06/28/2009
17 Year Old Timmy
Solomito Tops
Riverhead NASCAR Modified Veterans
by Bob Finan
Timmy Solomito of Islip lived up to his nickname “The
Natural” when he topped a tough field of NASCAR Modified
veterans at Riverhead Raceway Saturday evening in a 35-lap
contest. Timmy, 17 turned the trick in just his 5th start for
car owners Dave & Cindy Brigati and earned $1,415.
Going into the main event Timmy Solomito, starting from the
pole, knew he had to get the advantage over former five-time
track champion Wayne Anderson going into the first turn. When
the green light winked on that’s just what the 2008 Legend Race
Car champion did, edging Anderson out in a race to the first
corner. The contest then hit a long green flag run which also
was music to Solomito’s ears as Wayne was right on the rear
spoiler of the leader. Anderson, author of 31-career wins at
Riverhead looked high and low for a way by Solomito before the
first caution waved on the 21st lap for a minor spin.
Again the racing gods were with Timmy as the race was already
past halfway and the ensuing restart would be single file. Prior
to going green Anderson tried to rattle Solomito with a bump or
two on the rear bumper, but the teenage talent kept his
composure throughout and held onto the lead for the remainder of
the race in the WPW Growers Chevy to score one of the most
popular wins in recent history at the 58-year old quarter mile.
“They kept telling me before the race the key was to get the
jump on Wayne going into one and I was able to accomplish that”
Timmy admitted afterwards. “I did get a shaky leg on the first
restart, but Wayne treated me right the entire race, I can’t
tell you how it feels to race and beat a Long Island legend”.
Wayne Anderson of Yaphank would keep the heat on Solomito until
the checkers waved to finish second in the Eastport Feeds Chevy,
with John Fortin of Holtsville keeping Wayne busy in the second
half of the race in a fight for second. Fortin, the current
point leader was third in the SGS Stone Works Chevy. Completing
the top five were Chuck Steuer of Bohemia and Bill Park of
Manorville.
Chris Turbush of Riverhead showed folks that the outside lane
does work at Riverhead Raceway when he won his fourth Charger
race of 2009 in six starts. Frank Scimeca Jr. raced to the lead
when the green flag waved and was chased by Jay Henschel for the
fist 15-laps of the race. Henschel worked Scimeca over going
into and exiting every turn of the race which many times saw
Scimeca having to save his car off the corners. On lap 16 Chris
Turbush was able to sneak by Henschel for second just prior to a
yellow flag waving, setting-up a lap 17 restart. On that restart
Scimeca, seeking his first career win, overdrove the first and
second turn just a tad sending his car up the race track
allowing Chris Turbush to sneak by for the lead and eventual
win. Prior to that Turbush in the Melville Snow Contracting
Pontiac worked his way from 9th on the starting grid to third
riding the outside groove to gain six positions before he moved
out front to earn his 17th career triumph. Jay Henschel of
Levittown was runner-up in the St. Clair Trucking entry, while
Frank Dumicich of E. Quogue made some late race noise for third
in the Martin’s Fuel Toyota.
Ron Langdon of Wantagh made a triumphant return to Blunderbust
victory lane for the first time since July of 2002 when he won
the 30-lap feature event. Pre-race time trials found Tommy
Walkowiak setting fast time with a lap of 15.284, but in the
redraw among the top six Tommy would pick 4th starting spot,
while Langdon who timed 4th picked the pole. Right from the
outset Ron Langdon showed he was the car to beat in the race
driving into the early lead with “Pistol” Paul Parisi giving
chase for the first five laps. Lap 6 saw Tommy “The Wildchild”
Walkowiak working his way under Parisi for second and the stage
was set for a classic race for the win between the teacher and
the student. Walkowiak, the all-time leading winner of
Blunderbust races at Riverhead, has pointed out in the past it
was the tutoring of Ron Langdon that helped him accomplish
36-career wins. However that did not mean Tommy would take it
easy on Ron as indeed he pestered the race leader for the
remaining 25-laps of the race, turning up the pressure
especially in the closing laps. Walkowiak looked high and low
for a way by with contact made more than once between the duo
but in the end it would be Ron Langdon in the Langdon’s
Automotive Chevy the winner by less than a car length. Tommy
Walkowiak of Ridge was runner-up in the Unique Golf Chevy, while
Tom Pickerell of Huntington was third in the FB Transmissions
Buick.
Before Saturday “Dangerous” Dave Koenig of Freeport would rather
forget the first six Super Pro Truck races of the season. That
all changed for the snake bitten veteran Saturday when he won
their 20-lap feature event, leading from green to checker. After
Greg Podlaski chased Koenig for the first lap and Shaun
Gouldsbury ran second from the 2nd to 4th lap, Roger Turbush
raced his way to the position on lap 5 and then found himself
chasing the driver who gave him his break in the division in
2008. Turbush, who drove a Dave Koenig team truck last year now
found himself trying to find a groove by his friend for the lead
and first career victory. Roger tested Dave often as the laps
wore on, at times giving the leader a nudge but in the end it
would be the Nelson’s Auto Salvage Chevy of Dave Koenig scoring
a much needed victory, his 6th career triumph. Roger Turbush of
Riverhead would settle for runner-up honors in the Allied Air
Conditioning GMC, while Frank Dumicich Jr. of E. Quogue scored
his first of two third place finishes on the night in the
Gregg’s Landscaping Chevy. Frank would later finish third in the
Charger main event.
One good turn deserves another would be the way the 12-lap
School Bus Figure Eight race played out with Michael “Cheesebox”
Rommeney of Maspeth collecting his second win of 2009. Rommeney
leaped into the early lead but just a few laps later was spun
from the top spot by Timmy Mulqueen who now showed the way. In
the meantime Rommeney patiently worked his way back to Mulqueen
and wouldn’t you just know it, was able to reclaim the lead and
eventual win in the C&A Auto Parts bus, as the crowd roared with
delight.
Matt Brown of Ronkonkoma scored his second 4-Cylinder Enduro
victory in 13-days topping the 75-lap affair. Bob Haeger made a
charge to the lead of the race after the halfway mark and the
tested tough veteran looked as though he was on his way to
victory lane. However contact knocked his right front suspension
off slowing him drastically allowing Matt Brown to race by for
the lead and win in the Stan’s Towing entry. Matt Guida of
Riverhead, who led early in the race, was third and Donald
“Woot” Lawrence of Hampton Bays placed third.
Michael Wahl of East Islip won the 8-Cylinder Demolition Derby
in a hotly contested event. Wahl, Jimmy “The Kid” White and Tim
Mulqueen slugged it out for the win with Wahl in the “Krazy Kars”
almost eliminating both with one blow on the front stretch.
White of Hampton Bays was named Judge’s Choice, while Ever
Garcia of Levittown was voted Fan’s Choice.
Another exciting Drifting Demonstration was put on by L.I.
Slide. It received overwhelming approval by raceway fans.
Riverhead Raceway Finishes, Saturday, June 27th, 2009
NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. Timmy Solomito 2. Wayne Anderson 3.
John Fortin 4. Chuck Steuer 5. Bill Park 6. Dave Brigati 7.
Howie Brode 8. J.R. Bertuccio 9. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 10. Dave
Sapienza 11. Chris Young 12. Rusty Turbush 13. Shawn Solomito
14. Ken Darch 15. Tony Anello 16. Amber Fortin 17. David
Schneider 18. Kevin Orlando 19. Justin Bonsignore 20. Brad Van
Houten 21. Danny Grennan DNS- Mike Power
Chargers 20-laps: 1. Chris Turbush 2. Jay Henschel 3. Frank
Dumicich Jr. 4. Dan Turbush 5. Chris McGuire 6. Erin Dumicich 7.
Kevin Orlando 8. Daryn Miller 9. Kory Comiskey 10. Tom Anderson
11. Frank Scimeca Jr. 12. Brian Doyle 13. Jerry Solomito
Blunderbusts 30-laps: 1. Ron Langdon 2. Tommy Walkowiak 3. Tom
Pickerell 4. Ed Mistretta 5. Scott Maliszewski 6. Terry Stiles
7. Paul Parisi 8. Tom Sullivan 9. Matt Pepitone 10. Joe
Pingitore 11. Kevin Rommeney 12. Bill Portney Sr. 13. Scott Sepe
14. Bill Wegmann Jr. 15. Randy Johnson 16. Bill Wegmann Sr. 17.
Tim Mulqueen DQ- Rob Bader (jacking bolts)
Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Dave Koenig 2. Roger Turbush 3.
Frank Dumicich Jr. 4. Rob McCormick 5. Danny Grennan 6. Lou
Maestri 7. Mike Albasini 8. Erin Dumicich 9. Shaun Gouldsbury
10. Anthony Vecchio 11. Kathleen Hallock 12. Chris Turbush 13.
John Denniston 14. Bobby Jones 15. Bryan Quilliam 16. Frank
Dumicich Sr. 17. Greg Podlaski
4-Cylinder Enduro 75-laps (top five): 1. Matt Brown 2. Matt
Guida 3. Donald Lawrence 4. Anthony Pizzo 5. Bob Haeger
School Bus Figure Eight Race 12-laps: Winner- Michael Rommeney
6-Cylinbder Demolition Derby: Winner- Michael Wahl
Source: Bob Finan /
Riverhead Raceway
Posted: June 28, 2009
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