09/20/2003

CHRIS YOUNG TAKES THIRD RIVERHEAD RACEWAY TRIUMPH

    Chris Young of Riverhead used lapped traffic to his advantage Saturday night to collect his third NASCAR Modified victory of 2003 at Riverhead Raceway. The victory was worth $1,460 to the tested tough veteran in the final NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series event of the season.
    Third generation driver Eddie Brunnhoelzl III paced the 24-car field for the first 13 laps of the race before Mike Curtis Jr. made an inside pass for the lead on lap 14 heading into turn one. Just one lap later Chris Young also passed Brunnhoelzl for second and Chris then set sail for leader Curtis. The next 18 laps found Young glued to Curtis at every point of the race track just waiting for an opportunity to get by.
    On lap 33 Young used a lapped car to race his way by Curtis in turn four with the latter spinning in an attempt to try and hold onto the lead.
    Once out front Chris Young was able to drive to victory and afterwards he commented, "I saw a window of opportunity with the lapped car and I took it" Chris added "I know Mike is probably upset, but I never touched him.  It was just good old fashioned short track racing".
    John Fortin of Holtsville, the 2003 NASCAR Modified champion, was runner-up in the race after starting 24th in the Bike Shop Chevy, while Lenny Fischer of Medford was third in the Unique Golf Dodge.
    It was a long time coming but well worth the wait for Ken Hyde of Medford as he won the 25-lap Figure Eight feature worth $600. After Ron Harrison set the standard for the first two laps Ken Hyde bolted into the lead on lap 3 and would soon be tested by Tom Rogers for the top spot. On a 7th lap restart Rogers got the measure of Hyde but the race only went one green flag lap, setting up another restart. One good turn deserves another and on that restart Hyde wrestled the lead away from  Rogers on lap 9. Roger Maynor then threw his hat into the ring and came to second on the 13th cycle, taking the lead on lap 14 from Hyde. However Roger got a flat on lap 20 and that allowed Hyde to race his Maples Bar & Grill Beretta back into the lead, a position he'd not relinquish again. George Sprague of North Patchogue rallied to a runner-up finish in the ESP Racing Monte Carlo, while Ken Darch of Shirley had a sterling third place ride in the Manorhouse of Shirley Dodge.
    "Jumping" Jack Orlando of Riverhead notched a $1,000 payday when he won the 35 lap Charger feature that was cut short of its original 50 due to the time limit expiring. After Rusty Turbush set fast time with a lap of 13.290 the top six redrew and Dave Brigati picked the pole. The "Fancy Farmer" jumped to the early lead with brother-in-law Jack Orlando in tow. The race became a friendly "family feud" for the first  18 laps with Brigati leading Orlando. Then on lap 19 Orlando made a bid for the lead payoff as he got by Brigati, with Rusty Turbush also taking advantage of the opening to come to second. The two young veterans then tested each other for the following 16 laps of the contest.  However when a yellow waved on lap 35 the time limit expired and Jack Orlando in the Glamour Transportation Olds scored the rich victory. Rusty Turbush of Manorville was runner-up in the Truly Blue Swimming Pools entry, while Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue was third in the Unique Golf racer.
    Tommy "Wildchild" Walkowiak of Middle Village scored a clean sweep when he won the Victory Fleet Maintenance/Eddy's Trailer Sales 50 for the Blunderbusts. After setting fast time in time trials with a lap of 15.298 Tommy backed that up by taking the lead of the race on lap 4. Doug Watson had led the first two laps before he gave way to George Crockett on lap 3. Just one lap after taking the lead Crockett pulled to the infield with mechanical woes handing the top spot over to Walkowiak. Once in command of the race Tommy Walkowiak never looked back, not even when teammate Ron Langdon came to second on lap 29 passing Bill Wegmann on a restart. Over the final 21 laps Tommy Walkowiak in the C&A Auto Parts machine was able to race to his biggest victory to date worth $866. Ron Langdon of Wantagh was runner-up in the Stock & Carr Attorney's At Law mount, with Bobby Gardner of Westbury third in the New York Metro Peterbilt Cadillac.
    "Irish" Mike O'Keefe of Islip became the National Demolition Derby champion in the Hulk Towing entry earning $1,500 in the process. O'Keefe had to outlast challenges from both Eugene Malverty of Lindenhurst and lastly Jimmy Hummel of Bay Shore. Hummel earned Judge's Choice, while Malverty was voted Fan's Choice.
    Anthony Aiello of Bayport scored the victory in the School Bus Demolition Derby in the Wesemann's Sand & Mason Supplies bus. Aiello outlasted both Eugene Malverty and "Slim" Jim Donaldson of Shirley to score the win.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  September 20, 2003