05/13/2000

FRANK VIGLIAROLO JR. TOPS RIVERHEAD RACEWAY MODIFIED COMPETITORS

Defending NASCAR Modified champion Frank Vigliarolo Jr. of Medford powered his way to victory this past Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway.  He utilized an 8th lap double file restart to race his way into the lead and into victory lane.  The race scheduled to go 35 laps was cut to 18 when the time limit expired on the race after numerous caution flags.

    In the early laps of the event Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. took the lead with Ed Densieski to giving chase.  The tandem raced in that order for the first 8 laps of the contest, until they were joined by Frank Vigliarolo Jr. who began to test Densieski for the second position to the inside.  On lap 8 Chris Young made heavy contact with the wall on the front straight and coming to rest in turn one.  Young was okay, but his car was done for the night.

    The ensuing restart proved to be the turning point of the race with Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. on the inside and Frank Vigliarolo Jr.on the outside.  Vigliarolo took over second from Densieski by a bumper one lap previous to the Young incident.  When the leaders hit the third turn stripe where the race was restarted Brunnhoelzl and Vigliarolo both hit the throttle.  Exiting turn four Vigliarolo simply powered his way into the lead in the KeyTrade Online.com Monte Carlo. The next ten laps of the race saw Vigliarolo lead the way, with Densieski coming in second on the 12th lap where he ducked under Brunnhoelzl on the home stretch, with Bill Park coming in third moments later .The final ten laps of the 18 lap race saw limited green flag action due to the numerous caution periods and when the time limit expired Frank Vigliarolo Jr. would take home the $1,450 win.

    In victory lane Vigliarolo was presented the winner's trophy by Tom Baldwin Jr., crew chief for Ward Burton on the Winston Cup circuit who provided color commentary during the race. "I have to credit Rob Nicola of ERD Race Engines for this win tonight, pure power put us out front tonight" said Frank. "I want to thank Michael Lake of KeyTrade Online.com as well as ThinkersGroup.com and the Middle Island Deli for all their support"

    Ed Densieski of Riverhead would have to be content with runner-up money in the JAD Carpet Showcase entry, while Bill Park of Manorville was third in the Smithtown Nissan Monte Carlo. Rounding out the top five were Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. of Levittown in the Jamaica Brake & Clutch Cavalier and Ken Matlach of New Hyde Park in the Dietz & Watson Meats Cavalier.

Roger Oxee of Peconic made his race team's comeback from a devastating off-season shop fire complete when he won the 25-lap Late Model feature event. At the drop of the green Walt DeMorris jumped to the lead and set the pace of the race for the next 8 laps. Chris LaSpisa pursued DeMorris for the first 7 circuits before Roger Oxee made a power move of his own, racing past Chris to the outside exiting turn four. DeMorris found his fine ride end in heartbreak on the 8th lap of the race when he got caught up with the lapped car of James Vaccaro on the back stretch ending the finest performance of his career. This turn of events moved Oxee into the lead and LaSpisa back into second. When the race went back to green Oxee opened with a comfortable lead, while in the closing laps Sean Egan challenged LaSpisa for the runner-up position.
    At the checker it was one elated Roger Oxee in the Helman Group entry taking the emotional win. "This win is a testament to my team who after the fire just dug in deeper.  I also want to dedicate this win to Sal Maniscalco, after the fire we bought some of his equipment from his wife and this win is for him.  We all miss him." Roger stated in victory lane.  Chris LaSpisa of Shirley scored second place money in the Piping Rock Water machine, while Sean Egan of Riverhead was third in the Riverhead Building Supply entry.

    For the second consecutive year Carl Baxter of Bay Shore scored the win in the Cromarty Cup Figure Eight feature, which was cut, to 16 laps when heavy rain pelted the final event of the night.  Baxter, who won this race as a rookie in 1999 when the race was checkered due to the time limit left little doubt who the driver to beat was this year. Carl quickly bolted into the lead at the drop of the green flag and would be chased first by Keith Terripichio, then Ken Darch, Bill Batsche and lastly Ken Hyde, all of who took a turn running second to Baxter. The race was made even more challenging by the heavy traffic at the intersection brought on by a 22 car starting field for the Cromarty Cup event. However there was no stopping Carl Baxter in the T&C Performance Camaro who was once again happy to see Barbara and Jim Cromarty awaiting his arrival in the winner's circle. Ken Hyde of Medford would finish second in the Live Wire Welding Beretta, while Bill Batsche of Central Islip was third in the Island Moving Supplies Monte Carlo.

    Defending Charger champion "Radiant" Ray Minieri of Bay Shore scored the triumph in the 20 lap main event. Tony Anello grabbed the early lead of the race for the first lap of the tilt, but Ray Minieri would race under Anello in turn 3 to take control of the race on lap 2. Anello now sitting second would stay close to Minieri but a 12-lap restart would change the complexion of the race. On the double file restart "Dynamite" Dan Turbush was able to sneak under Anello exiting turn four and came to second behind race leader Minieri. The two drivers who went down to the final night in 1999 to determine the Charger championship would once again renew their rivalry. However
not even a late race caution would deter Ray Minieri in the ALP Computer Dynamics Pontiac from taking home the gold and surviving the late race restart to do just that. Dan Turbush of Riverhead was runner-up in the Hamptons Furniture Store entry, while Jack Orlando of Riverhead brought the Glamour Transportation machine home in third place.

Tom Alt of Miller Place scored his first career Blunderbust victory when he took the top honor in a non-stop 20-lap feature event. The early laps saw Edwin Troeber lead the first three laps of the race before Anthony Foerster passed him on lap 4. Just one lap later Tom Alt moved to second.  After testing Foerster for three laps, he made his move for the lead on lap 8.  Alt was able to race by on the outside when Foerster broke loose exiting turn two.  Once in the top spot Tom Alt was able to open up a comfortable lead during the middle stages of the race.  However, late in the event both Jack Handley and Henry Cataldo closed in on Alt.  Cataldo worked his way by Handley on the final lap, but in the end it was all Tom Alt. In the Kings Quality Siding and Roofing entry Alt enjoyed his first career win.  Henry Cataldo of North Massapequa was runner-up in the Beato Fuel Co. racer, with John Clancy of Shirley coming to third late in the race.

Don Conradis of Patchogue would rebound from engine problems that forced him to scratch his Shark Lines Trucking entry prior to racing last week to rebound with a wire to wire win in the 25 lap Legend race Car feature. Dan Pace chased Conradis for the first three laps of the race before giving way to Mike Malone who came to second on lap 4. Malone, driving his father Vinny's car just one week after his wild flip in his own car would run second until the 12th lap when he was over taken by defending Legend champion Rich Gerbe. Rich was able to erase the large lead that Conradis enjoyed in the race and close would be all Gerbe could muster on this night. At the checker it was Don Conradis collecting the win while Rich Gerbe of Elmont was runner-up in the Hempstead Tire mount and a fast closing Donny Lia of Huntington was third in the Huntington Honda racer. Lia was perhaps the fastest car at the end of the race as he was all over Gerbe when the race concluded. 

Source:  Riverhead Raceway Press Release
Posted:  May 15, 2000