09/06/2003

CHUCK STEUER & DAN JIVANELLI SPLIT RIVERHEAD MODIFIED FEATURES

    It was a busy day and night this past Saturday at Riverhead Raceway on the second to last NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series program that saw Chuck Steuer of Bohemia and Dan Jivanelli of Hampton Bays split the two NASCAR Modified features. Steuer's win came in the held over Fleet Bank 35 and was worth $1,500, while Jivanelli won the regularly scheduled 75 lap event and took home $1,906 including lap money.
    First up was the held over August 30th main event on Eagle Chevrolet night and Mike Curtis zipped out front early with Dan Jivanelli in tow for the first four laps. A 5th lap restart saw Chuck Steuer race under Dan for second and he set sail for leader Curtis.  On lap 16 in turn two Steuer gained a run on Curtis, who tried to block the move and the duo made contact sending Curtis into an infield spin.
    That turn of events shuffled the top two with Chuck Steuer the new leader and Dan Jivanelli back up to second. For the remaining 19 laps Jivanelli would shadow Steuer with Wayne Anderson not too far off in third. At the checker it was an emotional win for Chuck Steuer in the Savin Copiers entry. "I'd like to dedicate this race to my wife Chrissy, I wish she was here for this" a soft-spoken Steuer stated about his late wife who passed away last month.
    Dan Jivanelli of Hampton Bays was runner-up in the Dunkerley's Office Products Monte Carlo, while Wayne Anderson of Yaphank was third in the Eastport Feeds Chevy.
    The nightcap was a wild and emotion packed race with a wild ending. Chuck Steuer set fast time in time trials with a 11.737 and luck stayed with him as he drew the pole in the redraw. At first the race looked like a repeat of the make-up as Dan Jivanelli tucked into second behind Steuer at the drop of the green. However in the race Jivanelli shadows Steuer and glued himself to the back bumper and tried some inside bids off the second and fourth corners over nearly the first 70 laps. It would be the final five circuits that became intense.
    Late in the contest J.R. Bertuccio, who started fifth, was able to make a bump and run move on Jivanelli for second and he quickly set sail for Chuck Steuer. On lap 73 racing to turn three Bertuccio gained a run down low on Steuer down the backstretch and entering the third corner the tandem made contact sending Steuer spinning from the lead alongwith his title hopes which were also dashed with the spin.
    Track officials made the decision to send Bertuccio to the rear for rough riding, a move J.R. declined as he hurriedly exited the track. The driver with the best seat in the house for all of this was Dan Jivanelli who found himself going from third to first, with John Fortin looking to clinch his second track championship now second. At the drop of the green for the late race restart Dan Jivanelli clicked off the final laps perfectly in the big Brothers & Big Sisters of Long Island entry to claim his first win of 2003. "I'd say we had a great day with a second and a win, I had a feeling something had to give ahead of me and it did" Dan proclaimed in victory lane. Jivanelli collected $321 in lap money and $1,585 in purse money. Steuer took home $495 in lap money.
    John Fortin of Holtsville notched his second NASCAR Modified title in three years with a runner-up in The Bike Shop of Coram Chevy, with Bill Park of Manorville third in the Smithtown Nissan Monte Carlo.
    Scott Kulesa of Calverton scored a clean sweep in the Dart Fuel Oil night Late Model feature setting fast time with a lap of 12.696 and then taking his 1st win of 2003. From his front row starting spot after the redraw Scott Kulesa jumped out front early with Greg Kleila in tow for the first two laps. On lap three Peter Eriksen raced under Kleila going down the front chute and came away with second in turn one. "Buzzy" then spent the following 34 laps tracking down leader Kulesa and on lap 38 he was able to catch and pass the leader with an inside move off turn four. However Eriksen's fine night came to a grinding end five laps later when some lapped cars directly in front of him got together and he was collected ending his night in turn three on lap 43.
    On the ensuing restart it was Scott Kulesa back up front with points leader Glenn Tyler hot on his heels and Roger Oxee in the mix as well. Oxee made an inside bid payoff for second on lap 49 in the first corner taking second from Tyler. At the checker it was Scott Kulesa in the Ranco Sand & Stone machine scoring a $920 payday of which $340 was in lap money. Roger Oxee of Peconic was runner-up in the Helman Group Pontiac, while point leader Glenn Tyler of Hampton Bays was third in the Sypher Construction Pontiac. Tyler, Oxee and Eriksen will determine the 2003 champion this week when the class runs two feature events.
    Roger Maynor of Bay Shore scored his second Figure Eight win in six days when he won a 20-lap main event. "Slim" Jim Donaldson set the tone for the race for the first 7 laps and looked like he might grab a career first. That was until lap 8 when Tom Kraft roared by for the top spot, with Roger Maynor coming to second a lap later. The following four laps saw Kraft and Maynor, two tested tough warriors race for the lead with Maynor breaking out front on lap 13. Tom Rogers Jr. worked by Kraft one lap later for second and the final six laps found Maynor and Rogers in a see saw fight for the lead and win. In the mix as well was George Sprague who was third. In the end Roger Maynor in the Winkiel Roofing Dodge took his third win of the year, with point leader Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue second in the Galaxy Carting Dodge. George Sprague of N. Patchogue was third in the Unique Golf Monte Carlo.
    The MortgageOne night Charger feature was another race that saw some heated and emotional battles taking place and in the end Brad Van Houten of Jamesport scored a career first triumph. The early going found Rob Tribuzio taking command of the race early, chased for the first seven laps by Mike Bologna. Rookie Eric Goodale worked his way under Bologna on double file restart for second, but tow laps later Van Houten was able to work the inside to pass Goodale for second in turn three. Van Houten then set his sights on leader Tribuzio and on lap 12 racing off turn four, Brad made a move for the lead and he and Rob made contact sending the latter spinning. The contact was deemed accidental and Van Houten became the new race leader with veteran Dan Turbush moving to second.  It was a classic case of student vs. teacher. this time youth would prevail as Brad Van Houten held on for the popular victory in the Brian McGuiness Construction Chevy. "Dynamite" Dan Turbush of Hampton Bays wrapped up the 2003 Charger championship with a runner-up finish in the Carpet Express Chevy. Steve Ratti of Manorville had a solid effort with a third in the P.J. Wyer Contracting Monte Carlo.
    Defending Blunderbust champion Eugene Malverty of Lindenhurst all but clinched his second straight title with his second feature event win of '03. Mike Coll lead the first five circuits of the tilt with Artie Pedersen in hot pursuit and on lap 6 Artie actually took the lead. Just as he did however he started to get a left front flat handing the lead back to Coll who then led up until the ninth cycle. On lap ten Malverty used an inside move to work his way by Coll in the third and fourth corner with Chris Busick also getting by for second. Just one lap later Doug Watson raced to second with an inside move on Busick, but over the final half of the race Eugene Malverty had them covered in the Allstock Auto Parts Buick. Basically all Eugene has to do this week is start the final points race of the season. Doug Watson of Islip Terrace was runner-up in the Over The Hill Racing entry, while Tommy Walkowiak of Middle Village was third in the Hampton Fleet Service racer.
    In a non-stop 20 lap Super Pro truck feature event Lou Maestri of Deer Park collected his first win of the year and in doing so tightened up the point race which will go down to the wire on September 20th. With a rare front row starting berth Lou Maestri wasted little time in asserting he was the man to beat racing out to the lead with frank Dumicich Jr. second for the first two laps. Lap 3 found "Dangerous" Dave Koenig racing his way by Dumicich for second and the best that Dave could do on the night was follow Maestri. Later in the contest Koenig had Peter Sparks to contend with, allowing Maestri even more breathing room. At the checker it was Lou Maestri in the Curiously Creative Candles entry taking the win, with Dave Koenig of Oceanside second in the Nelson's Auto Salvage machine. Peter Sparks of Medford was third in the J&J Auto Body Dodge. Over the final two races it will be Maestri, Danny Grennan and Dave Brigati the main principals in the 2003 championship fight.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  September 9, 2003