7/14/2001

J.R. BERTUCCIO WINS 4TH RACE OF 2001

    Young NASCAR Modified talent J.R. Bertuccio of Centereach scored his fourth win of the 2001 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series at Riverhead Raceway this past Saturday night.  In a 35 lap main event. Bertuccio, who now owns nine career wins at the tough quarter mile oval, earned $1,440 for the most recent triumph.
    At the outset of the contest Lenny Fischer on the outside pole car out dragged Peggy Smith to the first turn for the lead on lap one.  On lap two Smith gave way to Gary Swanander for the second position.  Swanander, in his sophomore campaign in an open wheel NASCAR Modified, would then run second to Fischer for the following 14 circuits, with J.R. Bertuccio soon to come to third. The race between Swanander and Bertuccio for second allowed Fischer to distance himself somewhat from the field, with Bertuccio moving by Swanander on lap 16 for second.
    Just one lap after coming to second Bertuccio's effort to track down leader Fischer was aided greatly by a 17th lap caution flag just one lap prior to the halfway mark, allowing for a double file restart. On the ensuing restart Bertuccio simply out ran Fischer to the first turn on the outside groove and raced his way into the lead, with Fischer now second and having to ward off the T.S. Hauler team car of Mike Curtis and Ken Heagy for the final half of the race. With that trio racing hard for second Bertuccio was able to pull away to a comfortable lead for the remainder of the race.
    When the checker flag waved J.R. Bertuccio in the Gershow Motorsports Chevrolet scored a track leading fourth win. After the race J.R. was quick to dish out the credit for the win.  "This win was made possible by the crew. The car was off last week and all week long they worked on making it better and it was right on the money" the happy winner boasted. Bertuccio continued, "I have to thank McBetts Racing Engines for some big power and all our sponsors, Gershow Recycling, BM Landscaping, North Fork Sanitation, Long Island Truck Parts and Swan Cleaners"
    Lenny Fischer of Medford drove a solid race in his SPONSORS WANTED Buick to claim a season best runner-up finish, while Mike Curtis of
Riverhead was third in the T.S. Haulers Pontiac. Ken Heagy and Ed Densieski, both from Riverhead as well completed the top five.
    Steve Tooker of Riverhead collected his second Late Model win of the season when he won the Hedco Associates/Case Equipment 25 on Ideal Cesspools night. Veteran wheelman Wes Zaleski would do an impressive job in leading the first 7 laps of the race, first being chased by Peter Rotzi and then Mark Tooker. A lap 8 restart saw Mark Tooker ride the outside lane to the lead with Zaleski now second, but the leader's brother, Steve Tooker, soon raced by Wes for second on lap12. After spending just one lap in that position Steve raced underneath Mark when the latter pushed up the hill in turn two to take the lead in impressive fashion. Once out front Tooker, a three-time champion in the division steered his ADM Production Pontiac to victory lane. Gregg Shivers of Rocky point, the 2000 Late Model champion made his first start of the year an impressive one in the Olsen's Discount Nurseries Pontiac.  The NASCAR Modified rookie scored runner-up money. Point leader, Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen of Baldwin, had another good night "at the office" with a third in the Hempstead Harley Davidson Pontiac.
    In the Shea Trucking 20 for the Figure Eight troops George Sprague of North Patchogue took home his second win of the 2001 season. Defending champion Bill Steen moved out front early with Anthony Nunziata second for the first two laps. On lap three Nunziata fell out of the race moving Sprague to second on the third lap of the event. Once again early on, the traffic crossing the intersection got heavy and on lap 6 Steen checked up just a touch and after contact would spin. This moved Sprague into the lead of the race, with the ever tough Roger Maynor now second and Tom Rogers Jr. third. While Maynor and Rogers raced for second Sprague was able to breathe a little easier while the race was under green. Rogers moved to second on lap 12. Over the final eight laps of the tilt Sprague was able to keep a comfortable lead over Rogers who did indeed start to close in, but in the end it was George Sprague in the American Metal Spinning Products Monte Carlo who scored the win. Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue was third in the Rooms
Unlimited Ford, while Ken Hyde of Medford placed third in the Maples Bar & Grill Beretta.
    Give Charger veteran "Dynamite" Dan Turbush of Hampton Bays a rare pole starting position and watch the veteran driver take full advantage of the opportunity which he did to win the Parts plus Auto Stores 30. Robin Vollmoeller was awarded the fast time bonus of $200 from both Parts Plus and JYD Enterprises after both Ray Minieri and Rusty Turbush, who timed better than Robin, were disqualified in post time trial tech. With the top six redrawing for starting positions it was indeed Dan Turbush the lucky one to draw the pole. Like a child in a candy store Turbush raced directly into the lead.  2000 Charger champion, Dave Brigati, gave chase for the first 7 laps. On lap 8 Dave's brother-in-law Jack Orlando moved by for second and for the following 22 laps Orlando made his presence known to leader Turbush. Jack was able to stay close for the remainder of the race and even measure Dan up on more than one occasion for a pass, but there was no getting by the Long Island Ice & Fuel Chevy.  At the conclusion Dan Turbush scored the win, while Jack Orlando of Riverhead was runner-up in the Glamour Transportation Olds. Dave Brigati of Baiting Hollow raced his way to a third place tally in the Formula 113 Car wax Chevy.
    "Turbo" Tom Fleming of Aquebogue survived a late race scare to score his first Super Pro Truck win of 2001 in a 20 lap main event. From his front row-starting berth Fleming was quick to jump out front at the start of the race, with Hank Hallock giving chase from second for a lap. On lap 2 newcomer Kevin Scharfenberg race by Hallock to the inside for second and the battle for the lead and the race win was on! Scharfenberg chased Fleming for the rest of the race and with just two laps to go things got very close off turn two. Fleming was approaching heavily lapped traffic and had to check up exiting turn two, Scharfenberg had gained a run on the leader and before he could stop got into Tom's left rear wheel. Fleming was able to race to the win in the IGA Supermarket of Southold/Greenport entry but had to be towed to the victory lane interview as his truck just stopped with a rear end failure in turn two after receiving the checker. Lou Maestri of Deer Park made a late race charge to score runner-up money in the Curious Creative Candles entry, while Kevin Scharfenberg of Kings Park held on for third in the Tire Depot Chevy. Kevin, after touching Fleming, lost his momentum, allowing Maestri to race by for second on the outside.

Sources:  Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  July 14, 2001