06/26/2004

WAYNE ANDERSON DRIVES TO 3M NIGHT VICTORY AT RIVERHEAD

    Former five time Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified champion Wayne Anderson of Yaphank scored his second win of the 2004 Dodge Weekly Series when he won the 3M night 35-lap main event Saturday night. The victory was worth $1,460 in a contest presented by the New York State Fraternal Order of Police STOP-DWI program.
    Rookie Sal Accardi Jr. broke out in front at the drop of the green as he outran Eddie Brunnhoelzl III to the first corner. Brunnhoelzl would find Bill Park getting by on the outside for second on lap 2 and for the next dozen circuits Park chased leader Accardi. Wayne Anderson who had been riding third behind the leading tandem began his move toward the front as he worked his way by Park for second on lap 15.  He then went right to work on Accardi for the lead. In the mean time J.R. Bertuccio came from 9th starting spot to third passing Park with Anderson looming in the shadows.
    While right on the heels of Accardi for the lead, Anderson had Bertuccio breathing down his neck.  He knew he'd have to make his move quickly if he wanted his 26th career win.  So, on lap 21 while racing into the first corner Wayne gave Accardi a tap that moved the leader up a touch allowing both Anderson and Bertuccio to whistle by. For the closing 14 laps of the race Anderson and Bertuccio contested for the lead with J.R. letting Wayne know he was there in every corner. However the night would belong to Wayne Anderson in the Eastport Feeds Chevy.  Anderson put on a clinic as to how to run second as well as how to protect a lead as he drove to the popular win.
    After New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles Ray Martinez greeted Wayne Anderson the race winner reflected, "Sal ran a good race. I knew J.R. was right there and I had to make a move.  Sal was getting loose in the corner so I gave him a tap in one and it opened the inside lane."  As for the final laps with Bertuccio all over him the happy winner commented, "J.R. was giving me a shot in the corners, but that's expected. He ran me clean and never tried to turn me".
    J.R. Bertuccio of Centereach was a close runner-up in the North Fork Sanitation Chevy, while Sal Accardi Jr. of Deer Park had an impressive night with third in the Aable Auto Salvage Chevy. Point leader John Fortin of Holtsville was fourth while Mike Andrews Jr. of East Quogue completed the top five.
    Simply stated the Amity Nissan Superstore Late Model feature event belonged to Jarrod Hayes of Calverton as he lead from wire to wire to collect his first win of 2004 in a car borrowed from Dave Brigati. Just three weeks ago Hayes' season seemed to be on hold with a blown head gasket in his own machine.  However enter fellow competitor and neighbor Dave Brigati who loaned Jarrod his back-up car. From the first lap until the 25th this race was all Jarrod Hayes.  He took the early lead with Ed Stein; also in a borrowed car in tow for three laps before "Mighty" Mike Mortimer burst upon the scene and took over.  Mortimer would stay within range of Hayes in what was almost another caution free race and not even a mid-race yellow would make a difference in the outcome. At the finish it was the Outlaw Inc. entry of Jarrod Hayes enjoying the spoils of victory lane where he commented, "I know it's a cliché at times, but I really wouldn't be here without Dave Brigati."
    Mighty Mike Mortimer of Mastic Beach was runner-up in the Davis Fuel Oil Pontiac, with Rob Tribuzio of Riverhead a solid third in the Riverhead Trailer Dodge.
    The annual Ernie Maynor Memorial presented by Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies for the Figure Eights also turned out to be a barnburner with George Sprague of N. Patchogue taking a hard fought victory. For the second week in a row Fred Kraft broke out front early, but on lap 2 got crossed up off turn two and was hit hard by Ken Darch.  This put Jim Donaldson on top.  "Slim" Jim led until the 4th cycle when Arne Pedersen took the lead and George Sprague moved to second on lap 6. Just two laps later Sprague raced by Pedersen for command of the race with Roger Maynor racing to second at the same time. For the final 11 laps of this important race Sprague and Maynor played a high-speed game of cat and mouse with each other, and the crossing traffic at the intersection.
    At the checker in a thrilling finish it would be George Sprague in the Unique Golf Monte Carlo scoring an emotional win.  He dedicated the win to his mother Maryanne who is currently fighting cancer and was on hand for the race.  Roger Maynor of Bay Shore was a close second in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford and Arne Pedersen of Moriches third in the Jomac's Towing Beretta.
    For the second week in a row Tommy "Wildchild" Walkowiak of Middle Village simply dominated the 20-lap Blunderbust feature event, earning his second consecutive win and third overall in '04. After Mike Brigandi lead Paul Parisi for the first lap and Walkowiak for second, the "Wildchild" turned up the wick on the Langdon's Automotive entry and took the lead on lap 3. Dale Arnold, who came to second through the opening created by Walkowiak, could only watch as Tommy simply drove away into the sunset. Like the week prior Walkowiak's biggest concern was lapping slower cars, which he mastered once again. At the finish it was Tommy Walkowiak for the win with Dale Arnold of Baldwin runner-up in the Customvinylgraphics.com machine.  Point leader Eugene Malverty of Lindenhurst was third in the Marsal Pizza Ovens car.
    Not satisfied with just his Blunderbust victory, Tommy Walkowiak would also win the 12-lap Mini-School Bus Figure Eight race. Walkowiak took the early lead in the Globe Fuel Oil Ford and would drive to victory. Ed "Speedo" Jager finished second and drew near Walkowiak at times, but had to be content with runner-up honors.
    In a bone jarring Demolition Derby veteran Jimmy "Wildman Primmy" Hummel of Bay Shore outlasted Robert Endlekofer for the win. The two finalists put on quite a show with neither one wanting to quit. However, in the end Hummel's Mica Collision entry outlasted Endlekofer's Family Automotive mount.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  June 28, 2004