10/31/2003
MAKING THE
GRADE - LATE MODELS
by "Professor"
Peter Milano
Well it time again for the
grades to handed out, this time the Late Model Class has to
step forward and receive their grades. I hope you all paid
attention all season long, it shouldn’t have been too hard
as it was pretty short! Some of you will be satisfied while
others need to improve on their grades for next year. Without
any further waiting, here are your grades for season 2003:
1) #28-Glenn Tyler: A+,
Even though he took 1 win this season, he brought home the
Late Model Championship! Which included, 11 top fives and 13
top tens in only 13 races this year. Glenn was not always
running for lead position in most of those races, but he held
on tight and brought home plenty of top fives, which sealed
the deal for the 2003 Championship. Glenn was the most
consistent driver in this division and earned a well-deserved
title. Not one to knock tires around much, Glenn keeps his
nose clean and tries to avoid any contact when possible!
Remember this is Riverhead, tight corners, short straights,
something is bound to happen, but Glenn wasn't involved in any
of it this year. A+
2) #39-RJ Oxee: A+,
One of two drivers who are known to always be in the hunt for
a championship! RJ,
brought home trophies twice this season, but still the elusive
championship trophy is missing. However, I have one question… With RJ being the Late
Model’s most winningest driver, where does he put all those
trophies? I hope reinforces his floors!
RJ has a very successful season nevertheless as he
brought home two wins this season in 13 races with 9 top fives
and 12 top tens. Most of the time the leader of the race will
look into his rear view mirror (hey, get rid of those, no time
to be looking into those when you got the corner coming up
fast!) and there is one of two drivers who will always be in
the mirror and one of them is bound to be Oxee! A+
3) #1x-Dave Brigati:
A, "The Gentlemen Farmer" or "The Jack
Roush of Riverhead" as I like to call him, did a
wonderful job his first full season in the Late Models. Dave's
known to race anything all season long, including Super Pro
Trucks, Chargers, Late Models and in the past even a Modified
from time to time! Heck, I swear, and I usually don't do that,
but didn't he race a train race? Ok just kidding the last
part, but I thought he was slated to race the Figure 8 buses
this season! Ok, I kid again! But there's nothing to kid about
Dave’s very respectable third place finish in points with 8
top fives and 11 top tens in 13 races. A
4) #10-Scott Kulesa: A, We
called him last season’s champ and he came home this year
from a shortened rain-soaked race season, without getting the
chance to defend his title in a full season, he came home
soaked and 4th in points. While Kulesa has nothing to complain
about in 2003, his luck wasn’t riding on his shoulders like
last year. But, Scott and crew battled hard this year and
brought back to the trailer 1 win, 7 top fives and 10 top tens
in 13 races. Not a bad season at all, would have loved to see
what he could have done with 4 or 5 more races. This kid has
got a bright future, I hope he moves on to a full-fender
touring series, but that's up the Kulesa crew! A
5) #68 - "Buzzy"
Eriksen: B+,
Remember reading about Oxee? And about him being one of two
drivers, well, welcome driver TWO! Buzzy been known as being
one of the best drivers in the northeast for many years, from
traveling outside state in the late 80's in Pocono and up in
Connecticut, which he still does from time to time. Buzzy
would have gotten the "A" if only he could have made
the last race of the year. But without taking away anything
from Eriksen, he did have 1 win, 7 top fives and 10 top tens
in 12 races. From reports, Buzzy could have taken a seat the
last race in one of two late models from "The Jack Roush
of Riverhead". Brigati offered him a ride, but that might
just be a rumor being passed around, damn that Jayski, he gets
all the good rumors! B+
6) #72-Greg Kleila: A-,
What seemed like what was going to be a strong run for the
title in 2003 turned out to be a cat's meow, instead of the
lion's roar! Greg finished the season with a record that
anyone would have loved, but it didn't seem like the Greg from
last season that battled down to the wire with Kulesa. Greg
took down 1 win, 7 top fives and 10 top tens in 13 races.
During the off-season Greg has to be biting those nails to get
back and prove he can take the title in 2004! A-
7) #23-Kevin Metzger: B-, The
car seemed to be a bit tired every once in while, but with the
right wrenching done it looked to be a car on a mission to
take the lead. What will the Metzger family do in 2004? Maybe
rebuild the car from ground up once again, the off-season
going to long, the season already started off cold! Kevin did
have 4 top fives and 11 top tens in 13 races. Hopefully we'll
see Kevin back in victory lane again soon! B
8) #98-Doug Wholey:
B, Doug got the full "B", for taking home a
victory in 2003. His 2 top fives were respectable but even
more was the 11 top tens in 13 races. Doug always seems to
moving somewhere, on the track or off the track, we keep
hearing of his business endeavors each year, pretty soon this
guy is going to the Mayor of Riverhead Raceway! Someone had to
take Densieski's spot since leaving the modified ranks last
year. B
9) #08-Jarrod Hayes:
B, J-Rod was very impressive in his second season. He
brought home 2 wins, 3 top fives and 8 top tens, but also,
seemed to get caught up with a lot of the back of the pack
tangles. Every year this kid improves, 2004 isn’t going to
be any different! B
10) #14-Mike Mortimer:
B, "Mighty" Mike as he has been come to known
through out the years is about to embark on a great journey, a
mighty one at that! This season Mike looked to be on a charge,
with a few mishaps here and there and he still made all 13
races. With determination like that it brought him 2 wins this
year, with 3 top fives and 6 top tens. What will it look like
next season? Plenty of seat time a in racecar with the full
schedule of Hooters Pro Cup and maybe even a full season at
Riverhead in a late model, he is going to have plenty of
determination to prove he belongs.
B
11) #12-Dennis Krupski:
C, I can recall two races this year that Dennis looked
to be the strongest car in the class, but failed at taken down
the win. He did happen to walk away with 1 top five and 5 top
tens in all 13 races. Dennis looked to be onto his first
winning his first feature at Riverhead in the Late Models. The
#12 car looked a lot stronger then past as they seem to have
learned the right hook-up but failed to bring home the right
outcome, some due to circumstances beyond his control. C
12) #8-Sean Paterson:
C+, Oh so close to becoming a "B-", this
rookie had everyone turning their heads. He did take a few
heat races and ran strong towards the end of the year. With a
full season without rain, Sean could have been a major player
for a win! With only 2 top fives and 7 top tens in 12 races,
his season couldn't be based on this, this was coming from a
rookie, this kid is going to be a force next year and years to
come! C+
13) #93-Walt DeMorris: C,
Walt raced 11 times this year and took 4 top tens. DeMorris
had a few strong runs and perhaps in 2004 he’ll make his
season more memorable. C
14) #21-Keith Rotzi:
C-, What can be said? Hopefully this off-season there
will be tons of searching and learning! The set-up never
seemed to be right, he gets into the "C" bracket for
trying in 11 races with 2 top tens. I think there's something
in us all that wants to see him over come the learning curve,
hopefully that curve is just over the bend! C-
15) #40-Bill Rosskamp: C-,
Rosskamp brought home 2 top tens in 11 races. Rosskamp tried
his hardest but never seemed to be up to full speed in the
former Sean Egan car. His car is up for sale, but if it
doesn’t sell, maybe next season will bring more sponsorship
money and a better set-up! C-
16) #84-Andy Lokkeberg:
C-, Lokkeberg made 10 races, but bad luck looked to hurt this
team all season long, no top tens at all. With beautiful
equipment we were all expecting more from this team this year.
Hopefully next year the bug doesn't bite like it did this
year. Andy is a better driver then a "C-"!! C-
17) #7-Chris LaSpisa: D,
Oh the drop off continues. Even though he raced 5 times he
came home with 2 top tens. LaSpisa has the driving skills to
be better, but his limited season didn’t get a chance to
showcase them. Hopefully
with some more sponsorship, LaSpisa can make a run to the
front as in the past. D
18) #5 - Ed Stein: D,
Stein only ran 6 races, but he did look decent in the few
times out there with 2 top 10’s.
Stein has sold his late model to Rob Tribuzio and his
2004 plans are unknown. D
19) #07-Darryl Baker: D-,
5 races and no top tens. Darryl could have put more time into
the late model car but funds and time didn't help!
Maybe in 2004 with additional sponsorship he’ll
return to his form which he possessed in the Chargers. D-
20) #90-Joe Paschitti:
D, No matter how hard he tried in the 7 races he raced
at season’s end, the car never seemed right. The former
LaFountaine show car, it seems this car has no go. Joe tried so hard during the week to get the car right,
hopefully with a full tear down this car will be ready to go
and we can see if Joe really has it inside of him! D
Well the grades are out,
hopefully you are satisfied and those who aren't look at
theses grades next year and see if you improved, Hopefully you
all will!
Professor Peter Milano
Sources: Bob
Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted: October 31, 2003
