RGeeProductions
07-19-2011, 07:58 PM
"COMEBACK KID" DON HOWE VISITS RIVERHEAD RACEWAY NASCAR MODIFIED VICTORY LANE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1996
Former five-time Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified champion Don Howe of Water Mill completed his return to racing after a decade and a half retirement with a popular victory this past Saturday night when he won the 35-lap Safelite Auto Glass night feature event. Howe, driving for car owners Joe & Terri Bertuccio earned $1,450 for the victory which was the 28th of his illustrious career that ironically ties him with JR Bertuccio for 9th on the all-time win list.
Starting from the pole Don Howe was joined in the front row by rookie driver Jason Agugliaro and when the green flag waved it was the teacher Howe taking the early race lead from the student Agugliaro who ran second for the first five laps of the contest. On lap 6 it was 2010 NASCAR Modified Rookie of the Year John Beatty Jr. working his way by Agugliaro for second and Howe soon found himself under attack from another member of the growing Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified youth movement. Once to second Beatty went into attack mode on the race leader but Howe with his many laps of experience was able to thwart the advances of Beatty off every corner.
As the race moved forward Dave Brigati threw his hat into the ring as he reeled in both Howe and Beatty after racing his way to third and the trio would soon distance themselves from the remainder of the 20-car field. Once Brigati glued himself to Beatty's rear spoiler the sophomore driver had to take a more conservative approach in his challenges to Don Howe for the race lead and victory, which was music to the ears of the eventual race winner.
At the checkers it was the Gershow Recycling Chevy of Don Howe crossing the line first. Howe and his team debuted a new truck-arm rear suspension racer for the 2011 season at Riverhead Raceway and at first struggled early on in the year and it was the constant hard work of his crew that won the race in Howe's opinion, "we had a difficult time at first, but this team just kept thrashing away and this is the result". As for his race with a first and second year driver for the race win Howe complimented both drivers, "the students treated the teacher really good tonight and ran me clean all the way and I thank them for that".
John Beatty Jr. of Merrick wheeled his North Shore Recycling Chevy over the line second, while "The Fancy Farmer" Dave Brigati of Calverton placed third in the JDL Environmental entry. Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville who flew for the NASCAR WMT race at New Hampshire Speedway earlier in the day drove from 12th to a 4th place finish while Shawn Solomito of Islip completed the top five.
Mike Bologna of Melville scored his second Late Model win of the 2011 campaign when he topped their 25-lap main event. Artie Pedersen Jr. paced the race over the first four laps of the tilt, chased at first by Dennis Krupski and then Chris LaSpisa. LaSpisa moved by Pedersen for the top spot on lap 4 with Mike Bologna and Roger Oxee quickly came to second and third. On the 7th lap racing through the first and second turn LaSpisa left the inside lane open a tad too much and Bologna and Oxee both raced under him for the top two positions. Over the final 18 laps of the race Bologna was hounded by Oxee who was seeking his second straight win just one week removed from his 60th career victory. However Mike Bologna steering the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Chevy would have the field covered and drove to his 7th career Late Model win while Roger Oxee of Peconic had to settle for second in the Southold IGA Pontiac. Just two days after the birth of his first child Jarrod Hayes of Calverton made a late race charge to third which is where he finished in the Apple Auto Parts Chevy.
Chris McGuire of Shirley was one of three drivers who scored their third win of 2011 when the point leader topped the 20-lap Charger feature event. Second year talent Eric Zeh jumped to the race lead at the drop of the green and was chased for the first lap by Brian Doyle before he was over taken by CJ Lehmann on lap 2. Lehmann once to second set his sights on race leader Zeh, but soon that plan went out the window when Chris McGuire burst upon the scene and started testing CJ for second. On lap 12 McGuire was able to work his way by Lehmann for second and after spending the following five laps reeling in Zeh he would pass Eric with just three laps remaining to take over the lead. Those final three circuits were not easy ones for McGuire who had his nearest championship rivals in Jeremy McDermott and Chris Turbush filling his mirror, but the driver of the Long Island Fiber Exchange Ford would hold on for his 14th career win. Jeremy McDermott of E. Stroudsburg, pa was runner-up in the JDP Mechanical Pontiac, while Chris Turbush of Riverhead was third in the Scotty O Motorsports entry.
In order to win his third Blunderbust feature of the season and the 46th overall in his career Tommy "The Wildchild" Walkowiak of Ridge would have to come from dead last, 19th in the field to accomplish the fete. Mission accomplished. Tim "Lightening" Mulqueen roared out to the race lead at the start and would lead the first dozen laps of the race which was slowed by several cautions early on, a rarity for the class. Those cautions allowed Walkowiak and Tom Pickerell who came to the race tied for the points lead and started the race 18th, ample time to weave their way towards the front. Jessica Cohan, Brandon Hubbard and "Krazy" Ed Mistretta at one time or another all chased Mulqueen for the lead before Walkowiak moved to second on lap 11. With Mulqueen out front on lap 12 he bobbled ever so slightly exiting the fourth corner and with barely enough room to fit his Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy through Walkowiak threaded the needle to the outside to take the race lead and eventual victory, while his championship foe Tom Pickerell looked on from the infield done in by a broken rocker arm. "Pistol" Paul Parisi of Riverhead made a nice charge to a second place finish in his Tidewater Dock Building Chevy, while Ed Mistretta of New Hyde Park placed third in the Busy Bee Pest Control racer. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford had actually crossed the line second but came up light in the post race weigh-in and was disqualified.
Chris Turbush notched his third Super Pro Truck victory of 2011 when he topped their 20-lap main event. Defending champion Roger Turbush would be the man with the plan early on as he led Brian McElearney at the drop of the green. Lap 3 found Mike Albasini moving around McElearney for second behind race leader Roger Turbush and for the second week in a row Roger suddenly veered into the infield with mechanical woes surrendering the lead to Albasini. The new race leader was another driver seeking his second straight win but Chris Turbush who moved to second when his brother had his misfortune had other ideas. On lap 10 racing into the third turn Turbush wrestled the lead away from Albasini with an inside pass. Once out front Chris Turbush would then drive to his 6th career Super Pro Truck victory in his East-West Marine Chevy. Mike Albasini of Flushing would have to be content with runner-up money in his Hollis Court Collision Chevy while Brian McElearney of N. Babylon was third in his Fun & Food Deli Chevy.
Later this fall Michael "Cheesebox" Rommeney will marry his fiancé' Cindy Scott, but this past Saturday he first had to contend with his future father-in-law Dennis Scott in a Full Size School Bus Demolition Derby as the duo were the last two buses standing. After the likes of "Hubcap" Brandon Hubbard, Donny Fox, Ken Darch, Chris Van Cott and Billy Faas were eliminated the event boiled down to Rommeney and Scott, who duked it out for quite sometime before Rommeney made the last hit to score the win in the Able Auto Salvage Bus. The rivalry between the in-laws will be renewed Saturday August 6th when the Night of Thrills takes place at Riverhead Raceway.
Safelite Auto Glass NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. Don Howe 2. John Beatty Jr. 3. Dave Brigati 4. Justin Bonsignore 5. Shawn Solomito 6. Jason Agugliaro 7. Wayne Anderson 8. John Fortin 9. Bill Park 10. Chuck Steuer 11. Jerry Solomito Jr. 12. Ken Darch 13. Chris Young 14. Kyle Ellwood 15. John Fortin Jr. 16. Kevin Nowak 17. Amber Fortin 18. Robin Vollmoeller 19. Tom Rogers Jr. 20. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III
Late Models 25-laps: 1. Mike Bologna 2. Roger Oxee 3. Jarrod Hayes 4. Shawn Patrick 5. Scott Kulesa 6. Peter Eriksen 7. Chris LaSpisa 8. Kevin Metzger 9. Arne Pedersen Jr. 10. Dennis Krupski 11. Artie Pedersen Jr. 12. Rob McCormick
Chargers 20-laps: 1. Chris McGuire 2. Jeremy McDermott 3. Chris Turbush 4. Eric Zeh 5. Ray Minieri 6. Brian Doyle 7. John Baker 8. CJ Lehmann 9. Frank Dumicich Jr. 10. Erin Dumicich 11. Dan Turbush DNS- Allen Reeves
Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Tommy Walkowiak 2. Paul Parisi 3. Ed Mistretta 4. Scott Maliszewski 5. Tom Sullivan 6. Tim Mulqueen 7. Thomas Puccia 8. Gary Caldwell 9. Scott Sepe 10. Jessica Cohan 11. Bill Wegmann Sr. 12. Bill Portney Sr. 13. Brandon Hubbard 14. Fred Nolan 15. Tom Pickerell 16. Bryan Quilliam 17. Rob Bader 18. Bill Wegmann Jr. DQ- Jack Handley Jr.
Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Chris Turbush 2. Mike Albasini 3. Brian McElearney 4. Frank Dumicich Jr. 5. Dave Koenig 6. Lou Maestri 7. Erin Dumicich 8. Frank Dumicich Sr. 9. Peter Rotzi 10. Matt Odwazny 11. Keith Rotzi 12. Roger Turbush 13. Kevin Scharfenberg 14. Kathleen Hallock
Full Size School Bus Demolition Derby: Winner- Michael Rommeney
Bob Finan
Former five-time Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified champion Don Howe of Water Mill completed his return to racing after a decade and a half retirement with a popular victory this past Saturday night when he won the 35-lap Safelite Auto Glass night feature event. Howe, driving for car owners Joe & Terri Bertuccio earned $1,450 for the victory which was the 28th of his illustrious career that ironically ties him with JR Bertuccio for 9th on the all-time win list.
Starting from the pole Don Howe was joined in the front row by rookie driver Jason Agugliaro and when the green flag waved it was the teacher Howe taking the early race lead from the student Agugliaro who ran second for the first five laps of the contest. On lap 6 it was 2010 NASCAR Modified Rookie of the Year John Beatty Jr. working his way by Agugliaro for second and Howe soon found himself under attack from another member of the growing Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified youth movement. Once to second Beatty went into attack mode on the race leader but Howe with his many laps of experience was able to thwart the advances of Beatty off every corner.
As the race moved forward Dave Brigati threw his hat into the ring as he reeled in both Howe and Beatty after racing his way to third and the trio would soon distance themselves from the remainder of the 20-car field. Once Brigati glued himself to Beatty's rear spoiler the sophomore driver had to take a more conservative approach in his challenges to Don Howe for the race lead and victory, which was music to the ears of the eventual race winner.
At the checkers it was the Gershow Recycling Chevy of Don Howe crossing the line first. Howe and his team debuted a new truck-arm rear suspension racer for the 2011 season at Riverhead Raceway and at first struggled early on in the year and it was the constant hard work of his crew that won the race in Howe's opinion, "we had a difficult time at first, but this team just kept thrashing away and this is the result". As for his race with a first and second year driver for the race win Howe complimented both drivers, "the students treated the teacher really good tonight and ran me clean all the way and I thank them for that".
John Beatty Jr. of Merrick wheeled his North Shore Recycling Chevy over the line second, while "The Fancy Farmer" Dave Brigati of Calverton placed third in the JDL Environmental entry. Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville who flew for the NASCAR WMT race at New Hampshire Speedway earlier in the day drove from 12th to a 4th place finish while Shawn Solomito of Islip completed the top five.
Mike Bologna of Melville scored his second Late Model win of the 2011 campaign when he topped their 25-lap main event. Artie Pedersen Jr. paced the race over the first four laps of the tilt, chased at first by Dennis Krupski and then Chris LaSpisa. LaSpisa moved by Pedersen for the top spot on lap 4 with Mike Bologna and Roger Oxee quickly came to second and third. On the 7th lap racing through the first and second turn LaSpisa left the inside lane open a tad too much and Bologna and Oxee both raced under him for the top two positions. Over the final 18 laps of the race Bologna was hounded by Oxee who was seeking his second straight win just one week removed from his 60th career victory. However Mike Bologna steering the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Chevy would have the field covered and drove to his 7th career Late Model win while Roger Oxee of Peconic had to settle for second in the Southold IGA Pontiac. Just two days after the birth of his first child Jarrod Hayes of Calverton made a late race charge to third which is where he finished in the Apple Auto Parts Chevy.
Chris McGuire of Shirley was one of three drivers who scored their third win of 2011 when the point leader topped the 20-lap Charger feature event. Second year talent Eric Zeh jumped to the race lead at the drop of the green and was chased for the first lap by Brian Doyle before he was over taken by CJ Lehmann on lap 2. Lehmann once to second set his sights on race leader Zeh, but soon that plan went out the window when Chris McGuire burst upon the scene and started testing CJ for second. On lap 12 McGuire was able to work his way by Lehmann for second and after spending the following five laps reeling in Zeh he would pass Eric with just three laps remaining to take over the lead. Those final three circuits were not easy ones for McGuire who had his nearest championship rivals in Jeremy McDermott and Chris Turbush filling his mirror, but the driver of the Long Island Fiber Exchange Ford would hold on for his 14th career win. Jeremy McDermott of E. Stroudsburg, pa was runner-up in the JDP Mechanical Pontiac, while Chris Turbush of Riverhead was third in the Scotty O Motorsports entry.
In order to win his third Blunderbust feature of the season and the 46th overall in his career Tommy "The Wildchild" Walkowiak of Ridge would have to come from dead last, 19th in the field to accomplish the fete. Mission accomplished. Tim "Lightening" Mulqueen roared out to the race lead at the start and would lead the first dozen laps of the race which was slowed by several cautions early on, a rarity for the class. Those cautions allowed Walkowiak and Tom Pickerell who came to the race tied for the points lead and started the race 18th, ample time to weave their way towards the front. Jessica Cohan, Brandon Hubbard and "Krazy" Ed Mistretta at one time or another all chased Mulqueen for the lead before Walkowiak moved to second on lap 11. With Mulqueen out front on lap 12 he bobbled ever so slightly exiting the fourth corner and with barely enough room to fit his Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy through Walkowiak threaded the needle to the outside to take the race lead and eventual victory, while his championship foe Tom Pickerell looked on from the infield done in by a broken rocker arm. "Pistol" Paul Parisi of Riverhead made a nice charge to a second place finish in his Tidewater Dock Building Chevy, while Ed Mistretta of New Hyde Park placed third in the Busy Bee Pest Control racer. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford had actually crossed the line second but came up light in the post race weigh-in and was disqualified.
Chris Turbush notched his third Super Pro Truck victory of 2011 when he topped their 20-lap main event. Defending champion Roger Turbush would be the man with the plan early on as he led Brian McElearney at the drop of the green. Lap 3 found Mike Albasini moving around McElearney for second behind race leader Roger Turbush and for the second week in a row Roger suddenly veered into the infield with mechanical woes surrendering the lead to Albasini. The new race leader was another driver seeking his second straight win but Chris Turbush who moved to second when his brother had his misfortune had other ideas. On lap 10 racing into the third turn Turbush wrestled the lead away from Albasini with an inside pass. Once out front Chris Turbush would then drive to his 6th career Super Pro Truck victory in his East-West Marine Chevy. Mike Albasini of Flushing would have to be content with runner-up money in his Hollis Court Collision Chevy while Brian McElearney of N. Babylon was third in his Fun & Food Deli Chevy.
Later this fall Michael "Cheesebox" Rommeney will marry his fiancé' Cindy Scott, but this past Saturday he first had to contend with his future father-in-law Dennis Scott in a Full Size School Bus Demolition Derby as the duo were the last two buses standing. After the likes of "Hubcap" Brandon Hubbard, Donny Fox, Ken Darch, Chris Van Cott and Billy Faas were eliminated the event boiled down to Rommeney and Scott, who duked it out for quite sometime before Rommeney made the last hit to score the win in the Able Auto Salvage Bus. The rivalry between the in-laws will be renewed Saturday August 6th when the Night of Thrills takes place at Riverhead Raceway.
Safelite Auto Glass NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. Don Howe 2. John Beatty Jr. 3. Dave Brigati 4. Justin Bonsignore 5. Shawn Solomito 6. Jason Agugliaro 7. Wayne Anderson 8. John Fortin 9. Bill Park 10. Chuck Steuer 11. Jerry Solomito Jr. 12. Ken Darch 13. Chris Young 14. Kyle Ellwood 15. John Fortin Jr. 16. Kevin Nowak 17. Amber Fortin 18. Robin Vollmoeller 19. Tom Rogers Jr. 20. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III
Late Models 25-laps: 1. Mike Bologna 2. Roger Oxee 3. Jarrod Hayes 4. Shawn Patrick 5. Scott Kulesa 6. Peter Eriksen 7. Chris LaSpisa 8. Kevin Metzger 9. Arne Pedersen Jr. 10. Dennis Krupski 11. Artie Pedersen Jr. 12. Rob McCormick
Chargers 20-laps: 1. Chris McGuire 2. Jeremy McDermott 3. Chris Turbush 4. Eric Zeh 5. Ray Minieri 6. Brian Doyle 7. John Baker 8. CJ Lehmann 9. Frank Dumicich Jr. 10. Erin Dumicich 11. Dan Turbush DNS- Allen Reeves
Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Tommy Walkowiak 2. Paul Parisi 3. Ed Mistretta 4. Scott Maliszewski 5. Tom Sullivan 6. Tim Mulqueen 7. Thomas Puccia 8. Gary Caldwell 9. Scott Sepe 10. Jessica Cohan 11. Bill Wegmann Sr. 12. Bill Portney Sr. 13. Brandon Hubbard 14. Fred Nolan 15. Tom Pickerell 16. Bryan Quilliam 17. Rob Bader 18. Bill Wegmann Jr. DQ- Jack Handley Jr.
Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Chris Turbush 2. Mike Albasini 3. Brian McElearney 4. Frank Dumicich Jr. 5. Dave Koenig 6. Lou Maestri 7. Erin Dumicich 8. Frank Dumicich Sr. 9. Peter Rotzi 10. Matt Odwazny 11. Keith Rotzi 12. Roger Turbush 13. Kevin Scharfenberg 14. Kathleen Hallock
Full Size School Bus Demolition Derby: Winner- Michael Rommeney
Bob Finan