05/25/2003
ROUND
2 FOR ENDUROS
by Kim Watson
Gray skies would not stop Frank
Bonsignore from waving the green flag for enduro racing on
Sunday. Race fans set their VCRs to tape at home, and packed
umbrellas before leaving for the track. Chapter #82 of the
Nassau County Vietnam Veterans joined the race fans for the
Memorial Day Weekend action. The Super Pro Trucks came out for
a Sunday drive for their fourth race of the year. Slated for
the Enduros were a race for the Ladies, three 6/8-cylinder
runs, 4-cylinder cars, and the 4/6-cylinder trucks. In
addition to the full slate of racing, the action packed train
race was also on hand for their second race for the season.
To warm up the track a few cars from the NASCAR Weekly
Racing Series were on hand. After Saturday night’s rain out
quite a few drivers came out for some extra practice.
In the Late Models, #1x Dave Brigati, #23 Kevin
Metzger, and #93 Walt DeMorris. In the Chargers, #00 Mike Bologna, #22x John Denniston, #75
Steve Ratti, and #81 Chris Turbush.
In the Blunderbusts #22 Scott Maliszewski and #69x Paul
Parisi. And
rounding out the Weekly Racing Series cars would be the #47
Figure 8 of “Slim” Jim Donaldson and the #05 Modified of
Joe Hartmann.
SUPER PRO TRUCKS
The Super Pro Trucks started the racing competition for
the day. A dozen of the Tail Gate Brigade competitors were on
track for the fourth race of the season. Point leader Dan
Grennan would have 20 laps to work his way from the back of
the pack along with Mike Jurkowski and Lou Maestri who were
tied for second. The field of trucks was given a few warm up
laps to heat their tires and get their ponies pumping, and
then it was time for racing action.
John Denniston in the #2x JYD Enterprises Chevrolet was
on the pole with #5 Frank Dumicich Teddy Bear Racing Ford on
the outside. The flagman would get a workout as 3 cautions
fell before the first lap was completed. The first caution
came for Lenny Costa in #46 truck.
The Golden Auto Body crew managed to
change Lenny’s right rear flat and get him back on the
track. The second caution came out when two trucks spun in
turn 3 while #97 Nelson Auto Salvage Chevrolet of Dave Koeing
found trouble on the back stretch wall. The third caution was
for a stray body panel left on the track. Through all the
restarts and action John Denniston remained the race leader.
But by the third caution he found #98x of Dave Brigati in his
mirror. Frank Dumicich in the #8 Teddy Bear Racing Chevrolet
was holding on to third with Lou Maestri in the #1 Schwing
Electric Ford in fourth.
A green flag run allowed Dave Brigati in his #98x to
take the lead by lap six after battling side by side with John
Denniston. At the
halfway mark Lou Maestri moved his Schwing Electric truck into
second place. #38 Dan Grennan was coming on strong moving up
to fourth place. While the rest of the trucks were beating and
banging Brigati and Maestri would build up a big lead.
A fourth caution brought the pack to their tails on lap
12. But after a single file restart once again Brigati and
Maestri pulled away from the pack. One more final quick
caution couldn’t help Lou Maestri in the #1 as he worked the
leader on the bottom line. Dave Brigati in the #98x White Post
Wholesale Growers GMC got a great restart and went on to take
the win.
GRAND ENDURO
The first enduro was the Grand Enduro; more than 30
race veterans were set to run for 70 laps. Drivers and crews
worked hard giving their cars all the safety and performance
modifications they could use for this race.
On the pole Brian Brown got a jump on the rest to lead
in his Custom Exteriors #1. But he lost the lead to a hard
charging Ed Brill. Mohawk Racing’s Philip LaManna was the
first car in the infield, he was joined a few laps later by
leader Ed Brill. Brian Brown took the lead back with #12 Lil’
John Alway hot on his bumper. A hard hit into the wall sent
#24 David Wood to the infield.
As smoke poured from cars and debree flew Ray
Fitzgerald’s Constant Performance car came through to battle
with the leaders. John Alway managed to lead a few laps before
a flat tire ended his run. Taking the high line, perhaps a
little too high was Jody Fickeissen, which left some paint on
the wall. The NAPA sponsored Ralph Zegel spun around a bit as
track conditions became slick. Danny Webster did a great job
working through wrecked cars and lap traffic to take the lead
from Ray Fitzgerald. He was joined by 2002 Blunderbust
champion Eugene Malverty. As the leaders battled side by side,
Paul Olmstead plowed into the turn 4 gate. Thankfully he was
ok and managed to get back into the race. The pace was fast
and rough, many drivers could say they literally “drove the
wheels off of it” as at least 2 tires were rolling around on
their own.
Danny Webster pulled away with the lead as Malverty
found himself fighting for second with Ray Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald won that battle as he and Malverty’s U Need A
Part sponsored car tangled in turn 4. By the end of the race
only 10 cars were running, and “Dynamite” Danny Webster
was in victory lane for the first time this year.
Danny said his win comes from having a great handling
car. He also thanked his sponsors at All Stock Auto Parts and
Fuel Stop. Finishing second was the #14 Constant
Performance/Blue Point Auto Body car of Ray Fitzgerald.
Racin’ Rich Johnson brought his Constant Performance machine
in third and Joe Parcelluzzi took home fourth in the Blue
Point Auto Body entry.
1ST 6/8-CYLINDER ENDURO
The first 8-cylinder Enduro had 53 cars scheduled to
run for 75 laps. Leading from the pole, Ed Brown Jr. quickly
caught the slow moving tail of the field. Robert Miller spun
on the backstretch while a station wagon got stuck on the
front stretch wall. After a few laps the wagon came down to
run some laps backwards. Christopher Pesce was the first one
to the infield during the early laps. Special T Collision
driver Vinny De Vita slowed down when he hooked up with
another car in turn two. The area between turns one and two
became a mess causing one wreck after another. #19 Robert
Weber had a right front flat after going through the debris.
Ed Brown Jr. continued to lead as the track opened up and
everyone settled into position. Clean racing began as Dennis
Sheehan took over the lead. Chris Ramocki drove his loose car
up to third.
A bumper on the track in turn three kept drivers alert,
and then to make matters worse fluid was dumped as cars slid
into the turn four wall. Jeff Kowalski ended his race with a
right front flat. Great driving by Tom Doherty who saved his
car from the turn 4 wall. As Dennis Sheehan pulled away in the
lead Ed Brown and Chris Ramoki battled for second. Sheehan
kept his lead as he led the 17-car field across the finish
line.
This was Dennis Sheehan’s second 8-cylinder win this
year. He also won the first 8-cylinder race in April for JC
Auto Salvage and Tri-State Tires. Ed Brown Jr. of Mastic Beach
finished second, and Chris Ramoki came back strong from last
month’s Enduro wreck to finish third.
TRAIN RACE
For their second run of the year, Train Racers got a
boost with 5 teams running for 15 laps. Drivers and crews must
be getting the hang of it, because this weeks run was one of
their best.
At the drop of the green #2 Peter Bertuccio & Scott
Schelin raced side by side with #13 Mike Mujsce Sr. & Mike
Mujsce Jr. Racing was hard and fast as the teams ran three and
then four wide for the lead. The #23 team of Stanley
Wangenstein & Kevin Clarke would pull away with the lead.
Train Team #02 Shawn Wanat & Dan Jones raced hard against
#18 Bob Haeger & Louis Tiano.
Bertuccio & Schelin went a little to high trying to
catch the leaders, letting Tiano & Haeger to close in on
them.
The #23 Family Automotive Center train with Stan
Wangenstein & Kevin Clarke were the runaway winners,
lapping a few other trains. Peter Bertuccio & Scott
Schelin finished second, while last months winners Bob Haeger
& Louis Tiano finished third.
4-CYLINDER ENDURO
Set to take the track next was the 4-cylinder enduro.
As the 50 cars lined up to take the green flag for the 75-lap
event, fans cheered them on. Drivers like Sean Carroll, Mike
Daddona, and Morgan McCourt honked and revved in response to
their fans appreciation.
James McCormick stretched his pole position out for the
lead, and Steve Johnson was quick to follow. Troubles began
early as four cars spun out on the backstretch and Steven
Jappell in the Trade Auto Wreckers Mitsubishi pulled in early
with mechanical trouble. Smoke made things hard to see for a
bit as drivers began to slide out of turn four. Bryan
Thomas’ run was slowed down when a wrecked car slid into his
way. Leaders would get caught in slower lap traffic letting
Bill Verwys Jr. and his Verwys Racing Eagle to lead a few
laps. Tuff Stuff Racing’s Chris “Krazy” Siwek and Robert
Fiore in the #14 ran some great laps together.
The red flag would fly on lap 34 for a car on the start
finish line. After a few minutes Tim Mulqueen was able to get
out on his own and into the ambulance. Bill Verwys Jr. was
still the leader after the restart with the Flushing Auto
Salvage car driven by Bob Viala in second. #28 Brett Duryea
found a fast line to gain a few positions.
Steve Johnson made a charge of his own to take back the
lead. second place was open when Bob Viala pulled into the
infield. Keeping it in the family Peter, Pat, and Bill Verwys
ran a tight race. Brian Johnson was ready for war and had a
great run in his camouflaged car.
The winner of the race was the Sparks Race Team entry
#5 Steve Johnson. #28 Brett Duryea finished second, and Paul
Fox in his #50 Ghetto Sled finished third, both were past
spectator drag winners.
LADIES ENDURO
There were 9 Ladies set for enduro action next. They
were given 25 laps to race for the checkered flag. Linda
Weingarten in the Irwin Contracting #2 was out first with
Joann Johanssen on her tail. Danelle Bertuccio got a great
start and quickly moved up to third. Katie Lamac charged up to
second, and took over the lead from there. Heather Loeffler
had mechanical problems that forced her in and out of the
infield.
Eleanor Geier was a tough racer, steering her loose car
into second place. Constant Performance’s Dorothea Hyde fell
off the pace as Lamac and Greier built up their lead. Deborah
Anderson tagged the wall as things got slick for the ladies.
Jennifer Johanssen would go for a spin forcing the battling
leaders to split to make room.
Although Katie Lamac was the winner on the track,
Eleanor Geier took home the win after post race tech
disqualified Lamac (illegal tires and exhaust), and Bertuccio
(a passenger in the car).
4/6-CYLINDER TRUCKS
The drizzle started to fall on the
start of the 4/6-cylinder truck race. 20 Trucks were given 40
laps to find a winner. At the drop of the green Steve
Wisniewski pulled out ahead. His lead was short lived when he
spun out and #8 Ulf Becker took the lead and ran with it.
The rain made for a slow moving race as Andy “Daddy
Cool” Owen made his way on the out side to second. Thomas M
Bake went for a spin around turn 4, and then pulled into the
infield with a flat.
John Cozza followed Owen’s line and set a fast pace
on the high groove. Wayne Ehlers in his Stan’s Towing truck
battled with Anthony Caccavale in the #15. Doug Watson in the
RGQ Cards truck pulled into the infield with a flat giving
third place to Dan Jones. The lead changed trucks on lap 32
when “Daddy Cool” Owen caught Ulf Becker. Ulf did not go
down easy and kept up until he pulled into the infield with a
mechanical problem.
Andy Owen took the checkered flag in the #14 New York
Dragons truck. John Cozza finished second for Island Parts and
Dan Jones third with a little help from Blue Point Auto Body.
2ND 6/8-CYLINDER ENDURO
The last race was the second run for the 8 cylinders.
Only 6 drivers reregistered but 16 more signed up on race day
for 40 more laps of action. Dominic Ranieri and Walter Stroud
Jr. ran door handle to door handle for the lead for the first
few laps. Walter in the #3 found his line and pulled ahead.
Brian Faas fell off the pace and pulled into the
infield as the driver of the #9 went for a wild ride. The
track became slick as the cars started to slide higher and
higher out of the turns. Rich Hubbard had his hands full in
the #11. If they weren’t loose other drivers had tire rubs
slowing them down. While Stroud was lapping cars three wide
other drivers started getting their grip back. Kevin Wallace
found some room and was able to run clean. The driver of the
#19 had no trouble keeping up. By the end of the race only 11
cars were left cutting the field in half.
Walter Stroud Jr. made it to victory lane with his #3
UNSPONSORED Chevrolet for the first time this year. Dominic
Ranieri held on to second for Local Cesspool. And Kevin
Wallace raced his way to third topping his seventh place
finish in the first 8-cylinder race.
A quick reminder to all Demo Drivers that Saturday
night’s demo is rescheduled for May 31st. Also
adding excitement that night will be the one-on-one spectator
drags. So if you have a fast, street legal car bring a helmet
and prove it on the track.
Sources:
Kim Watson/LongIslandJam.com
Posted: May 28, 2003
