Ellwood,
Wholey, Young & Kraft Head to Victory Lane
by
J.A. Ackley
The fans packed the stands to see a night packed full
of action. Four divisions of racing including the Chargers, Late Models,
Modifieds, and Figure 8’s graced the quarter-mile speed plant. Plus,
One-on-One Spectator Drags, a Blindfold race, and a School Bus Demolition
Derby provided the icing on the cake for the excited fans on their seats.
Chargers
Frank Scimeca, Jr. in the #96 P&M Door Chevrolet and
Daryn Miller in the #30 Tarr Home Improvements+ Ford presented the front row
at the drop of the green. On the start, #96 Scimeca jumped into first, #30
Miller second, while the #47 Cavalier Modular Homes Chevrolet of Ralph
Beaver and the #23 Mike’s Place Chevrolet of Tom Anderson battle for third.
Before it could get interesting, yellow would fly for a horrific crash in
turn 3 where Eric Lutz in the #36 Marjam Supply Chevrolet would take a hard
hit into the turn 3 gate. Also involved were the #01 Iguana’s Restaurant &
Nightlife Chevrolet of Rob Tribuzio, #99 Neat & Complete Drywall Dodge of
Kevin Orlando, #51 Sandy Shore Building Pontiac of Alan Reeves, and the #14
B. Sexton Site Development Pontiac of Tom St. Clair. The NASCAR officials
would bring out the red flag as the turn 3 gate would need prompt repair
from Sonny Densieski and the gang of Iron Man Welding. The red flag was a
welcomed site for many involved in the wreck as this provided them time to
repair what damage they could, and all involved came back.
After a lengthy delay, the #96 Scimeca and #30 Miller
would restart once again, and #96 Scimeca would get a good jump. It was too
good of a jump as NASCAR officials deemed it jumping the flag and brought
out the yellow. The two would try the restart again, but once again the #96
got a good jump, but too much of a jump for NASCAR officials and the yellow
returns. #96 Scimeca was put to the rear after his second try, as track
officials had enough.
Leading the field to green this time would be #30
Miller and #23 Anderson. #30 Miller powers to the lead and then the #47
Beaver dives into second. Going in turn 1, #47 Beaver tries to dive under
#30 Miller for the lead but spins in the process bringing out the yellow.
NASCAR officials deemed the #89x Gershow Recycling Ford of Chris McGuire
having a helping hand in that incident and sent him to the rear for rough
riding. In addition, officials sent #23 Anderson to the rear for not
properly lining up in his assigned position.
#30 Miller and the #66 Riverhead Building Supply
Chevrolet of Shawn Solomito are the new leaders of the pack. The green
waves and the #66 Solomito powers to first. #30 Miller tries his all to
pass the surprising young gun. The action gets hot and heavy, and the #30
Miller gets into #66 Solomito but backs off. Taking advantage of this would
be the #17x Lolly Hut Pontiac of John Ellwood who sneaks below #30 Miller
for second. 1 lap later, Ellwood would sneak under #66 Solomito and grab
the lead.
A long green flag run ensues, but caution would
eventually wave for the spun #89x of Chris McGuire. NASCAR officials deemed
#96 Scimeca for having a helping hand in McGuire’s spin, and they send
Scimeca to the pits for the night. Meanwhile, NASCAR officials also
penalize the #81 Spano Floors Pontiac of Chris Turbush 3 spots, for spots
unrightfully earned under caution.
#17x Ellwood leads the field to the green and takes
off. A little further back in third spot, #30 Miller is racing the race of
his life battling with two sly veterans, #36 Lutz and #01 Tribuzio.
However, to Miller’s advantage, #36 Lutz and #01 Tribuzio start battling
each other in a side-by-side battle. After a 5 lap challenge, #01 Tribuzio
earns fourth, while the #14 St. Clair grabs fifth from the fading #36 of
Lutz. #14 of returning Charger competitor, Tom St. Clair sets his sights on
fourth place spot of #01 Tribuzio. With two laps to go, #14 St. Clair
pushes #01 Tribuzio high and ducks under to take fourth.
Meanwhile, John Ellwood drives his #17x Lolly Hut
Pontiac to victory lane for the second time in 2007. Taking up runner-up is
the impressive rookie, #66 Shawn Solomito and then winding up third, with a
great run, the #30 of Daryn Miller.
Late Models
The Late Models would see the #99 Staria Automotive
Chevrolet of Jack Orlando and the #23 Metzger Racing Chevrolet of Kevin
Metzger lead the field to the green. #99 Orlando gets a good start, and the
#10 Ranco Sand & Stone Pontiac of Scott Kulesa sneaks underneath #23 Metzger
for second, while #23 Metzger will have to battle with the #98 Ideal
Cesspool Chevrolet of Doug Wholey. After a lap, #98 Wholey would grab third
away from Metzger. Meanwhile, #10 Kulesa is looking to make the move on #99
Orlando, trying to get his nose under #99 Orlando. #10 Kulesa finally gets
his nose under #99 Orlando on lap 5, and takes the lead off turn 4. 2 laps
later, #98 Wholey would make a similar move on #99 Orlando and take second
and set his sights on first. #98 Wholey keeps testing his nose under #10
Kulesa in turn 3, as #10 Kulesa leaves a big gap underneath, tempting the
savviest of veterans. On lap 17, #98 Wholey tries to go for the whole into
turn 3, but as #10 Kulesa tries to close the door, #10 Kulesa spins and
brings out the caution.
#98 Wholey inherits the lead, followed by pole-sitter
#99 Orlando and #0k Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Long Island Chevrolet of
Jarrod Hayes. At the drop of the green, #98 Wholey jumps to front with #99
Orlando right behind him. #34 NY Metro Peterbilt Dodge of Ken Matlach jumps
under #0k Hayes in turn 1 and takes third. At the wave of the checker, the
three would remain the same, as #98 Doug Wholey takes the win, followed by a
good run from the #99 Jack Orlando, and #34 Ken Matlach. Wholey commented
after the races that he didn’t want to win that way, but felt he had an
opening which he was entitled to. Kulesa thought otherwise, as he was the
leader. Either way, next week is a 50-lap Double Point feature, and
hopefully the Late Models put on a good show for their final premiere event
of the season.
Modifieds
The Mod Squad would see veteran Wayne Anderson in the
#15 Eastport Feeds Chevrolet and sophomore Justin Bonsignore in the newly
renumbered #23 Double Diamond Realty Chevrolet. #15 Anderson would jump
into the provisional lead, with #23 Bonsignore tagging along. On lap four
the yellow would wave, as the #3 WPW Growers Chevrolet of Dave Brigati would
take a hard hit into the back straight wall.
#15 Anderson and #23 Bonsignore would revisit their
start, with Anderson getting an exceptional start this time around, followed
by the #23 Bonsignore, and the #93 Checkers Restaurants Chevrolet of Sal
Accardi, Jr. #23 Bonsignore is all over the rear of #15 Anderson, while the
#2 Gershow Recycling Chevrolet of J.R. Bertuccio sneaks past #93 Accardi for
third. #2 Bertuccio would be the man on the move, as soon thereafter, he
would take second away from #23 Bonsignore. Then Bertuccio’s sights were
set upon the living legend, #15 Anderson. On lap 17, #2 Bertuccio would
push #15 Anderson up and spin the veteran off turn 4 and take the lead. Two
laps later, #15 Anderson would make sure what goes around comes around, by
driving into Bertuccio’s #2 in turns 1 and 2 and bringing out the caution.
Both were set down for the night due to their unsportsmanlike behavior on
the track and thus eliminating their chances for any victory lane visit
tonight. The unfortunate victims of this accident include #23 Bonsignore
and #93 Accardi, who both got caught up in their high jinks.
Inheriting the lead would be the #49 Riverhead Building
Supply Chevrolet of Chris Young, followed by the #44 Long Island Collector
Car Garage Chevrolet of Dan Jivanelli, and points leader Bill Park in the
#20 Smithtown Nissan Chevrolet. The green would wave, but soon thereafter
the caution would wave as well, for the spun #84 J. Murphy Cesspool
Chevrolet of John Fortin.
The threesome of #49 Young, #44 Jivanelli, and #20 Park
would lead the field to green again, with #49 Young taking off. While the
#49 Young set his car on auto pilot, the battle for second included #44
Jivanelli holding off the #20 Park and #11x Savin Chevrolet of Chuck
Steuer. However, #44 Jivanelli would able to remain in second, and #20 Park
in third, as #49 Chris Young ran away with the race for his second win of
2007.
Figure 8’s
In a 25-lap Double Point event, the #11 of rookie Mike
Rommeney would share front row with the veteran #8 Tom Kraft in the Four
Seasons Sunrooms Chevrolet Bel Air. The two would have an even start at the
drop of the green, but before it could get fun, caution would wave for the
spinning #63 Chevrolet of Paul Specht, #74 Blast-it Sandblasting Pontiac of
Carl Baxter, and the #58 Maples Bar & Grill Dodge of Kenny Hyde. In a
surprise move, the point leader, Roger Maynor in the #28 Barrasso & Sons
Mason Supply Ford would take his car to the pits with mechanical woes.
#8 Kraft and #11 Rommeney would repeat the start, with
#8 Kraft zooming into first, #47 Loebs & Gordon Poolcraft Ford of “Slim” Jim
Donaldson moving into second, and the #58 Hyde taking third. #47 Donaldson
would be all over the bumper of Kraft, but couldn’t make a move. On lap 12,
the threesome catch lapped traffic, with long-time Figure 8 competitor, #58
Hyde taking advantage and grabbing second away from #47 Donaldson. #58 Hyde
uses the #11 Rommeney as pick in turn 4 to grab the lead away from #8
Kraft. But the #13 Mike’s Auto Service Ford of Mike Mujsce, Sr. would grab
the lead going into turn 1, but then the #8 Kraft would grab the lead once
more off turn 2. In an exciting three lead changes in one lap’s time, the
crowd was on their feet. The #13 Mujsce sets his sights on the #8 Kraft,
but caution would soon wave on lap 19 for the stalled #11 Rommeney in turn
3.
#8 Kraft would lead #13 Mujsce, #58 Hyde to the green
once again, with the #13 still trying low off turn 2 to pass Kraft. Caution
would wave once more on lap 22 for the spun #0x DeMartino Enterprises
Chevrolet of Tom Ferrara.
The threesome would try it again, but caution would
wave once more for the spun #69 Delavergne Towing Chevrolet of John
Delavergne.
The threesome would restart, yet again, and #13 Mujsce
would try his all to get around #8 Kraft, but it would be #8 Kraft’s night,
as he would take the checkers. #13 Mike Mujsce, Sr. would settle for second
followed by the #58 Maples Bar & Grill Dodge of Kenny Hyde in third.
News & Notes:
- With only 4 regular divisions
on the docket, the track was opened to practice for others as well.
Three Grand Enduros took advantage of this, including the #12 Greg
Zaleski, #29 Brian Obiedzenski, and #28 of Joe Parcelluzzi.
- Blunderbusts had three cars
practice, including: #8 Jessica Cohan, #22 Scott Maliszewski, and #32
Eddie Mistretta
- Super Pro Trucks had five
trucks on hand, including: #19 P.J. Vecchio, #32 Matt Odwazny, #41
Wayne Meyer, #44 Anthony Vecchio, and #66 Mike Albasini.
- In addition the NEMA Midgets
had an exhibition showing to see crowd reaction. The crowd reaction was
very favorable, as the historic series is looking to possibly make a
stop to Riverhead next year. Long Islanders, #7ny Adam Cantor, #8 Rich
Gerbe, and #80 Peter Pernesiglio along with Massachusetts natives #33
Shawn Torrey and #77 Mike Luggelle were on hand to wow the crowd.
- While Eric Lutz may have missed
the Chargers last week, he was on hand at BeaveRun in Pennsylvania for
his son Craig’s go-kart racing. Craig clinched the Northeast Heavy
point championship and is currently leading in the Lite class as well.
Good job to what could be the future of Charger racing and then some.
- #30 Daryn Miller along with his
father Bob were very happy with their season best finish of third in the
Chargers. With a little more homework and experience, it may be soon
that we see Miller in the storied victory lane.
- It was good to see Tom St.
Clair back in the Chargers, driving the #14 B. Sexton Site Development
Pontiac. St. Clair hasn’t missed a step, earning himself a top 5 finish
in his first race back since 2004.
- Likewise, to many fans delight,
Don Howe returned behind the wheel of a Modified, the #02 Gershow
Recycling Chevrolet of his former car owner, Joe Bertuccio. The 5-time
Riverhead Champion, 1-time Islip Champion earned a very respectable 10th
place finish in his first week back. We hope to see Howe back once
again, as we are sure he can add a level of excitement that many have
been missing.
- Spectator One-on-One Drags saw
Don Carisiti once again win. Tommy Walkowiak and his Corvette Stingray
almost put up a challenge, but unfortunately Tommy got a flat, ending
his fine ride.
- Word on the street is that
RexCorp and their racetrack is gaining steam and support through the
Town of Riverhead after they upped their offer. As always, we'll
see in the end if it goes through as the approval process is a long and
tedious process, but it is looking positive.
- Figure 8’s had hands down the
best race of the night, with the most excitement the division has seen
in recent years. Kraft, Mujsce, Hyde and the rest of the X-loving gang
put on a great show and should be commended for their racing.
Source: J.A.
Ackley/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
August 12, 2007
