RGeeProductions
06-03-2012, 09:21 PM
Shawn Solomito Wards Off Challenges Of Ted Christopher To Claim Riverhead Raceway Twin 30's Victory
The NASCAR Modified Twin 30's Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway turned out to be a short track classic as Shawn Solomito of Islip held off the numerous challenges of Ted Christopher of Plainville, Ct. to sweep both 30-lap segments to post his first victory of the 2012 campaign. The duo went to battle no less than six times in double file restarts that had the fans on hand on the edge of their seats.
Shawn Solomito got his evening off to a fast start when he won the Brigand Brothers Fast Time Award of $100 for his time trial lap of 11.697 and then proceeded to pick the #1 pill for a straight-up start rather than a top six redraw. At the throw of the green flag Solomito and outside pole sitter Tom Rogers Jr. raced side by side for the lead before a quick yellow waved for a minor spin setting-up the first double file restart. On that restart Ted Christopher muscled his way under Rogers for second and quickly went to work on Solomito for the lead while Ryan Preece moving to third under Rogers as well during the restart. Some great intense short track racing would take place with Preece actually coming to second on lap 14 working his way by Christopher. However later in that same lap Ryan would spin off turn four moving Teddy back to second.
On each double file restart Christopher, one of the most victorious pavement drivers in the Northeast would attempt to control the pace of each restart as he slowly increased his speed going into turn three forcing race leader Solomito to do the same. Christopher would be alongside Shawn numerous times but as his right as the race leader Solomito would make things tight for the challenger on the outside. Even when the race went to a single file restart format Christopher would keep the heat on leader Solomito as the first segment was checkered and through out the second 30-laps as he took numerous peeks to the inside. Riverhead point leader Howe Brode would eventually make his way to third from an the place start and he was in the right position in case something transpired among the top two cars.
Over the final 10 laps of the second 30-lapper Shawn Solomito was able to pull away slightly over Ted Christopher and when the checkers waved it would be a very emotional victory for the driver of the American Tent Co. Chevy. Chocking back tears Shawn thought of two fallen friends in Keri and 'Lil Jay Trinca who were killed last October in a tragic motor vehicle accident, "it's just not the same loading the car at the shop without 'Lil Jay, we miss him and his mom Keri so much". As for the battle with Christopher and the double file restarts Shawn reflected, "Teddy was determining the pace of the restarts which really isn't the way it should be, so I had to do what I had to do to keep the lead, he ran me clean the entire race and I thank him for that".
Ted Christopher would be runner-up in the Wayne Anderson Eastport Feeds Chevy while Howie Brode of East Islip crossed the line third in the Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy which now gives him a 24-point lead over Solomito 168 to 144. John Fortin Sr. of Holtsville and John Beatty Jr. of Merrick completed the top five.
Roger Oxee of Peconic notched his 61st career Late Model win in their 25-lap feature event, a win that Oxee hopes changes his 2012 racing fortunes for the better. Right from the start of the race Roger let the remainder of the field know he was the car to beat as he leaped out front from the pole with Arne Pedersen running second for the first two circuits. Lap 3 saw Scott Kulesa loop around Pedersen for second setting up a duel for the lead among two drivers who have met before on the tight quarter mile oval. Scott glued himself to Oxee's back bumper and started looking for a path past the all-time leading winner in the class. However there was no stopping the Southold IGA Pontiac in this race as Roger Oxee drove to victory lane where he was greeted by track owners and promoters Barbara & Jim Cromarty. Scott Kulesa of Georgetown, Ma was runner-up in in his Eastport Feeds racer, while Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters had a good run for third in his sponsor wanted Dodge.
Even though "The Wildchild" Tommy Walkowiak won 50 Blunderbusts main events going into the 30-lap main event Saturday, it still is good to have a little luck fall your way once in awhile. Jack Handley Jr. set fast time with a lap 15.185, just six one-thousands better than Scott Maliszewski who clicked off a lap of 15.191 in pre-race qualifying. Handley also drew the #1 pill making the race a straight-up start that later found the tested tough veteran Maliszewski racing his way out front when the green light came on. As the race hit the one-third point on lap 10 Maliszewski and Handley were darting through lapped traffic going into the first turn when Handley saw an opening and with a bold move passed Scott for the lead dropping the early leader to second, with Tommy Walkowiak now third. Things were going along very well for Handley who turns 16 this week when all of a sudden with less than two laps to go entering turn one he started to spin on his own accord. Maliszewski had to take evasive action by ducking under the spinning Handley which got him loose off turn two and that was all Tommy Walkowiak needed as he raced by for the lead and his 51st career win in the Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy. Tom Pickerell of Huntington who was running fourth at the time of Handley's undoing found himself with a runner-up finish in the Premier Utility Service Chevy, while Handley did a great job to reel in his car for a third place finish in the Relle Electric entry making his race not a total loss.
Roger Turbush of Riverhead made it two in a row in the Super Pro Trucks as he led wire to wire in a non-stop 20-lap feature event. Roger quickly put his Rheem Air Conditioning Chevy out front at the drop of the green and he never looked back as Lou Maestri and Chris Turbush battled for second early on. Chris was able to slip by Lou for second on lap 6 and then had the task of trying to erase a comfortable lead his brother built. Chris was able to draw closer to Roger as the race wore on and in fact over the closing laps pulled up to his back bumper as the leaders truck seemed to get loose through the corners. As the race concluded it would once again be Roger Turbush scoring the win over brother Chris of Riverhead in his "Dangerous" Dave Racing Chevy. Lou Maestri of Deer Park was third in the IGA of Fort Solonga Chevy.
Chris Young of Calverton the defending Legend Race Car champion scored his third win of 2012 when he topped their 20-lap feature event as the soon to be High School graduate figures the best way to defend a championship is by winning. Kevin Nowak and Frank Scimeca Jr. paced the first lap of the race before Young burst into second on lap 2 setting up a battle among the two most recent champions in the class. After trying to size Nowak up for an inside pass over the first half of the contest Young threw his car to the outside to pass Kevin for the lead racing down the back stretch. Nowak one lap later would get involved in a tangle as his night went south which moved last week's winner Kyle Soper to second. Soper was able to keep pace with the race leader but in the end it would again be the Ray The Plumber machine of Chris Young posting the victory with Kyle Soper of Manorville runner-up in the Jack Anthony Pools entry. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead placed third in the Riverhead Building Supply mount.
Richard Galante seemed to have things under control in the 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Car Enduro as he led almost all the way for victory, that is almost all the way. Galante quickly broke out front when the race started with veteran drivers like Gene Burbol and Anthony Pizzo all chasing him. However Burbol and Pizzo would later have issues of their own that would drop the from the race making Galante's lead even more comfortable. Then along came Steve Trimboli and Dennis Nelson to test Richard for the lead but again he was equal to the task until the closing laps. Racing in heavy traffic entering turn one Galante had to check-up for a moment which allowed Dennis Nelson to make a bold move by both Trimboli and leader Galante for the race lead and victory. For Nelson in his Repo Joe Saturn it was his second win in six days as he won the previous Sunday. Richard Galante of East Patchogue was runner-up with Steve Trimboli of Freeport third.
(continued)
The NASCAR Modified Twin 30's Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway turned out to be a short track classic as Shawn Solomito of Islip held off the numerous challenges of Ted Christopher of Plainville, Ct. to sweep both 30-lap segments to post his first victory of the 2012 campaign. The duo went to battle no less than six times in double file restarts that had the fans on hand on the edge of their seats.
Shawn Solomito got his evening off to a fast start when he won the Brigand Brothers Fast Time Award of $100 for his time trial lap of 11.697 and then proceeded to pick the #1 pill for a straight-up start rather than a top six redraw. At the throw of the green flag Solomito and outside pole sitter Tom Rogers Jr. raced side by side for the lead before a quick yellow waved for a minor spin setting-up the first double file restart. On that restart Ted Christopher muscled his way under Rogers for second and quickly went to work on Solomito for the lead while Ryan Preece moving to third under Rogers as well during the restart. Some great intense short track racing would take place with Preece actually coming to second on lap 14 working his way by Christopher. However later in that same lap Ryan would spin off turn four moving Teddy back to second.
On each double file restart Christopher, one of the most victorious pavement drivers in the Northeast would attempt to control the pace of each restart as he slowly increased his speed going into turn three forcing race leader Solomito to do the same. Christopher would be alongside Shawn numerous times but as his right as the race leader Solomito would make things tight for the challenger on the outside. Even when the race went to a single file restart format Christopher would keep the heat on leader Solomito as the first segment was checkered and through out the second 30-laps as he took numerous peeks to the inside. Riverhead point leader Howe Brode would eventually make his way to third from an the place start and he was in the right position in case something transpired among the top two cars.
Over the final 10 laps of the second 30-lapper Shawn Solomito was able to pull away slightly over Ted Christopher and when the checkers waved it would be a very emotional victory for the driver of the American Tent Co. Chevy. Chocking back tears Shawn thought of two fallen friends in Keri and 'Lil Jay Trinca who were killed last October in a tragic motor vehicle accident, "it's just not the same loading the car at the shop without 'Lil Jay, we miss him and his mom Keri so much". As for the battle with Christopher and the double file restarts Shawn reflected, "Teddy was determining the pace of the restarts which really isn't the way it should be, so I had to do what I had to do to keep the lead, he ran me clean the entire race and I thank him for that".
Ted Christopher would be runner-up in the Wayne Anderson Eastport Feeds Chevy while Howie Brode of East Islip crossed the line third in the Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy which now gives him a 24-point lead over Solomito 168 to 144. John Fortin Sr. of Holtsville and John Beatty Jr. of Merrick completed the top five.
Roger Oxee of Peconic notched his 61st career Late Model win in their 25-lap feature event, a win that Oxee hopes changes his 2012 racing fortunes for the better. Right from the start of the race Roger let the remainder of the field know he was the car to beat as he leaped out front from the pole with Arne Pedersen running second for the first two circuits. Lap 3 saw Scott Kulesa loop around Pedersen for second setting up a duel for the lead among two drivers who have met before on the tight quarter mile oval. Scott glued himself to Oxee's back bumper and started looking for a path past the all-time leading winner in the class. However there was no stopping the Southold IGA Pontiac in this race as Roger Oxee drove to victory lane where he was greeted by track owners and promoters Barbara & Jim Cromarty. Scott Kulesa of Georgetown, Ma was runner-up in in his Eastport Feeds racer, while Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters had a good run for third in his sponsor wanted Dodge.
Even though "The Wildchild" Tommy Walkowiak won 50 Blunderbusts main events going into the 30-lap main event Saturday, it still is good to have a little luck fall your way once in awhile. Jack Handley Jr. set fast time with a lap 15.185, just six one-thousands better than Scott Maliszewski who clicked off a lap of 15.191 in pre-race qualifying. Handley also drew the #1 pill making the race a straight-up start that later found the tested tough veteran Maliszewski racing his way out front when the green light came on. As the race hit the one-third point on lap 10 Maliszewski and Handley were darting through lapped traffic going into the first turn when Handley saw an opening and with a bold move passed Scott for the lead dropping the early leader to second, with Tommy Walkowiak now third. Things were going along very well for Handley who turns 16 this week when all of a sudden with less than two laps to go entering turn one he started to spin on his own accord. Maliszewski had to take evasive action by ducking under the spinning Handley which got him loose off turn two and that was all Tommy Walkowiak needed as he raced by for the lead and his 51st career win in the Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy. Tom Pickerell of Huntington who was running fourth at the time of Handley's undoing found himself with a runner-up finish in the Premier Utility Service Chevy, while Handley did a great job to reel in his car for a third place finish in the Relle Electric entry making his race not a total loss.
Roger Turbush of Riverhead made it two in a row in the Super Pro Trucks as he led wire to wire in a non-stop 20-lap feature event. Roger quickly put his Rheem Air Conditioning Chevy out front at the drop of the green and he never looked back as Lou Maestri and Chris Turbush battled for second early on. Chris was able to slip by Lou for second on lap 6 and then had the task of trying to erase a comfortable lead his brother built. Chris was able to draw closer to Roger as the race wore on and in fact over the closing laps pulled up to his back bumper as the leaders truck seemed to get loose through the corners. As the race concluded it would once again be Roger Turbush scoring the win over brother Chris of Riverhead in his "Dangerous" Dave Racing Chevy. Lou Maestri of Deer Park was third in the IGA of Fort Solonga Chevy.
Chris Young of Calverton the defending Legend Race Car champion scored his third win of 2012 when he topped their 20-lap feature event as the soon to be High School graduate figures the best way to defend a championship is by winning. Kevin Nowak and Frank Scimeca Jr. paced the first lap of the race before Young burst into second on lap 2 setting up a battle among the two most recent champions in the class. After trying to size Nowak up for an inside pass over the first half of the contest Young threw his car to the outside to pass Kevin for the lead racing down the back stretch. Nowak one lap later would get involved in a tangle as his night went south which moved last week's winner Kyle Soper to second. Soper was able to keep pace with the race leader but in the end it would again be the Ray The Plumber machine of Chris Young posting the victory with Kyle Soper of Manorville runner-up in the Jack Anthony Pools entry. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead placed third in the Riverhead Building Supply mount.
Richard Galante seemed to have things under control in the 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Car Enduro as he led almost all the way for victory, that is almost all the way. Galante quickly broke out front when the race started with veteran drivers like Gene Burbol and Anthony Pizzo all chasing him. However Burbol and Pizzo would later have issues of their own that would drop the from the race making Galante's lead even more comfortable. Then along came Steve Trimboli and Dennis Nelson to test Richard for the lead but again he was equal to the task until the closing laps. Racing in heavy traffic entering turn one Galante had to check-up for a moment which allowed Dennis Nelson to make a bold move by both Trimboli and leader Galante for the race lead and victory. For Nelson in his Repo Joe Saturn it was his second win in six days as he won the previous Sunday. Richard Galante of East Patchogue was runner-up with Steve Trimboli of Freeport third.
(continued)