Rogers Takes Down Two Features in a Row

It was a good night to be Tom Rogers Jr. for the Father’s Day weekend festivities at Riverhead Raceway. In addition to it being his birthday weekend and having his kids with him at the track he ends up going out and capturing two features in a row.

Rogers started the 35-lap modified feature in fifth, but made his way into second place behind Justin Bonsignore by lap five. He trailed Bonsignore by half a straightaway until the race’s first caution came out on lap 14 for a spin on the backstretch.

Bonsignore, making his first appearance of the season at Riverhead Raceway, lined up to the inside of Rogers for the restart. It appeared that he restarted at the white box in the middle of turns three and four instead of at the yellow box in turn four. That is how the officials viewed it because the yellow flag was immediately displayed and Bonsignore was penalized for jumping the restart. He was sent to the rear of the field but he instead decided to park the car. Bonsignore and his team were there to get the car ready for the running of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Hoosier Tire 200 in two weeks.

That gave the lead to Rogers who once again put down the fastest lap in time trials. On the ensuing restart Rogers started to drive away from the field as Kyle Ellwood, Kevin Orlando, Jason Agugliaro and Timmy Solomito all battled behind him.

Rogers looked to have the car on cruise control until one last caution came out with two laps to go for a spin by Agugliaro after he and Dave Sapienza made contact in turn four.

But the restart was no issue for Rogers as he took off again and took down the victory. Ellwood came home second for his best result in the Modified division. Orlando finished third in his first race of the season. Solomito finished fourth and Ed Brunnhoelzl III finished fifth.

“I knew he went early,” said Rogers of Bonsignore on the restart. “They called what actually happened. It’s been a little while since he’s been here. I guess he just didn’t know.”

Hyde and Maynor Tangle Gives Rogers the Win

Tom Rogers scored his second straight win of the night in the Figure 8 race although he didn’t actually cross the finish line first. Instead it was defending champion Kenny Hyde Jr. who actually crossed the line first but he was penalized for rough riding.

Hyde and Roger Maynor battled hard for about seven straight laps. Maynor looked inside and out on Hyde as the two bumped and banged.

Maynor just edged ahead of Hyde as the two drivers battled their way through the final turns. As they headed through the intersection for the final time they came together and Maynor went spinning.

Hyde went on to take the checkered with Rogers in tow. But Hyde wasn’t declared the official winner right away. It took the officials a few minutes to determine what to do. In the end they penalized Hyde for rough riding and took the win away giving the victory to Rogers.

“I didn’t know what was really going to happen out of it,” said Rogers. “They were battling really hard. I didn’t think they were going to give the win to Kenny. That’s why I waited around to see what they were going to do.”

Turbush Goes Back-to-Back in Chargers

Chris Turbush said last week that his car this season is as good, if not better as it was when he last won the track championship. He proved it again this week as he once again dominated the Chargers feature.

Turbush had the fastest lap in time trials but he would start the race fifth courtesy of the redraw. But it didn’t take him long to get to the front of the pack. He moved into second place just three laps into the race and quickly chased down John Baker.

He took the lead from Baker on the eighth lap and started to drive away from the field just as he did a week ago.

Turbush had to deal with one restart at the halfway mark of the race, but once again he just left the field and cruised to his second straight victory and third of the season.

“It feels great,” he said. “But it’s bittersweet. My nephew had a good night but my brother didn’t have a good night. But it’s sweet to win. And my car is hooked up now.”

Terry Stiles Scores First Win in a Long Time

Terry Stiles started on the pole and led every lap of the Blunderbust race that was called after 14 laps due to time constraints.

There was four cautions, and three of them had lengthy cleanups for fluid.

But Stiles didn’t mind that the race was called because he felt that he still had the car to beat.

It is the first win for Stiles since 2010.

“It feels great,” said Stiles. “I should have cherished the moment a little bit longer.”

Stiles dedicated the win to his young son, Dylan, because Dylan is the one who told Stiles to go race the full season again.

Koenig Wins SPT in Photo Finish

Jimmy Rennick started on the pole and looked like he was en route to his first win of the season. Rennick left the field to battle for second behind him. But everything changed when the caution came out with five laps to go for a spin by Lou Maestri in turn one.

The restart set up a battle between Rennick and Dave Koenig. Koenig got underneath Rennick with three laps to go and both drivers battled side-by-side all the way to the checkered flag.

Mark Stewart joined the battle on the final lap. Going into turn three Stewart pushed Koenig up the track and into Rennick. Rennick had to back out to not hit the wall, but Koenig held on. He and Stewart drag raced to the finish and it was Koenig who crossed the line first by a nose.

Koenig, Stewart, Erin Solomito, Rennick, and Frank Dumicich Sr. completed the top five.

Metzger Goes Wire-To-Wire

It was an eventful 25-lap Late Model feature except for Kevin Metzger driver of the No. 23 who led every lap to score his first win of the season.

The race had three cautions and a green-white-checkered finish. But Metzger aced every restart he faced.

Early in the race Metzger had to hold off Roger Oxee who was the fastest he’s been all season. However Oxee got shuffled out on a restart. Then Metzger had to hold off Shawn Patrick for the final two restarts.

Metzger, Patrick, Mike Bologna, Peter Eriksen, and Ken Alfano were the top five finishers.

Photos available at: http://www.racerhub.com/photos/index.php?cat=2275

Modified Results:

1. (5) Tom Rogers Jr.

2. (4) Kyle Ellwood

3. (10) Kevin Orlando

4. (6) Timmy Solomito

5. (8) Ed Brunnhoelzl III

6. (2) Howie Brode

7. (11) Jeffrey Goodale

8. (9) Dave Sapienza

9. (8) Ken Darch

10. (12) Dennis Krupski

11. (3) Jason Agugliaro

12. (1) Justin Bonsignore

Charger Results:

1. (5) Chris Turbush

2. (3) Ray Minieri

3. (6) Eric Zeh

4. (7) Cory Midgett

5. (4) Cj Lehmann

6. (9) Daryn Miller

7. (8) Greg Immerman

8. (1) John Baker

9. (10) Dan Lynch

10. (2) Jayson White

11. (11) Brian Midgett

Late Model Results:

1. (1) Kevin Metzger

2. (5) Shawn Patrick

3. (8) Mike Bologna

4. (7) Buzzy Eriksen

5. (4) Ken Alfano

6. (3) Roger Oxee

7. (11) Chris McGuire

8. (2) Chris Lescenski

9. (10) Scott Kulesa

10. (6) Chris La Spisa

11. (12) Artie Pedersen III

12. (9) Jeremy McDermott

Blunderbust Results:

1. (3) Terry Stiles

2. (7) Joe Warren

3. (13) Tom Pickerell

4. (16) Jack Handley Jr.

5. (5) Tom Sullivan

6. (12) William J. Wegmann

7. (1) Gary Caldwell

8. (14) William A. Wegmann

9. (9) Brian Brown

10. (15) Jimmy White Jr.

11. (18) Charlie Zukowski

12. (17) Devin Maliszewski

13. (16) Rich Hubbard

14. (19) Jim Laird

15. (10) Tom Puccia

16. (8) Johnny Cricchio

17. (6) Tim Mulqueen

18. (11) Tommy Walkowiak

19. (2) Jessica Cohen

20. (4) Bryan Sescila

Figure 8 Results:

1. (7) Tom Rogers Jr.

2. (6) Mike Mujsce

3. (2) Cj Lehmann

4. (4) Gary Fritz Jr.

5. (8) Roger Maynor

6. (3) Kenny Hyde Jr.

7. (5) Scott Pedersen

8. (9) Chris Elixson

9. (1) Bryan Qulliam

Super Pro Trucks Results:

1. (6) Dave Koenig

2. (10) Mark Stewart

3. (8) Erin Solomito

4. (1) Jimmy Rennick

5. (5) Frank Dumicich Sr.

6. (9) Frank Dumicich Jr.

7. (11) Michael Albasini

8. (7) Lou Maestri

9. (4) Roger Turbush

10. (2) Rich Campo

11. (12) Amanda Anderson

12. (3) Brian McElearney

Source: Rob Blount/LongIslandJam.com