08/31/2003
ROGER MAYNOR
AND LENNY COSTA BIG SUNDAY WINNERS AT RIVERHEAD
Sunday
afternoon at Riverhead Raceway saw Lenny Costa of College
Point score a very emotional victory in the 20-lap Super Pro
truck feature event, while veteran Roger Maynor of Bay Shore
notched another Figure Eight win on a sun splashed afternoon.
In the 20-lap Super Pro truck main
event Lenny Costa jumped to the early advantage with
Dave Koenig in tow for the first five laps before Mike
Albasini raced by for second on a double file restart. Just
three laps later another double file restart occurred and this
time it would be Danny Grennan moving to second under Albasini
for second, but Danny's run in that spot would also be short
lived. On the 12th cycle Dave Brigati moved by Grennan with an
outside move off turn two when leader Lenny Costa got real
loose off turn two forcing Danny to check up. Costa was able
to collect and correct his truck and maintain the lead with
Brigati now second.
The final five laps of the race would
prove to be the most testing for Costa as his New York Metro
Peterbilt Chevy was real loose off the corners. However
Brigati treated Costa like the true racer he is and never
tried to take advantage of the leader, allowing Lenny some
breathing room and not doing a bump and run. At the checker it
was Lenny Costa scoring his first win since his father Larry's
passing last September. "I owe this all to my father,
without him I wouldn't be where I am today" a strong
Lenny proclaimed. Dave Brigati of Baiting Hollow was runner-up
in the Island Wide Truck Collision GMC, with a strong Peter
Sparks of Medford third in the Victory Junction Camp Dodge.
Roger Maynor took full advantage of a
14th lap restart to work his way by leader Ken Hyde for
victory in the 20-lap Figure Eight feature that was held over
by rain from Saturday night. "Slim" Jim Donaldson
set the pace for the first three laps chased for the first by
Dennis Kurras and then for the following two by Ken Hyde. In
turn one of the start of the fourth lap Hyde made his bid for
the lead working by Donaldson, with Ron Harrison coming to
second as well. Harrison was soon passed by Kurras for second
and just one lap later Roger Maynor threw his hat into the
ring taking second from Kurras.
On a 14th lap restart Hyde seemed slow
on the throttle and Roger Maynor took full advantage and put
his Hummel, Hummel Bakery entry out front for good leading the
final six laps. Of the restart Maynor said, "The restart
before Kenny was a bit slow to go so I told my crew if we get
another I'm going to go if he hesitates". Ken Hyde of
Medford had a solid effort in the Jomac's Towing Beretta with
a runner-up while George Sprague of North Patchogue was a
factor late in the race winding up third in the Unique golf
Monte Carlo.
In the Grand Enduro Ed Brill of
Farmingville scored his first win since 1995 in the
Transmission Works Chevy winning the 60-lap feature event. In
the regular 8-Cylinder Enduro Walter Stroud Jr. of Yaphank
scored his second win of the month in the Peanuts Bar &
Grill Chevy, with Dominic Ranieri of East Northport taking the
nightcap in the local Cesspool entry.
In the 4-Cylinder Enduro Michael Smith
of Commack scored an entertaining victory in the Pezner Auto
Wreckers machine as he and Bob Haeger staged a fantastic race
for the win. Haeger of Hampton bays was runner-up. Thomas Bake
scored his first career 4/6 Cylinder Truck Enduro win besting
his cousin John Cozza also of Medford.
Mike Schlaugies of Huntington topped
the 14-car One-On-One Spectator Drag competition.
Sources: Bob
Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted: September 6, 2003