08/16/2009
Impressive Rookie Timmy
Solomito
Wins Second At Riverhead Raceway
by Bob Finan
Ever since he strapped into Dave & Cindy Brigati's second car
NASCAR Modified rookie driver Timmy Solomito of Islip has been
very impressive and Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway the
17-year old driver won his second NASCAR Modified feature of
2009.
When the green flag waved Eddie Brunnhoelzl III broke straight
to the front while Eric Goodale and Wayne Anderson tussled for
second with some first lap contact before Anderson took the spot
on lap 2. Enter Solomito who shortly came to third and the
battle between the teenager and the former five-time champion
began and lasted the following 20 laps. While they fought for
second Brunnhoelzl ran away from the field and seemed sure to
garner his second career win, but little did the third
generation driver know the demons were waiting in the weeds.
After a torrid fight with Wayne Anderson for second, Timmy
Solomito was able to sneak by on lap 23, but unless there was a
caution flag he was not catching race leader Brunnhoelzl.
However, on lap 26 the yellow did fly and that would be just the
beginning of the end for Eddie as his car developed an oil leak
from a damaged valve cover, forcing him to pit and he was done
for the night ending a great run. This vaulted Solomito to the
lead and sitting right on his rear spoiler was Wayne Anderson
who over the final 9 laps of the race stayed with the eventual
race winner, but never got a chance at making a serious bid for
the win.
At the line it was the WPW Growers Chevy of Timmy Solomito who
admitted afterwards he might have been a second place car,
"Eddie had all of the field covered tonight until that leak
popped-up during the caution". Solomito recalled. "I had a great
race with Wayne for second and it's a pleasure to race him, I
just can't thank Dave & Cindy and my parents Jerry & Linda for
all their support".
Wayne Anderson of Yaphank was runner-up in the Eastport Feeds
Chevy with Chris Young of Calverton hot on his heels for third
in the Riverhead Building Supply Corvette. Eric Goodale of
Riverhead and Bill Park of Manorville rounded out the top five.
Roger Maynor of Bay Shore made history Saturday night when he
won his 100th career Figure Eight feature in the most unusual of
circumstances. Popular Michael "Cheesebox" Rommeney broke out
front at the start of the race with Arne Pedersen in tow and
they spent the next 8 laps racing for the lead. On lap 8
Rommeney would spin from the lead and pit for a flat tire
handing the top spot over to Arne Pedersen, with his brother
Scott now second. Scott chased Arne from lap 9 until the 15th
circuit when Roger Maynor snuck by for the position and the race
was on for Pedersen seeking his first career victory and Maynor
his 100th. Arne beat Roger to the line but during a first lap
caution a 131-pound bar of lead fell from Pedersen's car and in
post race tech he came up light and was disqualified. That made
Roger Maynor in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford the
owner of 100-career wins but he admitted afterwards, "I was so
happy for Arne, no way I want to win any race like this,
especially this one". Maynor even offered to let Arne keep the
winning trophy, but he declined. Scott Pedersen of Shirley was
runner-up in the Land, Air & Water Environmental entry, while
Mike Mujsce of Westhampton Beach was third in the Bill Beener's
Tree Service mount.
"Dynamite" Dan Turbush of Riverhead won his second consecutive
Charger feature event when he passed young talent Frank Scimeca
Jr. with just two laps remaining in the race for his 53rd career
triumph. Scimeca bolted to the race lead at the drop of the
green with another rising driver Kory Comiskey giving chase over
the first 9 laps. Comiskey yielded to Dan Turbush right at the
halfway mark and once to second Turbush would have to try and
take a bite out of the comfortable cushion Scimeca had built up.
Dan's effort was aided by some well placed caution flags and he
was now riding on the back spoiler of the race leader, giving
him a nudge to let Frank know he was there. On lap 17 exiting
turn four Dan got a run to the outside of Frank and was able to
take the lead and drive to his 74th Riverhead Raceway victory in
the Penny Lane Pub Pontiac. Frank Scimeca Jr. for the second
time in '09 came within laps of winning his first race but the
Bay Shore driver was second in the ABS Pump Repair Chevy. Point
leader Chris Turbush of Riverhead was a close third in the Jet
Sanitation Pontiac.
"The King of Queens" Mike Albasini of Flushing notched his first
victory of the season and further padded his point lead in the
process. Former champion Frank Dumicich Sr. broke out front
early and built a handsome lead before the yellow waved erasing
that advantage. Shaun Gouldsbury and John Denniston chased
Dumicich early on before Rob McCormick moved to second on lap 8
bringing Albasini to third. While racing for the lead off turn
two Dumicich and McCormick got together drawing a yellow and
moving Albasini, who narrowly missed the incident to the race
lead. Roger Turbush seeking his second straight win was now
second and would test Albasini for the remainder of the contest.
At the line it was Mike Albasini in the Hollis Court Collision
Chevy the winner, Roger Turbush of Riverhead would have to
settle for second place money in the Allied Air Conditioning
Chevy. "Dangerous" Dave Koenig of Freeport came from deep in the
field for third place in the Nelson's Auto Salvage Chevy.
One driver who indeed was able to pocket his first career
victory Saturday night was Don Nelson Jr. of Rocky Point as he
won the 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro. After a short race
with veteran Donald "Woot" Lawrence in the early stages of the
race, Nelson wheeling the Nelson Brothers Racing Chevy, took the
lead and then proceeded to build a half-a-lap lead on the field.
At the checker it was one very happy and pumped-up Don Nelson
Jr. the race winner, perhaps the happiest ever in the 58-year
history of the track. John Cozza of Medford was second in the
Blue Point Auto Body entry, while Russ Jansen of Medford
completed the top three in the Trade Auto Wreckers 4X4.
The Mini-School Bus Demolition Derby became a fight between the
teacher and the student and the student nearly pulled off the
upset win. Brandon Hubbard of Mastic who was making his very
first start in this type of event put Bob "Whiplash" Genovese of
S. Farmingdale, a tested tough veteran of all types of
Demolition Derbies, to the test. Hubbard threw all he could at
Genovese before Bob was able to disable Brandon's bus.
Afterwards Genovese admitted, "The kid scared me, I couldn't put
his bus away I'm glad he's going to college in September".
RIVERHEAD RACEWAY AUGUST 15TH, 2009
NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. Timmy Solomito 2. Wayne
Anderson 3. Chris Young 4. Eric Goodale 5. Bill Park 6. Chuck
Steuer 7. Rusty Turbush 8. John Fortin 9. Kevin Orlando 10. Tony
Anello 11. Amber Fortin 12. Frank Saladino 13. Shawn Wanat 14.
Dennis Scott 15. Ed Brunnhoelzl III 16. Dave Brigati
Figure Eights 20-laps: 1. Roger Maynor 2. Scott Pedersen 3.
Mike Mujsce 4. Tom Kraft 5. Ken Hyde Sr. 6. Ken Hyde Jr. 7.
Michael Rommeney 8. Will Farrell 9. Mike Herbst 10. Johnny Vullo
DQ-Arne Pedersen
Chargers 20-laps: 1. Dan Turbush 2. Frank Scimeca Jr. 3.
Chris Turbush 4. Jerry Solomito 5. Jeremy McDermott 6. Brian
Doyle 7. Kory Comiskey 8. Jay Henschel 9. Daryn Miller 10. Allen
Reeves 11. Kyle Curtis 12. Erin Dumicich 13. Frank Scimeca Sr.
14. Wes Zaleski 15. Chris McGuire 16. Frank Dumicich Jr. 17.
John Ellwood
Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Mike Albasini 2. Roger Turbush
3. Dave Koenig 4. Shaun Gouldsbury 5. Erin Dumicich 6. Lou
Maestri 7. Rob McCormick 8. John Denniston 9. Kathleen Hallock
10. Anthony Vecchio 11. Danny Grennan 12. Ben Vecchio 13. Frank
Dumicich Sr. 14. Frank Dumicich Jr. 15. Chris Turbush
4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro 50-laps (top five): 1. Don Nelson
2. John Cozza 3. Russ Jansen 4. Donald Lawrence 5. Shawn Wanat
Mini School Bus Demolition Derby: Winner-Bob Genovese
Source: Bob Finan /
Riverhead Raceway
Posted: August 16, 2009
|
