06/07/2000
FRANK VIGLIAROLO JR. FIRST
TO REPEAT IN RIVERHEAD RACEWAY NASCAR MODIFIEDS
Defending NASCAR Modified champion Frank Vigliarolo Jr. of Medford became
the first repeat winner of the 2000 season when he won the 35 lap feature
event this past Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway. Vigliarolo earned
$1,450 for the triumph on a night that saw 37 cars attempt to make the 22
car starting line-up.
Chuck Steuer for the third time in as many time trial shows would click off
the fastest time at 11.773. When the top six picked for starting
position Frank Vigliarolo Jr. who timed third quickest and David Roys’
team cars made up the front row. At the drop of the green Vigliarolo broke
out front with Roys in tow for the first lap. On just the second lap a multi
car tangle saw Tony Ferrante Jr. hit the third turn wall with several cars
getting together behind him. Among those involved were John Fortin, L.W.
Miller and Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. Only Ed would return after pitting for
repairs to his sway bar. On the ensuing restart Vigliarolo once again bolted
to the lead, but this time Chuck Steuer slipped under Roys for the second
spot and for the following 34 laps Chuck would try to figure a way around
Frank.
Steuer draped his car all over Vigliarolo for the remainder of the race, but
Frank drove a classic short track race, thwarting each and every challenge
Steuer would mount. Meanwhile waiting in the wings right behind the top two
cars was Howie Brode who raced his way to third. Brode, to a degree,
would distract Steuer from time to time as he was right on Chuck's rear
spoiler. As the race hit its final laps Vigliarolo and Steuer pulled
slightly away from Brode and Steuer again looked inside and outside for a
lane by Vigliarolo.
In the end however it was the KeyTrade Online.com Monte Carlo of Frank
Vigliarolo Jr. collecting his second win of NASCAR 2000. "If Chuck was
going to pass me it was going to be outside and we were still running 11.9's
and I've been around long enough to know that passing a car running those
times to the outside is near impossible". Frank commented. "I have
to thank KeyTrade Online.com along with Thinkersgroup.com, Long Island Truck
Parts and Middle Island Deli for their support and also without a doubt Rob
Nicola of ERD Race Engines" Frank concluded.
Chuck Steuer of Bohemia would take home runner-up money in the Panasonic
Digital Imaging Chevy, while Howie Brode of Bay Shore brought the Petro Fuel
Oil Cavalier home third. Completing the top five were J.R. Bertuccio of
Centereach in the Sims Steel Monte Carlo and David Roys of Patchogue in the
Noisy Oyster Restaurant Monte Carlo who was fifth in a solid performance.
In a popular victory among fans and fellow competitors "Mighty"
Mike Mortimer of Mastic Beach scored the win in the first Exide Select
Battery twin 25 Late Model feature. Mortimer took command of the race at the
drop of the green with Walt DeMorris in tow. DeMorris ran second for the
first 6 laps of the race before he was over taken by Larry LaFountaine who
made an outside pass entering the first turn. Larry drew close to Mortimer
and glued himself to Mike's rear bumper, but the night would belong to
Mortimer. While under caution on lap 19 the time limit ran out and Mike
Mortimer in the Tobay Printing Pontiac made his come back from an opening
night crash complete. Larry LaFountaine of Miller Place was second in the
McDonalds of Riverhead entry, while Roger Oxee of Peconic placed third in
the Nasty Ed's Products Pontiac.
In the nightcap twin 25, which did indeed go the distance Sean Egan of
Riverhead notched his first win of the 2000 season. The top eight inverted
from the first feature and that put Egan and Steve Tooker on the front row.
Egan was quick to jump into the lead with Tooker chasing him until lap six
when Peter Eriksen passed him. Like Tooker, Eriksen's stay in second lasted
six laps, as he would surrender the spot to Larry LaFountaine who again
found himself pursuing a race leader. However there was no catching the
Riverhead Building Supply machine and Sean Egan came home the winner. Larry
"The Bridesmaid" LaFountaine was again runner-up while Joe
Cerabino of Islip in the Just Dormers entry had a solid race to claim third.
In the annual Ernie Maynor Memorial Figure Eight feature, sponsored by
Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies, Roger Maynor of Bay Shore took home the
emotional win, his first of 2000. Young talent Keith Terripichio lead the
first 3 laps of the contest before he saw Bobby Wallace race by on lap 4 for
the top spot. Wallace who was coming back from a hard crash at the
"X" the week prior lead for the 4th lap but on the 5th circuit
Roger Maynor raced his way into the lead. Once out front Maynor, the
defending champion of the class was not going to be denied victory in the
Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Dodge. This race was also determined by
time and went 18 laps of the scheduled 20. When it was checkered under
caution Roger Maynor won his father’s race once again. The "Ax"
Carl Baxter of Bay Shore was second in the T&C Performance Camaro, with
Ken Hyde of Medford third in the Maples Bar & Grill Beretta.
Brian Schwarz of Riverhead notched his first career Charger win when he won
the Formula 113 Car Wax night 20 lap feature. Rookie Rob Tribuzio set the
pace of the event for the first 8 laps. Rob had some handling problems.
His car was loose off the corners and on lap 8, he spun off turn two which
moved Brian Schwarz out front with Gino Terripichio now second. Schwarz, a
teammate to Dave Brigati in the Exmark sponsored cars; last won a
Blunderbust feature some eight years ago in 1992. Schwarz would
proceed to lead the rest of the way to nail down the victory. Mike Bologna
of Huntington had a good performance result in a runner-up finish in the Top
Notch Racing owned machine, while Steve Ratti of Manorville was third in the
National Transmissions Pontiac.
Anthony Aiello of Bayport scored his first Blunderbust win of the 2000
campaign when he won the 20-lap feature. The early going saw Edwin Troeber
lead the first 3 cycles of the feature before Mark Wolf passed him for the
lead. Wolf would stay out front until an 11th lap double file restart when
he saw Anthony Aiello take an outside line to pass him for the lead heading
into the first turn. Once out front things didn't get much easier for
Aiello. With just five laps to go veterans John Clancy and Henry
Cataldo closed in. At the checker though it was the 1-877- DRY WELL Chevy of
Anthony Aiello taking home the gold. John Clancy of Shirley in the DAS
Express was second and Henry Cataldo of Masspaequa placed third in the Beato
Fuel entry.
The Super Pro Trucks ran a 20-lap feature backed by Ideal Cesspools on
Trailer Transport night and for the second week in a row Ron Humes of East
Rockaway came away the winner. After Dave Koenig lead the first lap John
Cozza took control of the race on the second lap and he then proceeded to
lead the next 11 laps of the race, building a comfortable lead. However a
caution flag bunched the field up and on the restart Humes went right to
work on Cozza for the lead. On lap 13 he jumped outside Cozza for the lead
exiting turn two. Once in the lead it would be all Ron Humes in the
Davidsons Metro Power Chevy and he collected his third win of 2000. John
Cozza of Medford drove his Island Parts Outlet Ford to a second place finish
on the evening, while Larry Costa of College Point was third in the New York
Metro Peterbilt Dodge. The top three earned an extra $150, $125 and $100
from Doug Wholey of Ideal Cesspools.
This Saturday night June 10th it's the Miller 200 NASCAR Featherlite
Modified Series event, with the Late Models, Figure Eights and Chargers on
the card as well. Qualifying will start at 4:30 pm with feature events to
follow. Modified time trials are scheduled to commence at 5:45 pm
Source: Riverhead Raceway
Press Release
Posted: June 7, 2000
