RGeeProductions
05-18-2014, 11:41 AM
One week after backing his NASCAR Modified into the wall at Riverhead Raceway defending champion Howie Brode of East Islip rebounded in fine fashion Saturday night when he won the 35-lap Whelen All-American Series feature event. The triumph was Howie's 16th of his career with the win vaulting him into the championship chase lead by one over Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct., 79-78.
Tom Rogers Jr. topped the charts in qualifying with a lap of 11.835 but once again his bad luck in the redraw found him picking 8th while John Fortin Jr. and Howie Brode drew the front row. When the race got underway it was Brode firing into the first turn with the race lead and quickly following in his path would be 4th place starter Timmy Solomito who came to second. A series of early race incidents would create numerous double file restarts along the way changing the running order behind Brode who would wind up leading the entire distance. A lap 7 restart would find Tom Rogers Jr. who quickly came from 8th to 3rd work his way under Solomito for second with Timmy and John Fortin Sr. side by side for third with that battle for position getting too close and Timmy wound up in the wall off turn four on lap 10.
On the ensuing restart Brode remained out front while Fortin tried slipping under Rogers for second off turn four and contact found Tommy riding over the hood of John with both cars coming to rest in turn one. Rogers was done for the night while Fortin restarted at the rear. That chain of event moved Ryan Preece to second, Ryan had barn stormed his way from 17th to 4th at the time of the Rogers-Fortin incident. Ryan made a serious bid on Brode for the race lead when the race went back to green and with the duo racing in tight quarters he would clip the wall slightly and that would be the last challenge Brode would face for the remainder of the 35-lap contest.
At the finish it was the Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy of Howie Brode scoring a hard earned victory after a long week in the race shop. "Can't thank my guys enough" Brode reflected in victory lane. "we were torn up pretty good last week and this is a very satisfying win" When quizzed about the contact with Preece earlier on Howie was non-committal, "I'd have to look at the tape but I really don't think I did anything wrong".
Ryan Preece was runner up in the East West Marine entry this after the Bill & Barbara Park team changed a tire after qualifying and was forced to start the race 17th. John Fortin Sr. of Holtsville put on a drive that saw the week two winner come home third in the Triangle Pub Chevy. Ron Silk of Norwalk, Ct. and Dave Sapienza of Riverhead completed the top five.
The Cromarty Cup 20 Figure Eight event turned out to be the race of the night as the class with double money and points on the line due to the class not running the week before due to a wet race course. Many feared a wreckfest with the added money and points on the line but what actually evolved was one of the best races in the 51-year history of the division. Arne Pedersen of Mastic Beach set a new track record in qualifying with a lap of 13.889 but he'd only muster a 5th starting spot in the redraw while Tom Rogers Jr. and Roger Maynor drew the front row. That set the stage for a titanic race for the lead that would last all 20-circuits. Maynor hounded Rogers all the way as the talented duo not only had to race each other hard but also work their way through lapped traffic as well watching the crossing cars at the intersection.
Maynor on numerous occasions tried a crossover move on Rogers in the third and fourth turn of the Figure Eight course but in the end Tommy would prevail giving veteran car owner Keith Repp his first even victory. "It's an honor to win the Cromarty Cup" Tommy noted moments after his 18th career win and receiving the Cromarty Cup from Barbara Cromarty in honor of her recent 80th Birthday. "Roger and I have done that a few times over the years and it's always a challenge but fun" Tommy furthered, "I'm just really happy to give Keith, Gizmo and all these guys their first victory". Roger Maynor of Bay Shore was runner-up in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford, while Arne Pedersen was third in the BNR Home Improvement Dodge.
"Radiant" Ray Minieri of Bay Shore notched his 19th career Charger victory when he led all 20-laps of their main event which would go green to checker. However don't read into the previous sentence and think for a minute it was an easy triumph for the former track champion. Ray bolted from the pole to the race lead at the throw of the green with Cory Midgett and CJ Lehmann in tow. Lap 2 found Lehmann working his way by Midgett for second and the race was on. Over the final 19 laps of the race CJ pestered Ray for the lead making most his bid either entering or exiting the corners. Lehmann did apply the "chrome horn" at time which got Minieri loose but each time the challenger backed off the throttle to allow the leader to collect his car. That scene played out more than once over the duration of the race with Ray Minieri prevailing in his L.I. Performance Chevy at the checkers. CJ Lehmann of Mastic Beach in the Mercedes Meat Market Chevy was runner-up while defending champion Eric Zeh of Selden was third in the Randy's Performance Chevy.
It was a busy day indeed for Blunderbust winner Jimmy "The Kid" White Jr of Southampton, who after practicing his car in the afternoon had to rush back to his hometown to be part of his sisters wedding. With the reception right in Riverhead White was able to return to the track to drive his Busy Bee Pest Control machine to the winners circle before returning to the wedding! As for the 20-lap race itself White took command of the race at the start from the outside pole with the likes of Paul Parisi and Bill Wegmann Sr. giving chase early on. Lap 5 found Jack Handley Jr. race his way to second after starting the race in seventh and he'd have to spend some laps trying to reel in White who had built a comfortable cushion. Indeed "The Jack Attack" would catch up to Jimmy White Jr. but his two race win streak would come to an end when Jimmy crossed the line first in what also would be a caution free event. Handley of Medford was second in the Sims Steel Chevy while Brian Brown of Baiting Hollow survived a battle for third with Tommy Walkowiak to claim the spot in his Mittrani Plastering racer.
If you ask Erin Solomito of Hampton Bays which one of her Super Pro truck wins was the toughest she'd no doubt point to Saturday nights win when she had to with stand a torrid second half battle Roger Turbush of Riverhead for the victory. Frank Dumicich Sr. paced the race for the first half of the 20-lap distance with Mike Albasini chasing him for the first two laps before his Frank's daughter Erin Solomito took over on lap 3. It would be during a 9th lap caution flag that Dumicich's night would go sour as unknown to him his right rear tire was going down. When the race went back to green Frank's truck would not turn which allowed both Erin and her challenger Roger Turbush to slip by as Frank parked on the infield. The race for the leaded ramped up in the final seven laps as Turbush hounded Solomito every inch of the way, once getting into her off turn four with Erin nearly sideways. Roger backed out and let her correct her truck but his pressure resumed all the way to the white flag. There would be no denying Erin Solomito in this race as she drove her Sea-Level Construction Chevy to a hard fought win. A last lap shuffle saw both Mike Albasini of Flushing in his HCC Collision Chevy and "Dangerous' Dave Koenig of Freeport in his Nelson's Auto Salvage entry get by a faltering Roger Turbush who wound-up fourth at the line.
Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches prevailed in a rough and tumble 19-lap Legend Race Car feature, one lap short of it's regularly scheduled distance of 20. By virtue of his win in the second heat race Richie started on the outside of heat race one winner Artie Pedersen III in the 28-car field. Pedersen and Davidowitz were in a dead heat on lap 1 for the race lead with Richie taking sole possession of the lead on lap 2. Once out front Davidowitz steering the Thriftway Auto Body mount was the class of the field with Pedersen right behind him. The issue for the leaders was the fact the race featured multiple cautions interrupting any rhythm they tried to gain. When the final caution flag waved on lap 19 INEX Officials called the race due to the time limit expiring and for the second time in his career Richie Davidowitz was a Legebd Race Car winner. Artie Pedersen III of Center Moriches was second in the Park Line Maintenance entry while Kyle Soper of Manorville placed third in the Moriches Bay Diner machine.
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Tom Rogers Jr. topped the charts in qualifying with a lap of 11.835 but once again his bad luck in the redraw found him picking 8th while John Fortin Jr. and Howie Brode drew the front row. When the race got underway it was Brode firing into the first turn with the race lead and quickly following in his path would be 4th place starter Timmy Solomito who came to second. A series of early race incidents would create numerous double file restarts along the way changing the running order behind Brode who would wind up leading the entire distance. A lap 7 restart would find Tom Rogers Jr. who quickly came from 8th to 3rd work his way under Solomito for second with Timmy and John Fortin Sr. side by side for third with that battle for position getting too close and Timmy wound up in the wall off turn four on lap 10.
On the ensuing restart Brode remained out front while Fortin tried slipping under Rogers for second off turn four and contact found Tommy riding over the hood of John with both cars coming to rest in turn one. Rogers was done for the night while Fortin restarted at the rear. That chain of event moved Ryan Preece to second, Ryan had barn stormed his way from 17th to 4th at the time of the Rogers-Fortin incident. Ryan made a serious bid on Brode for the race lead when the race went back to green and with the duo racing in tight quarters he would clip the wall slightly and that would be the last challenge Brode would face for the remainder of the 35-lap contest.
At the finish it was the Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy of Howie Brode scoring a hard earned victory after a long week in the race shop. "Can't thank my guys enough" Brode reflected in victory lane. "we were torn up pretty good last week and this is a very satisfying win" When quizzed about the contact with Preece earlier on Howie was non-committal, "I'd have to look at the tape but I really don't think I did anything wrong".
Ryan Preece was runner up in the East West Marine entry this after the Bill & Barbara Park team changed a tire after qualifying and was forced to start the race 17th. John Fortin Sr. of Holtsville put on a drive that saw the week two winner come home third in the Triangle Pub Chevy. Ron Silk of Norwalk, Ct. and Dave Sapienza of Riverhead completed the top five.
The Cromarty Cup 20 Figure Eight event turned out to be the race of the night as the class with double money and points on the line due to the class not running the week before due to a wet race course. Many feared a wreckfest with the added money and points on the line but what actually evolved was one of the best races in the 51-year history of the division. Arne Pedersen of Mastic Beach set a new track record in qualifying with a lap of 13.889 but he'd only muster a 5th starting spot in the redraw while Tom Rogers Jr. and Roger Maynor drew the front row. That set the stage for a titanic race for the lead that would last all 20-circuits. Maynor hounded Rogers all the way as the talented duo not only had to race each other hard but also work their way through lapped traffic as well watching the crossing cars at the intersection.
Maynor on numerous occasions tried a crossover move on Rogers in the third and fourth turn of the Figure Eight course but in the end Tommy would prevail giving veteran car owner Keith Repp his first even victory. "It's an honor to win the Cromarty Cup" Tommy noted moments after his 18th career win and receiving the Cromarty Cup from Barbara Cromarty in honor of her recent 80th Birthday. "Roger and I have done that a few times over the years and it's always a challenge but fun" Tommy furthered, "I'm just really happy to give Keith, Gizmo and all these guys their first victory". Roger Maynor of Bay Shore was runner-up in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford, while Arne Pedersen was third in the BNR Home Improvement Dodge.
"Radiant" Ray Minieri of Bay Shore notched his 19th career Charger victory when he led all 20-laps of their main event which would go green to checker. However don't read into the previous sentence and think for a minute it was an easy triumph for the former track champion. Ray bolted from the pole to the race lead at the throw of the green with Cory Midgett and CJ Lehmann in tow. Lap 2 found Lehmann working his way by Midgett for second and the race was on. Over the final 19 laps of the race CJ pestered Ray for the lead making most his bid either entering or exiting the corners. Lehmann did apply the "chrome horn" at time which got Minieri loose but each time the challenger backed off the throttle to allow the leader to collect his car. That scene played out more than once over the duration of the race with Ray Minieri prevailing in his L.I. Performance Chevy at the checkers. CJ Lehmann of Mastic Beach in the Mercedes Meat Market Chevy was runner-up while defending champion Eric Zeh of Selden was third in the Randy's Performance Chevy.
It was a busy day indeed for Blunderbust winner Jimmy "The Kid" White Jr of Southampton, who after practicing his car in the afternoon had to rush back to his hometown to be part of his sisters wedding. With the reception right in Riverhead White was able to return to the track to drive his Busy Bee Pest Control machine to the winners circle before returning to the wedding! As for the 20-lap race itself White took command of the race at the start from the outside pole with the likes of Paul Parisi and Bill Wegmann Sr. giving chase early on. Lap 5 found Jack Handley Jr. race his way to second after starting the race in seventh and he'd have to spend some laps trying to reel in White who had built a comfortable cushion. Indeed "The Jack Attack" would catch up to Jimmy White Jr. but his two race win streak would come to an end when Jimmy crossed the line first in what also would be a caution free event. Handley of Medford was second in the Sims Steel Chevy while Brian Brown of Baiting Hollow survived a battle for third with Tommy Walkowiak to claim the spot in his Mittrani Plastering racer.
If you ask Erin Solomito of Hampton Bays which one of her Super Pro truck wins was the toughest she'd no doubt point to Saturday nights win when she had to with stand a torrid second half battle Roger Turbush of Riverhead for the victory. Frank Dumicich Sr. paced the race for the first half of the 20-lap distance with Mike Albasini chasing him for the first two laps before his Frank's daughter Erin Solomito took over on lap 3. It would be during a 9th lap caution flag that Dumicich's night would go sour as unknown to him his right rear tire was going down. When the race went back to green Frank's truck would not turn which allowed both Erin and her challenger Roger Turbush to slip by as Frank parked on the infield. The race for the leaded ramped up in the final seven laps as Turbush hounded Solomito every inch of the way, once getting into her off turn four with Erin nearly sideways. Roger backed out and let her correct her truck but his pressure resumed all the way to the white flag. There would be no denying Erin Solomito in this race as she drove her Sea-Level Construction Chevy to a hard fought win. A last lap shuffle saw both Mike Albasini of Flushing in his HCC Collision Chevy and "Dangerous' Dave Koenig of Freeport in his Nelson's Auto Salvage entry get by a faltering Roger Turbush who wound-up fourth at the line.
Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches prevailed in a rough and tumble 19-lap Legend Race Car feature, one lap short of it's regularly scheduled distance of 20. By virtue of his win in the second heat race Richie started on the outside of heat race one winner Artie Pedersen III in the 28-car field. Pedersen and Davidowitz were in a dead heat on lap 1 for the race lead with Richie taking sole possession of the lead on lap 2. Once out front Davidowitz steering the Thriftway Auto Body mount was the class of the field with Pedersen right behind him. The issue for the leaders was the fact the race featured multiple cautions interrupting any rhythm they tried to gain. When the final caution flag waved on lap 19 INEX Officials called the race due to the time limit expiring and for the second time in his career Richie Davidowitz was a Legebd Race Car winner. Artie Pedersen III of Center Moriches was second in the Park Line Maintenance entry while Kyle Soper of Manorville placed third in the Moriches Bay Diner machine.
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