05/08/2004

TOM ROGERS JR. NIPS BILL PARK IN RIVERHEAD MODIFIED PHOTO FINISH

    Saturday was another night of intense NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series racing at Riverhead Raceway.  Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue scored his first career NASCAR Modified win in a photo finish over Bill Park of Manorville. The victory was worth $1,470 to the former two-time Figure Eight champion.
    Eddie Brunnhoelzl III and Lenny Fischer ran up front for the first 4 laps of the race, with Bill Park coming to second on lap five. Three laps later Park rode the outside lane around Brunnhoelzl for the lead, while Tom Rogers Jr. took over second with Park.  Rogers then chased Park for the next 4 laps when he was overtaken by J.R. Bertuccio to the outside on lap 13. What followed next was a torrid fight between Park and Bertuccio for the lead for 9 laps. First J.R. went low, but then moved up high on Bill and for five laps the duo were side by side. However on lap 23 Bertuccio cut down a left rear tire and spun to the infield.
    That turn of events moved Tom Rogers, who already was hot on the heels of the leading tandem, back to second. For the final dozen laps of the contest Rogers kept looking low on the leader who was fighting a tight race car off the corners. The race all boiled down to the final lap as Rogers and Park made contact off turn two.  Park saved his car midway down the back stretch, but Rogers' momentum carried him even with Bill heading to the final turn. Off the fourth corner Tom Rogers Jr. by just the front bumper of his car nipped Bill Park to the outside at the line, warming a chilled crowd.
    "I have to catch my breath" Rogers proclaimed after exiting the Sunburst Tree Experts Chevy. "Bill is one of the guys I watched when I was growing up and I really like racing with him" Tom furthered, " not only was I trying to pass him, but I had John Fortin giving me pressure from behind, it was wild".
    Bill Park in the Smithtown Nissan entry was runner-up and said afterwards, 'close, but no cigar". John Fortin of Holtsville in the MortgageOne Chevy had the best seat in the house for the wild finish came home third. Joe Hartmann of Riverhead and J.R. Bertuccio of Centereach completed the top five.
    "Mighty" Mike Mortimer of Mastic Beach collected his first win of 2004 when he took top honors in a hotly contested Late Model 25-lap feature. At the drop of the green Dennis Krupski bolted out front with Kevin Metzger in pursuit and
they raced that way for 12 laps. On lap 13 Mike Mortimer moved around Metzger to the outside for second and four circuits later he ducked under Krupski for the lead off turn four. Coming under Dennis with Mortimer would be Jarrod Hayes on that 17th lap exchange and it would be this tandem that would decide the race. Lap after lap for the remaining 8 laps Hayes threw all he could at Mortimer as they provided the fans with some classic short track racing. When the checkers flew Mike Mortimer aboard the Davis Fuel Pontiac earned his 6th career win, while Jarrod Hayes of Calverton had to be content with third in the Paul Signs machine. Dave Brigati of Calverton continued his early season string of good finishes with a third in the Formula 113 Car Wax entry.
    All Ken Darch of Yaphank had to accomplish to earn his first career Figure Eight victory was hold off two of the top drivers in the division, a fete he would be able to attain at the end of 20-laps. Right from the drop of the green Ken Darch served notice he was the man to beat on the night as he raced into the lead. Tom Kraft chased Darch for two laps before George Sprague took the position on lap 3. Sprague chased the leader for five laps while keeping Roger Maynor at bay, but on the 9th cycle Maynor moved around Sprague. For the final 11 laps Maynor, who was seeking to go three for three on the year, chased Darch and tried all he could to move by, but with no success.  At the finish it was Ken Darch in the Manorhouse Dodge taking the win over Roger Maynor of Bay Shore in the Deer Park Bowl Ford. George Sprague of N. Patchogue was third in the Unique Golf Monte Carlo.
    Despite extreme back pain Robin Vollmoeller decided to race in the 30-lap, double point Charger feature.  When the race hit its time limit at lap 23, he sure was glad he did as he sat in victory lane. Vollmoeller, who set a new track record in time trials with a blazing lap of 13.094, chased Eric Lutz the early race leader, for the first four laps. On lap 5 made his move for the lead as he worked his way by Lutz, who would then run second for the following 8 laps. The race never really got into a steady rhythm as numerous yellow flags waved, but the laps under green were dotted with some great side-by-side racing. The race for second between Lutz and Dan Turbush was very exciting, with "Dynamite" Dan taking the spot on lap14. Dan then zeroed in on the race leader drawing near but that would be as good as it got. At thefinish it was Robin Vollmoeller in the Solar Salon Tanning racer taking the win.  Dan Turbush of Hampton Bays was runner-up in the Scorpion Race Engines Pontiac. Point leader Eric Lutz of Miller Place had another fine outing with third in the Marjam Supply Chevy.
    Soft-spoken Scott Maliszewski of Deer Park would be the third driver on the night to enjoy the thrill of his first career win when he topped the 20-lap Blunderbust main event. After Dennis Scott paced the first lap of the tilt, Mike Schwarz made a bold move on an early restart as he raced from third to the lead on lap 2. Paul Parisi pursued Schwarz for the next dozen laps before he found himself being passed by Scott Maliszewski on the 15th circuit. Scott went right to work on leader Schwarz and with the two-to-go signal in the air Maliszewski made his move to the inside off turn four. By the time they hit the first turn Scott was the new race leader, with good friend Tommy Walkowiak racing to second with Scott. For the final two laps Tommy tested Scott but in the end Maliszewski in the Victory Junction Gang machine would finally find his way to victory lane. Tommy Walkowiak of Middle Village was runner-up in the Globe Fuel Oil Chevy, with Mike Schwarz of Aquebogue third in the East Coast Well Drilling Cadillac.
    In spite of the fact he lost a major sponsor during the off-season, Mike Albasini of Bayside continues to race in the Super Pro Truck competition and it paid off in victory this week in a 20-lap affair. Albasini led all but one lap of the race as he took the lead from the outset with Dave Brigati in tow. Albasini and Brigati would then enter a thrilling side-by-side battle for the lead, with Danny Grennan throwing his hat into the ring from third position. On lap 9 Brigati had the lead to the outside for a lap, but the very next lap Albasini took it right back. The second half of the race may go down in the books as the best yet in SPT history as the threesome sliced and diced in a seesaw battle that lasted right until the conclusion. In the end Mike Albasini in the Steinway Automotive Group Chevy was the happy winner. Dave Brigati of Calverton was second in the Modern Concrete GMC, with Danny Grennan of Glen Cove third in the Lamac Racing Chevy.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  May 13, 2004