07/18/2009
John Fortin Uses
Riverhead Traffic To Win
Baldwin, Evans, Jarzombek Memorial 77
by Bob Finan
In a move reminiscent of the late Richie Evans, John Fortin
of Holtsville used a lapped car as a "pick" to take the lead and
eventual win at Riverhead Raceway Saturday night in the Baldwin,
Evans & Jarzombek Memorial 77 by Northeastern Office Equipment.
The USG Night victory was the 20th of John's career worth $1,500
to Fortin and his third win of 2009.
Pre-race time trials found Dave Brigati turning the quickest lap
at 11.943 worth $100 from Brigandi Brothers Automotive of
Nesconset. In the redraw however Brad Van Houten drew the pole
and Howie Brode the outside berth on the front row. At the drop
of the green Brode, a close friend of Tom Baldwin and past
winner of this race made a great run from the outside pole to
take the lead with Dave Brigati also pulling off a bold move to
come from 4th to second on the first lap. Brigati would chase
Brode for the first 25 circuits of the race, with John Fortin
right on Dave's rear spoiler in third.
Lap 26 found Fortin able to wrestle second away from Brigati and
the former two-time champion went right to work on race leader
Brode. After seven laps of running nose to tail the two leaders
approached a lapped car and Fortin dove under Brode as they got
to that car. Then ever so slightly John moved up the hill and
they went three wide just for a moment, but just enough time to
allow John Fortin to take the lead on lap 34. Brode refused to
go away quietly as he stayed right with Fortin as they reversed
roles while Brigati was still in the mix in third. Over the
final few laps Howie tried to drive his car in deep as he could
to make a run at John, but to no avail.
At the finish it was John Fortin in the SGS Stone Works Chevy
winning his first Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek Memorial and was
greeted by Tom Baldwin Jr., Jerry Cook, Barbara & Jim Cromarty
and Grant Williams of Northeastern Office Equipment in victory
lane. "I can't explain how much this means" Fortin reflected
afterwards. "When I went Modified racing Tom Baldwin opened up
his set-up book to me, I spent hour upon hour at his shop, he
made me the driver I am today. I spent my youth watching Charlie
and Richie and to win their race is just awesome".
Howie Brode of East Islip would cross the line second in the
Freightliner of Long Island Chevy giving it everything he had
with Dave Brigati of Calverton third in the Integra Shocks
Chevy. Bill Park of Manorville and Chuck Steuer of Bohemia
completed the top five.
Prior to the race the 24-car field was paced by the first car
Charlie J ever drove, the #1 "Bug" with Ricky Jarzombek at the
wheel, along with his right side steer Coupe, the Pinto and
Cavalier #X90 of The Flying Dutchman" Fred Harbach and the #23
Monza driven by Lew Hennessey, Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. and Mike
Ewanitsko.
Mike Bologna of Huntington went wire to wire to win the USG
Night 25-lap Late Model feature event, his second career victory
and first since September of 2007. Bologna left little doubt
right from the start who the car to beat was as he raced right
out front and never looked back. Shawn Patrick tested Mike over
the first 20-laps of the race staying right with the leader and
trying to size him up for a pass. However on lap 21 Scott Kulesa
got by Patrick for second, but that led to disaster for the
point leader when he and Chuck Deon got together moments later
with hard impact under the starters stand, both were done for
the night. With four laps to go when the race resumed Bologna
now found Ken Matlach who was making his first start of 2009 hot
on his heels. Over the final four laps however Mike Bologna
drove the Schlaugies Fuel Oil entry to victory. Ken Matlach of
New Hyde Park was runner-up in the Matlach Fabricating Chevy,
with "Mighty" Mike Mortimer of Mastic Beach also making his
first start placing third in the Unique Golf Dodge.
After a one race "dry spell" Roger Maynor of Bay Shore returned
to Figure Eight victory lane winning the USG Night 20. Ken Hyde
Sr. jumped into the early race lead, but for the second week in
a row would pit under caution while leading with three laps in
the books. This moved Arne Pedersen into the lead and Arne would
lead the next two laps before Roger Maynor came along and passed
him for the lead on lap 6. Once out front Maynor had rookie
driver Johnny Vullo fill his mirror to the finish with "Johnny
Electric" actually closing in on Roger a few times. In the end
it was Roger Maynor in the Edward Horton Builders Ford scoring
his 98th career win in his march to 100 in 2009. Johnny Vullo of
East Islip had a great run for second in the Long Island Fiber
Exchange Chevy, with Scott Pedersen of Shirley third in the Air,
Land & Water Environmental entry.
After racing each other hard in the Super Pro Truck feature,
Frank Dumicich Jr. and Chris Turbush went toe-to-toe moments
later in the USG 20-lap Charger main event with Dumicich winning
his first career feature. Daryn Miller led the first 6 laps of
the contest before Dumicich passed him on the outside on a
double file restart. Chris Turbush would make his way by Miller
for second just prior to the halfway mark and set sail for race
leader Dumicich and over the final half of the race the two
drivers treated the fans to some good old fashioned short track
racing. Racing nearly the entire second half of the race side by
side Dumicich and Turbush played a high-speed game of cat and
mouse with Turbush nearly making an outside and in pass work
with just laps to go. No matter what challenge Chris threw at
Frank he was equal to the task and when the checkers waved it
was Frank Dumicich Jr. of E. Quogue in the Martins Fuel Oil
Camry capturing the hard fought win. Chris Turbush of Riverhead
was runner-up in the Carpet Express Pontiac; while Daryn Miller
of Franklin Square had another top five finish with third in the
Business Brokers Chevy.
In the USG Night Super Pro Truck 20 run prior to the Chargers
the roles were reversed with Chris Turbush grabbing his second
win the 2009 campaign with Dumicich doing all he could to get by
the "Cranberry Kid". Greg Podlaski gave a good account of
himself early as he led the first 7 laps of the race chased
early on by Anthony Vecchio and John Denniston before Chris
Turbush came to second on lap 3. With an inside pass four laps
later on the 7th cycle Turbush would get by Podlaski for the
lead and at the halfway mark be joined in second by Frank
Dumicich Jr. In this race the duel for the lead would not be a
side-to-side battle like the Charger event, but was every bit as
intense as Frank did all he could to find a way by Chris. At the
finish though it was Chris Turbush in the Bill Lyons Equipment
Sales Chevy notching the win with Frank Dumicich Jr. coming home
second in the Gregg's Landscaping Chevy. Point leader Rob "The
Racer" McCormick of Calverton was third in the Pete's
Landscaping Dodge after dodging an early race tangle.
In a 75-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro Dominic Ranieri of East Northport
continued his winning ways with victory in a wild and wooly
event. Dominic tracked down and passed race leader "Mad" Mike
Smith late in the race to post the win in his Westhampton Auto
Salvage Chevy. Mike Smith of Kings Park was runner-up in the
King Park Contracting entry, with Kevin Schewire of Greenlawn
third.
Riverhead Raceway 07/18/09 Finishes
Baldwin, Evans Jarzombek Memorial 77 by Northeastern Office
Equipment: 1. John Fortin 2. Howie Brode 3. Dave Brigati 4.
Bill Park 5. Chuck Steuer 6. Eric Goodale 7. Timmy Solomito 8.
Shawn Solomito 9. Wayne Anderson 10. Kevin Goodale 11. Johnny
Bush 12. Frank Vigliarolo Jr. 13. Rusty Turbush 14. Larry
Altholtz 15. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 16. Rob Tribuzio 17. Dave
Sapienza 18. David Roys 19. Brad Van Houten 20. Gary McDonald
21. Ken Darch 22. Amber Fortin 23. Tony Anello 24. Glenn Tyler
USG Late Models 25-laps: 1. Mike Bologna 2. Ken Matlach
3. Mike Mortimer 4. Kevin Metzger 5. Roger Oxee 6. Shawn Patrick
7. Doug Renalds 8. Chris LaSpisa 9. Chuck Deon 10. Scott Kulesa
11. Artie Pedersen 12. Jarrod Hayes 13. Peter Eriksen DNS-Ralph
Stanzione
USG Figure Eights 20-laps: 1. Roger Maynor 2. Johnny
Vullo 3. Scott Pedersen 4. Mike Mujsce 5. Jim Donaldson 6. Ken
Hyde Sr. 7. Michael Rommeney 8. Ed Mistretta 9. Arne Pedersen
10. George Brown 11. Ken Hyde Jr. 12. Tom Kraft 13. Bob Dalke
14. Will Farrell
USG Chargers 20-laps: 1. Frank Dumicich Jr. 2. Chris
Turbush 3. Daryn Miller 4. Jerry Solomito 5. Erin Dumicich 6.
Brad Van Houten 7. Chris McGuire 8. Dan Turbush 9. Tom Anderson
10. Jeremy McDermott 11. Jay Henschel 12. Kory Comiskey 13.
Allen Reeves 14. Frank Scimeca Jr. 15. Jack Orlando 16. Brian
Doyle 17. Frank Scimeca Sr.
USG Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Chris Turbush 2. Frank
Dumicich Jr. 3. Rob McCormick 4. Dave Koenig 5. Mike Albasini 6.
Danny Grennan 7. Frank Dumicich Sr. 8. Greg Podlaski 9. Anthony
Vecchio 10. Lou Maestri 11. John Denniston 12. Erin Dumicich 13.
Bobby Jones 14. Bryan Quilliam 15. Roger Turbush 16. Shaun
Gouldsbury DNS- Kathleen Hallock, Anthony Daleo
8-Cylinder Enduro 75-laps (top five): 1. Dominic Ranieri
Jr. 2. Mike Smith 3. Kevin Schewire 4. Jess Martines 5. Jason
Carpenter
Source: Bob Finan /
Riverhead Raceway
Posted: July 20, 2009
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