RGeeProductions
09-21-2011, 12:10 PM
BOB BENISON & TOM KILKENNY SHARE RIVERHEAD RACEWAY NATIONAL DEMOLITION DERBY HONORS, JARROD HAYES TOPS LATE MODELS
The Miller Lite night of racing Saturday at Riverhead Raceway was both intense and dramatic as no less than four divisional titles were decided in 160-laps of feature event racing and at the end of the night even more drama unfolded when brothers-in-laws Tom Kilkenny of Babylon and Bob Benison of Lindenhurst wound up co-winner of the National Demolition Derby Championship. Jarrod Hayes of Calverton led the NASCAR stock car winners with his second straight Late Model win in the Miller Lite 50.
Action was plentiful in the early going of the 50-lap Late Model contest as Rob McCormick and Ken Alfano tussled for the lead for the first 9 laps before Alfano moved to the point on lap 10. On an 11th lap restart Alfano sat to the inside of the double file restart. When the green flag flew he spun off turn four after contact thus handing the lead over to championship contender Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen, who for a time during the early going of the race seemed as though he had enough positions between him and point leader Scott Kulesa to make a run at the title. Dennis Krupski chased Eriksen for the 12th & 13th laps before the high flying Jarrod Hayes burst upon the scene to take second on lap 14. Once to second Hayes wasted little time in making his bid with an inside pass of Eriksen off turn four on lap 19. Once out front Hayes went to work on building a big lead on, at first Eriksen and then later Roger Oxee, who moved to second on lap 26. Oxee's night would end however on lap 41 with electrical issues moving Eriksen back to second.
At the checker it was Jarrod Hayes posting his third win of the year in the Apple Auto Parts Chevy, the 10th of his career. Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen of Baldwin was runner-up in the Harley Davidson of Nassau County Chevy, but his title hopes had been dashed laps earlier when his nearest rivals made their way to the top five.
Mike Bologna of Melville made what appeared to be a very quiet pass of Scott Kulesa of Georgetown, Ma for third with just over ten laps remaining in the race, but indeed with the pass he and Scott would be tied in points for the title, with Bologna holding the tie-breaker with two wins on the season. In the closing laps Kulesa realized if he could pass Mike back he'd be the champion by four points as he came to the race with a 2-point margin. However Bologna, in the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Chevy held on for third and earned his first ever track championship. Scott Kulesa in the Ranco Sand & Stone Pontiac threw all he could at Bologna in the final laps and was 4th at the line, defending LM champion Kevin Metzger of Massapequa completed the top five.
Roger Maynor's 103rd career Figure Eight win in the Miller Lite 20 was not enough for the 8-time track champion to wrestle the 2011 championship away from Arne Pedersen of Mastic Beach who sewed-up his first ever title by finishing fourth. Pedersen came to the race with a 10-point lead on Maynor. Steve Stadler led Mike Mujsce for the first lap of the race before Mujsce powered his way to the lead and joining him soon in second would be teammate Tom Ferrara The duo ran in that order until lap 14 when Mujsce's right front failed him allowing Ferrara and Roger Maynor to pass him, Maynor, of Bay Shore tested Ferrara for four laps before pulling out front with just two laps to go in his Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Toyota and Roger would lead the field to the checkers. Tom Ferrara of Patchogue and Mike Mujsce of Westhampton Beach were second and third in the Bill Beener Tree Service entries, while Arne Pedersen drove the BNR Home Improvement Dodge to a championship by placing fourth. Bryan Sescila of Baldwin was 5th in the Inravio.com Hornet.
The 2011 Charger championship came down to two good friends off the track, Chris Turbush and Chris McGuire being separated by two points with Turbush who was seeking his fourth straight championship up by a mere two markers. Jeremy McDermott paced the race for the first 13 laps of the 30-lap distance with John Baker, CJ Lehmann and later Chris McGuire all giving chase. McGuire would power his way to second on lap 10 and when a yellow flag waved on lap 13 the restart put leader McDermott and challenger McGuire side by side for the restart. When the green light winked back on McGuire powered his way to the race lead with CJ Lehmann racing his way to second, but not for long as the hard charging Chris Turbush quickly made his way to second. If McGuire could ward off Turbush he'd win the 2011 by virtue of having five wins to Turbush's four and over the final 10-laps of the Miller Lite 30 the intensity level was peaked. Turbush, wheeling his East-West Marine Pontiac, found an opening and was able to muscle his way by McGuire late in the race to go on to win his 30th career Charger event, a mark that ties him with Robin Vollmoeller for second on the all-time win list and of course earned him his fourth consecutive championship. Chris McGuire of Shirley did all he could to grab that elusive first championship but was runner-up in the M3 Technologies Ford, while early leader Jeremy McDermott of E. Stroudsburg, pa was third in the JDP Mechanical Pontiac.
With Tommy "The Wildchild" Walkowiak clinching his 5th championship a week earlier, the Miller Lite 30 for the Blunderbusts didn't have the championship drama attached to it but none the less provided plenty of fireworks. With 27 Blunderbusts signed-in for the race a last minute decision by promoters Barbara & Jim Cromarty saw the class take time trials where Rob Bader of Holtsville in his MoMo's Sports Bar Chevy shattered the track record with a lap of 14.919, earning $50 from Brigandi Brothers Automotive. After the top six redrew Scott Maliszewski broke out front early in this race and was chased early on by Gary Caldwell before Gary was over taken for second on lap 7 by Tom Pickerell, who in turn lost second to Tommy Walkowiak on lap 19. Walkowiak, using the Terry Stiles #41 so that his mentor Ron Langdon could race Tommy's car, ran second to Maliszewski until lap 20 when he veered into the infield with mechanical woes, which moved Caldwell back to second. Later in the race Caldwell again would lose second as both Jack Handley Jr. and Brandon Hubbard made their way by. It didn't matter to Scott Maliszewski who was running second as he drove his Thomas J Stock Attorney At Law Chevy to his 15th career victory moving him past Ron Harrison for fourth on the all-time Blunderbust win list. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was runner-up in the Kudrick's Auto Body Chevy, while Brandon Hubbard of Mastic was third in his sponsor wanted Buick.
The Super Pro Truck Miller Lite 30 found "Dangerous" Dave Koenig of Freeport and Frank Dumicich Jr. of E. Quogue the main two combatants for the 2011 championship and despite all that went with this race the Golden Auto Body night feature went green to checker without even a hint of a caution flag. Roger Turbush of Riverhead moved out front at the throw of the green and never looked back to post his second consecutive win, his division leading fifth of the season in his Allied Air Conditioning Chevy, with brother Chris Turbush of Riverhead runner-up in his East West Marine Chevy, Chris had passed Peter Rotzi for second on lap 4 to claim the position. In the intense championship fight Frank Dumicich Jr. had the positions he needed for nearly the entire distance of the race to win the crown on the final night of racing as he ran third, which is where he'd finish in the Teddy Bear Graphics Chevy. However Dave Koenig was all over Lou Maestri for fourth and if he could just get by the former two-time champion the 2011 title would be his, but Lou wasn't making it easy on Dave. Suddenly Koenig threw his Nelson's Auto Salvage Chevy to the outside of Maestri and he'd indeed cross the line fourth to win the 2011 SPT championship by 2 over Frank Dumicich Jr. It would be Dumicich first over to "high-five" Koenig on a job well done once the race was completed.
For the first time in its history there were co-winners of the Miller Lite night National Demolition Derby Championship as brother-in-laws Tom Kilkenny and Bob Benison were the only two left standing. After a bone-jarring head-to-head hit, the two former World Demolition Derby champions could not re-fire their Albin Avenue Auto Salvage machines and for the first time since 1963 the duo were declared co-winners and split the $1,500 first place money. James Kilkenny of Howard Beach was right in there slugging it out with his father and uncle and was named Judge's Choice, thus earning the 2011 Riverhead Raceway Demolition Derby title. His nearest rival for the crown coming into the event Jason Savoy stalled early in the contest and could not restart his Misery Machine. "Jumping" Joey Palmeri of Lindenhurst was voted Fan's Choice over the likes of "The Maniac" Matt Mulqueen, "Pistol" Pete Mikos, "The 911" George Astacio and many others.
(continued)
The Miller Lite night of racing Saturday at Riverhead Raceway was both intense and dramatic as no less than four divisional titles were decided in 160-laps of feature event racing and at the end of the night even more drama unfolded when brothers-in-laws Tom Kilkenny of Babylon and Bob Benison of Lindenhurst wound up co-winner of the National Demolition Derby Championship. Jarrod Hayes of Calverton led the NASCAR stock car winners with his second straight Late Model win in the Miller Lite 50.
Action was plentiful in the early going of the 50-lap Late Model contest as Rob McCormick and Ken Alfano tussled for the lead for the first 9 laps before Alfano moved to the point on lap 10. On an 11th lap restart Alfano sat to the inside of the double file restart. When the green flag flew he spun off turn four after contact thus handing the lead over to championship contender Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen, who for a time during the early going of the race seemed as though he had enough positions between him and point leader Scott Kulesa to make a run at the title. Dennis Krupski chased Eriksen for the 12th & 13th laps before the high flying Jarrod Hayes burst upon the scene to take second on lap 14. Once to second Hayes wasted little time in making his bid with an inside pass of Eriksen off turn four on lap 19. Once out front Hayes went to work on building a big lead on, at first Eriksen and then later Roger Oxee, who moved to second on lap 26. Oxee's night would end however on lap 41 with electrical issues moving Eriksen back to second.
At the checker it was Jarrod Hayes posting his third win of the year in the Apple Auto Parts Chevy, the 10th of his career. Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen of Baldwin was runner-up in the Harley Davidson of Nassau County Chevy, but his title hopes had been dashed laps earlier when his nearest rivals made their way to the top five.
Mike Bologna of Melville made what appeared to be a very quiet pass of Scott Kulesa of Georgetown, Ma for third with just over ten laps remaining in the race, but indeed with the pass he and Scott would be tied in points for the title, with Bologna holding the tie-breaker with two wins on the season. In the closing laps Kulesa realized if he could pass Mike back he'd be the champion by four points as he came to the race with a 2-point margin. However Bologna, in the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Chevy held on for third and earned his first ever track championship. Scott Kulesa in the Ranco Sand & Stone Pontiac threw all he could at Bologna in the final laps and was 4th at the line, defending LM champion Kevin Metzger of Massapequa completed the top five.
Roger Maynor's 103rd career Figure Eight win in the Miller Lite 20 was not enough for the 8-time track champion to wrestle the 2011 championship away from Arne Pedersen of Mastic Beach who sewed-up his first ever title by finishing fourth. Pedersen came to the race with a 10-point lead on Maynor. Steve Stadler led Mike Mujsce for the first lap of the race before Mujsce powered his way to the lead and joining him soon in second would be teammate Tom Ferrara The duo ran in that order until lap 14 when Mujsce's right front failed him allowing Ferrara and Roger Maynor to pass him, Maynor, of Bay Shore tested Ferrara for four laps before pulling out front with just two laps to go in his Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Toyota and Roger would lead the field to the checkers. Tom Ferrara of Patchogue and Mike Mujsce of Westhampton Beach were second and third in the Bill Beener Tree Service entries, while Arne Pedersen drove the BNR Home Improvement Dodge to a championship by placing fourth. Bryan Sescila of Baldwin was 5th in the Inravio.com Hornet.
The 2011 Charger championship came down to two good friends off the track, Chris Turbush and Chris McGuire being separated by two points with Turbush who was seeking his fourth straight championship up by a mere two markers. Jeremy McDermott paced the race for the first 13 laps of the 30-lap distance with John Baker, CJ Lehmann and later Chris McGuire all giving chase. McGuire would power his way to second on lap 10 and when a yellow flag waved on lap 13 the restart put leader McDermott and challenger McGuire side by side for the restart. When the green light winked back on McGuire powered his way to the race lead with CJ Lehmann racing his way to second, but not for long as the hard charging Chris Turbush quickly made his way to second. If McGuire could ward off Turbush he'd win the 2011 by virtue of having five wins to Turbush's four and over the final 10-laps of the Miller Lite 30 the intensity level was peaked. Turbush, wheeling his East-West Marine Pontiac, found an opening and was able to muscle his way by McGuire late in the race to go on to win his 30th career Charger event, a mark that ties him with Robin Vollmoeller for second on the all-time win list and of course earned him his fourth consecutive championship. Chris McGuire of Shirley did all he could to grab that elusive first championship but was runner-up in the M3 Technologies Ford, while early leader Jeremy McDermott of E. Stroudsburg, pa was third in the JDP Mechanical Pontiac.
With Tommy "The Wildchild" Walkowiak clinching his 5th championship a week earlier, the Miller Lite 30 for the Blunderbusts didn't have the championship drama attached to it but none the less provided plenty of fireworks. With 27 Blunderbusts signed-in for the race a last minute decision by promoters Barbara & Jim Cromarty saw the class take time trials where Rob Bader of Holtsville in his MoMo's Sports Bar Chevy shattered the track record with a lap of 14.919, earning $50 from Brigandi Brothers Automotive. After the top six redrew Scott Maliszewski broke out front early in this race and was chased early on by Gary Caldwell before Gary was over taken for second on lap 7 by Tom Pickerell, who in turn lost second to Tommy Walkowiak on lap 19. Walkowiak, using the Terry Stiles #41 so that his mentor Ron Langdon could race Tommy's car, ran second to Maliszewski until lap 20 when he veered into the infield with mechanical woes, which moved Caldwell back to second. Later in the race Caldwell again would lose second as both Jack Handley Jr. and Brandon Hubbard made their way by. It didn't matter to Scott Maliszewski who was running second as he drove his Thomas J Stock Attorney At Law Chevy to his 15th career victory moving him past Ron Harrison for fourth on the all-time Blunderbust win list. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was runner-up in the Kudrick's Auto Body Chevy, while Brandon Hubbard of Mastic was third in his sponsor wanted Buick.
The Super Pro Truck Miller Lite 30 found "Dangerous" Dave Koenig of Freeport and Frank Dumicich Jr. of E. Quogue the main two combatants for the 2011 championship and despite all that went with this race the Golden Auto Body night feature went green to checker without even a hint of a caution flag. Roger Turbush of Riverhead moved out front at the throw of the green and never looked back to post his second consecutive win, his division leading fifth of the season in his Allied Air Conditioning Chevy, with brother Chris Turbush of Riverhead runner-up in his East West Marine Chevy, Chris had passed Peter Rotzi for second on lap 4 to claim the position. In the intense championship fight Frank Dumicich Jr. had the positions he needed for nearly the entire distance of the race to win the crown on the final night of racing as he ran third, which is where he'd finish in the Teddy Bear Graphics Chevy. However Dave Koenig was all over Lou Maestri for fourth and if he could just get by the former two-time champion the 2011 title would be his, but Lou wasn't making it easy on Dave. Suddenly Koenig threw his Nelson's Auto Salvage Chevy to the outside of Maestri and he'd indeed cross the line fourth to win the 2011 SPT championship by 2 over Frank Dumicich Jr. It would be Dumicich first over to "high-five" Koenig on a job well done once the race was completed.
For the first time in its history there were co-winners of the Miller Lite night National Demolition Derby Championship as brother-in-laws Tom Kilkenny and Bob Benison were the only two left standing. After a bone-jarring head-to-head hit, the two former World Demolition Derby champions could not re-fire their Albin Avenue Auto Salvage machines and for the first time since 1963 the duo were declared co-winners and split the $1,500 first place money. James Kilkenny of Howard Beach was right in there slugging it out with his father and uncle and was named Judge's Choice, thus earning the 2011 Riverhead Raceway Demolition Derby title. His nearest rival for the crown coming into the event Jason Savoy stalled early in the contest and could not restart his Misery Machine. "Jumping" Joey Palmeri of Lindenhurst was voted Fan's Choice over the likes of "The Maniac" Matt Mulqueen, "Pistol" Pete Mikos, "The 911" George Astacio and many others.
(continued)