Brode Takes Advantage Of Late Race Restart To Record 20th Career RR Modified Victory

With five laps remaining in the Whelen Engineering Night NASCAR Modified feature at Riverhead Raceway former three time champion Howie Brode of East Islip seemed content with a potential runner-up finish to Ken Darch of Riverhead. However a late race caution on lap 36 for a minor spin changed the complexion of the race as Brode powered his way to the outside on the double file restart to take the lead with three laps remaining in the race to collect his 20th career NASCAR Modified victory.

Rookie Dillon Steuer and veteran Ken Darch brought the field to green with Steuer getting into the first turn too hot losing the handle on his car momentarily as well many positions. Darch meanwhile raced his way out front with Cory Midgett tucking into second. With an extended green flag run early in the 40-lap tilt Darch was able to get away from the pack while Midgett raced with Howie Brode for second. Lap 12 found the first double file restart of the race take place with Brode racing his way under Midgett for second. Once to second Brode then went to work on Darch for the race lead.

Having endured a rough luck season Brode seemed content to ride second to Darch who was seeking his first career NASCAR Modified victory. Darch’s 2016 season unlike Brode’s has been a successful campaign to date and all that was missing was that first ever win. Later in the race championship leader Shawn Solomito made his way to third and like Brode seemed content riding the race out for a podium finish as well padding his points lead. However on lap 36 Christopher Young looped his car in turn two setting up the deciding restart of the race.

Darch if he were to enjoy the thrill of victory would have to hold off Brode as well Solomito. When the green waved Brode got a good run on the outside to take the lead and eventual win in the Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy. “I was happy riding second to Kenny” the winner admitted afterwards, “he’s come a long way this year but when we got that last yellow and I got the run to the outside I knew the race was mine”. Prior to the win Howie’s 2016 season had been full of misfortune to which he added, “it’s been a rough year and my team deserves this one”.

Ken Darch of Riverhead posted a stellar runner-up finish in the Precision Water Works Chevy and after the race noted “we were that close, our right rear was getting soft maybe I could have held Howie back, maybe not. He raced me clean all race so hats off to him”. Shawn Solomito of center Moriches crossed the line third in the Eastport Feeds Chevy and will take a commanding 41-point lead over Dave Brigati of Calverton into next week’s Twin 30 feature events. Brigati was fourth while rookie John Baker of Brookhaven completed the top five.

Not only did Chris Turbush of Wading River post his fifth Late Model win of 2016 in their 25-lap main event but he also firmly put himself back into contention for the championship in the process. Newcomer Kyle Ellwood broke out front early and was chased for the first five laps of the contest by Scott Kulesa. As the field started the 6th lap Kulesa’s hard luck continued when he spun from contention drawing a caution flag. When the race resumed Ellwood remained out front with former champion Mike Bologna now second. Chris Turbush started the race 5th and was now in the mix for the win when he made his way to third and then by Bologna for second on lap 7 on a double file restart. Once to second Turbush in the Carpet Express Chevy wasted little time making a bid for the race lead which he successfully accomplished with an inside pass of Ellwood for the lead on the backstretch on lap 9. Once in the lead Chris never looked back taking the checkered flag first and moving to within five points of championship leader David Roys of Coram who dropped out of the race. Sitting between Roys and Turbush in the championship chase with one race left is defending champion Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead who is a mere two points back of Roys, 441 to 439. Runner-up in the feature was Eric Zeh of Selden in the Corwith’s Auto Body Chevy with early leader Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead third in the Eastside Builders entry.

“The Alter Boy” Tom Ferrara of Patchogue officially won his first Figure Eight race of 2016 taking the 15-lap victory for his 10th career triumph. Ferrara had actually won two races earlier in the year but when he went to have his race engine sealed it puffed up a tick to big and was stripped of the victories. Armed with a rare pole starting spot Ferrara quickly put his V&J Auto Body racer out front when the race got underway. Gary Fritz Jr. chased Tom for the first four laps before he was passed by Roger Maynor on lap 5. Maynor’s fine run and bid for his 117th career win came to an abrupt end as did his 2016 title hopes when he slowed with a flat tire and other damage on lap 8. That turn of events moved Fritz back to second and for the final half dozen laps Tom Ferrara was able to stay out front for the milestone win. Gary Fritz Jr, of mastic Beach was second in the Northeastern Office Equipment Chevy with defending champion Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead third in the United Exhaust Shop Plymouth Coupe. Ken Hyde Jr. of Mastic beach has essentially clinched the 2016 championship as he’ll take a 21 point lead over Roger Maynor, 413 to 392 into the final race of 2016 next Saturday.

“The Wildchild” Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge continues to make up for lost time as he won his third Blunderbust race of 2016 in just his seventh start. The victory was Tommy’s 60th of his illustrious career. Leg surgery in early May put Walkowiak on the disabled list but ever since his return the driver of the Langdon’s Automotive Caprice has bee on fire. In Saturday’s 20-lapper Tommy broke out front from the outside pole getting the measure of Rob Bader who started from the pole. Bader who run second until lap 13 when Jack Handley Jr. made his way by for the position and in the process Handley would clinch the 2016 Blunderbust crown. Jack’s nearest rival in the title chase, Tim Mulqueen watched the final laps of the race from the infield after suffering damage from contact. With Tommy Walkowiak building up a commanding lead which he enjoyed until the conclusion of the race Jack Handley Jr. of Medford would clinch his long awaited first career championship with a runner-up finish in the Liccardi Builders Chevy. 2015 champion “Slick Pick” Tom Pickerell of Huntington was third in his USIC Utility Locating Chevy.

The 20-lap Super Pro Truck race found Jack Handley Jr. crossing the line first when the race concluded but in post race tech inspectors found unapproved shocks on the winning machine and Jack was disqualified to last in the running order. That turn of events gave Owen Grennan of Glen Cove his second win of 2016. Owen ran third behind Handley and defending champion Lou Maestri over the first 15-laps of the race and his pass of Maestri to the inside off turn four on a 16th lap restart would prove to be the winning move of the race for the teenage driver of the Evergreen Fences & Estate Screening Chevy. Championship contenders Dave Brigati of Calverton in his Quest Machining Chevy and son in law Roger Turbush of Riverhead in his Allied Air Conditioning entry were second and third to Grennan in the race. 13 points will separate the duo heading into the final points race with Roger leading Dave 423 to 410.

In the 30-lap Firefighter, Police Officer & EMT Enduro race Dege Russell of the Rocky Point FD would break out front early and take down a popular win in the Kelly Russell Realty machine. Mark Skowhm from the Centereach FD was runner-up while Chris Fleming of the Riverhead Ambulance Corps. placed third. Mark Mahler from the Smithtowen FD and Ben Vecchio of the Centereach FD completed the top five in the fun filled race.

Jeff Dotzel of Kingwood, West Virginia made his final Riverhead Raceway start a memorable one before moving to Florida as he won the 60-lap Gut & Go Enduro. Chasing Dotzel to the line would be Brandon Esposito of Farmingville and Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge.

NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Howie Brode 2. Ken Darch 3. Shawn Solomito 4. Dave Brigati 5. John Baker 6. David Schneider 7. Cory Midgett 8. Dillon Steuer 9. John Fortin Sr. 10. Kyle Soper 11. John Fortin Jr. 12. Christopher Young 13. Tom Rogers Jr. 14. Ryan Preece 15. Vinny Biondolillo 16. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III DNS- Jason Agugliaro

Late Models: 1. Chris Turbush 2. Eric Zeh 3. Kyle Ellwood 4. Jeremy McDermott 5. Mike Bologna 6. Shawn Patrick 7. Scott Kulesa 8. Ken Matlach 9. Kevin Metzger 10. Steve Mastro Jr. 11. David Roys 12. Jack Orlando 13. Roger Oxee 14. Chris Lescenski 15. Kyle Soper DQ- Rusty Turbush DQ- Ray Minieri

Figure Eights: 1. Tom Ferrara 2. Gary Fritz Jr. 3. Tom Rogers Jr. 4. Mike Mujsce 5. Ken Hyde Jr. 6. Conner Aquirre 7. Johnny Vullo 8. Chris Elixson 9. Bob Dalke 10. Brian Hansen 11. Scott Pedersen 12. Roger Maynor 13. Dan Lynch Jr.

Blunderbusts: 1. Tommy Walkowiak 2. Jack Handley Jr. 3. Tom Pickerell 4. Rob Bader 5. Joshua Creel 6. Bill Wegmann Sr. 7. Jim Laird 8. Scott Maliszewski 9. Tom Sullivan 10. Tom Puccia 11. Eric Zeh 12. Derek Wegmann 13. Cassandra Denis 14. Tim Mulqueen 15. Alyssa Paprocky

Super Pro Trucks: 1. Owen Grennan 2. Dave Brigati 3. Roger Turbush 4. Rob McCormick 5. Lou Maestri 6. Sean Glennon 7. Frank Dumicich Jr. 8. Amanda Anderson 9. Tommy Walkowiak 10. Jimmy Rennick Jr. 11. Mike Albasini 12. Frank Dumicich Sr. 13. Jack Handley Jr.

Gut & Go Enduro (top five) 1. Jeff Dotzel 2. Brandon Esposito 3. Joe Warren Jr. 4. Kevin Rommeney 5. Scott Setek

FD/PD/EMT Enduro (top five) 1. Dege Russell 2. Mark Skowhm 3. Chris Fleming 4. Mark Mahler 5. Ben Vecchio

Source: Bob Finan/RR PR