LongIslandJam.com -- News

08/30/2008

Gouldsbury, Wegmann, Ellwood, and Brunnhoelzl Win
by Ryan McGrellis

On a hot and humid day, fans filled the stands for four divisions of racing plus Monster trucks, a Car Rollover contest, and a Taxicab Demolition Derby. Heats were run for the Super Pro Trucks and the Modifieds.

First to start off the night were the Super Pro Trucks, with 20 trucks to go for 20 laps. Anthony Vecchio’s #17 would start on the pole with the #30 Shaun Gouldsbury on the outside. After the first start was nullified, they restarted with Gouldsbury jumping out into the early lead. Mike Albasini’s #66 got around the Anthony Vecchio for second spot on lap 1. After numerous spins but no resulting cautions, #2x John Denniston went inside to pass Albasini on lap 9 for second. On the last lap, Denniston tried the outside for the lead, racing side-by-side with Gouldsbury the whole last lap. Coming off turn 4, Gouldsbury held off the Denniston and Albasini, who made a late inside charge off turn 4.

Nineteen Blunderbusts were next for their 20-lap feature. Scott Sepe’s #6 started on the pole with #79 Bill Wegmann to the outside. At the drop of the green, Sepe and Wegmann were side-by-side until #29 Jessica Larsen spun in turn 4, thus bringing out the caution. On the ensuing restart the side-by-side battle continued for the lead. By lap 5, #64 Ray Shannon found his way past #69 Paul Parisi for fourth place. On lap 9, after making his way through the field, #32 Eddie Mistretta got on the inside of Shannon for fourth. Following Mistretta was #00 Tommy Walkowiak, who made it three-wide and took the fourth place. Following Walkowiak was #61 Chris Busick. On lap 11, Walkowiak got on the outside of #77 Timmy Mulqueen going into turn 1 along with Busick, making it three-wide into turn 1. Busick would grab third coming out of turn 2. The caution waved out shortly after that as #38 Brian Hansen went around in turn 4. After a bad restart, another restart would have Busick immediately using the outside to pass Wegmann on lap 12 and then Sepe on lap 13 for the lead. Walkowiak got around Wegmann for third and #79 Bill Wegmann for second. Busick walked away with the win but post-race tech found Busick’s #61 to be too low and he was disqualified. Walkowiak inherited the win, but was protested and also found illegal and disqualified. When it was all said and done Bill Wegmann took home the victory.

Next were the Chargers, which had 18 cars for a 20-lap. John Ellwood’s #17x would start on the pole with #56 Jay Henschel on the outside. Ellwood jumped out to an early lead but a caution would come on lap 4 for #30 Daryn Miller, who suffered a right front flat tire on the backstretch. On the restart Ellwood shot out into the lead but a caution would come out thereafter in turn 3 for the spun #28 Peter Cataldo. On the restart Ellwood took the lead once again. But caution would wave again for the spun #4 Chris Frabizio in turn 4. On the restart Ellwood grabbed the lead again while #96 Frank Scimeca Jr. slowed off the pace, allowing #81 Chris Turbush and #66 Timmy Solomito to pass for fourth and fifth respectively. Chris Turbush got passed #42 Frank Dumicich Jr. for third on lap 13. Chris Turbush was all over Henschel, but couldn’t get around him and Henschel would hold on for a strong second. Ellwood would take the win.

The Modifieds were next to take the track for their 35-lap feature. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III’s #8x would start from the pole and #23 Justin Bonsignore would start on the outside. At the drop of the green Brunnhoelzl would take the lead, but the first of many cautions would come out for the spun #84 John Fortin in turn 3 on lap 4. On the restart, Brunnhoelzl grabbed the lead with #15 Wayne Anderson passing #49 Chris Young for third. On lap 10 the yellow was thrown once again for the spun #71 Brad Van Houten in turn 3. On the restart, Brunnhoelzl and Bonsignore raced side-by-side, but not for along as another caution came out for the spun #74 Marisa Niederauer in turn three on lap 11. On the following restart, Brunnhoelzl jumped out to the lead on lap 12. A big wreck in turn 3 would bring out yet another caution. Many cars were involved, including Anderson and Young, who both went spinning into turn three. Many cars pitted and returned while tow trucks got #11 Chuck Steuer and #71 Brad Van Houten off the track. After the track was cleaned they restarted. After a nullified restart, they restarted with Brunnhoelzl taking the lead once more. The caution came out again on lap 15 for Niederauer, who hit the backstretch wall hard but emerged from her car OK. Racing resumed and the restart had Brunnhoelzl in the lead once more followed by Bonsignore. The final caution came out on lap 23 when Anderson spun around in turn 4. On the final restart Brunnhoelzl shot out into the lead and, despite attempts by Bonsignore, held on for the win. The final top three was Brunnhoelzl, Bonsignore, and #3 Mike Andrews Jr.

The Monster Trucks were next out onto the track - headlined by Bigfoot. The first truck out was Viper, who put on quite a show, hitting every row of cars more than once, including the van that was set up on the backstretch. Bigfoot was next and showed why he was a headliner - getting so high that the rear end of his truck scraped the track, creating sparks. A great Monster Truck show by all three trucks. A surprising appearance by King Kong Knevil, which saw him jump over 48 bananas on his mini dirt bike then throw the bananas into the crowd.

The Car Roll-Over Contest was up next, with four cars ready to roll - literally. Joe Marco took the ramp and collected a total of 20 points and, with no “Slim Jim” Donaldson in attendance, he won.

The Taxicab Demo was the final event for the night with 10 cars ready to smash and crash. Michael Wahl was declared the winner after he made the last hit. Upon making that hit on Gravel, Gravel’s car went up in flames but the track crew quickly put it out. The Judge’s choice went to Gravel and the Fan’s choice went to Michael “Cheesebox” Rommeney.

Source: Ryan McGrellis/LongIslandJam.com
Posted: August 31, 2008