Tom Rogers,
Jr. Paces the Field onto Cromarty Cup Victory
by
J.A. Ackley
Fans packed the grandstands to standing room only to
enjoy an evening of fireworks and racing action. On hand were two former
NASCAR Nextel Cup cars, #45 Brawny Dodge formerly of Kyle Petty and Dale
Earnhardt’s legendary #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet which paced the fields for
the night. The winners of the night included Tommy Walkowiak in the
Blunderbusts, Mike Schwarz in the Chargers, Roger Maynor in the Figure 8’s,
and Tom Rogers, Jr. in the Modifieds. And here’s how it happened…
Blunderbusts:
26 cars were on hand in the pits, although a few did
not make the calling. The #43 SPONSORS WANTED Chevrolet of Bill Portney,
Jr., #66 Stan’s Towing Chevrolet of Matt Brown, and the #7 Custom Exteriors
Lincoln of Tom Sullivan was unable to take the green. However, Tom Sullivan
managed to eke out a ride in Caesar Cunaccia’s #20 TTB Construction Co.
Chevrolet for the feature.
Two Queens natives led the field to the green – the #6
SPONSORS WANTED Buick of Scott Sepe and #11 C&A Auto Parts Chevrolet of Mike
Rommeney. At the wave of the green flag, Sepe jumped into the early lead,
with Rommeney falling to second. Soon thereafter, the #64 Centereach
Transmissions Chevrolet of Ray Shannon would take second away from #11
Rommeney. Rommeney started to fade fast as 2 laps later #21 Accent Mortgage
Consultants entry of Gary Caldwell, #79 Crackerjack Auto Supply Oldsmobile
of Bill Wegmann, and the #00 Unique Golf Shop Chevrolet of Tommy Walkowiak
would take turns at passing and battling Rommeney. Meanwhile up front, the
#64 Ray Shannon started to reel in the leader #6 Sepe before caution would
wave. The #17 Craig’s Auto Body Chevrolet of Matt Pepitone would go up in
smoke in turn 1 and spin in his own fluids along with the #69x The Vinyl
Answer Chevrolet of Paul Parisi, #3 Over the Hill Racing Chevrolet of Doug
Watson, #19x entry of Rob McCormick, and the #72 Stock & Carr, Esq.
Chevrolet of Tom Stock. The #17 would leave a trail of fluid around the
track which caused a delay, despite the hard work of the well-coordinated
Riverhead Raceway track workers.
The restart would feature a front row of #6 Sepe and
#64 Shannon and as the race restarted, Shannon would grab the lead. Soon
thereafter, the fading #6 Sepe would succumb to #79 Wegmann to second, #00
Walkowiak to third, then dropping #6 Sepe to fourth. Shannon would have his
hands full with warding off cunning veterans such as Wegmann and Walkowiak,
and on lap 14 off turn 2, the #00 would grab the low groove and ride his way
into the lead. Caution would wave on lap 16 for a tangle between the #19x
McCormick and the #76 J&C Auto Salvage Chevrolet of Joe Pingitore in turn 4
which left them stuck together on the track.
After prying the two apart, the #00 Walkowiak would get
a good start over the #64 Shannon, #79 Wegmann, and the fast approaching #32
of Mistretta. Before things could get interesting, caution would wave on
lap 17 for the spun #29 Long Island Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Long
Island Chevrolet of Jessica Larsen.
They would restart again, with the #32 Mistretta
passing the #79 of Wegmann for third and fast approaching on the dueling #00
Walkowiak and #64 Shannon. Caution would wave on lap 18 for the #28 Ability
Appliance Cadillac of Dennis Cunningham which rammed the turn 1 wall hard.
And during this caution heartbreak hotel would strike the #79 Crackerjack
Auto Supply Olds of Bill Wegmann as he lost power.
The green flag would wave once again, with the #00
Walkowiak jumping out front, and the man on the move would be #22 SPONSORS
WANTED Chevrolet of Scott Maliszewski. Maliszewski, known for his quiet
demeanor off the track, is also known for the same demeanor on the track.
On lap 18, Maliszewski would pass #32 Mistretta for third, but before the
checkers would wave, Maliszewski just couldn’t get past Shannon, and would
settle for third. Ray Shannon would have a stellar run with a second-place
finish, and winding up with the win, would be #00 Tommy Walkowiak, one week
after his primary car got destroyed. Walkowiak would like to thank all the
people who helped him get his temporary car, the former Ron Langdon #90, up
and running for the win. And what was more surprising was that Walkowiak
won with a broken rear, a true testament to his endearing competitive
spirit.
Chargers
#14 B. Sexton Site Development Pontiac of Mike Schwarz
and #07 Eastern Long Island Automotive Chevrolet of Bob Durand would pace
the field to the green. #14 Schwarz would take the early lead while #07
Durand and the #47 Cavalier Modular Homes Chevrolet of Ralph Beaver would
battle for second. Caution struck on lap 2, as the #48 “Slim” Jim Donaldson
would encounter a spin in turn 2, while as result of the scrambling the #36
Marjam Supply Chevrolet of Eric Lutz would suffer right front fender damage.
At the restart between #14 Schwarz and #07 Durand, #07
Durand appears to miss a shift at the start as the whole field behind him
scrambles with the #66 Riverhead Building Supply Pontiac of Shawn Solomito
spinning for the second caution.
#14 Schwarz and #07 Durand restart once again, but with
better results, with the #14 Schwarz jumping into the lead, while #47 Beaver
would grab second away from #07 Durand. The battle then shifts to third,
with the #99 Neat & Complete Drywall Chevrolet of Kevin Orlando taking third
away from the fading #07 of Durand. A few laps later, the #89x Gershow
Recycling Ford of Chris McGuire would grab third from #99 Orlando and then
#81 Spano Floors Pontiac of Chris Turbush would take fourth from #99 of
Orlando. By lap 10, the #89x of McGuire catches the second-place and
then McGuire would pass the #47 of Ralph Beaver for second. Beaver
would start fading, as #81 Turbush and #99 Orlando would pass him as well a
few laps later. However, the leader #14 Schwarz wouldn’t even let
traffic rain on his parade, as he would drive on to victory lane.
#89x Chris McGuire would finish second, but
would be disqualified following post-race tech for a tire infraction. #81
Chris Turbush would wind up inheriting second with #99 Kevin Orlando
claiming the final podium spot for third.
Figure 8’s
The Double Zero Racing team sponsored by DeMartino
Enterprises of #0x Tom Ferrara and #00 Tom Graff would pace the field to the
green, with the #0x grabbing the early lead. But before the action could
heat up, the #16 Four Seasons Sunrooms Chevrolet of Tom Kraft would make
contact with the #00 Graff, with Graff resulting in a spin. However luckily
for Graff, the caution would be for debris. While clean-up for debris was
occurring, Kraft would take his #16 into the pits for a driver change.
Kraft has been feeling a little under the weather, and hopping into the car
would be Late Model driver, Dan Turbush, a former Figure 8 veteran, who
hasn’t encountered the X since the 1970’s.
The race would restart, and the #0 Ferrara would grab
the lead once again. Soon thereafter his teammate Graff would encounter
some heat from the #63 SPONSORS WANTED entry of Paul Specht, in which Specht
was looking for a way around Graff, but was patiently awaiting opportunity.
Moving swiftly up through the field would be the #74 Blast-it Sandblasting
Pontiac of Carl Baxter and lurking behind him the #28 Barrasso & Sons Mason
Supply Ford of Roger Maynor. However it would take until lap 13, until the
#74 Baxter would edge out #63 Specht for second, and then #28 Maynor
following suit for third. #74 Baxter would catch the #00 Graff but caution
would wave for the spun #11 of Mike Rommeney in turn 3.
#0x Ferrara would take the lead upon the restart once
more, but the #28 Maynor started making the moves, moving into third by
passing #74 Baxter on lap 15. Caution would wave once more as the #00 Graff
made contact with a fellow car and thus ricocheted into the #16 of now
Turbush, bringing out the yellow.
The restart would see the #0x Ferrara up front, with
the #28 of Maynor right behind him. Soon enough Maynor would pass Ferrara
for the lead. #74 Baxter would get right on the #0x of Ferrara and
unfortunately got too close and spun the #0x Ferrara for second. #28 Maynor
would ride on to victory where he simply stated, “Winning never gets old,”
for his fifth win of 2007. Baxter would be set to the back of where #0x
Ferrara finished, paving the way for the #13 Mike’s Auto Service of Quogue
Ford of Mike Mujsce for second while the #58 Maples Bar & Grill Dodge of
Kenny Hyde would earn a respectable third.
One-On-One Spectator Drags
In what was one of the most popular events of the
night, the fans who were not afraid of taking their street cars on one wild
ride, would take their cars out of the parking lot and onto the track to see
whose got the fastest ride. Up first was enduro competitor, Andrew “Boom
Boom” Washington in his company car the #23 Flexible Business Systems Toyota
Prius Hybrid versus the 1985 Fiero of Vinny Laroca, all the way from Fort
Lauderdale, Florida. And in the end, Washington had enough Boom Boom to get
the checkers. The next match-up featured the classic Ford vs. Chevrolet
battle with John Harley’s Ford Mustang GT versus venerable favorite Don
Carisiti’s Pontiac Firebird. Carisiti would cruise to the win. Another
Chevy-Ford battle feature the 1985 Mustang of Pete Chervin versus the 1986
Chevrolet Camaro IROC of Blunderbust competitor Donny “Boom Boom” Oliver.
Oliver would cruise to victory. Mark Catone’s Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
tried to take on former Charger driver, Brian Schwarz’ Chevrolet Malibu,
which sounded like it had a Charger motor in it, and Schwarz’ Malibu would
ride to victory. The all-time leader in Spectator Drags wins, Mike
Schlaugies brought out his venerable Pontiac LeMans which went against the
Chevrolet Camaro of Nick Cassoni, and Schlaugies cruised to victory. Marty
Johanson would just make the bell to head to the track in his Long Island Driveshafts Jeep Cherokee to take on Bud Sexton’s T-Rex. In the surprise of
the night, Johnson would upset Sexton’s venerable T-Rex for the victory.
Round 2, featured further interesting match-ups…
Andrew “Boom Boom” Washington’s Toyota Prius hybrid was no match for Don
Carisiti’s Pontiac Firebird. Donny “Boom Boom” Oliver’s 1986 IROC Camaro
beat Brian Schwarz’ Chevrolet Malibu. And in the race of the night, Mike
Schlaugies’ Pontiac LeMans just barely eked out a win over Marty Johanson’s
Jeep Cherokee in a photo finish.
Round 3, featured a battle of Pontiac vs. Chevrolet,
where Don Carisiti would zoom on to victory over Donny Oliver’s IROC Camaro,
setting up a classic One-On-One Spectator Drag final. Don Carisiti, who as
of late, as been the master of the Spectator Drag versus the all-time
Champion, Mike Schlaugies. The Pontiac vs. Pontiac duel would see Caristi
ride on to victory lane.
Modifieds
Dave Brigati would find his #3 WPW Growers Chevrolet
with fast time, and luck was on his side as he redrew and kept his pole
position. Starting outside of Brigati would be the #6 Big Brothers and Big
Sisters of Long Island Chevrolet of Tom Rogers, Jr. Rogers would jump into
the early lead followed by the #3 Brigati, #20 Smithtown Nissan Chevrolet of
Bill Park, and the #11x Savin Copier Chevrolet of Chuck Steuer. Caution
would wave on lap 4 for the disabled #74 House of Cool Ford of Marisa
Niederauer which had right front damage. The #2 Gershow Recycling Chevrolet
of J.R. Bertuccio would pit for adjustments, as Bertuccio
uncharacteristically time trialed 13th. After a length cleanup for fluid
all around the track, the race would go green only to go yellow right after
as the track still had a little too much speedy dry on it. After a brief
clean-up, the race would continue with the #6 Rogers getting a good lead,
and the #11x Steuer jumping into second. The two would pace the field until
lap 20 when caution would wave for the #49 Riverhead Building Supply
Chevrolet of Chris Young who spun after contact with the #2 of Bertuccio.
The race would resume under green, with #6 Rogers and
#11x Steuer pacing the field. The #6 Rogers would garner a good lead, and
pace the field. Caution would wave on lap 44 for the #36 Flemington Fur
Company Chevrolet of Dave Sapienza, which got involved in the aftermath of
the #44 Long Island Collector Car Garage Chevrolet of Dan Jivanelli spinning
as result with contact with the #15 Eastport Feeds Chevrolet of Wayne
Anderson. The race would resume and then caution would wave on lap 46 for
the spun #84 J. Murphy Cesspool Service Chevrolet of John Fortin.
This would pave the way for a four-lap shootout, but
there was no touching the venerable #6 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long
Island Chevrolet of Tom Rogers, Jr., as he cruised to victory lane. Chuck
Steuer would have to settle for a great run and a second place finish in the
#11x Savin Chevrolet. And taking the third spot, would be a good run for
the #3 WPW Growers Chevrolet of Dave Brigati.
News & Notes:
- Chargers will be racing
next Saturday, July 7, with a regular 20-lap feature.
- Charger #96 team of Frank
Scimeca, Jr. had a special pit crew for the day, as they had the
Brentwood School District wrenching the car, which are his father, Frank
Sr.’s daily co-workers.
- Rob Bada bought the former #67
Blunderbust of Wayne Okula, and had a rough time in practice, nailing
the turn 4 gate. Bada’s hard-working crew members got it back together
for the feature and once Bada figures this venerable car out, keep an
eye out.
- Where was Tom Sullivan last
week? On a 50th anniversary cruise for his parents, where he earned 2nd
place in a beauty contest. Ask Tom for details (or better yet pictures)
on his interesting cruise, a cruise in which he just got back the day of
the race.
Source: J.A.
Ackley/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
June 30, 2007
