Summer Heat Continues for July Racing

    The heat continued, both on and off the track, as the Tom Baldwin Memorial 77 lead the feature card at Riverhead Raceway this weekend. With all 6 regular divisions scheduled for the first time in weeks, the blazing sun of the afternoon made the job of preparing the cars just a bit more difficult, and the teams sweated through getting ready for the evening’s full card of activities. Capping off the evening would be the Tom Baldwin Memorial 77 lap Modified race in honor of the late, great Tom Baldwin, the leader of the Long Island Gang on the Whelen Modified Tour until his untimely passing almost 2 years ago.

    Qualifying for the Tom Baldwin memorial 77 was through time trials, with Bill Park setting fast time and winning the $177 bonus money. After a redraw, Tom Rogers Jr, subbing for Frank Vigliarolo Jr., who was at the bedside of his father, Frank Sr., sat on the pole, with John Fortin, in only his 2^nd appearance of the season, to the outside. 4 parade laps, with the pole left open in tribute to Tiger Tom, preceded the race. As the field came around to take the green from ceremonial starter Joe Larsen, Fortin ran side by side with Rogers, in the Nicolock Paver’’s #5, until Fortin pulled slightly ahead to take sole possession of 1^st a lap later. Rogers now had to contend with Howie Brode’s General Utilities #96 for 2^nd, and Brode got by to take that a lap later. Fortin, Brode, Rogers, Mike Andrews Jr., in the North East Race Cars & Parts #86, and Eddie Brunnhoelzl III, in the Jamaica Brake & clutch #8x, rounded out the top 5 at this point. By lap 15, the lead pack was 12 cars running single file, but on lap 17, Rogers and Andrews made contact in turn 2, and the first of many cautions came out as the field scattered to avoid them. On the restart, Fortin slipped a bit coming off turn 2, and Brode shot by to take the lead, as Fortin recovered and stayed right with him. 2 laps later, yellow flew once more for Bill Park’s Smithtown Nissan #20, stalled in turn 4. On the next restart, Fortin slipped slightly again, and Chuck Steuer, in the Savin Copiers 11x, moved into 2^nd. Yellow flew again on lap 24, in what became the story of the race at this point, with yellow out so much over the next segments, it was almost as if it was a tribute to Tommy Baldwin’s last years of racing in his yellow #7ny.

     Once this ‘yellow fever’ period was over, track officials went to a single file restart format after the least yellow on lap 28, and it seemed to work, as by lap 32, Brode, Steuer, and Ken Heagy, now 3^rd in the Buoy One Restaurant #38, headed a group of 6 cars that ran in a line, nose to tail, with JR Bertuccio’s Gershow Recycling #2 4^th, Justin Bonsignore’’s LI Fiber Exchange #28 5^th, and Sal Accardi Jr’s Peter J Dunn Attorney at Law #93 in 6^th. Brode ran a smooth line, with Steuer patiently watching and waiting for the opportunity to get by, but the chance never came, and by lap 50, there were now 9 cars in a line as yellow flew once more after Andrews spun on lap 50 in some moisture on the track that was thought to have come from Accardi’s #93. Green came out again quickly, but on lap 52, Dave Sapienza’s Sponsors Wanted #36 brushed the turn 2 wall, and yellow flew once more. Many drivers took this opportunity to pit, and put on 2 or 4 new tires, which would have it’s effect later on the outcome of the race for most of them. Two more quick yellows slowed the race over the next couple of laps, but after that, Brode kept command of the race as Steuer’s frustration only made him more determined to stick to Brode’s bumper to find some way around him. The last of the yellows flew on lap 64 as Dave Roys, in the Mike’s Place #79, spun. With 11 laps to go, the green flew once more, and Brode took of to hang onto his lead as Steuer continued to try and find a way past him, but Tom Rogers Jr. who put on 4 sticker tires around lap 52, was now marching his way forward, coming to 4^th spot on lap 71, and passing Heagy for 3^rd on lap 72. Heagy, driving his best race of the season, spun going into turn 1 (with a little help) on lap 73, but recovered without drawing a yellow. Rogers meanwhile, got by Steuer to take 2^nd, and was zeroing in on Brode as Brode took the checkered flag for the prestigious win and $1600, plus lap money, while Rogers won $1200 for second, and Steuer held on for 3^rd and it’s purse of $1065, plus lap money, while John Fortin was 4^th, and Justin Bonsignore came in 5^th.

    The Super Pro Trucks began the evening’s program, with Dave Xavier’s Cystinosis Research Network 11x on the pole, and Mike Albasini’s M&M Motorsports #66 to the outside. At the drop of the green, they took of side by side, buy Dave Koenig’s Nelson’s Auto Salvage #97 and Dave Brigati’s Victory Fleet Maintenance #34 came together after Koenig blew a tire, and yellow flew. On the restart, before a lap was complete, Rich Giordano’s G Force Collision #7 hit the first turn wall, and yellow flew again. Giving it one more try, Xavier and Albasini took off once more, only to have yellow fly again after Dan Turbush’s Dantona Industries # 8 and Dan Grennan’s PCHS Engines #38 came together and Turbush went into the turn 2 wall hard, ending his night early on lap 2. When green flew once more, Xavier grabbed the lead, but was passed on lap 4 by Frank Dumicich Jr for the lead on lap 4, as Bobby Gardner‘s Auctiondepot.org #45 moved up to 2nd. Moving up on the inside were Koenig, Lou Maestri’s Schwing Electric #1, Brigati, and Grennan to round out the top 6 runners by lap 10. Gardner was putting heavy pressure on Dumicich for the lead, when Gardner bumped Dumicich going into turn 3, causing a him to spin, and bringing out the caution. Gardner was sent to the rear for rough riding and racing resumed with Koenig now the leader, and Maestri right behind him. At the start, Maestri had trouble coming up to speed, and was involved in a collision with Brigati, who got the worst of the deal, and yellow as out once more. With green out again, Koenig held the lead, but Grennan was now battling Maestri for 2^nd as Xavier watched from 4^th. On lap 15, Grennan got by Koenig for the lead, with Maestri following, and a lap after that, Koenig and Xavier got together in turn 1, and yellow was out once more (for the last time, as ruled by track officials). On the restart, Grennan took off, with Maestri in pursuit, but Dumicich Jr. collided with Albasini, spinning him and causing a race ending caution at lap 18, making Grennan the victor, with Maestri 2^nd, Gardner 3^rd, Koenig 4^th, and Brigati 5^th.

    Next up, the Blunderbusts, with all 27 cars on hand slated to start, held their 20 lap feature.Ed Mistretta’s Sponsors Wanted #32 sat on the pole, with William Schwarz’s B. Sexton Site Development #15 to his outside, and at the drop of the green, Mistretta jumped to the lead, as Schwarz followed. Behind them, some cars are racing 3 wide, knowing they have only 20 laps to advance to the front through the large field of cars, and on lap 11, disaster strikes as Tommy Walkowiak’s Unique Golf #00 becomes a ping-pong ball going into turn 1, getting pushed from the bottom across traffic going into turn 2, and collecting P.J. Vecchio’s Raceway Auto Sales #19 and Tom Sullivan’s Lakewood Used Auto Parts #7, as yellow flies. On the restart, Mistretta takes off once again, as Schwarz and Don Doherty’s Sponsors Wanted #65 follow. Doherty gets by Schwarz to take 2^nd, but stalls a lap later in turn 3, bringing out caution. Mistretta takes command once more on the restart, and is now being pursued by Tom Pickerell’s Pickerell Clam & Lobster # 4, Tom Gersbeck’s Sponsors Wanted #55, Bill Wegmann’s Sponsor’s Wanted #79, and Dale Arnold’’s Custom Vinyl Graphic #53 chasing him as the laps ticked off. Gersbeck spun from contention on the last lap in the backstretch, as Mistretta went on to take the victory, also earning the Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Cadillac trophy for his victory, as Pickerell, Wegmann, and Wayne Okula’s Artisan Appraisers #67 rounded out the top 4.

    The Chargers would next run in the B Sexton Site Development 20 feature, with Tom Anderson’’s Mike Place 323 on the pole, and Charlie Rittenhouse’s King Bear-Brentwood #25 to his outside. Anderson took off at the drop of the green, with Henry Cataldo’s Post office Café #44 moving to 2^nd, and Chris Beutler’s Spabco Racing #21 to 3^rd. Eric Goodale’s Riverhead Building Supply brought out yellow on lap 3, as he sufferd a flat and couldn’’t get down off the wall in time to clear the track. With green back out, Anderson kept the lead, but Beutler fought his way to 2^nd, as Cataldo and Rittenhouse came together out of trun 2, but recovered in time to avoid a caution. Mike Schwarz #15 and Kevin Orlando #14, both driving for race sponsor B. Sexton Site Development, were now up to 3^rd and 4^th, with Chris Turbush’s LePage Millworks #81 5^th. Anderson held a 3 car advantage over Beutler, as Schwarz and Orlando ran side by side battling for 3^rd spot. On lap 12, Brian Doyle clipped the wall all the way down the backstretch, bringing out yellow. On the restart, Anderson masterfully kept his lead over a determined Beulter, as Orlando ran 3^rd., but on lap 15, Jim Donnelly’s Village Pizza #27 and Garrett Fabrizio’s Sponsor’s Wanted #13 came together in turn 4 hitting the wall and bringing out another caution. On the restart, Anderson took off once more, with Beutler in pursuit, but as the laps ran down, Anderson built a comfortable advantage, while on the final lap, Beutler and Schwarz came together, spinning off turn 2, as Chris Turbush takes advantage of the mishap and moves to 2^nd, while Schwarz held on for 3^rd, with Rob Tribuzio’’s Tuckahoe Sales & Service #01 4th, and Chris McGuire’s Gershow Recycling #8x coming in 5^th.

    Up next, the Barrasso & Sons Ernie Maynor Memorial 20 for the Figure 8’s saw 16 cars take the green, with Mike Brigandi’s Sponsors Wanted #78 on the pole and Tom Graff’s Sponsors Wanted #00 to his outside. Yellow flew on the 1^st lap, continuing what seemed to be the night’s theme, as Jim Donaldson’s Silm’s Body Piercing #47 and Kenny Hyde’s Maples Bar #58 came together in turn 1. Roger Maynor suffering from mechanical ills, had to be towed from the track during the yellow, as his car would not run, and it was later determined a broken transmission mount problem would put him out for the night in a race that was most important to him. On the next try for a start, Graff grabbed the lead, as Mike Mujsce’s Pro-Tech Automotive #13 battled with Tom Ferrara’s Sponsors Wanted #16 for 2^nd. On lap 2, Will Farrell’s Caccavale Builders Corp. #29 and Carl Voelker Jr’’s Sonsors Wanted #64 collided in turn 3, and yellow flew again. With green out again, Graff held the lead as Mujsce, George Sprague’s Pavco Industries #10, and Tom Kraft’s Four Season’s Glass #8 followed closely behind. Mujsce grabbed the lead away a lap later, with Sprague following through for 2^nd, and Sprague gave everything he had to get by Mujsce, who protected his lead lap after lap against Sprague efforts to get by. At one point, Sprague and Mujsce got together, with Mujsce sliding a bit sideways in turn 3, but Sprague was a gentleman and backed off to allow Mujsce to recover control. Sprague would later collide with a lapped car in turn 2, bouncing off and going high, and that was all Tom Kraft needed to pass for 2^nd spot, but the yellow came out for the car Sprague had sideswiped, and Sprague restarted 2^nd after the field was realigned. On the lap 12 restart, Mujsce took off once more, protecting his lead as Sprague dogged him, and Mujsce did everything right to hold onto the lead until the end, taking the victory in the race every Figure-8 driver wants to win, with Sprague coming in 2^nd, Kraft 3^rd, Hyde 4^th, and Graff a very impressive 5^th. Added to the victory lane ceremony was the induction of Sonny Densieski into the SAFER Hall of Fame for lifetime dedication to the sport of Figure-8 racing for all he has done as the track welder for the division.

    Lastly, 16 cars took the green for the Late Model 25 feature, with Ken Alfano’s Habberstad BMW/MINI on the pole, and Sean Patrick’s Sponsors Wanted #88 to his outside. At the start, Alfano took off, but Patrick’s car never seemed to gain any steam, and the inside row followed Alfano, as the outside row of cars was boxed in behind Patrick, and on lap 3, Patrick ended up in the turn 2 wall, as the cars behind him apparently caused him to lose control as they tried to get by, and yellow was out. When the green flew once more, Dan Turbush’’s Ideal Cesspool #98 shot past Alfano to take the lead, while Dave Brigati’’s WPW Growers #1x and Kevin Metzger’s Sponsors Wanted #23 followed. Turbush was just cruising on the lead, as Alfano and Brigati followed, as Metzger had Jeremy McDermott’s Sponsors Wanted #91 trying to get by for 4^th spot. On lap 11, Scott Kulesa’s Ranco Sand & Stone #10 got loose in turn 2, causing Mike Mortimer’s Island Aerial Ads #14 to spin, but Kulesa’s own stopping in turn 4 with a flat brought out caution, and Mortimer got his spot back, as McDermott went to the pits with a leaking problem. At the restart, Turbush again sailed into a comfortable lead, as Alfano and Brigati battled for 2^nd, with Brigati taking it, while Metzger moved up into 3^rd spot. On lap 14, Kulesa and Mike Coll’s I-Trade.Com #75 collided in turn 4, and yellow flew again. On the restart, Turbush just cruised away, with Brigati in pursuit, as Metzger ran a distant 3^rd, with Jack Orlando’s Staria Auto Body #99 looking to get by, and Mortimer pressuring Orlando for 4^th spot. But it was Turbush’s night, as though he’s a ’rookie’ in Late Models, he sailed home to his 66^th overall Riverhead victory.

News and Notes: Tom Baldwin Jr, along with his sister Tammy, on hand for the festivities, and he added some interesting commentary from the booth with Bob Finan during his father’s memorial race… look for an announcement early next week from TB Jr. as to his racing plans for the future in Nextel Cup…Dr. Dick Berggren, Editor of Speedway Illustrated and Fox Pit Road reporter also on hand to see the Baldwin Memorial 77...The Turn 1 Cowboys rode in the pace cars for the National Anthem pace car parade, waving their Stetson’s to the crowd before returning to their ‘loudest’ section of the turn 1 stands…As mentioned earlier, Tom Roger’s Jr filled in for Frank Vigliarolo Jr., whose Dad, Frank Sr., is in critical condition battling cancer, as Frank Jr.s was at his beside…Music used to entertain the crowd was at a nice level, not overdriven, and made good entertainment between events…good crowd on hand, as very hot weather was thought to possibly make people stay at home in air conditioning, but most showed up by feature time…that’’s all for this week, until next week’s Whelen Modified Tour 200 at Riverhead, live well and be safe.