04/24/2004

WAYNE ANDERSON TRIUMPHIANT IN SEASON OPENER

    Wayne Anderson of Yaphank scored his 25th career Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified victory this past Saturday night.  The five-time track champion won the 35-lap opening night feature event on Miller Lite night. The Dodge Weekly Series triumph was worth $1,470 to the cagey veteran
    The race got off to a shaky start on a cool crisp night with Eddie Brunnhoelzl III moving out front for the first 4 laps, chased by Wayne Anderson for three circuits who was replaced by J.R. Bertuccio on lap 4.  Bertuccio's stay toward the front was short lived. On lap four he spun exiting the fourth corner and later got tangled up with Eddie Brunnhoelzl III in turn two drawing a yellow.  Meanwhile Anderson remained cool and calm as he raced his way out front on lap 5, with the younger Brunnhoelzl second for a spell.
    Chuck Steuer and John Fortin soon flexed their muscles as on lap 7 they both worked by Brunnhoelzl for second and third respectfully. At first Steuer was able to stay with leader Anderson, but as Fortin put more pressure on the second place car, Wayne was able to start building what would be an insurmountable cushion. The battle for runner-up money lasted until the finish of the race between Steuer and Fortin.
    "Wow what a crew" Wayne Anderson boasted after exiting his car and being greeted by NASCAR's Jerry Cook, a former foe and National NASCAR Modified champion. "My guys worked hard all winter, they are a dedicated lot and it showed tonight," the happy winner continued. "I also want to thank Insula-Dome Skylights, Eastport Feeds and L.I. Proliner for their sponsorship, we're going to have a good season".
    Chuck Steuer of Bohemia was runner-up in the Savin Copiers entry, while defending track champion John Fortin of Holtsville brought the MortgageOne/Assist 2 Sell Chevy home in third. Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue and Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr of Levittown completed the top five.
    The opening night 25-lap Late Model feature event nearly had a Hollywood ending for Andy Lokkeberg but when the checker flag waved, Dave Brigati of Calverton walked the "red carpet" in victory lane. After Keith Rotzi paced the 20 car field for the first three laps, Andy Lokkeberg moved to the front on the fourth circuit with an outside move on a double file restart. Lokkeberg, one of the more popular figures in the pits, proceeded to lead the next 14 laps of the contest.
    With the crowd sensing perhaps a special moment was in the air with Lokkeberg leading, second place Dave Brigati, who took that position from Rotzi on lap 8, was closing in. Then a yellow flag on lap18 slowed the race and this became the turning point. When the green waved Brigati faked a move high going to turn three and four and then swooped down low under Lokkeberg for the lead on the front stretch. By the time the tandem hit the first turn Dave Brigati in the Modern Concrete racer had the lead and drove to a popular victory.  Andy Lokkeberg of Manorville scored a career best runner-up in the Big Bast Chevrolet Monte Carlo, while a steady Jarrod Hayes of Calverton was third in the Paul Signs machine.
    With his 63rd career Riverhead Raceway victory in the 20-lap Figure Eight feature, Roger Maynor of Bay Shore tied "Charging" Charlie Jarzombek for first on the all-time win list at the quarter mile facility. Ken Darch seemed to be the car to beat on this night as he led the first 8 laps of the race before a yellow flag threw a wrench into the works. In the ensuing restart Roger Maynor who raced his way to second one lap prior, got the measure of Darch and took the lead. Once out front Maynor in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford drove to the record-tying win. When told of his accomplishment Roger simply said "wow". Ken Darch of Shirley was an impressive runner-up Manorhouse Restaurant Dodge, with George Sprague of N. Patchogue third in the Unique Golf Monte Carlo.
    Steve Ratti of Manorville would have to survive a breathtaking last two laps before he could lay claim to the opening night victory in the Charger division in a 20-lap affair. Dave Xavier set the standard for the first four laps before a caution flag set-up a double file restart between himself and second place Steve Ratti. When the green came out Ratti powered his way on the outside to the lead. Xavier ran second until lap 7 when again on a restart he was overtaken by Eric Lutz setting up the hair-raising finish. Lutz glued himself to leader Ratti for the last half of the race, but it would be the final two laps that got Steve's attention. Twice the two friends made contact with Ratti doing all he could to save his car, once nearly hitting the back stretch fence. In the end however Steve Ratti would prevail in the Rock Solid Concrete Chevy scoring the hard fought victory. Eric Lutz of Miller Place was runner-up in the
Country Rotisserie entry, while Mike Bologna of Huntington was in the mix and came home third in the PCHS Chevy.
    The scheduled 30-lap Blunderbust feature saw a rare occurrence for the class, numerous cautions flags which found the race going to its time limit with 21 laps complete. Two-time defending champion Eugene Malverty of Lindenhurst scored the important double point victory. Dennis Scott bolted into the lead and he would impress all on hand by leading the first 13 laps of the race when Russell Broy moved to the lead with Tommy

Walkowiak coming to second as well. The Broy-Walkowiak fight for the lead got too close on lap 18 in turn four when Broy went around, with Walkowiak sent to the rear for his role in the spin. That moved the fast closing Eugene Malverty into the lead, with an equally fast Ron Langdon now sitting second. A classic battle was on the horizon among the tested tough veterans, but a yellow on lap 21 found the time limit expiring. Eugene Malverty in the All Stock Auto Parts racer w drove to victory lane, while Ron Langdon of Wantagh was runner-up in the Thomas Start, Attorney-At-Law machine. A steady and fast Chris Chirico of Huntington was third in the Eddy's Trailer Sales Chevy.
    The Super Pro Trucks, who ran their 20-lap feature first on the night had the wildest finish of all the six feature events with Danny Grennan of Glen Cove scoring the victory. Frank Dumicich Jr. raced his way into the early lead at the drop of the green, challenged first by Lenny Costa and then Dave Koenig. On the 8th cycle Koenig raced his way by Dumicich for the top spot, with Dave Brigati coming to second at the same time. Joining the leading tandem would be defending series champ Danny Grennan and the trio set up for a wild finish with just two laps to go. As the threesome raced for the win they also came upon heavy lapped traffic. The end result was Koenig would spin off the fourth corner and Danny Grennan had the lead, with Dave Brigati second. Over the final two green flag laps after a yellow for Koenig's spin, Danny Grennan in the Lamac Racing Chevy would score the victory over Dave Brigati in the Del-J Associates GMC. Third went to early leader Frank Dumicich Jr. of Quogue in the Greg's Landscaping Ford.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  April 27, 2004