06/28/2003

MIKE ANDREWS JR. HITS RIVERHEAD NASCAR MODIFIED HONOR ROLL

    On the eve of his High School graduation Mike Andrews Jr. of Quogue made the NASCAR Modified honor roll this past Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway when he won the 35-lap main event on Craftsman Tools/Berryman Inc. night. The win, which also came on Trailer Transport/Donaldson's VW night, was worth $1,460 to Andrews for his first win of the year. In fact all five feature winners notched their first win of the 2003 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series.
    "This car was on fire tonight" Andrews proclaimed in victory lane, "I can't thank my father and my team enough for getting this car so perfect" Andrews showed early on in the contest that despite being 18 years old he had the patience of a seasoned veteran.
    Third generation talent Eddie Brunnhoelzl III jumped from the pole into the lead at the drop of the green with tested tough veteran Lenny Fischer in tow. The duo occupied the top two spots for the first 16 laps of the race when a double file restart shook up the running order. On that restart Mike Andrews Jr. was able to advance his R.G. Hahn & Sons Fuel Oil Chevy from third to first in one sweeping move by both Brunnhoelzl III and Fischer, bringing with him Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. and eventually J.R. Bertuccio.
    The final half of the race found Andrews leading the way while Brunnhoelzl Jr. and Bertuccio fought it out for second. That battle allowed Mike Andrews Jr. to pull away and score his second career win and in the process earn a starting spot for the November 7th & 8th North/South Modified Shootout at Concord Motorsports Park.
    At the finish Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. of Levittown was runner-up in the Dormer King entry with point leader J.R. Bertuccio of Centereach third in the Long Island Truck Parts Chevy. Wayne Anderson of Yaphank and Joe Hartmann of Riverhead completed the top five,
    "Mighty" Mike Mortimer of Mastic Beach shook off an early season spell of bad luck when he won the 25-lap Late Model feature event leading wire to wire in the process. Early in the tilt Mike Mortimer, who raced into the lead at the drop of the green, had impressive rookie Sean Patterson fill his mirror for the first 10 circuits of the race. On lap 11 defending champion Scott Kulesa raced his way by Patterson for second and spent the next 15 laps looking for a way by the popular "Mighty" Mike
    However, Kulesa, in this race, was able to keep pace with Mortimer but never mount a serious challenge.  When the checker flag waved it was Mike Mortimer in the Davis Fuel Oil Pontiac scoring the popular win with Scott Kulesa of Calverton a close second in the Ranco Sand & Stone Chevy. Point leader Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen of Baldwin threw his hat into the ring late in the race and scored a third place finish in the Smithtown Auto Body Pontiac.
    For the second consecutive season Roger Maynor of Bay Shore won his father's race, the Ernie Maynor Memorial presented by Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies. The lead in the race turned out to be a place you'd not want to be in Bill Farrell, Mike Mujsce and Tom Rogers Jr. all got to the front but had problems almost as quickly as they got there. A 12th lap restart with Bill Batsche leading and Roger Maynor second was the turning point of the race as Maynor roared into the lead and never looked back. The only obstacle for Roger was the traffic at the "X" intersection, but the veteran was able to steer clear. At the line it was Roger Maynor in the Edward Horton Builders machine taking the win, with Bill Batsche of Central Islip second in the Central Islip Auto Parts Chevy. Veteran Tom Kraft of Mastic Beach scored a third place tally in the Syndicate Motorsports Chevy.
    "Jumping" Jack Orlando of Riverhead went wire to wire to win the 30-lap Charger feature event for his first win of 2003. In time trials Rusty Turbush set fast time with a 13.457 but in the redraw Jack Orlando had the magic touch when he picked the pole. Orlando took full advantage of his fortune as he raced his way into the lead at the drop of the green with defending champion Rusty Turbush in tow. On lap 7 Rusty's night turned sour as he spun in the first and second corner moving Eric Lutz into the second spot. With Orlando leading all Lutz could do was try and keep pace, but lurking in Lutz's mirror was a fast closing Dan Turbush. On the 18th lap "Dynamite" Dan worked his way under Lutz for second in the third turn and set sail for Orlando. Turbush was able to catch Orlando and glued himself to the leader's rear bumper letting Jack know he was there for the final 11 laps. In the end however it would be the Glamour Transportation Oldsmobile of Jack Orlando scoring the win, with Dan Turbush of Hampton Bays second in the Old Timers Valentine Group Heating & A/C Chevy. Eric Lutz of Miller Place was third in the Marjam Supply machine.
    Bobby Gardner of Westbury scored an emotional victory when he won the Gliptone Car care Products night Blunderbust feature event that he dedicated to the late Larry "King" Costa. Early on in the race it was some newcomers who set the tone with Peter Cataldo leading the first 4 laps before giving way to Mike
Coll on lap five, Chris Busick moved to second at that time as well. For the next 8 laps Coll and Busick waged a heated but clean battle for the lead with Bobby Gardner racing his way to third in the process. Once to third Gardner wasted little time making his moves. On lap 14 he was able to pass both Coll and Busick to take the lead with a nifty inside move. Once out front there was no stopping Bobby Gardner in the New York Metro Peterbilt Cadillac as he drove to his first win of the year. Anthony Aiello of Bayport raced his way into the mix for a second place finish in the Wesemann's Sand & Mason Supplies entry with Eugene Malverty of Lindenhurst third in the Allstock Auto Parts Buick.
    In the first ever Mini-School Bus Figure Eight race Mike "Moon Juice" Mujsce of Hampton Bays scored the 15 lap win in the Pro Tech Automotive bus. The race was very entertaining with some near misses at the "X" and featured Bob "Whiplash" Genovese racing in reverse when he had no forward gears. The crowd roared with delight and indeed the concept was a success. Anthony Aiello of Bayport was runner-up with "Slim" Jim Donaldson of Shirley taking home third place honors.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  July 2, 2003