Ronnie Silk
Holds Off Tom Rogers Jr. for $3,025 Victory
The NASCAR Hall of Fame 100
NASCAR Modified event at Riverhead Raceway Saturday night turned
out to be a race for the ages in its own right as Ronnie Silk of
Norwalk, Ct. held off a torrid late race charge by Tom Rogers
Jr. of Patchogue to win and earn he and car owner Eddie
Partridge a $3,025 payday. Silk swept the $1,000 to win bonus
from race fan Jim Schaefer, as well an additional $500 as the
first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour car across the line from
another loyal fan Chris Buchman.
In pre-race time trials Wayne Anderson, himself a Suffolk County
Sports Hall of Fame inductee set fast time with a lap of 12.017
earning a $100 award from Brigandi Brothers Automotive of
Nesconset and the pole for the 100-lap tilt. At the drop of the
green Anderson zipped out front with Rowan Pennink and Justin
Bonsignore in two, with Bonsignore slipping by Pennink on lap 4
after a double file restart. Out front Anderson and Bonsignore
pulled away from Pennink who later found himself locked in a
battle for third with Ronnie Silk, but several early race
cautions would bunch the field back up. On a lap 21 restart
Bonsignore was able to wrestle the lead away from Anderson,
while Silk moved to third dropping Pennink to fourth. Silk also
utilized a quick restart four laps later to sneak by Anderson
for second and set sail for race leader Bonsignore.
When under green flag conditions Bonsignore and Silk were able
to distance themselves from Pennink, Anderson and Tom Rogers Jr.
among others and race for the lead with Silk staying right on
the rear spoiler of Bonsignore waiting for an opening. After the
yellow waved on lap 39 and the cars were circling the track
disaster struck for leader Justin Bonsignore when his car
suffered an alternator problem forcing him to the pits for the
night which moved Ronnie Silk into the lead with Pennink now
running second. That caution period would also force NASCAR
Officials to go to a single file restart procedure for the rest
of the race.
That call prompted an extended green flag run in the race that
saw Silk able to build a comfortable cushion over Rowan Pennink
who was locked in a fight for position with Tom Rogers Jr., with
Rogers taking the spot on lap 77. That set-up what would turn
out to be old fashioned shootout for the win that would leave
the fans on the edge of their seats. In the final 10-laps of the
race, which also saw a late race caution Rogers tested Silk each
and every lap staying glued to his rear bumper. In fact with
under five laps to go Tom got Ronnie a tad loose going into turn
three, but Silk was able to gather his car back up and remain in
the lead. On the white flag lap everyone expected Rogers to try
the same move going into both the first and third turns but it
never materialized and Ronnie Silk drove to his first career
Riverhead Raceway victory.
"I just can't say enough by Eddie and Connie Partridge and this
TS Haulers team' Silk noted after receiving the NASCAR Hall of
Fame trophy and hat from promoters Barbara and Jim Cromarty. "I
like this place and enjoy racing here and that race for the lead
was intense, Tom tried to loosen me up once or twice getting
into a corner but never drove through me" Silk reflected. As to
the $1,500 in bonus money Jim Schaefer and Chris Buchman handed
him in the winners circle Silk admitted, "I knew NASCAR Modified
racing has the most loyal fans, tonight proves that."
Tom Rogers Jr. would have to settle for runner-up money in his
Bellecon Acrylic Asphalt Sealing Chevy, Tom jogged from the pit
area after the race to congratulate Silk. Rowan Pennink of
Huntington Valley, Pa. had a solid night for third in the Monk's
Mechanic Hand Cleaners entry, with Howie Brode of East Islip and
Glenn Tyler of Hampton Bays completing the top five.
Mike Bologna of Huntington scored his third career Late Model
victory in the 25-lap Late Model main event which served as a
tune-up for this next weeks 50-lap time trial event. Shawn
Patrick paced the race early on leading the first four laps of
the race before Bologna powered his way into the lead on a
double file restart from the outside lane. Once in the lead
Bologna wheeling the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Chevy never looked back
as he would lead the remainder of the race. Shawn Patrick and
Chris LaSpisa ran in close quarters in a battle for second and
early on in the 2010 campaign these two veterans have done that
in all three races to date. Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters would
earn runner-up money in the Meade's Welding mount, one he very
much needed while Chris LaSpisa of Shirley backed up his win
from last week with a third in the McBetts Racing Engines Chevy.
Tommy "The Wildchild" Walkowiak of Ridge scored his second
Blunderbust victory of the season, but more importantly it was
also his 40th career triumph in the class. After veteran Scott
Sepe paced the first lap of the event, "Racing" Ray Shannon
moved by along with Bill Portney Sr. to take over out front.
That duo would stay out front until lap 3 when they had contact
which moved Paul Parisi and Tommy Walkowiak into the first two
positions after a caution flag. Parisi did all he could to keep
Walkowiak at bay but a 6th lap restart found the defending
champion able to ride the outside groove into the lead. One lap
later Scott Maliszewski passed Parisi for second and once again
these two friends would decide the race. In the waning laps of
the contest Scott would work over the rear bumper of Walkowiak,
even getting Tommy sideways once going into turn three. In the
end however it would be a milestone victory for Tommy Walkowiak
in his Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy. Scott Maliszewski of Deer Park was
runner-up in the Thomas J Stock Attorney At Law entry while Paul
Parisi of Riverhead took home third place honors in his
Tidewater Dock Building racer.
In Legend Race Car racing Johnny Gloor IV of Flanders went wire
to wire to win the 20-lap main event for his first win of 2010.
When the green light came on Gloor moved out front with Jimmy
Sylvester and Chris Rogers giving chase for the first three
cycles. Lap 4 saw opening night winner Tom Sherman come to
second and he'd spend the next eight laps giving chase to Gloor
who seemed able to open up a comfortable lead under green. Some
good racing took place for second over the second half of the
race, as Paul Dodorico was able to sneak under Sherman for
second on a double file restart on lap 12. Two late race
cautions forced a two attempts at a green, white and checker
finish. However after the second try at finishing the race on
lap 19 the yellow waved a second time that ran the time limit
out with Johnny Gloor IV scoring the victory in the TS
Motorsports machine. Paul Dodorico of Miller Place finished
second in the Epiphany Trading mount while Kevin Nowak of
Medford in the Racing Creation sedan was third.
The 60-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro that closed out the card of racing
went down to the wire as veteran drivers Robin Schewire and
Anthony Pizzo slugged it out in the closing laps to determine
who would win the race. Schewire of East Quogue in the
Westhampton Auto Salvage Chevy would out last Pizzo of Lake
Ronkonkoma in the STS Tire Works entry for the win. Early race
pace setter "Mad" Mike Smith of Kings park would drive his
John's Fuel Oil backed racer to third place money.
NASCAR Hall of Fame 100- 1. Ronnie Silk 2. Tom Rogers Jr. 3.
Rowan Pennink 4. Howie Brode 5. Glenn Tyler 6. John Beatty 7.
John Fortin 8. Richie Pallai Jr. 9. Timmy Solomito 10. Johnny
Bush 11. Bill Park 12. Wayne Anderson 13. Amber Fortin 14. Chuck
Steuer 15. Ken Darch 16. Mike Andrews Jr. 17. Al Ermmarino 18.
Chris Young 19. Ken Heagy 20. Justin Bonsignore 21. Dave Brigati
22. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 23. Kevin Goodale 24. Jerry Solomito
DNQ- Eric Goodale, Brad Van Houten, Sean McDonald, Steven
Booker, Tommy Sekulski, Frank Russo
Late Models 25-laps: 1. Mike Bologna 2. Shawn Patrick 3. Chris
LaSpisa 4. Kevin Metzger 5. Roger Oxee 6. Mike Mortimer 7. Peter
Eriksen 8. Ken Alfano 9. Ralph Stanzione 10. Jeremy McDermott
11. Doug Renalds 12. Artie Pedersen Jr. 13. Daryn Miller
Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Tommy Walkowiak 2. Scott Maliszewski 3.
Paul Parisi 4. Tom Pickerell 5. Kevin Rommeney 6. Ray Shannon 7.
Bryan Sescila 8. Tom Sullivan 9. Jimmy White Jr. 10. Jason
Wegmann 11. Fred Nolan 12. Tim Mulqueen 13. Scott Sepe 14. Dave
Bruno 15. Bill Portney Sr. 16. Alexandra Sweeney 17. Rob Bader
18. Russ Skippon
Legend Race Cars 20-laps: 1. Johnny Gloor IV 2. Paul Dodorico 3.
Kevin Nowak 4. Tom Sherman 6. Tom Rogers Jr. 7. Chris Young 8.
Tony Naglieri 9. Glenn Maningo 10. Chris Rogers 11. Jim Pape Jr.
12. Vinny Delaney 13. Jim Byrne 14. Jay Sendlewski 15. Anthony
Cacioppo 16. Kyle Elwood 17. Bryan Johnson 18. Joe Scibelli 19.
Johnny Brand 20. Jim Sylvester 21. Jeffrey Goodale 22. Chris
Turbush 23. Silas Hiscock Sr. 24. Bill Hiscock
8-Cylinder Enduro 60-laps (top five): 1. Robin Schewire 2.
Anthony Pizzo 3. Mike Smith 4. Dominic Ranieri Jr. 5. Donald
Lawrence
Source:
Riverhead Raceway PR
Updated: May
16, 2010
