Riverhead Honors Top
Drivers
by Tracy Chirico
Riverhead Raceway honored its top finishing
drivers for the 2008 season this past Saturday at JC’s
Restaurant & Pub in the Pine Hills Country Club. The casual
luncheon, which was followed by a Talladega race party, was
well-attended by drivers, owners, crews, families, and friends.
For the fourth time in his racing career,
Manorville resident Bill Park headlined the “Parade of
Champions” by virtue of capturing the title in the Modified
division. Park recorded two wins and 15 top ten finishes in 16
starts on his way to the crown. In addition to his track
championship trophy and plaque from NASCAR, Park also took home
the Big Brothers Big Sisters Cup, touted as the “Stanley Cup” of
Long Island Modified racing, making him the first driver to
receive it for two consecutive years since it has been in
circulation. Finishing second through fifth in points were John
Fortin, Dave Brigati, Chuck Steuer, and Tom Rogers Jr.
Tom Rogers Jr. was one of two drivers to
receive trophies in multiple divisions, as he won the Late Model
championship in addition to his fifth-place finish in the
Modified division. Rogers Jr. has won championships in the
Figure 8 and Modified divisions, but 2008 was his first season
behind the wheel of a Late Model, and the driver did not finish
outside of the top ten in any of the 11 races, taking down three
wins in the process. The second- through fifth-place finishers
were Roger Oxee, Kevin Metzger, Doug Wholey, and Mike Bologna.
Charger champion Chris Turbush was honored,
though he was absent because he was racing at Lee USA’s
Oktoberfest. Turbush sat atop the Charger points standings from
Opening Night straight through to the close of the season,
grabbing five wins and 14 top ten finishes in 14 races. Chris
McGuire finished second in points, while Steve Ratti finished
third. Rookie 16-year-old Timmy Solomito was fourth, and Daryn
Miller completed the top five.
Scott Maliszewski was hailed as the
Blunderbust champion for the second time in his racing career,
having scored a last-race upset to grab the title. Maliszewski
racked up 13 top ten finishes in 16 races with two wins,
including the one he grabbed the last race of the season that
gained him the championship. Tommy Walkowiak, who scored six
wins in 2008 while trying to capture his third consecutive
crown, finished second. Eddie Mistretta, Chris Busick, and Tom
Pickerell rounded out the top five.
For the seventh time in his racing career,
second-generation driver Roger Maynor was honored as the Figure
8 champion. Maynor collected six wins and ten top ten finishes
in 11 races in his pursuit of the championship. Maynor will also
be honored at the Suffolk Association of Figure Eight Racing
(SAFER) banquet, to be held at a later date. The second- through
fifth-place finishers were Tom Kraft, Paul Specht, Carl Baxter,
and Arne Pedersen.
Lou Maestri was crowned the Super Pro Truck
champion for the third time, having amassed two wins and 13 top
ten finishes in 13 starts. Maestri dedicated his championship to
his late crew chief, Joe DiGangi, who passed away suddenly in
August. Wayne Meyer also collected 13 top ten finishes on his
way to a second-place finish. Rounding out the top five were
Mike Albasini, rookie Roger Turbush, and Dave Koenig.
Another driver taking home two trophies was
Legends champion Timmy Solomito, the 16-year-old who grabbed the
championship in only his first season behind the wheel. Solomito,
driving for car owner Kevin Strumpf, visited Victory Lane twice
and grabbed eight top ten finishes in eight races en route to
the title. Another Legends rookie, John Beatty, finished second
in points for the season, also recording two wins. Silas Hiscock
Jr. finished third. Veteran Tom Sherman finished fourth, and
rookie Greg DiCanio finished fifth.
The “Parade of Champions” was rounded out
by Car Rollover champion Joe Marko and Demolition Derby champion
Mike “Cheesebox” Rommeney.
Program Dynamics’ “Most Popular Driver”
awards were also given out. The winners were: Bill Park (Modifieds),
Roger Oxee (Late Models), Daryn Miller (Chargers), Rob Bader Jr.
(Blunderbusts), Roger Maynor (Figure 8), and Erin Dumicich
(Super Pro Trucks).
Source: Tracy
Chirico/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
October 5, 2008
