05/18/2003

"FITZ" FIRST NEETS PRO ENDURO WINNER
By Billy Bartley

  Manorville, New York's Ray Fitzgerald would be the first one to see the first ever NEETS checkered flag taking down the Main Street Motors150 at Mountain (PA) Speedway with ease.  Fitzgerald is a regular driver in the Grand Enduro class at Riverhead Raceway in New York, where "Fitz" is a multi-time Enduro winner. Ray has been in racing over 17 years with the last eight being in the Enduro class where he has tallied over 16 wins.

Ray in his Constant Performance/Holbrook Sunoco #16 would set the pace early and would pass cars every lap. The only one to finish on the same lap was the #1 car of Racin' Rich Johnson, another hard charging driver from Riverhead Raceway. The funny thing is, Ray almost did not make it to the race due to parts and sponsorship. Rich Johnson (owner of Constant Performance) gave Fitzgerald a helping hand and got him there and also to victory. That is true Enduro spirit!!!

  After the race every driver said they had a GREAT time. Drivers from Mountain, Mahoning Valley, Bridgeport and Williams Grove were in attendance and represented their hometracks well.

In the added 4-cylinder 100-lap Enduro, the #121 of Bill Verwys Jr. took the checkers.  Bill took the lead early and was eventually getting pressure from multi-Enduro winner #5 Kevin Truszkowski. Bill and Kevin battled for many laps until a slower car got in Bills' path and allowed Kevin to take the lead. Transmission trouble would end "Troublekowski's" car after a few more circuits allowing Verwys to go on to victory.

  The next NEETS event will be a 150 Pro Enduro at the Jersey Shore's Wall Township Speedway on Sunday June 1, along with the Sunoco Race of Champions Tour Modifieds.  Please note that the 4-cylinders will not be at the Wall event.

Pro Enduro Results:
Ray Fitzgerald, Rich Johnson, Phil Lamonaco, Tony Tumas, Bill Bessing, Howie Bott, Richard Petey, Phil Levering, Pappy Herman, Bobby Pease

4-cylinder Results:
Bill Verwys Jr., Jay Garris, Patrick Verwys, Pete Verwys, Brian Kunkle, Jeffery Dotzel, Adam Kratzer, Kevin Truszkowski, Gene Ostrowski

Sources:  Billy Bartley/NEETS PR
Posted:  May 23, 2003