After a long off season, the engines finally roared back to life this past Saturday for the first practice of the season at Riverhead Raceway.  All in attendance agreed that we missed the sights and the smells of racing and were glad to be back.

Super Pro Trucks

            The Super Pro Trucks were well represented on practice day.  Dan Turbush was caught shaking down his unlettered #8 with a fresh paint job resembling the traditional red and black Turbush colors.  The #38 of Danny Grennan was back and it was a joy to see the savvy veteran back in action.  While the elder #5 Frank Dumicich in the Wesemann Sand & Mason Supply machine stuck with the same baby blue of last year, the younger #42 Frank Dumicich, Jr. looked sharp in a blue and white AutoZone Chevrolet.  #1 Schwing Electric Ford Lou Maestri was out taking his truck for a spin, which looked unchanged from 2005, and with a championship on it, why change it?  #43 Bobby Jones brought his SPONSORS WANTED machine to practice for his sophomore season.  #66 Mike Albasini was also on hand with an unchanged vehicle cosmetic wise, but according to the likeable driver, a lot was changed underneath it.  Let’s hope so, as Mike deserves at least some good luck in his SPONSORS WANTED Chevrolet.  The #45 of Bobby Gardner was repainted to his traditional colors of black and blue with red highlights.  Last year’s paint scheme was a one-year deal in tribute to Larry Costa.  Gardner also mentioned that apparently most of his sponsors from last year went with the old paint scheme and Gardner is seeking some sponsorship.  With a second-place finish in championship points, what more can a sponsor ask for… a championship?  Dave Brigati was on hand in a beautifully lettered and painted #34 Victory Fleet Maintenance Dodge of Carl & Betsi Rackoff.  With the owner’s bills not in Brigati’s hands anymore, will Brigati excel with a championship?  And last, but not least, was the #11x of Dave Xavier.  Xavier is racing for Cystinosis awareness and has a truck underneath him which featured many wins for drivers like Jay Agugliaro and Richie Gottfried, Jr..  Expect Xavier to surprise a few by years end.  Eleven trucks in total, which is a good turnout for practice, but let’s hope for some more on opening night.

Blunderbusts

            Lots of Blunderbusts were on hand, although many were unfamiliar to seasoned Riverhead fans.  #00 Unique Golf Shop Chevrolet of Tommy Walkowiak returned with his same classic paint scheme, but has a new page-long note on his dashboard with reminders when he races.  The #1 Sherwin-Williams Chevrolet of Artie Pedersen, Jr. was suffering some engine woes, but was recently repainted and is waiting for some lettering.  The #3 Prime Choice Collectibles Chevrolet of Doug Watson was back in black, and was rumored to have had his camping tents in his truck.  Unfortunately the car had some mechanical woes, but Watson will run a part-time schedule in 2006 and is looking for only one thing – wins.  #04 Ralph Vignera had some nice paint on his SPONSOR WANTED racer, but was awaiting last minute lettering.  Tom Pickerell’s #4 Pickerell Clam Chevrolet looked hardly untouched since his championship run in 2004, but “Slick Pick” still remembers his way around the track in the same fashion as 2004 as well.  #6 Scott Sepe made vast improvements to his SPONSORS WANTED entry with not one, not two, but four brand spanking new tires on the classic #6.  Tom Sullivan and his #7 Custom Exteriors Lincoln were spotted, and both Sullivan and Pickerell were seen trading strategies for Saturday night (or was it Friday night)?  Michael Rommeney was sporting a new number (#11) and some new sheet metal on his former George “The Rocket” Crockett machine.  #15 of William Schwarz was perhaps one of the prettier cars in the division for the day, and will be part of a three-car stable, one Blunderbust and two Chargers (#14 Mike Schwarz and #15 Eddie Stein).  Neal Feola Jr. is back, and back with a beautifully painted and lettered #16 Hammerhead Promotions Chevrolet.  Feola is eager to come back to the division after a long hiatus.  #18 Michael Panico ditched the batmobile for the former Jack Handley #49.  The car should be a major improvement over the outdated and unsuccessful mount of last year.  #19 P.J. Vecchio debuted a new paint scheme for the Raceway Auto Sales entry which was reminiscent of paint schemes in the past for the Blunderbusts.  Maliszewski had on hand the #22 calico cat of the division, but we’re sure that Maliszewski will finish the paint before next Saturday.  #32 “Krazy” Eddie Mistretta is back with sponsorship of BAM Auto Body, after purchasing the former #32 of Rob Seeger, a car which had success as the #34 for Bryan Sescila a couple years back.  We’re looking forward to having Mistretta back as his presence was missed after a few years off.  #53 CustomVinylGraphics.com Chevrolet of Dale Arnold had some trippy graphics on his groovy machine.  Many of the drivers were complaining of the glare of his reflective graphics, and that’s just part of Arnold’s plan to conquer the division in 2006. #64 of Ray Shannon was also hand, the former mount of Mike Schwarz.  Wayne Okula sported a new body on his #67 Artesian Appraisals Chevrolet, which seemed beautiful as always.  We can’t wait to see the lettering on the #67.  #69 Paul Parisi was spotted, but not with his familiar Vinyl Answer entry.  Parisi spent the entire day lettering the #16 of Neal Feola, Jr., and plans to have his car out next week.  #76 Joe Pingatore was back and Pingatore may be the guy that will surprise in 2006.  And last, the #79 of Bill Wegmann looked no different than in the past five years, but its still nevertheless fast.  19 cars on hand is not a shabby showing for the Blunderbust squad in practice.  Although the names have changed, the Blunderbusts seem to be wide open for 2006.

Figure 8’s

The Figure 8’s featured many of the stars from last season returning for some more.  The #10 Pavco Industries Chevrolet of George Sprague looked unchanged for the new season, but with a season he had last year, would you?  The #28 Barrasso & Sons Mason Supply Ford of Roger Maynor looked sharp with a new paint scheme, and in other news look for Maynor in the Carl Rackoff #74 Victory Fleet Maintenance Late Model for time trials at Riverhead and for shows on the road.  If Maynor can transfer his knowledge from Figure 8’s to Late Models, he will be one formidable opponent indeed.  The #16 of Tom Ferrara was back with some new body panels.  While the #47 Slim’s Body Piercing Ford of “Slim” Jim Donaldson may not look different on the outside, it sure sounded different under the hood.  #63 Paul Specht was back with classic paint scheme of two stripes going down the middle of the SPONSORS WANTED car.  The #74 Blast-it Sandblasting Pontiac of Carl Baxter was freshened for 2006 and the car looked nice.  The #78 of Michael Brigandi had a new body which made the car look brand spanking new.  And the #81 Lou Martucci was on hand with a new paint scheme as well.  Only seven Figure 8’s were on hand, but don’t let that number fool you.  There are plenty more getting ready for opening day.

Chargers

The Chargers were a group of brand new faces for many, as even this veteran reporter at Riverhead was wondering who’s who.  Where was Dan, Rusty, Robin, Jack, Dave… The names we used to cheer for and jeer for in years past…  They have moved on, which has made this class very interesting for 2006.  #01 of Rob Tribuzio had his bright orange Pontiac on hand.  Jeremy McDermott had his white #5 on hand as well, with some beautiful vinyl.  #08 Warren Collins sported some new body panels on his SPONSORS WANTED vehicle.  #10 Brad Van Houten was on hand to practice, but rumor has it Van Houten will be on hand part-time.  Say it ain’t so Brad, as the young man was shaping up to be a championship contender in the division.  A brand new team debuted, with the beautiful #14 of Mike Schwarz (the former Robin Vollmoeller mount) and the #15 of Eddie Stein.  The two partners in crime will be gearing up for a championship run in 2006, both sponsored by B. Sexton Site Development.  It wasn’t Rusty in the #17x Lolly’s Hut Pontiac, but John Ellwood.  Ellwood, long time car-owner has turned to his driving roots in an effort to have some fun on Saturdays once again.  #21 Chris Beutler was on hand in the familiar Spabco Racing Pontiac.  Beutler and father (whom is looking good by the way sans mustache) are looking forward to making the move to Modifieds later this season for a full-time run in 2007.  #23 Tom Anderson had the former #8 of Dan Turbush looking pretty snazzy with some cool graphic work.  #24 Joe Oliver was featuring grey primer, but we’re sure this young gun will paint it up for opening day.  #30 Daryn Miller has removed the green from his paint scheme in favor of red, and hopefully he has removed the bad luck as well.  #33 Ken Waller was looking good with a brand new Monte Carlo body on his Mike’s Mechanic Service sponsored racer.  #36 Eric Lutz just can’t get away from his Charger roots and had his car on hand, which he will run part-time in 2006.  Steve Ratti and the Rat Pack is back for 2006, in the immaculate #37 James Becht Builders Chevrolet.  Likewise, Henry Cataldo, 2000 Blunderbust champion returns in the Charger ranks, driving the #44 “bar car” for 2006 and looking like a natural once again in the Chargers.  The former mount of Justin Bonsignore had a #47 on it and it was driven by former Legends car driver and fan grandstand race analyst, Ralph Beaver.  Beaver will be sponsored by Cavalier Modular Homes for the season.  The #54 featured a red and black paint scheme (the in colors of 2006) for newcomer Joe Martocchia.  John Wicks returns after a year off in the #55.  Sean Byrne was also on hand in the #65 racer.  Chris Turbush had a few new body panels on his #81 Lepage Millworks Pontiac and was looking mighty fast out there.  #88 Frank Scimeca returned after almost five years away from the sport.  And last but not least, the #89x Gershow Recycling entry of Chris McGuire had a brilliant metallic blue on his machine.  Twenty-two machines on hand, and with more coming, the Chargers look to be an exciting division this year with no one really sure who will end up top.

Late Models

The Late Models had some nice sparkly cars on hand.  #1 Dave Brigati had his car entourage on hand, both the white and black knights, sponsored by White Post Wholesale Growers.  #01 Rob Tribuzio had his car on hand with a more subdued black rather than neon orange.  #2 Peter Rotzi had an immaculate machine on hand, and not only was the car looking good, but so was Rotzi sans mustache and newly dyed hair.  Rotzi was looking a good ten years younger.  Scott Kulesa was on hand as well in his family #10 Ranco Sand & Stone Pontiac.  Mike Moritmer’s #14 Pontiac was virtually unchanged from 2005, but unfortunately Mike’s crewmember “Frank” was nowhere to be found.  #23 Kevin Metzger had some nice red and white paint on his machine.  #36 Eric Lutz was sporting a look-a-like paint scheme in his Marjam Supply sponsored racer, the former championship mount of Glenn Tyler.  #39 Roger Oxee was sporting a new paint scheme and a new goatee after finally earning a championship last year.  #72 Greg Kleila was seen, but without his racer, as was #99 Jack Orlando.  #91 Jeremy McDermott had one sharp looking machine underneath him.  Newcomer Ralph Stanzione had his #97 yellow Chevrolet on hand warming up.  And let’s not forget rookie Dan Turbush in the #98 Ideal Cesspool red and black Pontiac.  Only ten Late Models on hand, but there’s definitely more out there.  Let’s hope they come out and play as the Late Models were the show of 2006.

Modifieds

The Modifieds were the one division where you can rely upon familiar faces to be there, year-in and year-out, with few exceptions.  The #3 of John Denniston was on hand as well as his former #3 which was painted like his Super Pro Truck, the #22x for rookie Tracey Christiansen.  The #2 Gershow Recycling Chevy was back with J.R. Bertuccio and it was good seeing him back in a racecar once again.  1999-2000 Modified Champ, #5 Frank Vigliarolo, Jr. was on hand with his Cassone Trailer entry.  #8x Eddie Brunnhoelzl III had his familiar purple and white Jamaica Brake & Clutch Chevrolet, whom will be racing at Mountain Speedway on Sunday as well.  Chuck Steuer had his two #11x Savin Copier machines on hand, ready to make a run for the championship once again.  The #12 Dunkerley’s Office Products Corvette of Dan Jivanelli featured the trademark Jivanelli orange.  #15 Wayne Anderson had his two Eastport Feeds entries being warmed up.  Rusty Turbush had his #17x S.N. Blydenburgh Custom Interiors Chevrolet painted grey.  2005 champion, Bill Park was on hand with his #20 Smithtown Nissan Chevrolets.  #25 Frank Saladino was spotted, but without a car.  Justin Bonsignore didn’t look too shabby in his new #28 Long Island Fiber Exchange racer.  Larry Altholtz and his yellow #35 Rose Fence entry looked good out there.  #36 of Dave Sapienza looked unchanged for 2006.  Chris Young had a brand new #49 Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet on hand, ready to reverse his bad luck of 2005.  #74 Marisa Niederauer was also on hand taking in practice.  The young lady is looking for some sponsorship, so be sure to stop by her pit and she would be more than happy to represent your organization.  #93 Able Auto Salvage Chevrolet of Sal Accardi, Jr. featured a silver look.  And last, but not least, Howie Brode had his traditional #96 Petro Fuel Oil entry on hand as well.  Sixteen cars on hand, but don’t let that number fool you, as many were on route to the tour race at Stafford.

Assorted Notes:

Many Grand Enduros, 4/6-cylinder Truck Enduros, and other enduros were on hand to take in some rare practice.  Many standouts such as Bobby Pease, Ray Fitzgerald, and John Cozza (with an immaculate #59 Grand Enduro) were on hand, but most notably the biggest thing that struck me was void felt the absence of Rich Johnson.  Johnson helped out many racers in all ranks of racing at Riverhead and beyond.  Johnson will be missed, and this story is dedicated to him.  Rest in peace…

THE END