RGeeProductions
05-04-2014, 11:56 AM
The 2014 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series got underway this past Saturday evening at Riverhead Raceway under ideal conditions as 2012 NASCAR Modified champion Shawn Solomito of Islip would sweep both ends of the Twin 30 feature events. Over the past four opening nights either Shawn or his younger brother Timmy have won a feature on opening night at the demanding quarter mile.
Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead set fast time with a lap of 12.399 but in the redraw among the 8 would pick 5th while 16-year old Vinny Biondolillo drew the pole with Shawn Solomito alongside for the first 30 lap tilt. When the first green flag of 2014 waved it would be Solomito leading the first lap by a nose on the outside but lap 2 saw Biondolillo starting his 3rd full season in the powerful NASCAR Modifieds motoring out front. After the youngster led laps 2 through 4 Shawn Solomito reasserted himself as the race leader on lap 5 with Biondolillo second and now finding himself under attack for the spot by Eric Goodale. While Biondolillo and Goodale diced Shawn Solomito was able to pull away to nearly a half lap lead.
Goodale was able to slip by Biondolillo on lap 13 for second but after all the work he put in for the position he'd be passed by Tom Rogers Jr. one lap later on the 14th circuit. Once to second Rogers would spend the remainder of the trying to reel in leader Solomito.
At the checker it was Shawn Solomito racing for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation scoring the first of his two wins on the night over Tom Rogers Jr. and his brother Timmy Solomito of Islip in the Eastport Feeds Chevy who was third at the line.
With the second 30-lap main event lined up by the finish of the first race Shawn Solomito broke out front while Rogers and Timmy Solomito began an intense battle for second. That race for position got too close on lap 3 when the duo made contact ending Timmy's race, with Rogers having to go to the rear after the contact and ensuing yellow flag. When the race resumes Solomito found yet another family member to contend with as his cousin Eric Goodale was lined-up second on the restart with defending NASCAR Modified champion Howie Brode third.
Once again Shawn was a master of the restarts as he stayed out front with Goodale and Brode racing for second with Howie passing Eric for the position on lap 4. Once to second Brode was able to keep in step with the race leader and at times was able to pull up to his rear bumper but that would be as close as he got over the final half of the race.
Once again at the checkers it was Shawn Solomito taking the victory over Howie Brode of E. Islip in his Petro Fuel Oil Chevy. Dave Sapienza of Riverhead was third in his Louis Sapienza Masonry entry after an intense battle with 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct.
"This is a nice way to start the season" Shawn noted after Jerry Cook of NASCAR presented him with his hardware in victory lane. When quizzed about racing his brother as well his cousin up front the soft spoken talent commented, "it not easy but yet again it's not hard, we go after one another pretty hard" As to the car lacking sponsors names the race winner admitted, "these cars are expensive to run and even more so if you tear one up. We need some sponsors no doubt otherwise we are week to week".
Before Chris LaSpisa of Shirley could lay claim to his 6th career Late Model win in their 25-lap feature he'd after to dodge several bullets which included more than one attempt to get the race going, numerous restarts and no less than five different drivers that ran second and challenged for the race win before halfway. Over the first 9 laps of the race Chris had to ward off the likes of Scott Kulesa, Kevin Metzger, Mike Bologna, Ken Alfano and Shawn Patrick. The toughest foe would prove to be Patrick for the race leader as over the final 15-laps of the contest Shawn was able to make some bids for the lead, all of which Chris LaSpisa was able to fend off. When the rough and tumble race came to an end it was Chris LaSpisa in his McBetts Racing Engines Chevy crossing the line ahead of Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters in his Matlach Fabricating Dodge. Defending LM champion Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead placed third SDS Telecom entry after he himself was able to miss some close calls.
"Johnny Electric" John Vullo of Farmingville jolted the Figure Eight 15-lap feature as he led from flag to flag to capture the victory. By no stretch of the imagination was it an easy win for Vullo who himself had to ward off four different drivers for the win. At the outset Vullo and Gary Fritz Jr. went toe to toe trading paint for the lead before Fritz spun just after the intersection. Next up for Vullo was defending champion Ken Hyde Jr. who spent laps 3 & 4 chasing the leader before he was overtaken by Scott Pedersen. As was the case earlier the race the Vullo and Pedersen battle saw some paint being swapped over the seven laps the races for the lead with Roger Maynor close by in third. With two laps to go Maynor got by Pedersen for second . Once to second Roger wasted no time in applying the pressure for the race win but in the end it would be John Vullo in his Teddy Bear Graphics Cadillac the race winner. Roger Maynor of Bay Shore was runner-up in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford while Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead was third in the sponsor wanted coupe.
Chris Turbush of Riverhead notched the 36th career Charger win of his illustrious career Saturday and of all those triumphs it perhaps was one of the hardest fought. Cory Midgett paced the race over the first six laps over defending champion Eric Zeh before Zeh took the top spot on lap 7. Chris Turbush one lap later came to second and thus set-up a fantastic fight to the finish. As the laps wore down Zeh was doing all he could to keep Turbush at bay and with about five or so laps remaining the challenger got into the leader going into the first turn. Chris backed off the throttle to allow Eric to correct but he went right back to work on setting up a pass. On the white flag lap Chris again got into Eric and this time there was no backing down as he was able to slip by Eric who was trying to gather up his car. At the finish it was Chris Turbush in the Eastern Fuel Chevy crossing the line first over Eric Zeh of Selden in his S&P Sanitation Chevy. Early race leader Cory Midgett of East Hampton was third in his R. Bono Plumbing racer.
(continued)
Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead set fast time with a lap of 12.399 but in the redraw among the 8 would pick 5th while 16-year old Vinny Biondolillo drew the pole with Shawn Solomito alongside for the first 30 lap tilt. When the first green flag of 2014 waved it would be Solomito leading the first lap by a nose on the outside but lap 2 saw Biondolillo starting his 3rd full season in the powerful NASCAR Modifieds motoring out front. After the youngster led laps 2 through 4 Shawn Solomito reasserted himself as the race leader on lap 5 with Biondolillo second and now finding himself under attack for the spot by Eric Goodale. While Biondolillo and Goodale diced Shawn Solomito was able to pull away to nearly a half lap lead.
Goodale was able to slip by Biondolillo on lap 13 for second but after all the work he put in for the position he'd be passed by Tom Rogers Jr. one lap later on the 14th circuit. Once to second Rogers would spend the remainder of the trying to reel in leader Solomito.
At the checker it was Shawn Solomito racing for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation scoring the first of his two wins on the night over Tom Rogers Jr. and his brother Timmy Solomito of Islip in the Eastport Feeds Chevy who was third at the line.
With the second 30-lap main event lined up by the finish of the first race Shawn Solomito broke out front while Rogers and Timmy Solomito began an intense battle for second. That race for position got too close on lap 3 when the duo made contact ending Timmy's race, with Rogers having to go to the rear after the contact and ensuing yellow flag. When the race resumes Solomito found yet another family member to contend with as his cousin Eric Goodale was lined-up second on the restart with defending NASCAR Modified champion Howie Brode third.
Once again Shawn was a master of the restarts as he stayed out front with Goodale and Brode racing for second with Howie passing Eric for the position on lap 4. Once to second Brode was able to keep in step with the race leader and at times was able to pull up to his rear bumper but that would be as close as he got over the final half of the race.
Once again at the checkers it was Shawn Solomito taking the victory over Howie Brode of E. Islip in his Petro Fuel Oil Chevy. Dave Sapienza of Riverhead was third in his Louis Sapienza Masonry entry after an intense battle with 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct.
"This is a nice way to start the season" Shawn noted after Jerry Cook of NASCAR presented him with his hardware in victory lane. When quizzed about racing his brother as well his cousin up front the soft spoken talent commented, "it not easy but yet again it's not hard, we go after one another pretty hard" As to the car lacking sponsors names the race winner admitted, "these cars are expensive to run and even more so if you tear one up. We need some sponsors no doubt otherwise we are week to week".
Before Chris LaSpisa of Shirley could lay claim to his 6th career Late Model win in their 25-lap feature he'd after to dodge several bullets which included more than one attempt to get the race going, numerous restarts and no less than five different drivers that ran second and challenged for the race win before halfway. Over the first 9 laps of the race Chris had to ward off the likes of Scott Kulesa, Kevin Metzger, Mike Bologna, Ken Alfano and Shawn Patrick. The toughest foe would prove to be Patrick for the race leader as over the final 15-laps of the contest Shawn was able to make some bids for the lead, all of which Chris LaSpisa was able to fend off. When the rough and tumble race came to an end it was Chris LaSpisa in his McBetts Racing Engines Chevy crossing the line ahead of Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters in his Matlach Fabricating Dodge. Defending LM champion Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead placed third SDS Telecom entry after he himself was able to miss some close calls.
"Johnny Electric" John Vullo of Farmingville jolted the Figure Eight 15-lap feature as he led from flag to flag to capture the victory. By no stretch of the imagination was it an easy win for Vullo who himself had to ward off four different drivers for the win. At the outset Vullo and Gary Fritz Jr. went toe to toe trading paint for the lead before Fritz spun just after the intersection. Next up for Vullo was defending champion Ken Hyde Jr. who spent laps 3 & 4 chasing the leader before he was overtaken by Scott Pedersen. As was the case earlier the race the Vullo and Pedersen battle saw some paint being swapped over the seven laps the races for the lead with Roger Maynor close by in third. With two laps to go Maynor got by Pedersen for second . Once to second Roger wasted no time in applying the pressure for the race win but in the end it would be John Vullo in his Teddy Bear Graphics Cadillac the race winner. Roger Maynor of Bay Shore was runner-up in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford while Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead was third in the sponsor wanted coupe.
Chris Turbush of Riverhead notched the 36th career Charger win of his illustrious career Saturday and of all those triumphs it perhaps was one of the hardest fought. Cory Midgett paced the race over the first six laps over defending champion Eric Zeh before Zeh took the top spot on lap 7. Chris Turbush one lap later came to second and thus set-up a fantastic fight to the finish. As the laps wore down Zeh was doing all he could to keep Turbush at bay and with about five or so laps remaining the challenger got into the leader going into the first turn. Chris backed off the throttle to allow Eric to correct but he went right back to work on setting up a pass. On the white flag lap Chris again got into Eric and this time there was no backing down as he was able to slip by Eric who was trying to gather up his car. At the finish it was Chris Turbush in the Eastern Fuel Chevy crossing the line first over Eric Zeh of Selden in his S&P Sanitation Chevy. Early race leader Cory Midgett of East Hampton was third in his R. Bono Plumbing racer.
(continued)