08/09/2009
John Fortin Collects 4th
Riverhead Raceway Win Of 2009
by Bob Finan
John Fortin of Holtsville continued his successful 2009
season Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway when he won his 4th
NASCAR Modified feature event of 2009 in a 50-lap contest. The
victory was John's 21st of his career in a race that saw a
competition yellow/checker at lap 25 for Whelen All-American
Series point purposes.
Chuck Steuer topped the pre-race qualifying with a lap of 12.
060 and won $100 from Brigandi Brothers Automotive but feared
the redraw for the top six. Steuer's fears turned into a
nightmare when he drew 6th starting spot while John Fortin
picked the pole. Right from the throw of the green flag John
Fortin showed he was the man to beat as he raced out front with
Mike Andrews Jr. and Justin Bonsignore in tow. The early part of
the race saw a couple of double file restarts where Fortin
proved equal to the task while Andrews and Bonsignore tussled
for second. A lap 20 restart would find Justin able to race
under Andrews for third as they completed the 21st circuit and
the top three stayed the same until the lap 25 yellow/checker
flag.
With one attempt at a double file restart when the race resumed
Fortin again was able to wiggle away from Bonsignore and Andrews
and a quick yellow before lap 26 was in the books would dictate
a single file restart, which was music to John Fortin's ears.
Over the remainder of the race Bonsignore seeking his second win
of '09 stayed right with leader Fortin, while Mike Andrews Jr.
would later have his hands full with Dave Brigati in a race for
third. With fewer than 10 to go Bonsignore zoomed in even more
on Fortin, but the cagey veteran had something extra of his own
for the final green flag run.
At the checker it was John Fortin steering the SGS Stone Works
Chevy crossing the line first and afterwards he dished out the
credit, "my crew guys I can't say enough about them and their
hard work" John boasted. "I also want to thank their wives and
families for losing them to the shop two nights a week and all
day Saturday" John noted.
Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville was runner-up in the
Freightliner Chevy while Mike Andrews Jr. of Ridge held on for
third in the ATC Asbestos Transportation Cadillac. Point leader
Dave Brigati of Calverton and Bill Park of Manorville rounded
out the top five.
Scott Kulesa of Georgetown, Ma is also enjoying a successful
campaign over in the Late Model ranks as he won his 3rd feature
event of the year in a 25-lap tilt. Shawn Patrick took command
of the race early on and would lead an impressive Chuck Deon for
the first 7 laps of the race. Kulesa entered the fray when he
worked his way under Deon for second on lap 8 with an inside
pass in turn three and once he completed that task he set sail
for leader Patrick, who built up a comfortable cushion. Aiding
Kulesa in catching Patrick would be a yellow flag on lap 9 which
forced a double file restart and on that restart Kulesa was able
to rim-ride the outside lane to the lead on lap 10 racing into
the first corner. Once out front there was no catching or
stopping the Ranco Sand & Stone Pontiac as Scott raced to his
16th career Late Model triumph. In the closing laps of the race
Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters did a masterful job in holding off
point leader Kevin Metzger of Massapequa for runner-up money,
which Shawn took in his Steve Mehner Race Engines entry. Metzger
in the V&J Auto Body Chevy was third.
Roger Maynor of Bay Shore is now one win shy of the magical
100th career victory as he won his 99th Saturday night in a
20-lap Figure Eight main event. The race dedicated to George
Andresen, a Figure Eight fan and supporter found Arne Pedersen
leading Ken Hyde Jr. & Sr. for the first five laps. Ironically
George was a big influence to all three of those drivers. Lap 6
saw Roger Maynor with some restart magic race his way to second
and in just a matter of three laps he worked his way by Pedersen
just before the halfway mark for the lead. As usual once in
front the Edward Horton Builders Ford is tough to beat and not
event some late race close calls at the "X" would prevent Roger
Maynor from visiting victory lane. Arne Pedersen of Moriches
would be a close second in his Ralph's Italian Ices machine,
while "TK" Tommy Kraft of Bellport placed third in the Kennedy
Realty Chevy.
Like the battery bunny, "Dynamite' Dan Turbush of Riverhead just
keeps on going and going as he won his division leading 52nd
career Charger main event. Young female standout Erin Dumicich
jumped to the early race lead and led for the first four laps
before Jay Henschel took over on lap 5, as the duo ran side by
side in a thrilling early race duel for the lead. Lap 6 found
Erin racing back to the lead, a lead she would hold until the
11th lap of the race. On that lap Dan Turbush made one clean
pass of not just Erin, but Brian Doyle who was second at the
time to take the lead of the race in the Loebs & Gordon
Poolcraft Pontiac. Chris McGuire quickly moved to second, with
Chris Turbush third when Dan took the lead and McGuire was
really between a rock and a hard spot between the father & son
tandem At the checker it was Dan Turbush dedicating the win to
his father Charlie, who suffered a stroke late in the week, it
was Dan's 73rd overall win at Riverhead Raceway. Chris McGuire
of Shirley was second in the Gershow Recycling Ford, while Chris
Turbush of Riverhead crossed the line third in the United Panel
Pontiac.
Roger Turbush of Riverhead realized a life long dream Saturday
when he won his first career Super Pro Truck main event in a
20-lap contest. Roger wasted no time in taking the early race
lead and the son of "Dynamite" Dan and brother to Chris would
lead the entire race, but it was no walk in the park. Shaun
Gouldsbury tested Roger for the first four laps before defending
champion Lou Maestri worked his way by for second on lap 5. As
much as Maestri wanted to track down Roger Turbush for the lead,
he had a mirror full of the likes of Chris Turbush, Mike
Albasini and Danny Grennan among others breathing down his neck.
The race all came down to a few late race restarts where Danny
Grennan made his way to second on lap 17 but there would not be
enough laps remaining to mount a serious challenge and Roger
Turbush would finally grab that first career win in the Allied
Air Conditioning GMC. He too dedicated the race to his
grandfather Charles. Danny Grennan of Glen Cove was runner-up in
the PCHS Race Engines Chevy, with Lou Maestri of Deer Park third
in the 5-Star Kennels Chevy.
In the 10-lap Blindfolded Taxi Cab Race former Train Race
champions Scott Graham of Holbrook and Stan Wangenstein of
Holtsville topped the race in their Family Automotive taxi.
Tested tough veteran the tandem were able for the most part to
stay on track to post the victory. The race feature
schoolteacher Albert Rizzi of Brookhaven, who is blind after
losing his sight three years ago to Meningitis, Rizzi was
teamed-up with Blunderbust talent Kevin Rommeney of Maspeth and
they nearly won the race with a valiant effort.
Defending Car Rollover champion Joe Marko of Lindenhurst won the
Car Rollover Contest in his Augie's Car Care entry topping
Dennis Scott of Seaford and "Slim" Jim Donaldson of Coram who
tied for second.
08/08/09 Riverhead Raceway Finishes
NASCAR Modifieds 50-laps: 1. John Fortin 2. Justin
Bonsignore 3. Mike Andrews Jr. 4. Dave Brigati 5. Bill Park 6.
Howie Brode 7. Chuck Steuer 8. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 9. Wayne
Anderson 10. Rusty Turbush 11. Timmy Solomito 12. Amber Fortin
13. Ken Darch 14. Tony Anello 15. Shawn Wanat 16. Kevin Orlando
17. Eric Goodale 18. Chris Young 19. Jerry Solomito
Late Models 25-laps: 1. Scott Kulesa 2. Shawn Patrick 3.
Kevin Metzger 4. Jarrod Hayes 5. Ken Matlach 6. Mike Bologna 7.
Roger Oxee 8. Peter Eriksen 9. Doug Renalds 10. Mike Mortimer
11. Artie Pedersen 12. Ralph Stanzione 13. Chuck Deon 14. Chris
LaSpisa
Figure Eights 20-laps: 1. Roger Maynor 2. Arne Pedersen
3. Tom Kraft 4. Ken Hyde Jr. 5. John Vullo 6. Michael Rommeney
7. Bob Dalke 8. Jim Donaldson 9. Mike Mujsce 10. Ken Hyde Sr.
11. Scott Pedersen 12. Will Farrell
Chargers 20-laps: 1. Dan Turbush 2. Chris McGuire 3.
Chris Turbush 4. Brian Doyle 5. Jerry Solomito 6. Frank Dumicich
Jr. 7. Frank Scimeca Jr. 8. Kory Comiskey 9. Tom Anderson 10.
Allen Reeves 11. Erin Dumicich 12. Daryn Miller 13. Frank
Scimeca Sr. 14. John Ellwood 15. Jay Henschel 16. Mike Van
Houten
Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Roger Turbush 2. Danny
Grennan 3. Lou Maestri 4. Mike Albasini 5. Dave Koenig 6. Shaun
Gouldsbury 7. John Denniston 8. Erin Dumicich 9. Kathleen
Hallock 10. Anthony Vecchio 11. Frank Dumicich Jr. 12. Bryan
Quilliam 13. Frank Dumicich Sr. 14. Chris Turbush 15. Rob
McCormick 16. Anthony Daleo
Car Rollover Contest: Winner: Joe Marko
Blindfolded Taxi Cab Race 10-laps: Scott Graham & Stan
Wangenstein
Source: Bob Finan / Riverhead
Raceway
Posted: August 9, 2009
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