JIMMY DENIS SCORES FIRST RIVERHEAD GRAND ENDURO VICTORY
Second year Grand Enduro driver "Jumbo" Jimmy Denis of Middle
Island made his lifelong dream come true Sunday afternoon when
he won his first career Grand Enduro feature in a 50-lap
contest. Not only did Denis post the win, but also in order to
accomplish the fete had to hold off the all-time leading winner
in the class Ray Fitzgerald. in the process.
The race was truly a very competitive one with no less than five
changes of position for the top two spots. Bobby Pease led the
first two laps before Donny Oliver snuck by with an inside pass
in turn one on lap 3. Oliver who races under the nickname "Boom
Boom" would find Jimmy Denis rolling into second on the 12th
laps and over the next 14-laps the tandem ran one-two. Like a
seasoned pro Denis dove under Oliver for the lead exiting turn
four on lap 27, while one circuit later Ray Fitzgerald made his
way to second on lap 29.
With Fitzgerald racing right up to his back bumper as the laps
clicked off if Denis was to earn his first ever win he was sure
going to earn it. Ray tried some inside moves along the way, but
Denis was equal to the task each and every time and when the
checker flag waved it was Denis in the Salon Nevaeh Chevy a very
popular winner with both the fans and his fellow competitors.
Ray Fitzgerald of Manorville, who treated Jimmy with plenty of
respect, was runner-up in his Oakfield Leasing Chevy, while
Donny Oliver of Riverhead placed third in the Flanders
Automotive Camaro.
For the fourth time in six races John Cozza of Medford dominated
the 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro in his Blue Point Auto Body Chevy.
Starting from the pole Cozza quickly moved out front and after
an early race threat from Shawn Wanat was able to open up a
healthy lead as the race wore on to collect the victory. Shawn
Wanat of Riverhead did all he could to stop the Cozza express
but had to be content with runner-up money in the Solar Salon
Tanning entry. Jeffrey Gregor of Bridgehampton was third in the
Gregor Well Drilling truck.
"Mad" Mike Smith of Kings Park made a triumphant return to
victory lane when he topped the first 8-Cylinder Enduro in a
75-lap tilt. Smith endured a couple of close calls along the way
in John's Fuel Oil machine to score the win. Once again in the
nightcap Dominic Ranieri of East Northport took the victory and
he too had some late race close calls before he could lay claim
to the win in his Westhampton Auto Salvage Chevy.
Shawn Wanat rebounded nicely from his runner-up finish in the
4/6-Cylinder Truck race with a victory in the 6-Cylinder Enduro
in a 40-lap main event. Wanat steering the Spits Speed Shop
racer overcame an early race fight for the lead with eventual
runner-up Gene Burbol of Brookhaven in his Gene's 112 Service
Center entry to post his third win of 2009.
Matt Brown of Ronkonkoma, cousin to legendary Figure Eight
driver "Downtown" George Brown is now a perfect six for six in
4-Cylinder Enduro racing on the year. Brown vaulted out front in
the early laps and never looked back in his Stan's Towing entry.
Matt will go for a perfect season when the next Riverhead
Raceway Enduro show is presented, Saturday September 26th at
4:00p.m.
Source: Bob Finan /
Riverhead Raceway
Posted: September
7, 2009
