Riverhead Champions Saluted Before 320
The Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series awards dinner
returned home to the Riverhead Polish Hall this past Saturday
night and some 320 guests joined promoters Barbara and Jim
Cromarty in saluting the 2005 champions. The return to the
Polish Hall was voted a great success. Everyone enjoyed the
food, the intimacy of the room and the opportunity to talk and
listen with fellow racers.
Bill Park of Manorville was feted as the 2005 NASCAR Modified
champion earning a $5,000 check from the $17,000 point fund.
Park was trailed by Chuck Steuer ($2,800), Mike Andrews Jr.
($1,500), Wayne Anderson ($1,400) and Dan Jivanelli ($1,300).
In the NASCAR Modified special awards Bill Park’s wife of
36-years Barbara Park was named Owner of the Year. Jimmy Blewett
was voted 2005 Rookie of the Year earning a helmet from Oval
Speed Unlimited while Dave Sapienza was named Most Improved
Driver. Chuck Steuer won the Best Appearing Car.
Barbara and Jim Cromarty presented the 22nd annual Cromarty
Dedication to Riverhead Raceway to NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series
officials Mike Richert and his fiancée’ Christine Healy along
with Pat and Mike Cappiello. Bill Denniston presented the Tom
Baldwin Memorial Award to Mike Andrews Jr.
After 25-years of trying Roger Oxee of Peconic was presented
his first Late Model championship hardware taking home $2,590
from the 2005-point fund of $10,390. Following RJ were Jarrod
Hayes ($1,700), Greg Kleila ($1,200), Mike Mortimer ($900) and
Billy Wheeler ($800)
Late Model special award winner were Laurie Oxee for Owner of
the Year, Jack Orlando was named Rookie of the Year and Dave
Brigati won the Best Appearing Car award.
In the night’s most emotional moment George Sprague of N.
Patchogue collected his first career Figure Eight championship
just weeks after his mother MaryAnn lost a two-year battle with
cancer. George won $900 from a point fund of $5,420. Roger
Maynor $(750), Arne Pedersen ($650), Mike Mujsce ($625) and Jim
Donaldson ($600) completed the top five.
Figure Eight special awards went to Ron & MaryAnn Sprague as
Owners of the Year, Mike Brigandi won the Rookie of the Year
while “Slim” Jim Donaldson was voted Most Improved Driver.
George Sprague also won Best Appearing Car for 2005.
For the third year in a row “Dynamite” Dan Turbush of
Riverhead won the Charger championship and took home $1,100 from
the $6,850 point fund. Following Dan were Rusty Turbush ($950),
Justin Bonsignore ($850), Robin Vollmoeller ($800) and Eric
Goodale ($650)
Charger special awards were presented to Ray Bouchard for
Owner of the Year, Justin Bonsignore was the 2005 Rookie of the
Year and Rusty Turbush was named Best Appearing Car.
Soft spoken Scott Maliszewski of Deer Park enjoyed his first
Blunderbust championship with an $800 point fund check from the
$3,600 fund for 2005. Second through fifth were Tommy Walkowiak
($550), Wayne Okula ($500), Artie Pedersen Jr. ($400) and Dale
Arnold ($350).
Joe and Brooke Englehart were named Owners of the Year while
Paul Parisi won the Best Appearing Blunderbust for 2005.
Lou Maestri of Deer Park won his second consecutive Super Pro
Truck title in 2005 taking home $700 from the $3,240 point fund.
Bobby Gardner ($500), Dave Brigati ($450), Frank Dumicich Jr.
($350) and Troy Ferdinando ($300) followed Maestri in 2005.
Jim Donaldson of Shirley enjoyed yet another championship
season in the Car Rollover Contest winning the 2005 title, while
Shawn Wanat of Riverhead took home the 2005 Train Race
championship with three partners earning $600.
Bryan Sescila from the Super Pro Truck ranks and his crew were
voted Best Dressed Crew while Brian Schwarz from Dave Brigati’s
multi car and truck team was named Mechanic of the Year.
The top five in the six NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series divisions
took home trophies, while the top ten in all classes shared a
2005 Riverhead Raceway point fund of $47,100.
Source: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:
November 8, 2005
