Tom Rogers Jr. Sweeps Twin 49 Modified Victories In Honor of Chris Young
Saturday, August 8, 2015 the pits and grand stands were filled with specks of red to celebrate the life and racing career of Chris Young, who passed suddenly of a massive heart attack on the morning of July 18, 2015 just days after undergoing double knee replacement surgery. Both Modified feature events were changed from 50-laps to 49-laps to honor him.
A nineteen-car field filled the 1/4 of a mile oval for the Chris Young Memorial 49-lapper and among those nineteen cars was Chris Young’s original No. 49 Modified with his son Christopher behind the wheel. His daughter Leah and wife, Ann were also present as Leah held the bucket for the redraw after Modified time trials. Howie Brode set fast time this week but redrew the third starting position, Tom Rogers Jr. picked the outside pole, Rob McCormick picked fourth, Vinny Biondolillo chose fifth, Ryan Preece selected sixth, Jason Agugliaro got seventh, Ann Young picked for Kyle Soper with there only being the pole and the eighth starting position remaining. Ann picked eighth for Kyle, which left the pole for Eddie Brunnhoelzl III.
As the race began, Tom Rogers Jr. takes an early lead from Eddie Brunnhoelzl III. On Lap 3 Rob McCormick goes three wide down the front stretch with the No. 4 of Kyle Soper and the No. 34 of John Fortin Jr. which forces the field to be pushed to the rear a bit.
Only two laps later McCormick taps the 03 of Ken Darch causing them both to spin, the commotion then causes the collision between Al Ermmarino, Ken Vogel Jr. and Danny Watts bringing out the first and only caution in the first half of 49-laps.
After the restart the No. 20 of Ryan Preece starts making his way up the field. On Lap 13 Preece starts battling side by side with Howie Brode for third, by the end of Lap 14 Preece already had his eyes set on second. By Lap 19 Preece passes Brunnhoelzl for second over the front stretch. While Preece was making his way through the field from his sixth starting position, Rogers has maintained his lead. But with Preece gaining on him, Rogers attempts to loose him in the field of lapped cars. Preece keeps with Rogers but still is unable to gain enough momentum to pass him and when the checkered flag flies Rogers takes the win for the first set of 49-laps.
Second Set of 49-Laps Are A Piece of Cake For Rogers
Right before the start of the second set of 49-laps the No. 49 Pinto after circling the track as a pace car smacked into the wall on the left side of the exit ramp. This forced a red flag momentarily so that it can be towed away by a Brigandi Brothers tow vehicle considering it was blocking the exit ramp.
Before the completion of Lap 1 the No. 03 of Ken Darch spins between Turns 1 and 2 bringing out the first caution. On the restart, Howie Brode passes Preece for second in Turn 4. The second caution flag flies on Lap 6 when Jason Agugliaro, Al Ermmarino, Ken Vogel Jr., John Fortin Jr., Christopher Young and Brad Van Houten collide in Turn 4.
Like the first set of 49-laps Rogers continues to sustain a strong lead over the remainder of the field. The final caution of the race comes out on Lap 46 right before the completion of Lap 47 when Kyle Soper and Vinny Biondolillo collide on the front stretch under the start finish line. The race restarts single file, with only two laps to go Tom Rogers Jr. glides over the finish line taking his second win of the night.
Slepian Scores 4th Career Legend Victory
Allan Pedersen started on the pole after winning the first Legend heat race, with Ray Fitzgerald starting to his outside after his won the second heat. The 63 of Dylan Slepian started in the third starting position after winning the final heat.
By Turn 3 on Lap 1 Pedersen attempted to separate himself from the rest of the field but by Lap 2 Slepian was right behind. On Lap 6 Slepian makes his move for first with Vinny Delaney trailing behind him to take second.
Lap 18 Kyle Ellwood begins making his move for second but Delaney isn’t letting him pass. Dylan Slepian is the first to cross the checkered capturing his fourth career win in 2015 with Delaney, Ellwood, Brad Van Houten and Pedersen rounding out the top five.
Roger Maynor Captures First Win of 2015 in Figure 8’s
A battle for the lead started early between Roger Maynor and CJ Lehmann while a battle for third between Tom Ferrara and Scott Pedersen began behind them. By Lap 4, Maynor gains the lead with Lehmann taking second and Pedersen falling into third.
However on Lap 7, Pedersen tangles with Ferrara, Mujsce and Rogers going into Turn 1 and gains a right rear flat which causes him to pit. On the restart Ferrara succeeds in passing Lehmann for second. As lapped cars begin to crowd the center 8, Maynor gains enough distance over Ferrara to take down his first win of 2015.
‘Dynamite’ Dan Turbush Takes Down 4th Win of Season For Super Pro Trucks
Before Lap 1 could be completed the 13 of Amanda Anderson and the 17 of Anthony Vecchio collided on the front stretch bringing out the first caution.
On the restart, Mike Albasini took the lead. But while going down the backstretch Dan Turbush, Albasini and Brigati start battling three wide for the lead with Albasini in the middle.
The second caution flag flies on Lap 3 when Mark Stewart spins on the backstretch. Dan Turbush takes off with the lead on the restart with Brigati and Albasini on his tail. The rest of the race remains single file and after 20-laps Dan Turbush takes the checkered for the Super Pro Trucks.
Hank Hallock takes home the win after a 50-lap 4/6 Cylinder Truck Enduro.
Damon Aiello wins the 8 Cylinder Demolition Derby.
Photos available at: http://www.racerhub.com/photos/index.php?cat=2416
Race Results Aug. 8, 2015:
Legends:
1. Dylan Slepian (3)
- Vinny Delaney (5)
- Kyle Ellwood (4)
- Brad Van Houten (9)
- Allan Pedersen (1)
- Kevin Nowak (6)
- Richard Davidowitz (11)
- Gregory Harris (7)
- Artie Pedersen III (12)
- Ray Fitzgerald (2)
- Eric Hersey (10)
- Bryan Kelly (15)
- George Tomko Jr (14)
- Mike Van Houten Jr. (8)
- Shawn Wanat (20)
- Steve Hersey (15)
- Wally Davidowitz (19)
- Bill Fitzgerald (18)
- Bobby Jones (16)
- Terry Stiles (17)
- Steve Boland DNSFigure 8’s:
1 Roger Maynor (3)
2 Tom Ferrara (4)
3 CJ Lehmann (1)
4 Mike Mujsce Sr. (6)
5 Kenneth Hyde Jr. (11)
6 Scott Pedersen (2)
7 Tom Rogers (7)
8 Bryan Quilliam (10)
9 Artie Pedersen III (8)
10 Brian Hansen (9)
11 Gary Fritz Jr. (5)1st 49 Lap NASCAR Modifieds:
1 Tom Rogers Jr. (2)
2 Ryan Preece (6)
3 Eddie Brunnhoelzl III (1)
4 Howie Brode (3)
5 Vinny Biondolillo (5)
6 Jason Agugliaro (7)
7 Ken Darch (9)
8 Kyle Soper (8)
9 Rob McCormick (4)
10 Frank Vigliarolo (13)
11 Jeffrey Goodale (11)
12 John Fortin Jr. (10)
13 Brad Van Houten (17)
14 Christopher Young (18)
15 Danny Watts (12)
16 John Fortin (14)
17 Al Emmarino (15)
18 Ken Vogel Jr (16)
19 Amber Fortin (19)
Super Pro Trucks:
1 Dan Turbush (4)
2 David Brigati (6)
3 Michael Albasini (2)
4 Brian Brown (5)
5 Jimmy Rennick Jr. (8)
6 Gerard Giordano (7)
7 Mark Stewart (11)
8 Lou Maestri (9)
9 Brian McElearney (6)
10 Anthony Vecchio (3)
11 Amanda Andersen (1)
2nd 49 Lap NASCAR Modifieds:
1 Tom Rogers Jr.
2 Howie Brode
3 Ryan Preece
4 Rob McCormick
5 Eddie Brunnhoelzl III
6 Jason Agugliaro
7 Jeffrey Goodale
8 Vinny Biondolillo
9 Kyle Soper
10 Frank Vigliarolo
11 Danny Watts
12 Brad Van Houten
13 Christopher Young
14 Ken Darch
15 Al Emmarino
16 Ken Vogel Jr
17 John Fortin Jr.
18 John Fortin
19 Amber Fortin
Source: Danielle McCormack/LongIslandJam.com