9/1/2001
SWANANDER
SCORES FIRST CAREER MODIFIED WIN…
Sophomore NASCAR Modified driver Gary
Swanander of Hampton Bays scored his first career victory this past Saturday
night at Riverhead Raceway before a standing room only crowd at the historic
oval. The win was worth $1,440 to Swanander, a former road racer in SCCA
events.
Tom Rogers Jr would sit on the pole for the 20-car field
and jump to the early lead at the drop of the green flag with Gary Swanander
in pursuit. On lap 3 a double file restart saw Chuck Steuer race from third to
second as he slipped under racing off the fourth corner. Undaunted by losing
second to Steuer on the restart just two laps later Swanander made a bold move
for not only second, but the lead as well as he raced by both Steuer and
leader Rogers on the outside groove heading to turn three on the 5th lap.
Rogers now found himself second to Swanander for the next three laps before
veteran Bill Park moved to second on the 9th lap of the contest.
Once to second Park would draw near leader Swanander
staying within a car length of the hungry driver. On lap 17 the final double
file restart took place and Swanander unswayed by Park's presence alongside
continued to lead the race and Park on lap 20 would drop from second when his
car went south on him allowing Wally Schweizer to take over second. Chris
Young would race to third at this point and for the next 11 laps he and
Schweizer would wage a torrid battle for second. With Wally and Chris going
tooth and nail for second, this played right into the hands of race leader
Swanander as it allowed him to open up a nice lead. On lap 31 Young after
several laps of trying was able to work his way under Schweizer for second,
but it would prove to be too late for Chris who was seeking his third win of
2001.
At the conclusion it was Gary Swanander in the Northeast
Equity Management Cavalier taking that all- important first career win.
"This is just awesome" Gary proclaimed upon exiting his car. "I
sure didn't mind seeing Wally and Chris race hard for second, although I
really did not have a chance to look in my mirror too much, I was kind of
busy" Gary commented. "I have to thank Rapid Recovery & Towing
they own this car and of course Northeast Equity and Village Auto Body, we
finally got one and that sort of makes-up for some of the rough spots we hit
this season".
Chris Young of Riverhead would bring the Riverhead Building
Supply Monte Carlo home for runner-up money, while Wally Schweizer of Dix
Hills was a solid third in the DeJana Truck & Utility Equipment entry.
Chuck Steuer of Bohemia and Bill Park of Manorville completed the top five.
With just one race left in the 2001 NASCAR Modified season
John Fortin will take a 14-point lead over Joe Hartmann into this Saturday
night's 35-lap feature 776 to 762. Ed Densieski is third with 738.
Frank Bonsignore of Bay Shore was another driver to enjoy
the thrill of victory for the first time in his career as he won the DiGiorno
Pizza night Charger feature event. Right from the start of the race Bonsignore
was the man to beat as Frank quickly raced to the early lead with Darryl
Atkinson in tow. Atkinson ran second for the first five laps of the fast paced
race before Mike Bologna passed him for the spot to the inside on lap 6
dropping him to third. One common factor that the top three had was the fact
they all were seeking their first career victory and the "hungry"
drivers would race accordingly. Once to second Bologna was able to glue
himself to Frank's rear spoiler and for the following 15 laps the duo would
test each other for the lead and win. In the end however it would be the White
Post Wholesale Growers machine of Frank Bonsignore taking down the win, while
Mike Bologna of Huntington was third in the Landscapes By Clay entry. After
Darryl Atkinson's car failed post race tech, Andy Lokkberg of Manorville
finished third in the Big Bast Chevrolet machine.
With a sixth place finish "Radiant" Ray Minieri
of Bay Shore clinched the 2001 Charger championship, his second in the past
three seasons.
In the 20-lap Blunderbust feature event it appeared as
though Jim Lannin would complete the sweep of three first time winners in one
evening, however it was not to be. Lannin lead from start to finish in the
race but his storybook night came to an end when he was found to have an
unapproved camshaft in post race tech. This gave Dale Arnold of Baldwin his
second career win in the Jones Tree Service entry. Ironically enough Arnold
would only take over the second spot on the final lap of the race after he
worked his way by Neal Feola Sr. going into the first corner on the final lap.
That pass would actually prove to be the winning move for Dale Arnold. Neal
Feola Sr. of Bay Shore was runner-up in the Sims Steel racer, while Russell
Broy of Bethpage was third in the Island Trees Automotive mount.
With just one point race left in 2001 Chris Chirico, who
was 7th in the feature event was able to build his point lead from 2 to 12
over Bobby Gardner, 778 to 766. Dale Arnold is third with 752 and Neal Feola
Jr. dropped to fourth with 746. All four are mathematically still in the title
chase.
Veteran Bob Connor of Islip scored his first win in quite
some time in the evening ending Demolition Derby as he out crashed everyone in
his Acme Radiator car. Mike O'Keefe of Islip was runner-up, while newcomer
Frank Alifino of Mastic was awarded the Fan's Choice.
Sources:
Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted: September 3, 2001
