6/2/2001

J.R. MAKES IT THREE OUT OF FOUR.

  J.R. Bertuccio of Centereach continued his hot streak in NASCAR Modified competition at Riverhead Raceway this past Saturday night when he scored his third victory of the young 2001 season. The win was Bertuccio’s third in the last four events at the quarter mile oval and was worth $1,440.
    In the pre-race time trials Chris Young of Riverhead set fast time with a clocking of 11.870 earning an extra $100 from Hoosier Tire Distributor JYD Enterprises. When the top six from time redrew for their starting positions Young drew the outside pole, while J.R. Bertuccio picked the pole and the stage was set for what would be the story for
the entire 35 lap distance. Bertuccio jumped to the quick advantage right from the drop of the green flag with Young tucking in behind him and the game of high-speed chess was about to unfold.
    Young glued himself to the rear spoiler of Bertuccio and Chris applied pressure on J.R. for the entire race, never once giving him any breathing room. Bertuccio saw his car suffer from what he later described as a push in the middle of the corner out and the young lion had to be keen in protecting his lead. Right behind the  leading duo of Bertuccio and Young were the likes of John Fortin, point leader Joe Hartmann and Ed Densieski, all of whom were poised to jump on any error made among the leaders.
    However none was forthcoming and at the checker flag it was J.R. Bertuccio in the BM Landscaping entry scoring a hard earned victory.
“Tonight we had a push and Chris was all over me, in fact he got into me a couple of times but I wasn’t giving in” Bertuccio commented after the win and modestly looked forward to this Saturday night’s Miller 200 when he simply stated” we’ll be here and we are ready”.
    Chris Young of Riverhead scored the runner-up finish in the Riverhead Building Supply Monte Carlo, while John Fortin of Holtsville took home third place honors in the Abbott’s Hart Cove Marina entry.  Fortin was ready to pounce on any mistakes the top two cars might have made. Joe Hartmann and Ed Densieski both of Riverhead rounded out the top five and Hartmann remains the point leader.
    Peter “Buzzy” Eriksen of Baldwin notched his second Late Model win of the campaign when he triumphed in the M.S. Hi-Tech 25. After Doug Wholey set the pace for the first lap of the contest, Steve Tooker marched out front on the second circuit, with Kevin Metzger also coming to second. Metzger stayed close to Tooker for the next 6 laps but on the 8th lap he saw Buzzy Eriksen race his way to second with an outside pass and it was now “Buzzy’s” turn to challenge the race leader. Tooker, who right from the time he took the lead was wrestling with his car which was not up to par handling wise and Eriksen were in close quarter on lap 11 in turn two when Tooker slipped off the corner spinning to the infield. That vaulted Eriksen into the lead with Metzger running second and right on his heels was Roger Oxee. Over the final half of the race Eriksen was able to open a comfortable enough lead and at the conclusion of the race it was Buzzy Eriksen driving to victory lane in the Hempstead Harley Davidson Pontiac. Kevin Metzger of Massapequa was runner-up in the SPONSORS WANTED Chevrolet, while Greg Kleila of Lindenhurst placed third in the Ocean Outboard Pontiac. Original 3rd place finisher Roger Oxee was disqualified from that spot due to failure to respond to a NASCAR Official request at the post race inspection.
    In the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ernie Maynor Memorial for the Figure Eight class George Sprague of North Patchogue dominated the 20-lap feature to score his first win of the season. Ken Hyde set the tone of the race for the first 5 laps of the event before he gave way to George Sprague on the 6th lap. Once out front Sprague in the Golden Auto Body Monte Carlo simply checked out on the field, including second place Ken Hyde and Mike Mujsce who was battling Roger Maynor for third. In fact Sprague’s lead almost got too big, as he was
constantly criss crossing with traffic at the “X”.  In the end George would have it all covered and raced to victory. Roger Maynor of Bay Shore in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Dodge was runner-up, while Ken Hyde of Medford was third in the Maples Bar & Grill Beretta.
    Steve Ratti of Manorville collected his second win of the Charger season when he won the Ideal Cesspools 30, a double point race that included an extra $100 to win bonus from Ideal. After George Crockett and rookie Chris Beutler raced hard for the lead on the first lap, Andy Lokkeberg found himself the race leader on lap 2. First Mike Bologna gave chase to Lokkeberg for laps two and three before Eric Lutz moved to second on lap 4. Lutz threw all he could at Lokkeberg before he was passed by Steve Ratti on lap 8 for second, and three laps later Ratti with an awesome outside move, overtook Lokkeberg for the lead on the 12th lap. Once in command of the race Ratti would pretty much be on cruise control until lap 22 when Eric Lutz got by Lokkeberg and set sail for the leader. A late race caution at lap 27 put Lutz right on Ratti’s rear bumper but there was no stopping the P.J. Wyer Contracting Pontiac on this night as Steve Ratti drove to victory lane. Eric Lutz of Miller Place was runner-up in the Smith-McCord Constructors Chevrolet, while Jack Orlando of Riverhead was on the move at the end of the race to post a third place finish in the Glamour Transportation Olds.
   Ron Langdon of Freeport made his first start of the 2001 Blunderbusts season a successful one as well as one to remember as he raced to the win after starting 22nd in the 25 car field. Robert Durand would move out front at the drop of the green flag and lead such talented drivers as Edwin Troeber, Wayne Meyer, Jack Handley and Eugene Malverty during the first 14 laps of the tilt but on lap 16 a storm in the form of Ron Langdon blew into Durand’s town. Langdon who put on a charge not seen in quite some time in any division moved to second on lap 15 and just a lap later worked his way by Durand for the lead, bringing Bobby Gardner to second with him. If Ron thought his night’s work was over getting to the lead he had another think coming as Gardner put the heat on  him over the final three circuits, but in the end it was a night to remember for Ron Langdon as he scored the win in the USA Durable Sales Chevrolet. Bobby Gardner of Westbury would have to be content with second in the Golden Auto Body Cadillac, while Neal Feola Jr. of Ronkonkoma was third in the Sims Steel Chevrolet making his presence felt late in the race as well.
   The night concluded with the seasons first Demolition Derby and when all the crashing was complete it was Jim “Wild man Primmy” Hummel of Bay Shore collecting the win.  Bob “Whiplash” Genovese of South Farmingdale was second, while “Jumping” Joey Palmeri of Miller Place was voted the Fan’s Choice third place finisher.

    A week later than scheduled the Memorial Day Enduros were presented
at Riverhead Raceway this past Sunday afternoon and in the companion 20 lap Super Pro Truck feature event Rich Giordano of Lindenhurst topped a 15 truck field. The turnout of 15 Super Pro Trucks was the largest in the history of the division.
    Young lion Lenny Costa would take the early lead in the race with his father Larry in hot pursuit and the duo, who gave up Dover WINSTON Cup tickets due to the rain date of this race looked as though that would be a wise choice. On lap 7 Larry worked his way by Lenny and they
raced in that order until lap 16. During a 15th lap yellow Larry Costa hinted about pitting his machine despite being in the lead, but his crew convinced him to stay on the track. When the green did reappear a soft left rear tire hindered Costa, and son Lenny was able to race by him for the lead on lap 16. However, exiting the second turn Lenny looped his truck after exiting the corner a bit too hot putting his father Larry back out front, but with the left rear tire getting flatter and flatter the question was could he hold on. Rich Giordano in the Millennium Theatre Systems Dodge would have the answer when he passed him for the lead and the win to the inside of turn one on the final lap. Somehow Larry Costa of College Point was able to nurse his Golden Auto Body Dodge home for runner-up money, while Tony Giarraputo of Bay Shore was third in the GrandSlamCollectibles.com Ford.
    In other action “Dynamite” Danny Webster of Copiague scored his 11th career Enduro win in the first Full Sized Enduro, a 100 lap contest while the nightcap went to Tommy Walkowiak of Maspeth in a 75 lap race.  Kenny Fox of Levittown won his first career 4 Cylinder Enduro, while Kevin Clarke of Rocky Point won the 4/6 Cylinder Pick-Up Truck Enduro.  The One On One Spectator Drags went to Bill Brelsford of West Babylon, while there was a three-way tie for the win in the Car Rollover Contest.  Curt Cafaro of Bay Shore, “Slim” Jim Donaldson of Patchogue and Tom Lindsay of Shirley all scored 7 points in the event and all declared winners.
    The next Enduro race program for Riverhead Raceway is set for Sunday afternoon June 24th at 12:30 pm..

Sources:  Riverhead Raceway Press Release/Bob Finan
Posted:  June 4, 2001