Bologna Dominates and Scores $1,000 Late Model Victory
It was a beautiful and unusually quiet night of racing on July 25th at Riverhead Raceway as the Modified division had a week off meaning that the 50 Lap Late Model race would be the headliner. With $1,000 on the line, 16 cars came to the track to give it their all for a shot at the big money.
The field was set by Time Trials with John Baker setting fast time with a time of 12.680 but in the re-draw he would pull out the 6th starting spot. “Buzzy” Eriksen, who recently made his first appearance of the year a couple weeks ago, picked the pole with Shawn Patrick to his outside.
In addition to the $1,000 prize for winning the race, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. announced he would give an extra $500 to any driver who started from the rear and won the race. The only driver to take on this challenge was Jarrod Hayes in the No.08. When the green flag dropped Eriksen wasted no time to grab the lead but, 3rd place starter Mike Bologna was right in his tracks. Buzzy was able to lead lap 1 in the Harley Davidson of Nassau County No.68 but, on the next lap coming off Turn 2 Bologna was able to get under Eriksen and take the lead.
The first caution flag flew a lap later on Lap 3 when Chris Lescenski spun exiting Turn 4, Chris would drive away. Things got worse for Lescenski on the restart when Chris McGuire spun entering Turn 1, Artie Pedersen III got into him. Further back Lescenski ran into the back of Kaitlyn Schober, ending her night. Bologna continued to lead when the race restarted. On lap 4 Shawn Patrick got into Buzzy Eriksen cutting down the right front tire on Patrick’s car and bringing out the caution. Roger Oxee and John Baker received damage trying to avoid Patrick’s car. Oxee would stay out on the track while Baker was forced to pit with heavy damage to the right rear of his machine. After some time Baker would return before the race went back to green.
Mike Bologna continued to lead after the restart and by Lap 10 the whole field was single file. Jarrod Hayes was on the move as he was sitting in 5th position by Lap 14. On Lap 17 Hayes moved passed Buzzy Eriksen to take 4th. By half way Hayes had worked his way into the top 3. With 20 laps to go Hayes caught the back bumper of 2nd place runner Jeremy McDermott, the two ran nose to tail for 10 laps until Hayes got into the No.4 entering Turn 3. Hayes then slipped into 2nd but Bologna was too far ahead and the No.00 was back in victory lane.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” Bologna said, “I was just pacing it out, that wasn’t typical Buzzy out there he was having some problems. I was worried about restarts, I figured Jarrod Hayes would be coming any minute and I was just pacing it back and making sure I had tires left in case there was a restart.”
Cory Midgett Takes Down Third Straight Charger Victory
The Charger division was in action with Cory Midgett taking down two straight wins the past few weeks and looked to make it three in a row. Rich Wilson and Chris Turbush started on the front row both drivers are having rough seasons and looked to turn things around. When the green flag flew Turbush quickly took the lead passing Wilson on the outside coming off Turn 4.
On Lap 3 the first caution flag flew when Greg Immermann spun on the front stretch with help from Ray Minieri. Minieri was moved to the rear for rough riding. The second caution came out on Lap 10 when Brandon Turbush blew his right front tire going down the backstretch and went into the outside wall, he was ok but, the No.37 had to be towed back to the pits.
Just when things looked up for Chris Turbush, on the next restart officials said he went before the yellow box and moved Turbush to the rear of the field. This gave the lead to Owen Grennan with Corey Midgett restarting in 2nd. The caution flag came back out on the restart when Brian Midgett got into the back of Greg Immermann, sending the Hometown Taxi No. 17 around in Turn 1. Chris Turbush and Jason Hansen were also involved but all drivers continued. During the caution, leader Owen Grennan felt his right front tire was low on air and was forced to pit. This gave the lead to Cory Midgett when the race restarted. Eric Zeh and Ray Minieri battled for 2nd behind Midgett.
Because of a time limit officials warned the drivers that the next flag would end the race. On lap 14 Jason Hansen got sideways off of Turn 2 and got into Owen Grennan’s right front, Hansen then went right back hard into the backstretch wall destroying the front of his No.51. Hansen would walk away from his car. Because of the time limit the race ended under caution and for the third week in a row Cory Midgett was in victory lane.
“I don’t even know what to say, bad luck at the start of the season is starting to turn into good luck towards the end of the season,” Midgett said, “Hopefully we can keep going.” Midgett also announced in victory lane that he would not be in the car next week but, instead Jarrod Hayes will take over the controls of the No.14.
Vinny Delaney Scores His First Win of The Season in the Legends
The Legends had 19 cars take the green flag for their 20-lap feature. Mike Van Houten and Ray Fitzgerald shared the front row with Vinny Delaney and last week’s winner Richie Davidowitz behind them. Mike Van Houten grabbed the lead early but quickly Vinny Delaney challenged him for it. Right as Delaney was going for the lead the first caution flag came out when Bill Fitzgerald spun his car in Turn 1.
On the restart Delaney was all over the No.3 for the lead and on Lap 2 the No.17 was able to get by and take 1st place. After suffering rear axle issues during practice, Kyle Ellwood was able to work his way into 2nd, Richie Davidowitz followed right behind and moved into 3rd on Lap 4. The second caution came out on lap 10 when Mike Van Houten spun the Ralph’s Italian Ice No.3 in Turn 1. On the restart Delaney had Kyle Ellwood all over his back bumper. Going into Turn 3 on Lap 10 Ellwood looked under the No.17 for the top spot but Delaney held him off. With 7 to go it became a three car battle for the win. Ellwood looked to the bottom of Delaney while Davidowitz looked to the top of Ellwood. On Lap 15 Ellwood and Davidowitz went side by side for 2nd briefly but, Ellwood hung on. Coming to the checkered flag Ellwood tried one last time to look to the inside of Delaney but, the No.17 prevailed and for the first time this year was in victory lane.
Dave Brigati Takes Down His First SPT Win
This year had been a year that Dave Brigati would like to forget in both the Modified and the Super Pro Truck but, that all changed Saturday night. Brigati and Brian McElearney started on the front row for the 20 lap feature. Brigati took the lead from the start and soon the field was single file right behind him. Jimmy Rennick started 6th and by Lap 5 he was passing Mike Albasini for 3rd. Soon the top 3 pulled away from the field and battled it out for the win. The only incident in the race took place on Lap 13 when Amanda Anderson spun entering Turn 3, she would continue and the race would stay green. With 3 to go Rennick made a move on McElearney for 2nd but could not get to Brigati in time and for the first time in two years the 98x was in victory lane.
“I tell you what I started on the pole and I had to win this one without everything going up for sale,” Brigati said, “I got to thank all my guys for standing behind me the last two years, I hope we can get two or three more by the end of the year.”
There was some contact after the race as Brian McElearney gave Jimmy Rennick a shot after the checkered flag before entering the pits.
Mike Mujsce Wins His First Figure 8 Feature Event of the Season
The Figure 8 Stock Cars were back in action for the second week in a row. Bryan Quilliam and Gary Fritz Jr. shared the front row for the start. When the green flag flew the field stacked up going into Turn 1. There was no major damage to any cars from the traffic jam and everyone continued. The first caution flag flew on Lap 1 when Bryan Quilliam spun entering Turn 3, he would continue.
At the restart Fritz and Scott Pedersen were up front, the next caution would fly on the restart when CJ Lehmann was turned entering Turn 1, Bryan Quilliam also spun and was hit head on by Artie Pedersen III at slow speed. Brian Hansen suffered a broken left front suspension and was forced to pit. Lehmann, Pedersen, and Quilliam all continued. The next restart would also not last long as going into Turn 3 Gary Fritz Jr. spun while leading, Scott Pedersen and Tom Ferrara got their cars hooked together in the process of avoiding Fritz. All three drivers would drive away and continue. Mike Mujsce inherited the lead but, had veterans Roger Maynor and Tom Rogers Jr. right behind him. The next caution would come out on Lap 7 when Gary Fritz Jr. and Bryan Quilliam got together on the exit of Turn 4. Quilliams car lost the rear and front bumpers and then spun from the contact. The race would go green the rest of the way with Mujsce and Roger Maynor going at it for the win. Maynor was all over the back bumper of the No.13 but was unable to find a way by and Mike Mujsce took down his first victory of 2015.
Tom Walkowiak Wins First Blunderbust Victory of 2015
The Blunderbusts went 20 Laps for their feature with Tommy Walkowiak starting on the pole. When the races started, Walkowiak wasted no time to get out in front but, didn’t get far as Terry Stiles moved into 2nd and was right behind the No.00. On Lap 7 Tom Puccia spun his No.51 on the frontstretch, he would continue and no caution was thrown. On the next lap there was a caution when Scott Malisewski suffered a flat left rear tire and looped his No.22 in Turn 2. When the race restarted Walkowiak, Stiles, and Jim Laird ran nose to tail and the field went side by side behind them. Stiles was glued to the back of Walkowiak and was trying to find a way by. On lap 12 Dennis Scott looped his No.17 in Turn 2, no caution was thrown. Walkowiak was able to hang on and grab his first win of 2015.
Anthony Pizzo won the 8 cylinder enduro.
Photos available at: http://www.racerhub.com/photos/index.php?cat=2405
Saturday, July 26, 2015 Feature Finishes:
Super Pro Trucks
1 David H. Brigati (1)
2 Jimmy Rennick Jr. (6)
3 Brian McElearney (2)
4 Mark Stewart (9)
5 Lou Maestri (8)
6 Gerard Giordano (5)
7 Michael Albasini (3)
8 Kevin Scharfenberg (4)
9 Brian Brown (11)
10 Anthony Vecchio (10)
11 Amanda Andersen Mujsce (9)
12 Roger Turbush (DNS)
INEX Legends
1 Vinny Delaney (3)
2 Richard Davidowitz (4)
3 Kyle Ellwood (6)
4 George Tomko Jr (8)
5 Artie Pedersen III (7)
6 Shawn Wanat (9)
7 Eric Hersey (5)
8 Ray Fitzgerald (2)
9 Dylan Slepian (12)
10 Gregory Harris (10)
11 Bryan Kelly (14)
12 Allan Pedersen (11)
13 Kurt Krieger (16)
14 Mike Van Houten Jr. (1)
15 Bill Fitzgerald (15)
16 Richard Davidowitz Sr. (19)
17 Bobby Jones (17)
18 Steve Hersey (13)
19 Gary Molner (18)
Blunderbusts
1 Tommy Walkowiak (1)
2 Terry Stiles (5)
3 Jim Laird (6)
4 Tom Pickerell (14)
5 Jimmy White Jr. (17)
6 Tim Mulqueen (19)
7 Joe Warren (3)
8 Edward Mistretta (7)
9 Tom Sullivan (13)
10 Jack Handley Jr. (10)
11 Derek Wegmann(8)
12 Thomas Puccia (12)
13 Scott Maliszewski (9)
14 Eric Zeh (16)
15 Jason Wegmann (18)
16 Jessica Cohen (4)
17 Robert Ehrle (2)
18 Dennis Scott (11)
19 Ryan Zukowski (15)
Chargers
1 Cory Midgett (9)
2 Ray Minieri (11)
3 Eric Zeh (13)
4 John Baker (12)
5 CJ Lehmann (10)
6 Steve Mastro (8)
7 Greg Immerman (7)
8 Jason Hansen (5)
9 Owen Grennan (6)
10 Brian Midgett (3)
11 Chris Turbush (2)
12 Brandon Turbush (4)
13 Richard Wilson (1)
14 Dennis Cunningham (14)
50 Lap Late Models
1 Mike Bologna (3)
2 Jarrod Hayes (16)
3 Jeremy McDermott (4)
4 Roger Oxee (8)
5 Buzzy Eriksen (1)
6 Kevin Metzger (5)
7 Kyle Harvell (10)
8 Shawn Patrick (2)
9 John Baker (6)
10 Artie Pedersen Jr (11)
11 Chris La Spisa (9)
12 Rob Pelis (14)
13 Chris McGuire (7)
14 Emily La Spisa (13)
15 Kaitlyn Schober (15)
16 Chris Lescenski (12)
Figure 8
1 Mike Mujsce Sr. (4)
2 Roger Maynor (5)
3 Tom Rogers (8)
4 Kenneth Hyde Jr. (6)
5 Tom Ferrara (7)
6 Scott Pedersen (3)
7 Gary Fritz Jr. (2)
8 CJ Lehmann (10)
9 Bryan Quilliam (1)
10 Artie Pedersen III (11)
11 Brian Hansen ( 9)
Source: Brenden Madonia/LongIslandJam.com