07/19/2003

CHRIS YOUNG SCORES SECOND WIN OF '03 AT RIVERHEAD RACEWAY

    Chris Young of Riverhead made his second trip to victory lane at Riverhead raceway Saturday night when he won the Doug Wholey Excavating night NASCAR Modified feature event. The 3M/Artic Cat night triumph was Young's 22nd career win and worth $1,450.
    John Shortell was the driver who jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag and the relative newcomer was followed by tested tough veteran Bill Park who filed into second. Over the next 20 laps Park tested Shortell for the lead, but each time he made a bid the leader was able to ward him off. On lap 14 the leading tandem was joined by Chris Young who raced his way to third from his fifth place starting spot and clearly had one of the quickest cars on the track. Young went to work on Park for second and after looking inside for a few laps then threw his car to the outside where he eventually made a pass for position on lap 20.
    Once to second Young wasted little time in closing in on leader Shortell and then spend the next nine laps looking for a way around him for the lead. The winning move came on lap 29 when Young was able to slip under Shortell heading into turn one. At that point Shortell who drove the best race of his NASCAR Modified career, slipped back to wind-up sixth. Once out front Young had to survive a late race caution that put Park right behind him for a green, white, checker finish.
    Chris Young in the Riverhead Building Supply Monte Carlo crossed thefinish line first. "I told my crew I'd get them another win before the season is out" the happy winner proclaimed. "I want to thank Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr., Bill Park and John Shortell who gave me plenty of room when I was trying to pass them. I'll race them any day". Chris concluded.
    Bill Park of Manorville scored his best finish of 2003 with runner-up money in the Smithtown Nissan Monte Carlo, while upstart Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue was a solid third in the Sunburst Tree Experts Chevy. Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. of Levittown and J.R. Bertuccio of Centereach completed the top five.
    Greg Kleila of Lindenhurst collected his first win of 2003 in the Eagle Chevrolet night Late Model feature event. "Fast" Eddie Stein showed the way for the first 6 laps of the contest with Greg Kleila taking control of the race on the 7th circuit. Stein stayed second for a lap before Doug "Hurricane" Wholey was able to slip under Ed on an 8th lap restart. Wholey then held that spot until the 12th lap when Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen raced by to the inside off turn four. Eriksen quickly erased any lead Kleila had built up and appeared ready to make a move for the lead. However on lap 17, racing into the first turn, Eriksen slowed with a flat tire and had to pit. This propelled Roger Oxee into second and he then had seven laps to find out what he had for leader Kleila. Oxee stayed glued to Kleila but was not able to mount a serious bid for the lead.
    When the race concluded it was Greg Kleila in the J&R Steakhouse Pontiac over the line first followed by Roger Oxee of Peconic in the Helman Group Pontiac. Glenn Tyler of Hampton Bays raced to a third place tally in the Mark Sypher Construction entry.
    Defending Figure Eight champion Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue scored his track leading 4th win of the season in a 20 lap affair. Mike Mujsce set the standard for the first half of the race, chased first by Ken Hyde until lap 4 and then Ken Darch who came to second on lap 5. Rogers then worked his way by Darch for second on the 8th cycle and set sail for leader Mujsce who had built a nice cushion in the lead. As the leaders raced towards the line on lap 11 Rogers was able to make his move for the lead on Mujsce and take over the spot. Rogers went to work right away at building a lead as Mujsce would soon be involved with Bill Steen in a duel for second. On lap 18 Steen worked his way into second, but it would be too little, too late for the veteran. At the finish Tom Rogers Jr. in the Riverhead Auto Mall Dodge took the victory with Bill Steen of Oakdale second in the Euro Tech Auto Body Dodge. Early leader Mike Mujsce was third in the Pro Tech Automotive machine.
    Mike Bologna of Huntington enjoyed the thrill of victory for the very first time when he led all 20 laps of the Charger feature event. Taking full advantage of his pole starting position Bologna raced right into the lead at the drop of the green flag with John Denniston racing into second. The first two spots remain that way for the entire race with Bologna always keeping Denniston a couple of car lengths behind him. Meanwhile a spirited battle for third was underway with Shawn Wanat, Eric Lutz, Scott Lehmann, Brad Van Houten and Rusty Turbush all involved in what became a heated battle as the first two cars raced away.
    With all the fighting for position taking place well behind him all Mike Bologna in the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Monte Carlo had to be concerned with was lapped traffic, an issue he handled when presented. At the finish it was Mike Bologna scoring the win with John Denniston second in the B&G Deli & Caterers entry while third went to Brad Van Houten of Jamesport in the Golfo Development Chevy.
    Peter Sparks of Medford led all 20 laps of the Super Pro truck main event to collect his first win of the season. Sparks raced right into the lead early with Brian Schwarz in tow for the first three laps. On the fourth lap veteran Lou Maestri used the outside line to race by Schwarz for second and attempt to set sail for leader Peter Sparks. Sparks who was racing for the Victory Junction Camp in North Carolina, took the popular victory in his J&J Auto Body Dodge. Lou Maestri of Deer Park was runner-up in the Schwing Electric Ford, while defending Super Pro Truck champion Danny Grennan of Glen Cove was third in the Gulfway Marine Silverado.
    In the Ladies Enduro Melissa Stroud Saunders of Farmingville scored her first ever victory in the N.Y. Discount Tire & Wheel Chevy. She took the lead on the final lap when leaders Kim Grennan and Gayle Walkowiak made heavy contact in turn four while racing for the checkers on the final lap. Grennan wound up second in the race.

Sources:  Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  July 21, 2003