Bonsignore Scores Second Riverhead Tour Victory in 2015
Last time the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour came through Riverhead, Mother Nature made her presence known, delaying the race to a Sunday afternoon. Well on August 29th the tour came to Riverhead Raceway again and this time the sun was out and there was no sign of any wet weather.
Riverhead Raceway Modified point leader Tommy Rogers Jr. again set fast time in qualifying with an 11.971, this time Rogers’ time would stand and he would start the race from the pole. Starting to his outside was last year’s tour champion Doug Coby. Before the race started Timmy Solomito and James Civalli were penalized 2 laps due to the teams going under the hoods of the cars while the cars were in the impound area.
At the drop of the green flag Coby and Rogers went at it as Coby worked his way on the outside to lead lap 1. Rogers fought back though, pushing Coby up high in the corners to regain the lead before the first caution came out on lap 4 when Ron Silk spun the Bill & Barbara Park No. 20 on the front stretch. Silk was forced to pit with a right rear flat, Patrick Emerling also pitted with a right rear flat, both drivers would return.
On lap 12 the green waved again with Rogers and Coby still going at it; getting together multiple times off the exit of the corners. That was short lived as the caution came out again on lap 15 due to Ed Brunnhoelzl III spinning in turn 2. The race restarted on lap 23 with Rogers still in command of the lead. On lap 29 the third caution came out for Ron Silk and Brunnhoelzl III spinning. The race would restart on lap 35, on lap 37 Coby drove his car hard into turn 3 on the outside and took the lead away from Rogers. That move happened just in time as the caution would come back out on lap 39 when Woody Pitkat got into the No.93 of Rowan Pennink; causing the No.93 to spin in Turn 2.
On Lap 47 the green flew again with Doug Coby leading over Rogers. On the next lap Justin Bonsignore passed Rogers and moved into the second position. By Lap 53 Coby had a three car length lead over Bonsignore that lead stretched out to a full straightaway by lap 85. Coby continued to dominate even through lap traffic by lap 93 half of the field was at least one lap down. On lap 106 the caution came out after Dave Sapienza suffered suspension issues, he would return.
The race would restart on lap 115 with Doug Coby spinning his tires giving Justin Bonsignore the ability to pass Coby and take the lead. On lap 119 the yellow came out again when Shawn Solomito bumped Ryan Preece getting Solomito sideways and stacking up the field in turn 2.
On lap 127 the race would go back to green with rookie Chase Dowling showing some strength beating on the back of Bonsignore’s car. There were four cautions during the next 36 laps. Bonsignore continued to lead with Chase Dowling behind him on the restart on lap 172. Right after the green flag flew the yellow came back out when James Civalli in the No.13 spun in turn 2. Bonsignore continued to lead with Doug Coby able to get by Dowling but, could not catch the back of the No.51. And for the second time this year Justin Bonsignore won at Riverhead.
“It feels good, it was one we wanted to win, we came here with the same setup, it wasn’t perfect to be picky but it got the job done,” Bonsignore said, “I got lucky Doug spun the tires in the last restart. The first 50 laps you run around and they’re beating on each other and I wanted no part of that.”
Another big story was rookie Chase Dowling got his best career finish in his second start at Riverhead. “I like short track racing, we came here for the first time and I qualified 17th and finished 12th,” Dowling said, “We came here with a different setup this time, we didn’t lose to anyone we thought we couldn’t beat.”
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s next race is September 26th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Slepian Captures Sixth Career Legends Victory & INEX National Qualifier
Not only was it a big night for the Modifieds at Riverhead but also the Legend cars were in action for the National Qualifier. 30 laps was the scheduled distance with the winner getting a chance to go to South Carolina for the INEX Nationals.
The field was set by time trials with Dylan Slepian setting fast time with a 13.869 and in the redraw Slepian was able to pick the pole with Shawn Wanat to his outside. At the drop of the green flag Slepian was able to pull away into the lead with Allan Pedersen moving into second and Brad Van Houten into third. On Lap 2 the first caution flew when Kenny Southard and David Johnson tangled in turn 3, both drivers were able to continue. Slepian was able to continue to lead on the restart with Brad Van Houten moving into second and Richie Davidowitz into third. The field began to spread out with the top three pulling away from everyone else.
On lap 21 the second caution came out when Vinny Delaney spun in turn 2. Richie Davidowitz race was over when his muffler came off his car and was run over by Kyle Ellwood. On the restart Craig Lutz in the No.11 started to smoke from the right side of his car. On lap 22 the yellow flew again when Mike Van Houten spun in turn 3. On lap 23 a big pile up happened in turn 1. Eric Hersey, Bryan Kelly and Ray Fitzgerald were all involved with Kelly’s car receiving the most damage ending his night. Dylan Slepian continued to lead on the restart and was able to hang on and take the checkered flag.
“The car is setup to the point where as long as I get up front it’s really hard for guys to get by me,” Slepian said, “I was looking in my mirror and I know Brad is strong and Richie is always strong but, it’s just setup no one can get by me.”
Mulqueen Disqualified Win Given to Pickerell
The Blunderbusts were scheduled for 30 laps on tour night with Robert Ehrle and Tom Puccia on the front row. At the start of the race Puccia jumped to the early lead passing Ehrle on the outside in turn 1. On lap 2 Scott Malisewski’s hood flew up on the No.22 forcing him to pull off the track until the first caution came out on lap 4 when Jim Laird Jr. blew a tire causing him to spin in turn 3.
Puccia continued to lead over Ed Mistretta on the restart with Jack Handley Jr. and Tommy Walkowiak working their way through the field. On lap 16 Walkowiak got into Jack Handley Jr. bringing out the caution. Because of his contact with Handley, Walkowiak was sent to the rear.
Tom Sullivan grabbed the lead from Puccia before the caution flag flew, and led all the way up until lap 27 when Tim Mulqueen passed Sullivan for the lead and was able to hang on for the win, Tom Pickerell came across the line in second. After post race tech, Mulqueen was disqualified and the win was given to Pickerell.
Owen Grennan Takes Home First Ever Career Charger Win
The Chargers were back in action with 13 cars starting in the feature. Rich Wilson was supposed to start on the pole but decided to drop to the rear before the start. Owen Grennan, who is still looking for his first win, grabbed the lead early with Brandon Turbush right behind him.
On lap 10 Chris Turbush was able to get by his cousin Brandon, but officials said he made the pass below the yellow line and was told to move back one position. On lap 13 the one and only caution came out when Jimmy White Jr. got into Eric Zeh spinning the No.34 in turn 3.
Owen Grennan led the field for the restart with Ray Minieri in second and Chris Turbush in third. After a year full of bad luck, Owen Grennan was able to cross the finish line and take down his first career win.
Photos available at: http://www.racerhub.com/photos/index.php?cat=2424
August 29, 2015 Results:
Blunderbust 30 Lap
1 Tom Pickerell (11)
2 Tom Sullivan (7)
3 Edward Mistretta (3)
4 Jack Handley Jr. (10)
5 Thomas Puccia (2)
6 Jim Laird (13)
7 Tommy Walkowiak (14)
8 Eric Zeh (8)
9 Joe Warren (5)
10 William A. Wegmann (15)
11 Derek Wegmann (4)
12 Johnny Cricchio (16)
13 Robert Ehrle (1)
14 Jimmy White Jr. (12)
15 Scott Maliszewski (6)
16 Ryan Zukowski (17)
Tim Mulqueen DQ
INEX Legend 30 Lap
1 Dylan Slepian (1)
2 Brad Van Houten (5)
3 Allan Pedersen (3)
4 Kyle Ellwood (9)
5 Paul Dodorico (4)
6 Kevin Nowak (11)
7 Shawn Wanat (2)
8 Gregory Harris (12)
9 Ryan Lutz (8)
10 Eric Hersey (14)
11 George Tomko Jr. (17)
12 Kurt Krieger (18)
13 Dave Koenig Jr.(13)
14 Ray Fitzgerald (10)
15 John Fortin Jr. (21)
16 Ed Cheslak (19)
17 Mike Van Houten Jr. (16)
18 Bill Fitzgerald (24)
19 David Johnson (26)
20 Steve DeFriest (25)
21 Steve Hersey (22)
22 Bryan Kelly (20)
23 Craig Lutz (15)
24 Vinny Delaney (6)
25 Richard Davidowitz (7)
26 Kenny Southard (23)
Charger
1 Owen Grennan (3)
2 Ray Minieri (10)
3 Chris Turbush (7)
4 John Baker (6)
5 CJ Lehmann (9)
6 Steve Mastro (4)
7 Eric Zeh (8)
8 Brandon Turbush (5)
9 Jimmy White Jr. (11)
10 Jason Hansen (2)
11 Richard Wilson (1)
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
1.(3) Justin Bonsignore
2. (2) Doug Coby,
3. (5) Chase Dowling
4. (4) Donny Lia,
5. (17) Eric Goodale,
6. (1) Tom Rogers, Jr.
7. (14) Woody Pitkat
8. (12) Ryan Preece
9. (6) Todd Szegedy
10.(22) Jeff Goodale
11. (13) Rowan Pennink
12. (18) Max Zachem
13. (9) Patrick Emerling
14. (10) Ken Heagy
15. (11) James Civali
16. (15) Kyle Ellwood
17. (16) Jerry Solomito
18. (26) Gary McDonald
19. (24) Timmy Solomito
20. (7) Shawn Solomito
21. (21) Craig Lutz,
22. (23) Jamie Tomaino,
23. (20) Dave Sapienza
24. (25) Wade Cole
25. (19) Ed Brunnhoelzl
26. (28) Johnny Bush
27. (27) Melissa Fifield
28. (8) Ron Silk
Source: Brenden Madonia/LongIslandJam.com