Timmy Solomito "Picks" His Way to Opening Night Victory
Saturday night's opening night NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series 35-lap Modified feature event did not
disappoint the race hungry fans that turned out at Riverhead
Raceway. "The Natural" Timmy Solomito of Islip scored his 5th
career victory in the lid lifter, using a lapped car as a
rolling "pick' to take the race lead with just five laps
remaining in the contest.
Chris Young roared out front at the throw of the green flag from
the pole with Timmy Solomito slipping under Ken Darch for second
on the first lap. Given the history between the tested tough
veteran Young and the up and coming Solomito from 2010, fans sat
on the edge of their seats waiting for the fireworks to explode.
Instead of fireworks what they wound up being treated to was a
barn burner of a race as Solomito hounded Young every inch of
the way waiting for the right moment to make his move.
That moment presented itself as the leaders started the 30th lap
racing towards the first corner as the duo quickly closed on the
lapped car of Frank Saladino. Chris moved to the outside of
Saladino, while Solomito slipped underneath using Saladino as a
pick. Suddenly they were three wide racing off the second corner
and as they entered the third turn Solomito and Young were nerf
bar to nerf bar with Timmy holding the preferred inside lane
which he would ride to the race lead with less than five laps to
go. A late race green, white checker gave Young one more shot at
retaking the lead from Solomito but the youngster would prevail.
After exiting his winning 2B Brothers Industries Corvette Timmy
Solomito was greeted by NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Jerry Cook
who noted, "That was some good old fashioned NASCAR Modified
racing we just witnessed". Indeed the race winner agreed, "first
off I have to thank Chris for running me real clean" Timmy
noted, "We came up on the lapped car and I saw an opportunity
open-up and I went for it, then Chris and I were side by side
and it was fun to race him like that for the win".
Chris Young of Calverton wheeling the Bronson Speedway Chevy
would have to settle for runner-up money, while a fast closing
John Fortin of Holtsville in his SGS Stone Works Chevy was
third. Dave Brigati of Calverton and Justin Bonsignore of
Holtsville completed the top five.
Chris LaSpisa walked through the pit gate with one goal in mind
Saturday afternoon; win the 25-lap Late Model feature for his
fellow racer Ken Alfano's wife Julie who passed away after a
battle with cancer earlier in the week. When the checker flag
waved it was mission accomplished for Chris as he scored his
fourth career victory and more importantly gave the Alfano
family an emotional boost in their time of need. LaSpisa, who
raced the final few races of 2010 as a teammate to Ken Alfano
led the entire distance chased at first by Shawn Patrick for the
first 16 laps. On lap 17 Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen worked his way by
Patrick for second, bringing Roger Oxee to third with him which
meant in Chris LaSpisa's mirror sat 99 career Late Model wins
between the duo. Undaunted by Eriksen and Oxee's presence behind
him Chris LaSpisa drove his McBetts Racing Engine machine to an
emotional and popular victory. Peter Eriksen of Baldwin was
runner-up in the Harley Davidson of Nassau County entry, while
Roger Oxee of Peconic was third in the Southold IGA Pontiac.
Mike Mujsce of Westhampton Beach appeared to be on his way to an
opening night trip to victory lane in the 15-lap Figure Eight
feature until a late race restart with just three laps to go
interrupted his plans for the night. Musjce quickly moved out
front at the drop of the green with Ken Hyde Jr. shadowing him
for the first 11 laps of the race before he was passed by Arne
Pedersen on lap 12. A quick yellow flag waved setting up a dash
for the win between Mujsce, Pedersen and Hyde. On the first
attempt at a restart Pedersen suddenly stopped at the
intersection drawing another yellow, which now left Mujsce, Hyde
and Tom Rogers Jr. sitting in the top three. When the green
light came back on Tom Rogers Jr. in the Island Wide Garage
Doors Chevy made his move racing from third right to the race
lead and eventual win in one clean sweep in the Ralph Tasso
owned racer. At the finish it was Rogers enjoying his 17th
career win with Mike Mujsce in his Bill Beener Tree Service
Chevy runner-up. Defending champion Scott Pedersen made a late
race move to claim third in the Land Air & Water Environmental
Chevy.
Chris McGuire of Shirley topped the 20-lap Charger main event to
earn his 12th career main event win. Derek Stachecki and Erin
Dumicich broke out front early on and ran one-two for the first
six circuits of the race before a yellow flag set up a double
file restart. On the restart Chris McGuire was able not only to
race under Dumicich for second, but also use that momentum to
get by Stachecki for the lead. Just moments later Dumicich also
moved by Stachecki for second and she was able to keep pace with
McGuire as the race wore on. However with just three laps
remaining Jeremy McDermott made his presence known working his
way by Dumicich for second and hoping to make a run at McGuire
for the win. However when the checkers waved it was Chris
McGuire steering the M3 Technologies Ford to victory lane, with
Jeremy McDermott of E. Stroudsburg, Pa second in the Suffolk
Precast Chevy. Erin Dumicich of E. Quogue came home an
impressive third in her Teddy Bear Graphics Toyota.
In the 20-lap Blunderbust feature event Tommy "The Wildchild"
Walkowiak of Ridge notched his 44th career victory after a hard
fought battle with rival Tom Pickerell midway through the race.
Scott Sepe bolted out front at the throw of the green and for
the first half of the race built himself what started to appear
to be an insurmountable lead. However an untimely yellow flag at
the halfway point of the race would be Sepe's undoing as when
the race resumed both Tom Pickerell who had just moved by Jack
Handley Jr. for second and Tommy Walkowiak powered their way by
Sepe to battle for the lead. Battle they did with Walkowiak
testing Pickerell in every turn before the latter was slowed by
a flat left rear, perhaps caused by contact trying to ward off
the challenger. That turn of events moved Walkowiak into the
race lead with the likes of Sepe, Rob Bader and "Krazy" Ed
Mistretta all lined-up to make a run at him. Bader nearly made
an inside pass off turn four pay off before he got too loose
under Walkowiak, allowing Mistretta to get by for second. At the
checker Tommy Walkowiak in the Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy would again
prevail, with Ed Mistretta of New Hyde Park second in the Busy
Bee Exterminating Chevy second. Rob Bader of Holtsville crossed
the line third in the MoMo's Sports Bar & Grill mount.
In a non-stop 20-lap Super Pro Truck main event Chris Turbush of
Riverhead made a mid race pass for the lead stand up to score
the victory. Former champion Frank Dumicich Sr. broke to the
race lead at the start of the race with Turbush moving to second
with the tandem running nose to tail for the first half of the
race. On lap 9 Turbush dove to the inside of Dumicich entering
the third corner and by the time they raced off turn four to the
crossed flags and halfway mark of the race Chris was the new
race leader. Once out front Turbush in the MCS Builders Chevy
scored the popular victory. Frank Dumicich Sr. of E. Quogue had
to be content with second in the Wesemann's Sand & Mason
Supplies Ford, while Lou Maestri of Deer Park made a late race
charge to finish third in the Gershow Recycling Chevy.
There is no better way to start off a title defense than with an
opening night win and that is exactly what 2010 Legend Race Car
champion Kevin Nowak of Medford did in their 20-lap feature. Jim
Byrne raced out front at the start of the contest and lead right
up and until the halfway point. Jeffrey Goodale and Tom Sherman
both moved to second at one time behind Byrne, but soon after
getting to second they both met with misfortune. Nowak raced his
way to second on lap 6 and after hounding Byrne for four laps
made his winning pass exiting the second turn on lap 10. Once
out front Kevin Nowak in the Racing Creations Sedan drove off
into the sunset and victory lane. Timmy Solomito of Islip was
second in the Goodie's Racing entry, while Justin Strumpf of
Selden collected third place money in the Monster's Recycling
machine.
The busy but yet fast paced night of racing concluded with a
75-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro which also provided a great battle for
the lead between eventual winner Dominic Ranieri of East
Northport and Walter Stroud of Yaphank. Ranieri and Stroud put
on a dazzling driving display, swapping the lead numerous times
before Stroud's fine ride ended with a flat tire. With Stroud
now on the infield Ranieri appeared to be on cruise control
until late in the race Anthony Pizzo starting chipping away at
Dominic’s lead. However the laps were running short and Dominic
Ranieri in the Westhampton Auto Salvage Monte Carlo would
preserve his victory. Anthony Pizzo of Ronkonkoma was closing in
fast when the race ended, but would have to be happy with
runner-up money in the STS Tire Works Chevy.
NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps: 1. Timmy Solomito 2. Chris Young 3.
John Fortin 4. Dave Brigati 5. Justin Bonsignore 6. Tom Rogers
Jr. 7. Eric Goodale 8. Shawn Solomito 9. Bill Park 10. Eddie
Brunnhoelzl III 11. Jason Agugliaro 12. John Beatty Jr. 13.
Wayne Anderson 14. Brad Van Houten 15. Frank Saladino 16.Jeremy
McDermott 17. Sean McDonald 18. Terry Stiles 19. Mike Watson 20.
Ken Darch 21. Jerry Solomito Jr. 22. Richie Pallai Jr. 23. Greg
Harris
Late Models 25-laps : 1. Chris LaSpisa 2. Peter Eriksen 3. Roger
Oxee 4. Scott Kulesa 5. Mike Bologna 6. Jarrod Hayes 7. Kevin
Metzger 8. Tony Anello 9. Shawn Patrick 10. Daryn Miller 11.
Daryl Baker 12. Rob Tribuzio 13. Dennis Krupski 14. Craig Lutz
15. Rob McCormick
Figure Eights 15-laps: 1. Tom Rogers Jr. 2. Mike Mujsce 3. Scott
Pedersen 4. Roger Maynor 5. Tom Ferrara 6. Arne Pedersen 7. Ken
Hyde Jr. 8. Tim Farrell
Chargers 20-laps: 1. Chris McGuire 2. Jeremy McDermott 3. Erin
Dumicich 4. CJ Lehmann 5. Derek Stachecki 6. Ray Minieri 7.
Frank Dumicich Jr. 8. Brian Doyle 9. Daryn Miller 10. Frank
Scimeca Jr. 11. Allen Reeves 12. Eric Zeh 13. John Baker 14.
Chris Turbush 15. Tom Sullivan
Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Tommy Walkowiak 2. Ed Mistretta 3. Rob
Bader 4. Bill Wegmann 5. Brandon Hubbard 6. Joe Seeger 7. Tom
Puccia 8. Paul Parisi 9. Bill Portney Sr. 10. Kevin Rommeney 11.
Tom Sullivan 12. Tom Pickerell 13. Fred Nolan 14. Scott Sepe 15.
Jimmy White Jr. 16. Gary Caldwell 17. Jack Handley Jr. 18. Scott
Maliszewski 19. Michael Rommeney DQ- Timmy Mulqueen
Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Chris Turbush 2. Frank Dumicich Sr.
3. Lou Maestri 4. Frank Dumicich Jr. 5. Erin Dumicich 6. Roger
Turbush 7. Dave Koenig 8. Mike Albasini 9. Brian McElearney 10.
Kevin Scharfenberg 11. Kathleen Hallock 12. Peter Rotzi 13.
Keith Rotzi
Legend Race Cars 20-laps: 1. Kevin Nowak 2. Timmy Solomito 3.
Justin Strumpf 4. Chris Young 5. Vinny Delaney 6. Jay Sendlewski
7. Kyle Soper 8. Anthony Cacioppo 9. Mike Malone 10. Tony
Naglieri 11. Michael Rommeney 12. Chris Rogers 13. Tom Sherman
14. Glenn Maningo 15. Jim Byrne 16. Cody Triola 17. Jim
Sylvester 18. Johnny Gloor IV 19. Paul Dodorico 20. George Baker
Jr. 21. Jeffrey Goodale 22. Kyle Ellwood 23. Dylan Slepian
Source: Bob Finan/Riverhead
Raceway PR (with edits from LongIslandJam.com)
Posted: May 9, 2011
