07/11/2009
Defending Champion Bill
Park Races
To Second Riverhead Win Of '09
by Bob Finan
Four time and defending Riverhead raceway NASCAR Modified
champion Bill Park of Manorville was in the right place at the
right time Saturday night. The two drivers who were leading the
race tangled which opened the door for Park to win the 35-lap
NASCAR Modified feature on Buzz Chew Chevy-Cadillac night. The
victory was Park's 29 and moves him to sole possession of 8th on
the track's all-time win list.
When the Whelen Engineering green light winked on, J.R.
Bertuccio and Chris Young moved into the top two spots with
Bertuccio breaking into the lead from the pole while Young came
from third to second under Wayne Anderson. Young glued himself
to the back bumper of Bertuccio and over the first seven laps of
the race put heavy pressure on the leader. On lap 8 the two
long-time rivals got too close and tangled ending both their
nights with damaged cars and high emotions.
Bill Park who was racing a close third and John Fortin who was
fourth narrowly escaped the Bertuccio-Young tango making Park
the new race leader during the caution and Fortin now sitting
second. On not just that restart, but others that followed prior
to halfway Fortin tried to get his left front wheel up to Park's
right side door, but each time he tried Bill was able to hold
him off while Wayne Anderson in third would try and sneak under
Fortin while he raced Park.
In the end however Bill Park prevailed crossing the line first
in his Smithtown Nissan entry noting afterwards, "We had a good
car, a bit tight in the middle of the corners. I have to thank
John for running me hard, but clean, it was fun racing him
tonight".
John Fortin of Holtsville was runner-up in the SGS Stone Works
Chevy, while Wayne Anderson of Yaphank took home third place
money in the Eastport Feeds Chevy. Chuck Steuer of Bohemia
gained two points on championship leader Dave Brigati of
Calverton as that tandem placed fourth and fifth.
The annual Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ernie Maynor Memorial
25 had more story lines than a daytime soap opera but when the
dust settled it was Ralph Tasso of Bohemia making his return to
racing complete with a victory. Ken Hyde Sr. led the first 8
laps of the race but during a caution had to pit when his water
temperature rose too high thus handing the lead over to Ralph
Tasso, who was racing Michael Rommeney for second when Hyde
ducked to the pits. Also during that caution Roger Maynor
looking to continue his win streak was forced to pit when debris
knocked a fitting off his fuel pump and he lost four laps
changing that pump. When the race resumed Ralph Tasso paced
George Brown for a lap before he had mechanical issues that then
saw Tom Kraft race to second. "TK" would spend the rest of the
race chasing Tasso. At the checker it would be Ralph Tasso for
the first time since September 9th, 1995 scoring a Figure Eight
win and what a night he chose to do so. Tom Kraft of Medford was
second in the Kennedy Realty '57 Chevy while rookie driver
Johnny Vullo of East Islip had a breakout night with a third
place finish in the L.I. Raceway & Hobbies entry.
After changing a broken axle during practice defending
Blunderbust champion Scott Maliszewski of Deer Park made that
work payoff with a win in the 20-lap Blunderbust main event.
Early on Bill Portney Sr. and Bill Wegmann tussled for the lead
before Wegmann took control of the race on lap three. Bill, who
will turn this car over to his 16-year old son later in the
month, looked like he'd wrap-up his driving days with a first
career win. However on lap 10 last week's winner Jarrod Hayes
slipped under Wegmann for the race lead with Maliszewski also
entering the picture. Once Maliszewski moved to second he turned
the heat up on leader Hayes, who was seeking his second straight
win. Scott on lap 13 was able to pass Hayes for the lead and the
roles were now reversed as Hayes pressured Maliszewski for the
lead. At the finish it was the Tom J. Stock Attorney at Law
Chevy of Scott Maliszewski winning his first of 2009, while
Jarrod Hayes of Calverton was runner-up in the Robert's Express
Oil entry. "Krazy" Ed Mistretta of New Hyde Park placed third in
the Bams Auto Body Chevy.
Johnny Gloor IV of Flanders won the battle of the teenage stars
in the 20-lap Legend Race Car feature when the 17-year old
talent won his second feature of the season. JD Abrahams, a
15-year old driver broke to the early lead chased by Fred Card
and Chris Young Jr., another 15-year old racer. In one clean
swoop on lap two Young raced past both Card and Abrahams for
second and the race lead, with Kevin Nowak quickly coming to
second on lap 3. Just like in their heat race Nowak tried to
chase down Young for the lead, but to no avail as it started to
look like a history making conclusion to the race. However
Johnny Gloor IV was on the march from his 7th starting spot in
the non-stop event and like Young earlier in the race made one
sweeping pass of Nowak and the race leader on the 18th lap to
take over the lead. Over the final two laps Gloor in the TS
Motorsports Sedan showed the way to victory lane. Chris Young
Jr. of Calverton had to be content with runner-up honors in the
Ultimate Fitness East machine, while Kevin Nowak of Medford
would watch the young lions from third in the NAPA Auto Parts
entry.
Ray Fitzgerald on Manorville continued his perfect season in the
Grand Enduro ranks when he won the 50-lap main event, but this
time his fellow competitors made him work harder that he has for
his previous wins in 2009. Joe Parcelluzzi jumped to the early
race lead with Fitzgerald in tow for the first six laps of the
contest. Lap 7 found wholesale changes up front as both
Fitzgerald and Walter Stroud looped around Parcelluzzi for the
first two positions with Ray leading Walter until lap 14. At
that time Stroud who formerly dominated the 8-Cylinder class
worked his way by Fitzgerald, but that stint out front only
lasted four laps as Ray retook the lead on lap 18. Once out
front this time Ray Fitzgerald never relinquished the lead again
and drove his Oakfield Leasing Chevy to victory continuing his
1,000% batting average on the year. Walter Stroud of Yaphank was
second in the Long Ireland Beer Company Monte Carlo while Donny
"Boom Boom" Oliver of Flanders was third in the Flanders
Automotive Camaro.
The Sprint Cup Car Demolition Derby saw Jimmy "The Kid" White
Jr. of Southampton best a talented and hard hitting field for
his first win in 2009. White in the Busy Bee Exterminating car
painted up like the Matt Kennseth #17 also padded his points
lead to 100 over Ever Garcia and Michael Wahl for the 2009
title, 290 to 190. Richard Fowler of Wantagh was named Judge's
Choice Saturday, while Tim Mulqueen of Levittown was voted Fan's
Choice.
RIVERHEAD RACEWAY SATURDAY JULY 11TH, 2009
Buzz Chew Chevy-Cadillac NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1.
Bill Park 2. John Fortin 3. Wayne Anderson 4. Chuck Steuer 5.
Dave Brigati 6. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 7. Rusty Turbush 8. Timmy
Solomito 9. Shawn Solomito 10. Larry Altholtz 11. Kevin Orlando
12. Dennis Scott 13. Amber Fortin 14. Steve Tooker 15. Dave
Sapienza 16. Mike Andrews Jr. 17. Justin Bonsignore 18. J.R.
Bertuccio 19. Chris Young
Ernie Maynor Memorial by Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies
Figure Eights: 1. Ralph Tasso 2. Tom Kraft 3. Johnny Vullo
4. Jim Donaldson 5. Will Farrell 6. Scott Pedersen 7. Roger
Maynor 8. George Brown 9. Arne Pedersen 10. Ken Hyde Sr. 11. Ken
Hyde Jr. 12. Michael Rommeney 13. Ed Mistretta 14. Mike Mujsce
Buzz Chew Chevy-Cadillac Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Scott
Maliszewski 2. Jarrod Hayes 3. Ed Mistretta 4. Tommy Walkowiak
5. Neal Feola Jr. 6. Tom Pickerell 7. Bill Wegmann Jr. 8. Ray
Shannon 9. Bill Portney Sr. 10. Tim Mulqueen 11. Terry Stiles
12. Scott Sepe 13. Randy Johnson 14. Kevin Rommeney 15. Tom
Sullivan 16. Jessica Cohan 17. Matt Pepitone 18. Rob Bader 19.
Paul Parisi 20. Russ Kohler DNS- Bill Wegmann Sr., Caesar
Cunaccia
Buzz Chew Chevy-Cadillac Legend Race Cars 20-laps: 1.
John Gloor IV 2. Chris Young Jr. 3. Kevin Nowak 4. John Beatty
5. Tom Sherman 6. Tony Naglieri 7. JD Abrahams 8. Dan Pace 9.
Bill Hiscock 10. Glenn Maningo 11. Greg DiCanio 12. Tommy Barton
13. Joe Sedotto 14. Jim Byrne 15. Chris Rogers 16. Timmy
Solomito 17. Paul Dodorico 18. Frank Dumicich Jr. 19. Jim
Sylvester 20. Johnny Brand 21. Silas Hiscock Sr. 22. Silas
Hiscock Jr. 23. Fred Card DNS-Jim Mayrand
Buzz Chew Chevy-Cadillac Grand Enduro 50-laps (top five)
1. Ray Fitzgerald 2. Walter Stroud 3. Donny Oliver 4. Joe
Parcelluzzi 5. Bobby Pease
Sprint Cup Car Demolition Derby: Winner- Jimmy White Jr.
Source: Bob Finan /
Riverhead Raceway
Posted: July 12, 2009
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