05/09/2000

JOE HARTMANN WIRES RIVERHEAD RACEWAY NASCAR MODIFIED FIELD

    For Joe Hartmann of Riverhead the 1999 season was similar to being in a bad movie, but this past Saturday night Hartmann began to write a new script for the 2000 NASCAR Modified season when he lead all 35 laps on route to victory.  The triumph was worth a cool $1,450 to Hartmann who dominated the 20-car field, which saw 26 cars attempt to qualify for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series contest.

    Utilizing a pole starting position Joe Hartmann was quick to move out front at the drop of the green flag, with Al Ermmarino zipping from third to second as he snuck by outside pole sitter J.R. Bertuccio racing into turn one on to the inside the start.  With Hartmann leading Ermmarino would tuck in right behind the former Charger champion, but all the while "Fast" Al had to keep his eyes peeled as Bertuccio was in turn right on his rear spoiler.  For the most part the top three would race in that fashion for the entire 35-lap distance of the event.

    Further back in the field some hotly contested racing was taking place for position as dueled between Frank Vigliarolo Jr. and Bill Park, as well as Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. and Dan Jivanelli.   However back up front Joe Hartmann was still in control ahead of Ermmarino and Bertuccio and joining the threesome later in the contest would be Ken Matlach and Chris Young, both closing in on the top three as the laps wore down.

    At the checker it was Joe Hartmann scoring the popular win after which he commented, "I have to thank my brother James, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't even be racing right now".  Joe also tipped his hat to those behind the scenes, "my crew chief Stanley has stuck by me in good and bad times and I can't say enough about Jack Merkel Racing Engines, the engine allowed me to break out front and stay there. Also my sponsors, Pools by Paul Guillo and Miller Environmental really pitch in to make this possible".

    Runner-up money would go to Al Ermmarino of Brookhaven in the Smithtown Volkswagen entry, while J.R. Bertuccio of Centereach was third in the Gershow Motorsports Monte Carlo. Ken Matlach of New Hyde Park in the Dietz & Watson Premium Meat Delicacies Cavalier was fourth and Chris Young of Riverhead fifth in the Riverhead Building Supply Monte Carlo.

    Scott Kulesa of Calverton was in the right place at the right time in the 50 lap, double point Late Model race as he would notch his first win of the new season.  The race found two long time rivals Steve Tooker and Roger Oxee running one two from the second lap of the race forward.  Oxee raced by Gregg Shivers for second on the second lap of the tilt.  As the race hit its final ten laps Oxee draped himself all over the leader Tooker and the finish was building up to be a grand one.  Just how grand nobody could have predicted.

    As Tooker and Oxee raced off the fourth corner to complete the 23rd lap contact was made with Tooker spinning into the infield dirt.  Oxee just 100 yards later could not correct his racer either and he spun into the middle of the infield.  This left Scott Kulesa in the Ranco Sand & Stone machine, who had pretty much came to grips that he was a third place car the new race leader and eventual winner.  Scott quipped in victory lane, "Sometimes it's better to be lucky, for once I was in the right place-maybe our luck is changing."

    Peter "Buzzy" Eriksen of Baldwin was third in the Harley-Davidson of Hempstead entry, while third place honors fell to Gregg Shivers of Rocky Point in the Olsen's Discount Nurseries Pontiac.

    Ron Harrison of Riverhead scored his second career Figure Eight victory when he bested the 20-car feature event.  After Keith Terripichio lead the first circuit of the 15-lap distance Harrison worked his way by and took control of the race on lap 2.  Coming to second when Harrison made his bid for the lead would be a fast Mike Mujsce who would then spend the next 12 laps chasing and pressuring Harrison for the lead.  The duo were soon joined by Roger Maynor who raced his way into third and over the final five laps of the race you could have thrown a blanket over the top three cars.

    In the end it would be Ron Harrison in the Tri-W Construction mount prevailing and he would dedicate the win to his nephew Jason Zemba who died of an aneurysm during the off-season.  Roger Maynor of Bay Shore would move the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Dodge to second on the last lap and that is where the defending champion would finish, with Mike Mujsce of Hampton Bays an impressive third in the Pro Tech Automotive Chevy.

    "The Rocket" George Crockett had all his boosters working fine in the Blunderbust feature event which was halted after 15 laps as the time limit had expired.  Young lion Jarred Hayes jumped out front to lead the first two laps of the wild race, which for the second straight week saw numerous yellow flags being displayed.  Hayes would surrender the lead on the third lap when Crockett slipped underneath him exiting the second corner and George would then try to build a comfortable lead. Hayes would race in second until he was overtaken by Sean Byrne who held the position until lap 8.  At that point Byrne spun off the track after contact and Henry Cataldo was now the second place car. Cataldo quickly closed in on leader Crockett and Henry was setting up to make a late race bid for the lead.

    However when a caution flew right after a 15th lap restart was attempted the time limit had expired and George Crockett of Deer Park stood with his Ace Foreign Wreckers entry in victory lane.  Henry Cataldo of N. Massapequa was runner-up in the Langdon's Automotive machine, while Jarred Hayes of Riverhead was third.

    The 25 lap Legend Race Car feature would turn out to be a barnburner that found Tony Naglieri of Shirley taking home a hard fought win.  The first half of the race found Dennis Deuel pacing the 26-car field and Dennis appeared as though his first career win might be on the horizon. However on lap 14 Naglieri caught and passed leader Deuel. Rich Gerbe moved to second on the 15th lap, but just one lap later Donny Lia over hauled him for the spot.  Over the final eight laps of the race Lia glued himself to the back bumper of Naglieri's car, while Rich Gerbe was still in the hunt as well and it was a three-car shootout for the win.  In the end it would be Tony Naglieri in the Eveready racing Sedan to prevail, while Donny Lia of Huntington was a close second in the Huntington Honda bullet.  Defending champion Rich Gerbe of Elmont was third in the Hempstead Tire machine.

    In the 20 lap Super Pro Truck main event Richie Gottfried Jr. of Shirley would be declared the winner after original winner Rich Giordano of Lindenhurst was disqualified for an engine infraction in post race inspection.  Gottfried lead the first lap of the race before he was over taken by Giordano who would then lead the remainder of the distance in the Millennium Theatre Systems Dodge and appeared to have won the race.  However the victory would not stand and Richie Gottfried Jr. would take home his second career win in the S&H Welding Chevy. "Turbo" Tom Fleming of Aquebogue was runner-up in the Ideal Cesspools entry, while Ron "Hurricane" Humes of East Rockaway was third in the Davidsons Metro Power truck.

Source:  Riverhead Raceway Press Release
Posted:  May 9, 2000