Baker & Solomito Split Riverhead NASCAR Modified Twin 30 Victories

They might be first year track owners and operators but Eddie & Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz would not yield to poor weather forecasts and conditions at Riverhead Raceway Saturday and the NASCAR Whelen All American Series program was completed. John Baker of Brookhaven won his first career NASCAR Modified feature in the first Twin 30 feature while championship leader Shawn Solomito of East Moriches won the nightcap. Ageless “Dynamite” Dan Turbush of Riverhead at 65-years young won the Mr. Rooter New England Truck Series Riverhead Nationals 55-lapper earning $2,000 for his 80th career win at Riverhead.

Dillon Steuer and Ken Darch were slated to bring the first NASCAR Modified Twin 30 to green but during hot laps Steuer developed an engine issue that would park the 14-year old talent for the night. That moved the inside row up one position putting John Baker on the pole alongside Darch and when the race went green Baker, the 2015 Charger champion at the track raced his way into the race lead. Veteran Dave Brigati quickly raced his way from his third starting spot under Darch to come to second at the start and tucked in behind race leader Baker as the race remained green. At time Dave would drive his car into the corner deep in an effort to get to Baker’s rear bumper but each time the NASCAR Modified rookie was able to pull away from his challenger.

As the race wore on John Baker in his REpower by Solar Universe Chevy was able to hit his marks over the remainder of the race to enjoy that all important first career win.
“This is a great feeling, I can’t thank my family and my loyal crew it really is a dream come true” the happy winner noted. In victory lane Baker drew the #6 pill meaning the top six from the first race would invert for race number two. Over the past two years Baker has won races in the NASCAR Modifieds, Late Models and old Charger division at the track. Dave Brigati of Calverton in the JDL Environmental Chevy was runner-up with Jason Agugliaro of Islip third in the Northeast Bus Rebuilders entry. Howe Brode of East Islip and Shawn Solomito completed the top five.

The second Twin 30 saw Kyle Soper and Shawn Solomito make up the front row and when the green light came on Solomito was a man on a mission driving his car deep into the corner to gain the advantage over Soper. Kyle quickly tucked in on the rear bumper of Solomito and the race for the victory was on. As the raced moved along it was evident the Soper was trying to execute a crossover move on Solomito for the race lead taking his car slightly to the outside entering the corner and the darting down low trying to gain a run on the leader. Shawn however was wise to that strategy and was able to back his corners up not allowing Soper to gain a clean run underneath him for the race lead.

The high speed chess game continued right up until the checker flag waved over championship leader Shawn Solomito in his Eastport Feeds Chevrolet and the winner admitted afterwards, “we were a tick tight from the center of the corner to exit, Kyle was good tonight and over the last few weeks had had the best car here, it’s on rails”. Kyle Soper of Manorville was runner-up in the Elssaser Race Engines entry with Jason Agugliaro logging another third place tally in the BK Customs Chevy. Dave Brigati and John Fortin Sr. of Holtsville completed the top five.

A pleasant mix of Mr. Rooter New England Truck Series teams along with several Riverhead Super Pro Truck teams made up the 17-NETS Truck field for the Riverhead National event. Early in the race NETS Rookie Jerry Giordano paced the race with championship leader Bert Ouellette in tow for the first three laps. Ouellette actual led the 4th circuit before Giordano reclaimed the lead on lap 5. Ouellette soon fell into the clutches of “Dynamite” Dan Turbush who moved by Bert for second on the 7th lap.Now firmly second Turbush who started racing at Riverhead in 1967 set sail for the young race leader Giordano whom he caught and passed with an inside move on lap 15. Once out front Turbush would later be tested by Riverhead regular Jimmy Rennick Jr. with the duo finding themselves going head to head on several late race restarts. Rennick tried to drive his truck deep into the corners hoping to gain a run on Turbush but the leader was having none of it. A restart with just three laps left really shuffled the running order as 2015 NETS champion Roger Turbush snuck by Rennick as did “Dangerous” Dave Koening.

The closing laps found Dan Turbush in the NY Auto Giant Chevy owned by Rich Campo just as strong as he was early in the race and he drove off to the lucrative and popular hometown win. Roger Turbush of Riverhead was runner-up in the Allied Air Conditioning Chevy with Dave Koenig of Baldwin third in the Nelson’s Auto Salvage Chevy. Jimmy Rennick Jr. of Howard Beach and Jerry Giordano pf Freeport completed the top five.

Former Charger standout CJ Lehmann delivered he and car owner John Visconti their first Eagle Auto Mall Modified Crate victory winning the 25-lap main event. Starting on the outside of the front row Lehmann was able to hang his car to the outside of pole sitter Dennis Krupski to take the early race lead. CJ had used that same outside line to win the heat race for the class after starting 5th in the qualifier. Dave Brigati quickly maneuvered his way from his third starting berth to file into second setting his radar on Lehmann. As he did in the first Twin 30 for the NASCAR Modifieds Brigati again was driving his machine deep into the turns trying to gain a run on Lehmann. At one point Dave got into the left rear quarter panel of CJ sending the leader for a slide but the gentleman racer he is Brigati backed off to allow Lehmann the opportunity to gather up his car. From that point forward CJ Lehmann was able to keep his Baldwin Automotive Chevy out front for the victory. Dave Brigati in the Quest Machining & Fabrication entry was runner-up with Dillon Steuer of Bohemia third in the Northeastern Office Equipment racer. Dillon was ready to pounce on any mistakes forthcoming by the race leaders.

Jack Handley Jr. of Medford might not know how to sew but he sure did thread the needle Saturday night to claim his third Blunderbust win of the 2016 campaign. Early on “The Racing Grandpa” Bill Wegmann Sr. led the first circuit of the 20-lap feature event with Joshua Creel second before the newcomer moved by Wegmann to assume the lead. Wegmann with an inside pass of Creel on the front stretch on lap 9 reclaimed the lead with Jack Handley Jr. moving to second on lap 11. Just one lap later is when Handley went for broke as he saw a lapped car ahead to the inside, Wegmann in an effort not to get too close to that lapped car left some room in between and Jack was quick to thread the needle with a three wide move into the first turn.  Amazingly all three cars made it through and when the dust settled Jack Handley Jr. was the new race leader in his Liccardi Builders Chevy and the championship leader would survive a late race challenge from Tim Mulqueen to claim the victory. Mulqueen of Levittown turned in the drive of the race coming from the 16th starting spot to finish second in his Hi-Grade Auto Body Cadillac. Teammate Joshua Creel of Monks Corner, SC was third in his Timmy’s Towing racer the best finish to date for the freshman driver.

Another driver laying claim to his third win of 2016 was INEX legend Race Car winner Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead who topped their 20-lapper. Ellwood starting the race from the third slot quickly went toe to toe with Joe Warren Jr. for the race lead with Warren running second for the first two laps. Kevin Nowak worked his way by Warren for second on lap 3 quickly setting sail for the race leader. On lap 5 entering the first turn Ellwood got loose and Nowak was able to make a run to the outside to claim the race lead. More often than not once Nowak is out front at the halfway point of a race he’ll wind up in the winners circle but not this time as Ellwood repaid the favor on lap 12 working his way by Kevin to reclaim the race lead. All the while Ellwood and Nowak diced for the lead the tandem ran a very exciting and clean race side by side with Kyle Ellwood in the SGS Stone Works machine coming out on top. Kevin Nowak of Medford was second in his First Class Video Productions entry while Brendon Bock of Franklin Square placed third in the Oval Speed Unlimited racer.

A 20 car field turned out for the Mini 8 Enduro making the action at the intersection plentiful and at times breathtaking. When the wild race concluded Michael “Cheesebox” Rommeney was the apparent winner but after the race was disqualified for a unapproved tire on his car. That turn of events handed the win in the 20-lap event over to Jason Savoy of Lake Panamoka in his Monster’s Recycling mount. Preston Prydatko of Hicksville was runner-up while Tim Lento of Medford placed third. Once scary incident occurred during the race when Brandon Esposito while leading the race ran the “X” making hard contact with another car. Brandon spun around violently from the impact and was sore but otherwise okay afterwards.

The 20-lap School Bus Figure Eight race saw Paul Fox of Ridge won one for the late and popular Donny Fox. Some 14 School Buses were crammed onto the quarter mile oval and this race also saw many heart stopping near misses at the intersection. Fox steering the Rapid Recovery Towing Bus moved out front near the halfway point of the race and led the remainder of the way. “No doubt this one is for Donny” Paul noted in victory lane, asked about his risk taking during the race he quipped, “it’s only a bus, I’ll get another one of I wreck this one”.

NASCAR Modifieds 1st Twin 30: 1. John Baker 2. Dave Brigati 3. Jason Agugliaro 4. Howie Brode 5. Shawn Solomtio 6. Kyle Soper 7. John Fortin Sr. 8. Cory Midgett 9. Ken Darch 10. Vinny Biondolillo 11. Dillon Steuer 12. John Fortin Jr.

NASCAR Modifieds 2nd Twin 30: 1. Shawn Solomito 2. Kyle Soper 3. Jason Agugliaro 4. Dave Brigati 5. John Fortin Sr. 6. John Baker 7. Vinny Biondolillo 8. John Fortin Jr. 9. Cory Midgett 10. Ken Darch 11. Howie Brode DNS- Dillon Steuer

Mr. Rooter New England Trucks: 1. Dan Turbush 2. Roger Turbush 3. Dave Koenig 4. Jimmy Rennick Jr. 5. Jerry Giordano 6. Frank Dumicich Sr. 7. Andy Lindeman 8. Dan Anderson 9. Trevor Lee Dyer 10. Joshua Stringer 11. Frank Dumicich Jr. 12. Amanda Anderson 13. Chris Turbush 14. Bert Ouellette 15. Ron Langdon 16. Tony Naglieri 17. Rob McCormick

Modified Crates: 1. CJ Lehmann 2. Dave Brigati 3. Dillon Steuer 4. Dylan Slepian 5. Dennis Krupski 6. Peter Bertuccio 7. Jason Hansen 8. Terry Stiles DNS- AJ Desantis

Blunderbusts: 1. Jack Handley Jr. 2. Tim Mulqueen 3. Joshua Creel 4. Henry Cataldo 5. Tom Sullivan 6. Tom Pickerell 7. Derek Wegmann 8. Bill Wegmann Sr. 9. Alyssa Paprocky 10. Tom Puccia 11. Rob Bader 12. Cassandra Denis 13. Eric Zeh 14. Dennis Scott 15. Jim Laird 16. Scott Maliszewski 17. Ryan Zukowski 18. Bob Ehrle

INEX Legend Race Cars: 1. Kyle Ellwood 2. Kevin Nowak 3. Brendon Bock 4. Dylan Slepian 5. John Beatty Jr. 6. Vinny Delaney 7. George Tomko Jr. 8. Ryan Lutz
9. Michael Rutkoski 10. Greg Harris 11. Ray Fitzgerald 12. Jim Sylvester 13. Ed Cheslak 14. Joe Warren Jr. 15. Jerry Curran 16. Mike Van Houten Jr. 17. Jeff Otto Jr. 18. Bill Fitzgerald 19. Steve Bolland 20. Richie Davidowitz 21. Steve Woytysiak 22. Kyle Soper 23. Kurt Krieger 24. Kyle Kwasna

Mini 8 Enduro (top five): 1. Jason Savoy 2. Preston Prydatko 3. Tim Lento 4. Kris Dane 5. Christian Conklin

School Bus Figure 8: Winner- Paul Fox

Source: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR