06/05/2004

MARQUIS SCORES CLEAN SWEEP

    He came, he saw and he conquered. That's the best way to describe Jerry Marquis and his night at Riverhead Raceway for the Miller Lite 200.  He led all 200 laps of the contest after setting fast time for the 28 car field. The victory was worth a handsome $6,250 for the Broad Brook, CT. resident from the $67,805 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series purse.
    It was a dark gloomy afternoon at Riverhead with an 80 % chance of rain predicted but never materialized. For Marquis the evening was bright when he turned a lap of 11.926. In the redraw among the top ten Eric Beers pulled the pole, while Marquis drew outside the front row and that could very well have been the turning point of the contest.
    Right from the drop of Warren Alston's green flag Jerry Marquis in the Roby's Propane Chevy took command of the race, with Eric Beers, Chuck Steuer and Mike Stefanik jockeying for second.  The trio went back and forth for the spot, allowing Marquis to pull away but in the end Stefanik would grab up second. Only on caution flags would Mike draw close to Jerry.
    In the final 25 laps of the tilt Jerry Marquis was really able to open a commanding lead as Mike Stefanik and John Blewett III engaged in the best race of the night for second. With just laps to go Blewett in the Mastrobatisto Contractor Pontiac ducked under Stefanik racing towards turn one to grab the position.
    While all that was going on Jerry Marquis was driving to his second career Miller Lite 200, lapping all but the top six cars in the process. "I can't thank Mrs. Boehler for the ride and this crew, they work hard week in and week out and tonight it showed" the happy winner boasted.
    John Blewett III of Howell, NJ was runner-up while Mike Stefanik of Coventry, RI was third in the Diversified Metals Chevy. Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT. and point leader for the FMS Ed Flemke Jr. of Berlin, CT. completed the top five.
    Chuck Steuer of Bohemia topped the Riverhead Raceway regulars who made the 23-car cut in time trials.  His Savin Copiers Chevy was 10th. Mike Curtis of Riverhead was the only other Riverhead car running at the finish and was 14th in the G&L Paving Supplies Chevy.
    Prior to the Miller Lite 200 Saturday at Riverhead Raceway Steve Ratti of Manorville scored his second Charger win of 2004, while Doug Watson of Islip Terrace nailed down his first Blunderbust triumph of the year. Both races were 20-laps in distance.
    For Steve Ratti in the 'P.J. Wyer Contracting Chevy the night turned out to be a matter of being in the right place at the right time.  He was running third on the 9th lap of the race when Rusty Turbush and Eric Lutz got too close while battling for the lead. Turbush had jumped out front early and was challenged right away by Lutz.  However on lap 8 Turbush retook the lead, but the very next lap the two touched. The contact sent both up the track, opening up the inside lane bringing Steve Ratti to the lead.
    Robin Vollmoeller came to second on lap 14 when he passed Mike Bologna for the spot. Vollmoeller drew near Ratti but that was as close as he got as Steve Ratti took the checker flag. Robin Vollmoeller of Riverhead was runner-up in the Nu-Green Landscaping Pontiac, with Mike Bologna of Huntington Station claiming third in the Lamac Racing Chevy.
    Doug Watson was quick on the pedal during an 18th lap restart and that would be the key to his Blunderbust win in the Over The Hill Racing Chevy. Scott Sepe set the tone for the first three laps before he was overhauled by Tommy "Wildchild" Walkowiak. Once to the lead Tommy seemed like a sure bet to grab his second win of '04, but suddenly his engine went up in smoke and his night was done.
    That turn of events put Scott Pedersen out front and the newcomer was looking for his first win of his career, but a series of late race restarts really put him to the test with the likes of Doug Watson, Eugene Malverty and Tom Pickerell all breathing down his neck.  A green, white and checker restart on lap 18 found Watson dipping under Pederson for the lead, with an assist to Eugene Malverty. Then on the final lap Malverty tried a bump and run in turn three, but Doug Watson was able to thwart that effort for the well deserved victory. Eugene Malverty of Lindenhurst was runner-up in the Marsal Pizza Ovens entry, while Tom Pickerell of Huntington was third in the Pickerell Clam & Lobster Buick.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  June 8, 2004