06/17/2000
EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF IN NASCAR MODIFIED VICTORY FOR
CHRIS YOUNG AT RIVERHEAD
This past Saturday night at
Riverhead Raceway veteran NASCAR Modified pilot Chris Young of Riverhead
used his experience to his advantage as he won the 35 lap NASCAR Weekly
Racing Series Modified feature. Young took home $1,450 for the triumph, his
first of the 2000 season.
Lenny Fischer was quick to grab
the early lead when the green flag waved with Dave Kruk tucking in behind
Fischer for the first five laps. It would be a 6th lap restart that found
Kruk able to wrestle the top spot away from Fischer, but suddenly being the
leader of the race would be a jinxed position. While racing with Ken Heagy
who moved to second for the lead, Kruk on lap 10 would make a hard left off
turn four into the infield. An overheating problem was to blame for Kruk’s
early exit. This moved Ken Heagy into the lead, but just as he took the lead
the yellow waved for a muffler that had come loose off a car. Indeed the
muffler was off Heagy’s car and was struck by another car going over the
catch fence in turns one and two, slightly injuring a female spectator. This
drew a red flag and NASCAR Officials informed Ken Heagy he’d have to pit
for a new muffler once the race went back to yellow.
That turn of events moved Chris
Young, who had be running a strong third and was in the process of
challenging both Heagy and Kruk, into the lead with Ed Densieski now second.
Over the final 25 laps of the contest Densieski draped himself all over
Chris Young’s rear bumper, but Young drove a classic short track race
protecting his lead. Once or twice Densieski got into Young exiting the
corners, but Ed would roll out of his throttle and allow Young a chance to
gather up his car as the fight for the lead was intense, but clean. In the
closing laps Young would actually win the race by slowing the pace of the
race in the corners especially. He used his brakes so as not to open up a
hole for Densieski, who was ready willing and able to capitalize on any
mistake Chris would make.
At the checker it was Chris
Young in the Riverhead Building Supply Monte Carlo scoring the win. After
the win Young commented, “Ed drove me hard and clean tonight, he’s going
to win his share of races but tonight we won this race by dictating the
pace. I owe a lot of this win to my motor program through Bill Mitchell
Hardcore Racing and of course my sponsors Riverhead Building Supply, Syosett
Trucks and Trux Inc and My Butcher of Wading River” Young also added, “I
have to also say a big thanks to me wife Ann and my son Chris and of course
my father Lester, I hope this is a good Fathers Day gift”
Ed Densieski of Riverhead would
have to be content with runner-up money in the JAD Carpet Showcase Cavalier,
while Chuck Steuer of Bohemia placed third in the Northeastern Office
Equipment Chevy. Steuer came to third on lap 11 and he watched and waited as
Young and Densieski fought for the lead and was waiting in the wings in case
they got together. Defending champion Frank Vigliarolo Jr. of Medford was
fourth in the KeyTrade Online.com Monte Carlo and J.R. Bertuccio of
Centereach was fifth in the Long Island Truck Parts entry.
In the Ideal Cesspools 25 Late
Model feature Steve Tooker of Riverhead improved his chances of a third
straight title as he won his first race of 2000 in the double point event.
Scott Kulesa of Calverton set fast time in pre race time trials with a lap
of 12.581 earning a $100 bonus from Trailer Transport. After the top six
redrew for starting position Sean Egan who timed fifth picked the pole and
Egan jumped to the early advantage. Peter “Buzzy” Eriksen chased Egan
for the first six laps of the race, but Roger Oxee got under Eriksen on lap
7 for second. However, just two laps later Eriksen worked his way past
Oxee. Soon they both were over taken by Steve Tooker who raced to
second on lap 12. Once to second Tooker went right to work, at first
catching Egan and then passing him. Much like the Modified feature, the race
for the lead was intense with Egan trying to dictate the pace of the race.
On the 22nd lap Egan would spin
from the lead in turn 2 as the fight for the lead got too close and Steve
Tooker was now the new race leader, with Scott Kulesa and Peter Eriksen in
tow. In what would amount to a three-lap dash for the cash, Steve Tooker was
not going to be denied. He drove to victory in the ADM Productions
Chevy. Tooker, who carries associate sponsorship from Ideal Cesspools,
earned an extra $250 from Ideal. Scott Kulesa of Calverton was runner-up in
the Ranco Sand & Stone machine and Peter Eriksen of Baldwin was third in
the Harley-Davidson of Hempstead Pontiac. Kulesa and Eriksen earned $200 and
$150 from Ideal.
The Charger race was scheduled to be a 30 lap,
double point feature but it wound up going a normal 20 laps when the
35-minute time limit ran out. Jack Orlando of Riverhead took down his first
win of the season and looked as though he would of lead the extra 10 laps
even if they had been completed. Mark Wells enjoyed a good run early in the
race leading the first 8 laps of the contest, with Andy Lokkberg second for
the first six circuits. On lap 7 Jack Orlando worked his way by Lokkberg
from his 6th starting position. Once to second Orlando wasted little time in
going for the lead as he got by leader Mark Wells and took control of the
race. Mark Gibbs came to second with Orlando and ran second until lap 12
when Tom St. Clair got under Gibbs in turn four on a double file restart.
Over what would be the final 8 laps of the race St. Clair drew close to
Orlando, but was unable to mount a challenge for the lead.
At the checker it was Jack
Orlando taking the win for his new sponsor Warehouse Toll & Equipment,
who he just signed in the pit area earlier in the afternoon. Tom St. Clair
of Commack was runner-up in the G-Welding Pontiac, while Steve Ratti of
Manorville was third in the P.J. Wyer Contracting entry. Ratti took over the
point lead with the third place finish.
Neal Feola Jr. of North Babylon
saved himself a trip to the shopping mall when he won the Car Tunes night
20-lap Blunderbust feature event, giving his father Neal “The Wheel”
Feola an early Fathers Day gift. Newcomer Russell Broy set the pace early as
he jumped to the lead at the drop of the green, with fellow Enduro graduate
Dominick Tringali giving chase. Tringali was over hauled for second by Neal
Feola Jr. on lap 4 and Feola then set his sights on leader Broy. Heading
into the first turn on lap 7 Feola was able to make a bid for the lead on
Broy and he took over the top spot and began to build a comfortable lead.
Mark Wolf would come to second on lap 12, but Chris Busick passed him on the
15th lap for second. Busick got out his fishing rod as he was reeling in
Feola in the closing laps of the race, but it would be too little too late.
At the finish it was Neal Feola in the Sims Steel entry taking his first win
since the 1992 season. Chris Busick of Lake Ronkonkoma was runner-up in the
Transmission Works machine, while Mark Wolf of Lindenhurst scored a career
best third place tally in his sponsor wanted mount.
The final race of the evening
was a 101 car Enduro. Ray Fitzgerald of Manorville scored the $1,000
victory in the 100-lap contest.
Source: Riverhead Raceway
Press Release
Posted: June 20, 2000
