09/16/2000
KEN HYDE AND SCOTT McNAMEE HIGHLIGHT RIVERHEAD NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Saturday night featured something for everyone on Miller Lite night
with Ken Hyde of Medford scoring his second consecutive win in the National
Figure Eight Championship, while Scott McNamee of Raleigh, N.C. won the
National Demolition Derby title. Also scoring huge victories on the night
would be Robin Vollmoeller of Riverhead in the Chargers, Chris Busick of
Lake Ronkonkoma in the Blunderbusts and Tony Naglieri of Shirley in the
Legend Race Cars.
In the 25-lap National Figure Eight Championship event Anthony
Nunziata broke out front at the drop of the green flag with Ken Hyde in hot
pursuit. For the first 12 laps of the contest Nunziata proceeded to turn in
the performance of his career. For a time it looked as though he might
just pocket his first career win in the biggest race for the Figure Eights
of the year. However on lap 13 while exiting turn four, the right-hand turn
for the class, Ken Hyde was able to get a run on Nunziata and storm out
front. Once to the lead Hyde then built a handsome lead over Nunziata and
third place Bill Steen, but later in the race that lead would shrink due to
crossing traffic at the intersection.
Over the final two laps of the race Nunziata and
Steen were within striking distance of Hyde but that would be as close as
they would get. At the checker it was Ken Hyde in the WM. Paden Services
Beretta earning the $700 victory. Anthony Nunziata of Ronkonkoma was
runner-up in the USA Communications Entry, while Bill Steen of Oakdale was
third in the McArthur Auto Clinic Dodge.
In the 50 lap Charger feature event sponsored by Formula 113 Car Wax,
Ideal Cesspools and Tuckahoe Mower Robin Vollmoeller of Riverhead scored a
clean sweep in the night’s action. In the pre race time trials Vollmoeller
would be quickest with a 13.385, but drew 3rd starting position when the top
six redrew. Pole sitter Bill Rosskamp broke out into the early lead with
Robin Vollmoeller quickly coming to second on the initial start and they
raced that way for the first six laps. On lap 7 Vollmoeller was able to
muscle his way into the lead, with Rosskamp now sitting second, a position
he’d hold until a 16th lap double file restart. On that restart Jack
Orlando, who was third was able to glue himself to leader Vollmoeller’s
rear bumper and race his way under Rosskamp for second, bringing Rusty
Turbush to third. From that point forward the three young veteran
drivers would race nose to tail, with Orlando every once in awhile taking a
peek under Robin exiting the turns, but every time Jack made a slight move,
Turbush went to the other groove in a game of motorized chess.
In the end Robin Vollmoeller in the Solar Salon Pontiac would score
his second straight win in this season -ending non points race, with the win
worth a total of $875. The three race sponsors added an additional bonus of
$125. Jack Orlando of Riverhead was runner-up in the Glamour Transportation
Olds earning $635 and Rusty Turbush of Manorville wound up third in the
Northeastern Office Equipment entry worth $405.
The Langdon’s Automotive 50 for the Blunderbust would be the most
entertaining race of the night with Chris Busick of Lake Ronkonkoma earning
a hard fought victory. In the time trials prior to the race Jarred Hayes was
fastest with a 15.174 clocking and since it was the first ever time trial
session for the class, it’s a track record. Anthony Aiello would be the
first to lead when the green waved and Aiello would set the pace for the
first 22 laps, earning $5 per lap in the process. On lap 23 Chris Busick
would utilize lapped traffic to his advantage when he was able to box Aiello
in and take over the lead. Bobby Gardner quickly raced to second the very
next lap and the stage was now set for a titanic duel for the lead and win.
Busick led up until the 32 lap when Gardner was able to trap Chris behind a
lapped car in turn four and take over the lead, the second time lapped
traffic played a role and it wouldn’t be the last.
Undaunted by losing the lead, Busick went right back to work in
trying to take back the position and on lap 43 he reversed the tables on
Gardner, as he now trapped Bobby behind lapped traffic in the third and
fourth turn. The fans cheered with delight with the race the tandem
was staging. Once back out front there was no stopping Chris Busick in the
Transmission Works entry, as he drove to the richest victory in the history
of the Blunderbust class. Race sponsor Ron Langdon added a $250 bonus on top
of his race sponsorship and when you add the $169 in lap money, Chris would
walk off with $669. Bobby Gardner would cross the line second, but in post
race inspection had an unapproved manifold and was disqualified. That moved
Chris Chirico of Huntington to second in the J. Russo Contracting Chevy,
while Neal Feola Jr. of N. Babylon was third in the Sims Steel machine.
Other drivers earning lap money aside from Busick were Anthony Aiello
$133, Neal Feola Jr. $90, Chris Chirico $83 and John Clancy $25. The lap
money bonus was also sold by race sponsor Ron Langdon, who dedicated the
race to his late father Joel.
Not only did Tony Naglieri of Shirley score his
second win of 2000 in the time limit shortened Legend Race Car feature, but
he also clinched the 2000 championship. Defending champion Rich Gerbe and
Donny Lia came to the last race tied for the point lead, but both were swept
up in a 1st lap crash in the third and fourth turn. Scott Wolf lost some
fluid going into the turn and Lia hit the wall hard and Gerbe made contact
with another car, with Lia done for the night and Gerbe returning. John
Wanat would lead the first 9 laps of the race with Tony Naglieri coming to
second on lap 3. It would be in the 10th lap that Naglieri would not only
pass Wanat for the lead, but as it turned out, also for the title. Naglieri
entered the race 14 points behind the leaders and would need eight spots
over Gerbe for the crown. On lap 9 Gerbe raced to 9th and Naglieri who was
second now needed another spot, a spot he’d get in the very next lap.
On lap 15 the caution flag waved for the final time, as the time
limit in the race expired. If the race had stayed green it would have
been allowed to play out and Gerbe more than likely may have picked up a
much-needed spot or two. However the sand in the hourglass ran out and it
was Tony Naglieri steering the Bradco Roofing Supply Sedan taking the win
and championship. Tom Sherman of Copiague was runner-up in the West Amity
Auto Parts machine after racing his way to second on lap 13, while John
Wanat of Riverhead was third in the Dynamic Radiator Sedan.
Scott McNamee of Raleigh, North Carolina would take home the $1,000
victory in the National Demolition Derby Championship. McNamee, a
transplanted native of Long Island was representing the Orlando Speedworld
in the event and he’d out smash Bob “Whiplash” Genovese of South
Farmingdale to score the win.
Source: Riverhead Raceway Press Release
Posted: September 18, 2000
