Riverhead Raceway 

John Fortin Declared Winner After Preece Made Pass Under Yellow Line

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For the first time in awhile the sun was out at Riverhead Raceway on July 12, 2015 and things quickly heated up out on the track.

13 Modifieds were in attendance for a single, 35 lap feature event. The field was set by time trials with Ryan Preece setting fast time with an 11.990; in the re-draw he picked the outside pole. Vincent Biondolillo picked the pole with Jason Agugliaro behind him and John Fortin starting in 4th.

At the start of Lap 1, Preece wasted no time taking the lead going around Biondolillo on the outside. John Fortin was right behind him as the No.84 slipped into 2nd on Lap 2. The first caution came out on Lap2 when Howie Brode got into Jason Agugliaro sending the No.69 around in Turn 4. Tom Rogers Jr. spun to avoid the incident and suffered a left front flat forcing him to pit. Because the field did not complete the lap, Fortin was moved back to 3rd but, on the restart he quickly took 2nd back and was right on the bumper of the Elite Towing No.20.

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On Lap 4 Danny Watts suffered a broken left front suspension, since he was unable to get his car turned Watts stopped on the bottom of Turn 2. The yellow then waved for Watts on Lap 6. On the restart Fortin and Preece went side by side for the lead, on the next lap Fortin passed Preece and took the lead. Preece didn’t let him get away and stayed on the back bumper of Fortin until the final caution came out on Lap 33 when Jason Agugliaro spun on the backstretch.

On the restart the two veterans went at it going side by side all around the track until Preece went under Fortin entering Turn 3 coming to the white flag. Preece would come around and take the checkered flag but the finish would be under review by the officials. At the start finish line, both Preece and Fortin stopped their cars; Preece went over to Fortin’s car and the two talked while the officials watched the replay of the race. A short time later the officials made the call and determined that Preece did pass below the yellow, which would put him back a spot and therefore declare John Fortin the winner.

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“We used all our stuff up, and we got a little free at the end,” Fortin said, “I just lost all my forward drive but, I sent it in good and I was on the [yellow] line and [Preece] was pretty much totally under but, it is what it is.”

Preece would be moved to second with Vinny Biondolillo, Kyle Soper and Tom Rogers Jr. rounding out the top 5.

Pickerell Captures Victory in Caution Free Blunderbust Feature

The Blunderbusts had a 30-lap feature event with the field set by time trials. Scott Maliszewski set fast time with a 15.234, he would redraw 3rd. Tom Pickerell picked the pole with Terry Stiles starting to his outside.

At the drop of the green flag Pickerell jumped into the lead quickly with Stiles right behind him. On Lap 3, Stiles suffered an issue and moved his car into the middle of the track, the race stayed green. On Lap 8, Scott Maliszewski suffered an issue with his steering column forcing him to pull off the track. Soon after Jim Laird Jr. suffered a problem and pulled off the track. Pickerell continued to lead with Tommy Walkowiak right behind him. On Lap 15, Joe Warren had an issue and pulled his car off the track making it four cars out of the race before halfway. On Lap 20, Jack Handley Jr. back in the Cheese Box Racing car passed Tommy Walkowiak for 2nd with Pickerell still holding a strong lead. Eight laps later Walkowiak spun off of Turn 2 but no caution was waved. From there Pickerell cruised to the checkered flag to take down the win.

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“Usually when I redraw I pick a bad number out,” Pickerell said “We started up front, everyone was nice with the move over flag and got out of the way and it was a nice race.”

Mike Bologna Takes Home Win For Late Models

The Late Models were back in action for a 25-lap feature. John Baker started on the pole with Roger Oxee to his outside. The race got off to a rocky start when Chris Lescenski and Shawn Patrick spun going into Turn 1 at the start. However the first caution came out on Lap 4 when Lescenski got into Chris McGuire in Turn 4 sending the No.89 around.

When the green came back out Oxee tried everything he could to get by Baker looking on the outside, then the inside. That was until Lap 16 when Oxee tapped Baker entering Turn 3 sending the No.07 around. Officials moved Oxee to the rear for rough riding meaning Mike Bologna inherited the lead. The field did not even complete a lap after the restart before the next caution came out. Peter “Buzzy” Eriksen was side by side with Kevin Metzger when Metzger lost it off Turn 4. The No.23 was then hit by Chris Lescenski and soon Kaitlyn Schober and Kyle Harvell were involved. Roger Oxee spun wildly into the infield to avoid the wreck. After some repairs all cars were able to continue.

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On the restart Bologna lead Chris La Spisa and Jeremy McDermott until Lap 21 when McDermott spun on the front stretch, no caution was waved. La Spisa was unable to catch the back bumper of the No.00 and Mike Bologna took the checkered flag.

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“Dynamite” Dan Turbush Scores SPT Win

The Super Pro Trucks were back in action after two weeks off as Gerald Giordano started on the pole with Brian McElearney to his outside. Giordano got a good jump and was able to lead the first lap. Kevin Scharfenberg and McElearney got together entering Turn 3; both drivers continued.

On Lap 8 the first caution flag waved then McElearney got into Dave Brigati sending the 98x around. Mark Stewart’s No.97 had the right side of his truck ripped open like a can, Stewart would continue. On Lap 10 Giordano continued to lead until “Dynamite” Dan Turbush got under him and passed him for the lead on Lap 11. The second caution would come out for Mike Albasini after his left front tire went down from contact with Mark Stewart. On the restart Turbush pulled away from the field and took down his second win in four starts this season.

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Davidowitz Third 2015 Legend Win Pending

The Legend cars went out for a 20-lap feature with Richie Davidowitz on the pole with Greg Harris to his outside. Point leader Dylan Slepian suffered engine issues during practice but was able to hop into Brad Van Houten’s car for the heats and the feature. Van Houten’s car was not at the track until he learned that Slepian had issues and had the car brought to the track. Slepian would start fourth in the feature.

At the start Davidowitz jumped to a commanding lead over the field but Slepian was on the move getting passed Greg Harris on Lap 3. But, on Lap 5 problems struck the No.09 Riverhead Building Supply machine and Slepian had to pull the car into the infield and was done for the race. On Lap 8 last week’s winner Kyle Ellwood moved into 3rd and was going after Artie Pedersen III for 2nd. But, Davidowitz had a straightaway lead over everyone else and cruised on to win his first race for Visconti/Barton Motorsports in the No.1. Davidowitz takes over the point lead however, he was protested against for using illegal fuel. Currently it is unknown whether a sample of Davidowitz’s fuel has been sent out for testing and if he has been officially awarded the win.

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Greg Zaleski won a fairly clean 50 lap Grand Enduro.

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Photos available at: http://www.racerhub.com/photos/index.php?cat=2399

 

Super Pro Trucks:

  1. Dan Turbush (8)
  2. Chris Stewart (9)
  3. Lou Maestri (7)
  4. Gerald Giordano (1)
  5. Brian Brown (12)
  6. Jimmy Rennick Jr. (4)
  7. Brian McElearney (2)
  8. Kevin Scharfenberg (3)
  9. Mike Albasini (5)
  10. Anthony Vecchio (11)
  11. Amanda Anderson (10)
  12. Dave Brigati (6)

Legends (Unofficial):

  1. Richie Davidowtiz (1)
  2. Artie Pedersen III (3)
  3. Vinny Delaney (6)
  4. Kyle Ellwood (8)
  5. Greg Harris (2)
  6. Shawn Wanat (10)
  7. Chris Rogers (7)
  8. Eric Hersey (13)
  9. Ray Fitzgerald (12)
  10. Craig Lutz (9)
  11. Mike Van Houten (5)
  12. George Tomko Jr. (17)
  13. Allan Pedersen (11)
  14. Kurt Kreiger (14)
  15. Steve Hersey (16)
  16. Jerry Curran (15)
  17. Dylan Slepian (3)

Blunderbusts:

  1. Tom Pickerell (1)
  2. Jack Handley Jr. (5)
  3. Jimmy White Jr. (9)
  4. Ed Mistretta (10)
  5. Bill Wegmann (8)
  6. Tim Mulqueen (4)
  7. Tom Sullivan (12)
  8. Tom Puccia (11)
  9. Derek Wegmann (14)
  10. Eric Zeh (13)
  11. Dennis Scott (16)
  12. Bob Muller (17)
  13. Jessica Cohen (19)
  14. Fred Nolan (18)
  15. Robert Ehrle (20)
  16. Tommy Walkowiak (7)
  17. Joseph Warren (14)
  18. Jim Laird (8)
  19. Scott Maliszewski (3)
  20. Terry Stiles (2)

Late Model:

1    Mike Bologna (8)
2    Chris La Spisa (6)
3    Scott Kulesa (4)
4    Roger Oxee (2)
5    Buzzy Eriksen (13)
6    Kevin Metzger (7)
7    Kyle Harvell (5)
8    Chris Lescenski (3)
9    Jeremy McDermott (10)
10    Chris McGuire (11)
11    Shawn Patrick (9)
12    Kaitlyn Schober (12)
13    Brandon Turbush (16)
14    Emily La Spisa (15)
15    John Baker (1)
16    Kyle Soper (14)

NASCAR Modified:
1    John  Fortin (4)
2    Ryan Preece (2)
3    Vinny Biondolillo (1)
4    Kyle Soper (6)
5    Tom Rogers Jr. (7)
6    Jerry Solomito Jr. (9)
7    Howie Brode (5)
8    Ken Darch (8)
9    Ken Vogel Jr (10)
10    Jason Agugliaro (3)
11    Danny Watts (11)
12    Amber Fortin (13)
13    Artie Pedersen III (12)

Source: Brenden Madonia/LongIslandJam.com