Big Wreck Mares Twin-30 Lap Features; Rogers Sweeps
One week after the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour came to Riverhead Raceway; the weekly Modifieds were back in action with twin 30-lap feature. The field was set by time trials with track record holder Ron Silk setting fast time with an 11.867 however, in the re-draw luck would not be on Silk’s side as he picked the 8th starting position. Starting on the pole was Tom Rogers Jr. who had his son pick his starting spot for him, on his outside would be John Fortin Jr. At the start of the first 30 lap feature; 6th place starter Vinny Biondolillo spun his tires as he crossed the start finish line. This stacked up the field as they entered turn 1 but everyone was able to get their car going straight as the field completed the first lap.
Tommy Rogers and Ryan Preece went at it from the beginning with the TS Haulers No.6 all over the back of Rogers No.0. Preece looked high and low to try and get by the Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm machine however, Rogers was able to hold him off every time. With two laps to go Shawn Solomito pulled the Eastport Feeds No.15 to the infield with issues. Tom Rogers was able to hold off a hard charging Ryan Preece to grab a win in race No.1.
Race number 2 went a little differently than race number 1 with Rogers and Preece on the front row when the green flag flew. On Lap 1 the first caution came out when Dave Sapienza got into the back of Ron Silk sending the No.20 car around. On Lap 2 the second caution came out when Kyle Ellwood and Silk tangled on the backstretch. Ken Darch would suffer a right front tire failure and was forced to pit under the caution.
When the green flag flew again Rogers would pull away from the rest of the field. Kyle Soper would slip under the No.6 of Ryan Preece and move into second. On Lap 16 the yellow flag flew when Vinny Biondolillo spun in Turn 1, he would continue. The race would restart shortly but, quickly things turned serious when Ron Silk hit the back stretch wall and then spun back in front of the field. John Fortin Sr would hit Silk and soon Rob McCormick, Kyle Ellwood, and John Fortin Jr. would pile in. Ken Darch was then collected with Vinny Biondolillo being the last car to be involved in the wreck when his car was launched into the air after slamming into the back of Ken Darch’s car. The field would settle in Turn 3 and immediately the red flag would come out with only 5 cars remaining on the track. All drivers would get out of their cars under their own power but, an ambulance was called for John Fortin Jr. who was holding his wrist as he walked away from his car. He would soon be taken to the hospital to get his hand checked out by doctors. Kyle Ellwood would also go into an ambulance also holding his wrist; he would be checked and cleared. With only 16 laps completed and 5 cars not damaged, race officials decided to call the second twin 30 and Tom Rogers would roll into victory lane sweeping both races.
“It was really fun being able to run with Ryan [Preece] we run well together. I credit this one to my son, he picked out of the [re-draw] hat. We had a good car and I think we would’ve been fine all the way to the end but, best wishes are with John [Fortin Sr.] and [John Fortin Jr.], I know what that’s like, it’s hard especially when you have to go to work on Monday,” Rogers said after the race.
Brigati Takes SPT Win After Only 28 Laps
The Super Pro Trucks were back in action with big money on the line. The field was set by time trials with Dave Brigati setting fast time with a 13.581, in the re-draw Brigati would pick fourth. New comer to the trucks Brian Brown picked the pole with “Dynamite” Dan Turbush starting to his outside. However, Dan Turbush failed post qualifying tech and was forced to start at the rear of the field along with Roger Turbush who suffered a flat tire after time trials. After hot laps more issues occurred for Roger Turbush as the No.88 went into the pits and the team quickly went under the hood, Turbush would rejoin the field before the start of the race.
At the drop of the green flag Brian Brown held the lead with Mark Stewart to his outside. On Lap 2 Dave Brigati was able to slip by Brown for the lead with Mark Stewart attempting to follow. Brown and Stewart would get together on the front stretch putting Stewart’s No.97 into the wall, he would continue. On lap 4 Brown would suffer a flat left front tire but, the caution would come out on lap 8 when Amanda Andersen got into Mark Stewart in Turn 3 spinning the No.97 out. The race would go back green with Dave Brigati and Frank Dumicich Jr. at the front of the field. Caution number two would wave when Gerard Giordano was turned by Brian McElearney on the front stretch. The field would do another lap under green until the next caution on lap 10 when Amanda Andersen hit the turn 3 wall.
The race would go back green again with Brigati still up front. Caution number four would come out when Bobby Gardner and Roger Turbush got together on the front stretch. Turbush then got into the back of the No.46 in Turn 1 spinning Gardner out. The next restart would be a single file restart with Brigati still leading. Dan Turbush was making moves as he moved into 4th with seven laps to go. On Lap 26 the caution flag flew again when Turbush got into Frank Dumicich Jr. for second spinning the No.42 in Turn 2.
The yellow would fly right after the green as Mike Albasini was turned by Lou Maestri in Turn 1. The race would go back green but, again go quickly back to yellow when Anthony Vecchio and Mark Stewart tangled on the front stretch sending Stewarts truck driver side into the wall. The red flag came out to check on the drivers, both were ok. Officials decided to call the race at 28 laps and Dave Brigati would take the checkered flag.
“I wanted to keep it as clean as we could keep it” Brigati said, “I tell you what with another win right now we’re gonna get what we can get, we’re having fun.”
Handley Scores Blunderbust Victory
The Blunderbusts ran for the second week in a row. Tom Pickerell was able to extend his points lead after being credited with the win after Tim Mulqueen was disqualified. This week Robert Ehrle and Joe Warren started on the front row. At the drop of the green, Warren wasted no time to get up front and take the lead. On Lap 2 Ehrle got out of shape and stacked up the field in Turn 2. On lap 6 the first caution flag waved when Tommy Walkowiak got into Tom Pickerell in Turn 3 spinning the No.4. Warren continued to lead at the restart with Scott Malisewski right behind him.
On lap 9 Jim Laird Jr. got into Malisewski on the exit of Turn 2. Malisewski spun and lost his left rear tire, Ed Mistretta, Bill Wegmann, Jessica Cohen, and Robert Ehrle were all involved. On the restart Warren continued to lead until Jimmy White Jr. dove under the 15 to take the lead in Turn 3. On lap 11 sparks begin to come from underneath the 32 as he entered turn 1. White’s car headed straight for the wall but, he was able to keep it off and stopped in turn 2 bringing out a caution. The No.32 suffered a broken right front suspension and was done for the night.
Joe Warren then gained the lead again due to White’s misfortunes but, on the restart Jack Handley Jr. was able to catch Warren and pass him for the lead. Right behind Handley was Tommy Walkowiak however, the No.00 could not catch the No.49 and Handley took down the win.
Pedersen Takes Home First Figure 8 Win of the Season
The Figure 8 division was also on hand with a 20-lap big money race. Artie Pedersen III started on the pole with Gary Fritz Jr. starting in 2nd. Artie was able to lead lap one but soon Scott Pedersen was able to work his way to the front and took the lead on lap 6.
On lap 9 the first caution flag came out when Brian Hansen got into Tom Rogers Jr. in Turn 1. Rogers suffered a flat right front tire and was forced to pit. On the restart Pedersen continued to lead with Mike Mujsce moving into second. On lap 11 Tom Ferrara joined the party as the top three ran nose to tail. With Mujsce and Ferrara going at it behind him, Scott Pedersen was able to pull away and grab his first win of 2015.
Davidowitz Cruised Into Victory Lane For the Legends Once Again
The Legend racecars were in action after running the 30-lap National Qualifier last week, this week things were back to normal as a 20 lap feature was scheduled. Shawn Wanat started on the pole with Richie Davidowitz to his outside. Right from the drop of the green Davidowitz wasted no time getting out front as he took the lead on lap one.
Lap traffic played a big part in this race as on lap 10 Steve Defriest in the No.15ny held up second place Shawn Wanat coming out of turn 4. This allowed Davidowitz to extend his lead over the rest of the pack. On lap 11 Vinny Delaney got into the back of Greg Harris down the front stretch, Harris was able to hang on to his car. On the next lap again Delaney got into the back of Harris; this time Harris went around but, no caution was thrown. On the final lap Craig Lutz spun in turn 2 but again no caution was thrown and Richie Davidowitz cruised to the grab the win.
Jamie “The Killa” Killkenny won the Miller Lite National Demo Derby Championship.
Photos available at: http://www.racerhub.com/photos/index.php?cat=2432
September 5, 2015 Results:
Blunderbust
1 Jack Handley Jr. (13)
2 Tommy Walkowiak (14)
3 Jim Laird (12)
4 Joe Warren (2)
5 Thomas Puccia (5)
6 Tom Pickerell (11)
7 Tom Sullivan (7)
8 Tim Mulqueen (10)
9 Derek Wegmann (3)
10 Edward Mistretta (6)
11 Jessica Cohan (8)
12 Ryan Zukowski (17)
13 Sean Byrne (16)
14 Robert Ehrle (1)
15 Jimmy White Jr. (9)
16 Scott Maliszewski (4)
17 William A. Wegmann (15)
INEX Legend
1 Richard Davidowitz (2)
2 Shawn Wanat (1)
3 Vinny Delaney (5)
4 Dylan Slepian (4)
5 Kyle Ellwood (6)
6 Kevin Nowak (8)
7 Allan Pedersen (7)
8 George Tomko Jr. (10)
9 Eric Hersey (9)
10 Ryan Lutz (11)
11 Ray Fitzgerald (15)
12 Ed Cheslak (13)
13 Mike Van Houten Jr.(14)
14 Gregory Harris (3)
15 John Fortin Jr. (21)
16 Bill Fitzgerald (17)
17 Jerry Curran (19)
18 Craig Lutz (12)
19 Steve Hersey (16)
20 Steve DeFriest (20)
21 Steve Boland (18)
Super Pro Truck
1 David H. Brigati (3)
2 Jimmy Rennick Jr. (9)
3 Gerard Giordano (10)
4 Bobby Gardner (6)
5 Dan Turbush (13)
6 Lou Maestri (4)
7 Michael Albasini (8)
8 Anthony Vecchio (12)
9 Frank Dumicich Jr. (5)
10 Mark Stewart (2)
11 Brian McElearney (11)
11 Brian Brown (1)
12 Roger Turbush (7)
13 Amanda Andersen Mujsce (12)
NASCAR Modified – 1st 30 Lap
1 Tom Rogers Jr. (1)
2 Ryan Preece (3)
3 Kyle Soper (5)
4 Ron Silk (8))
5 David Sapienza (4)
6 John Fortin Jr. (2)
7 Vinny Biondolillo (6)
8 Howie Brode (9)
9 John Fortin (11)
10 Rob McCormick (10)
11 Kyle Ellwood (12)
12 Ken Darch (13)
13 Artie Pedersen III (14)
14 Shawn Solomito (7)
15 Craig Lutz (15)
16 Amber Fortin (16)
17 John Beatty Jr. (17)
NASCAR Modified – 2nd 30 Lap
1 Tom Rogers Jr. (1)
2 Kyle Soper (3)
3 Ryan Preece (2)
4 Howie Brode (8)
5 David Sapienza (5)
6 Artie Pedersen III (13)
7 Vinny Biondolillo (7)
8 Ron Silk (4)
9 John Fortin (9)
10 Kyle Ellwood (11)
11 Rob McCormick (10)
12 John Fortin Jr. (9)
13 Ken Darch (12)
14 John Beatty Jr. (14)
15 Craig Lutz (15)
16 Amber Fortin (16)
17 Shawn Solomito (17)
Figure 8
1 Scott Pedersen (4)
2 Mike Mujsce Sr. (8)
3 Tom Ferrara (7)
4 Tom Rogers (6)
5 Artie Pedersen III (1)
6 Gary Fritz Jr. (2)
7 Kenneth Hyde Jr.(5)
8 CJ Lehmann (3)
9 Eddie Mistretta (10)
10 Roger Maynor (9)
11 Brian Hansen (11)
Source: Brenden Madonia/LongIslandJam.com