the gap" racing his way by Walkowiak for the lead. Tommy tried to make a quick re-pass of Pickerell to reclaim the lead but that move didn't pan out and as the race wore on the second place driver had to contend with Scott Maliszewski for position. All of this was just music to the ears of Tom Pickerell who drove his Premium Utility Service Chevy to his 7th career victory. Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge was runner-up in the Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy, while Scott Maliszewski of Deer Park was third in the Thomas Stock Attorney At Law Chevy.
Teenage driver Kyle Ellwood gave his father John, a former Charger champion at Riverhead Raceway an early Father's Day gift when he topped the Legend Race Car main event in a race that was shortened from 20-lap to 16 due to the time limit expiring. Anthony Cacioppo jumped to the race lead at the drop of the green and was pursued first by Michael Rommeney for five laps before he was overtaken by Chris Young. Over the next five laps Young hounded Cacioppo and on lap 10 in turn four the duo got together and spun in tandem, collecting third place Rommeney along the way as well. That moved Kyle Ellwood into the race lead, Kyle who lost a right front fender on the initial start of the race was able to overcome that close encounter to now lead the race with Mike Malone second. The race was then marred by numerous yellow flags and on lap 16 Jay Sendlewski did a slow roll on the backstretch drawing a red flag at which point the race had hit its time limit. Kyle Ellwood, who appeared as though he was going to hold off all challengers even if the race went its full 20-lap, was an elated first time winner in his Ellwood Motorsports sedan. Mike Malone of Mastic Beach was second in the Malone Racing entry, while points leader Justin Strumpf of Selden was third in the Monster's Recycling machine.
When the 50-lap Grand Enduro concluded it appeared that newcomer Steve Mastro had won his first career race in just his third start, but upon further review that would not be the case. After two audits of the score cards it was determined that Mastro did not make a stunning recovery from an earlier spin with Ray Fitzgerald while racing for the lead, but instead was indeed the third place car in his Dave Kunzler Tire Chevy. David Antos, a hard working driver from Lindenhurst indeed would post the win in his CR Customs Monte Carlo, waiting three years to do so. Veteran Phil LaManna of Smithtown was runner-up in his K-Mac Electric Chevy.
Former World and National Demolition Derby champion Bob "The Killer Bee" Benison outlasted the field for the win in a hard hitting 8-Cylinder Demolition Derby. That field included his brother-in-law, nephew and an employee from his Albin Avenue Auto Wreckers yard! Bobby would have to finally eliminate his employee Jason Savoy of Lake Panamoka to post the win, Savoy was named Judge's Choice. James Kilkenny of Howard Beach, Bobby's nephew won the Fan's Choice balloting.
(continued)
Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville saw an opening under Tom Rogers Jr. with just over ten laps remaining in the NASCAR Modified feature Saturday night and he took full advantage to score the victory in the 35-lap Whelen Engineering Night event at Riverhead Raceway. The triumph was Justin's 4th career win and was worth $1,450 to him and his car owner Ken Massa.
Over the first five circuits of the race Ken Darch and rookie Jason Agugliaro swapped the lead back and forth before the defending NASCAR Modified champion Tom Rogers Jr. burst upon the scene on lap 6 to take control of the top spot, with Shawn Solomito quickly moving to second. On lap 8 Bonsignore slipped under Solomito for second and he then quickly set sail for race leader Rogers. The duo ran nose to tail over the next 16 circuits with Bonsignore closing in on the rear bumper of Rogers numerous times.
Sensing that Tom was using up his right rear tire Justin stayed with his game plan to wait for an opening under the leader and indeed on lap 23 Rogers got into the turn a bit too hot, opening the inside lane just enough to allow Bonsignore to slide underneath. By the time the tandem hit the start/finish line Justin Bonsignore was the new race leader but Tom Rogers wasn't throwing in the towel. Rogers quickly tried a crossover move on the lap after Justin took the lead and in a series of late race restarts tried to catch him off guard off the fourth corner.
No matter what was thrown his way Justin Bonsignore in the M3 Technology Chevy was ready for it and he drove under the checkers first for the popular win. "I can't say enough about this team and my owner Ken Massa" Justin boasted afterwards, "we've had a rough start on the WMT, but all he wants to do is go racing, heck we're going racing at Stafford on Friday before we go to Monadnock for the WMT race Saturday, he's that dedicated".
Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue was runner-up in the Joe & Debbie Ambrose Chevy, while Shawn Solomito of Islip, fresh off an 11th place finish at Thompson Speedway in a Modified Racing Series events, was third which completed a successful weekend in his Acme Sanitary Service Chevy. Dave Brigati of Calverton and point leader John Fortin of Holtsville were fourth and fifth.
The 15-lap Figure Eight main event was a matter of survival and the driver who survived the best was Tom Ferrara of Holbrook who drove to his 4th career win. Before the race had hit the halfway point Tom Rogers Jr. and Roger Maynor both fell from the race while in contention for the win with broken rear suspensions, Maynor was actually leading the race when he suffered his part failure. That moved Mike Mujsce into the lead for the restart but when he hit the throttle in his machine it simply shut off and his teammate Tom Ferrara did all he could not to run over him. On the restart Tom Ferrara raced his way to the lead, chased first by Dennis Scott and later by Tim Farrell for the win. In the end however it was the Bill Beener Tree Service entry of Tom Ferrara winning the survival of the fittest for the win. Tim Farrell of Mastic was runner-up in the Willmart Painting Chevy, a career best with 2010 Rookie of the Year Dennis Scott third in the Cheesebox Racing Monte Carlo.
For his 27th career Charger win three-time defending champion Chris Turbush of Riverhead was in the right place at the right time to post his second win of the 2011 campaign. Allen Reeves set the pace over the first three laps of the race before Brian Doyle raced his way by for the lead. Doyle would be tested by Reeves and later Eric Zeh for the top spot before his stiffest challenger in the form of Ray Minieri moved to second on lap 9. Doyle and Minieri waged a fantastic side by side race for the lead that would only be interrupted by a yellow flag, much to the disappointment of the fans on hand. With just five laps to go exiting turn four Doyle and Minieri touched sending them into a semi-spin off the turn and Chris Turbush seized the moment and drove his Meadowbrook Sweeping Pontiac into the race lead and eventual win. Once in the lead there would be no stopping Chris who ranks third and the all-time win list for the class. "Radiant" Ray Minieri of Bay Shore made a nice recovery for runner-up in the Mr. Beery's Pub Pontiac, with points leader Chris McGuire of Shirley third in the Gershow Recycling Ford.
Tom Pickerell of Huntington did something Saturday that not many have done before, pass Tommy "The Wildchild" Walkowiak for the race lead and victory in a 30-lap Blunderbust feature event. Walkowiak set a new track record in time trials with a circuit of 14.968 and actually drew the pole in the redraw. Tommy earned $50 from Brigandi Brothers Automotive for the fast time award. At the drop of the green Walkowiak out ran Scott Sepe, the outside pole sitter, to turn one and the race lead with Rob Bader racing to second. On the second cycle Tom Pickerell was able to slip past Bader for second and he then quickly turned his attention to leader Walkowiak. Entering the third turn on lap 9 Pickerell saw an opening under the race leader and he quickly "shot the gap" racing his way by Walkowiak for the lead. Tommy tried to make a quick re-pass of Pickerell to reclaim the lead but that move didn't pan out and as the race wore on the second place driver had to contend with Scott Maliszewski for position. All of this was just music to the ears of Tom Pickerell who drove his Premium Utility Service Chevy to his 7th career victory. Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge was runner-up in the Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy, while Scott Maliszewski of Deer Park was third in the Thomas Stock Attorney At Law Chevy.
Teenage driver Kyle Ellwood gave his father John, a former Charger champion at Riverhead Raceway an early Father's Day gift when he topped the Legend Race Car main event in a race that was shortened from 20-lap to 16 due to the time limit expiring. Anthony Cacioppo jumped to the race lead at the drop of the green and was pursued first by Michael Rommeney for five laps before he was overtaken by Chris Young. Over the next five laps Young hounded Cacioppo and on lap 10 in turn four the duo got together and spun in tandem, collecting third place Rommeney along the way as well. That moved Kyle Ellwood into the race lead, Kyle who lost a right front fender on the initial start of the race was able to overcome that close encounter to now lead the race with Mike Malone second. The race was then marred by numerous yellow flags and on lap 16 Jay Sendlewski did a slow roll on the backstretch drawing a red flag at which point the race had hit its time limit. Kyle Ellwood, who appeared as though he was going to hold off all challengers even if the race went its full 20-lap, was an elated first time winner in his Ellwood Motorsports sedan. Mike Malone of Mastic Beach was second in the Malone Racing entry, while points leader Justin Strumpf of Selden was third in the Monster's Recycling machine.
When the 50-lap Grand Enduro concluded it appeared that newcomer Steve Mastro had won his first career race in just his third start, but upon further review that would not be the case. After two audits of the score cards it was determined that Mastro did not make a stunning recovery from an earlier spin with Ray Fitzgerald while racing for the lead, but instead was indeed the third place car in his Dave Kunzler Tire Chevy. David Antos, a hard working driver from Lindenhurst indeed would post the win in his CR Customs Monte Carlo, waiting three years to do so. Veteran Phil LaManna of Smithtown was runner-up in his K-Mac Electric Chevy.
Former World and National Demolition Derby champion Bob "The Killer Bee" Benison outlasted the field for the win in a hard hitting 8-Cylinder Demolition Derby. That field included his brother-in-law, nephew and an employee from his Albin Avenue Auto Wreckers yard! Bobby would have to finally eliminate his employee Jason Savoy of Lake Panamoka to post the win, Savoy was named Judge's Choice. James Kilkenny of Howard Beach, Bobby's nephew won the Fan's Choice balloting.
(continued)