|
11) CHUCK
STEUER
#11x Savin Chevrolet |
Despite
only 5 top fives and 9 top tens, Chuck brought home 2
wins. The 2004 season should have been a top 5 in
points but bad luck seemed to bite the Steuer team on
the rebound. Chuck took down 1 top ten and started up
front for the first tour race visit at
Riverhead. It was unfortunate to finish outside the
top 10 in points but this team had many good things to
look at from the 2004 season. They should have high
hopes in 2005 and look to clinch a 2nd Modified
championship! |
 |
|
B
17 races, 2 wins, 5 top 5's, 9 top
10's |
|
12) MIKE
CURTIS
#5 TS Haulers Chevrolet/
#2 Gershow Recycling Chevrolet |
Curtis
seemed to be in the mix almost the whole season and it
seems odd to me that he only came in 12th in points.
Mike Curtis was a man running in the top ten with
7 finishes there and 3 top fives. Mid-summer brought
out hot tempers as Mike Curtis could have notched a
2nd win. But we all know the altercation that took
place with J. R. Bertuccio in turn 3 at Riverhead
Raceway. We also know about the tempers that flared in
victory lane as Mike felt he was cheated out of a win.
Here's the ironic part, Mike Curtis did get his second
win, but it wasn't in a TS Haulers machine. TS and
Curtis went their separate ways and Mike needed a
ride. The Bertuccio's #2 was vacated for the rest of
the season; so Mike Curtis jumped at the opportunity getting
the ride for one night and took full advantage with
his second win of the year. What does 2005 bring Mike
Curtis? Will Curtis buy his own machine or will be
find a team with an open spot? Will a local modified
crew with multi-cars be looking to add a teammate? |
 |
|
B-
17 races, 2 wins, 3 top 5's, 7 top
10's |
|
13) DAN
JIVANELLI
#12 Dunkerley's Chevrolet |
Jivanelli
is another driver that seemed to run up front a lot
and couldn't pull off a win in 2004. Dan has one
of the biggest hearts, and he has been racing with
limited sponsorship with "Big Brothers, Big
Sisters of Long Island". After losing his ride
last year, Dan found a new ride and was back with
the familiar orange scheme we are used to seeing.
Unfortunately in 2004 he experienced no wins, but
Jivanelli did bring home 5 top fives and 10 top tens.
With a win here or there, Jivanelli would have been a
lot higher in points. The Jivanelli crew has a lot to
look forward to in 2005, as when the bright orange
machine was hooked up, he was hard to pass! |
 |
|
B-
17 races, 0 wins, 5 top 5's, 10 top
10's |
|
14) J.R.
BERTUCCIO
#2 Gershow Recycling Chevrolet/
#4 MortgageOne Chevrolet |
It
was hard to grade J.R. this year, with him in and out
of the car twice this season, he missed 5 races! It's
sad to see disputes on or off the track, as J.R. is
one hell of a race driver! J.R. still had a good year
with 2 wins, one which is covered in controversy with
Mike Curtis and in the other he drove the wheels off
the car. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that J.R.
has plenty of talent. Whatever differences there were
between him and the team have seemed to pass over as
J. R. made the trek down south to the North vs. South
Shootout. Hopefully we will see J.R. and team in
Florida during Speed Weeks at New Symrna. He has
always turned heads there. Along with J.R.'s
2 wins, he took home 6 top fives and 8 top tens.
Hopefully 2005 will be a huge rebounding year with a
clear head driving his car in hard, driving
it in smart and gaining respect. You'll be 2005
champion with those ingredients. |
 |
|
C-
12 races, 2 wins, 6 top 5's, 8 top
10's |
|
15) SAL
ACCARDI, JR.
#93 Aable Auto Salvage Chevrolet |
What
a rookie season, to come out of the box and impress
everyone with your driving skills. Sal Accardi Jr.
even took home a win in 2004. With huge help from
veteran Frank Vigliarolo setting up the car
earlier in the season, Sal turned heads. Accardi Jr.
also had 3 top fives and 6 top tens. Towards season
end, Accardi Jr. did get into a few mishaps and
brought down his grade. In 2005, I hope to see great
improvements as he had a year under his belt and
should come flying out of the box! |
 |
|
C+
16 races, 1 win, 3 top 5's, 6 top
10's |
|
16) CHRIS
YOUNG
#49 Riverhead Building Sply Chevy |
Not
your typical Chris Young season! Chris seemed to get
caught up in a lot of other people's accidents! He did
however take down one win and looked extremely
impressive in the second tour race at Riverhead, but
quickly fell from the front around lap 50. I've heard
rumors of Chris looking out of state to race more in
2005, but those could just be crazy rumors as he
continues to help out Whelen Modified driver Kevin
Goodale. In 2004, besides Chris's only win, he had 3
top fives and 7 top tens. |
 |
|
C+
14 races, 1 win, 3 top 5's, 7 top
10's |
|
17) DAVE
SAPIENZA
#36 SPONSORS WANTED Dodge |
Sapienza
looked horrible the first few weeks out, the #36
machine did not look like it wanted to turn left at
all! Sapienza being a true rookie tried his best to
stay out of the way and gain experience. The car was
capable of pulling out a win, but not with Dave in the
car. Frank Vigliarolo jumped behind the wheel and made
major adjustments to the suspension. Dave had 1 top
five and 7 top tens, he looked to be coming on
extremely strong at season's end! I am looking forward
to seeing the progress of Sapienza’s driving skills
in 2005! |
 |
|
C
15 races, 0 wins, 1 top 5's, 7 top
10's |
|
18) STEVE
TOOKER
#55 SPONSORS WANTED Chevy |
Former
Late Model Champion took off a few years to get his
beautiful yellow machine into the modified ranks. I
have to give credit to Steve for placing himself many
times in the rear of the field to learn the sharp
corners of Riverhead and to keep out of the
front-runners’ way so as to not cause them a
major accident. Steve had no top fives, but did have 2
top tens and looked to be getting a handle of what it
takes to drive a competitive modified driver! Look for
much improvement in 2005! |
 |
|
C-
15 races, 0 wins, 0 top 5's, 2 top
10's |
|
19) EDDIE
BRUNNHOELZL III
#83x SPONSORS WANTED Chevy |
Eddie
III took home in 2003 "Most Improved
Driver", but in 2004 Eddie took a huge step
backwards! 2004 seemed to be the Brunnhoelzl curse, as
father and son got caught up in too many accidents!
Eddie III, did make 16 features but only had 2 top
tens. I hope Eddie III keeps his head up high because
he does have the skills and the equipment to keep him
running up front almost every week and the Turkey
Derby is a testament to that. |
 |
|
D
16 races, 0 wins, 0 top 5's, 2 top
10's |
|
20)
LEWIS HALLOCK
#07 LLKS Construction Chevrolet |
Lewis
only made 13 main features and had 1 top ten. Lewis
got tangled with a lot of drivers in 2004, causing a
lot of damage to his machine. Will Lewis make a full
run in 2005? |
 |
|
D-
13 races, 0 wins, 0 top 5's, 1 top
10's |
|
Well folks, it was hard to give out the
grades this year in the modified class. I could have
given Fortin and Bertuccio both "I" for
"Incomplete", but they raced their hearts out
when they were competing at the track. Plus, we got to
see J.R.'s smiling face as he walked around with his
head up high looking forward to next year. 2005
looks to be shaping up as a bright season, but who will
move up to the premier division at Riverhead Raceway?
Word has it Ken Darch has a ride and will be in full
support in both the Figure-8 division and Modified
class. Could
we see full efforts and progress from Marisa Niederauer,
Gary MacDonald, David Roys Jr., Tom Sherman, David
Koroleski or Steve Ralston? Can Riverhead's
best wheelmen, Frank Vigliarolo Jr., find a full time
ride? What can rookie Brandon LaVista bring to the
class? Will Glenn Tyler make a serious run for the
title? What about Jarrod Hayes will he continue to climb
the ladder and impress us in a modified? Will Dave
Brigati get back into a ride? Could we see Rusty Turbush
in a full time ride next year? What about Dan Dombal?
Will Rob Tribuzio make the leap? 2005 could be very
promising! |
