Jimmy White Jr. & Greg Harris Among Sunday Enduro Winners at Riverhead

Jimmy “The Kid” White Jr. of Southampton continued his winning ways in the Grand Enduro class Sunday afternoon at Riverhead Raceway as he won his third straight race in a 50-lap feature event.  Defending 4/6-Cylinder Truck champion Greg Harris of Riverhead topped their 40-lap main event.

Steve “The Pitbull” Trimboli showed the way over the first ten laps of the Grand Enduro chased at first by Sal Sinatro and later Joe Parcelluzzi over the first five laps. Rob Bader was on the march from further back in the field and made his way to second on lap six and after four laps of chasing and then following Trimboli, lap 11 found Bader pulling out front. Jimmy White moved to second at the same time and the race was on between the hard charging duo for the win. Some great racing took place while they swapped the lead back and forth but on lap 32 Bader’s car suddenly got into the wall off turn two thus ending his bid for his first career win. White at that point took control of the race in his Busy Bee Pest Control Chevy and drove off to victory. Greg Zaleski of Jamesport would cross the line second in the Blue Point Auto Body entry while James Charrier of Shirley raced from an 18th starting spot to finish third in the JC Performance Chevy.

Greg Harris would enjoy yet another comfortable win in the Truck Enduro as he drew the outside pole and promptly put his SGS Stone Works Chevy S-10 out front at the throw of the green with Rob “The Racer” McCormick coming to second. Most on hand were hoping for a race long duel between the two talented drivers but that never did come about as Harris led comfortably for the entire race. McCormick of Calverton was runner-up in the Sneaker Aquarium truck with “Handsome” Hank Hallock of Riverhead third in the Westhampton Auto Salvage S-10.

Veteran driver Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma used lapped traffic to his advantage to win the first 8-Cylinder Enduro which was contested over a 75-lap distance. Jim Laird Jr. led the first two laps of the race before giving in to Rob McCormick on lap 3 who executed an outside pass for the lead.  McCormick appeared to be on his way to victory when a tire suddenly went down forcing him to the infield. That turn of events moved Laird back into the lead. However just after the halfway mark Laird while working lapped traffic saw his chances for victory go away when Anthony Pizzo trapped him in the slower cars. Pizzo took the lead with that move on lap 41 and never looked back in his A. Voight Towing Caprice. Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace was a solid runner-up in the Guelphi’s Wheel Alignment entry with Kris “Krunchy” Dane of Hicksville third in his sponsor wanted racer.

The second 8-Cylinder race had perhaps one of the best ever feel good stories attached to it as “Jumbo” Jimmy Denis on home from the US Army on leave drove Rob McCormick’s G-Force Collision Chevy to victory. Jimmy’s sister dates McCormick and Rob thought it would be cool to let Denis, a former Grand Enduro standout, drive the car in the 40-lap nightcap. Well, as fate would have it, not only did PFC Denis drive the car but he drove it to victory lane for a very popular win. Anthony Pizzo was second with Jess Martines of Shirley third.

The 4/6-Cylinder Car Enduro would turn out to be the heartbreak story of the day. Mike Mujsce Jr. put his Premier Pest Control machine out front early and was driving off to a very convincing win in the 75-lap race. However as he started to roll off turn two to take the white flag his car suddenly stalled off turn four leaving him dead in the water. Steve Trimboli of Freeport who had been running second for most of the race in his Pitbull Motors Mercedes Benz took the white flag as the race leader and after a scare with a lapped car drove to the checkered flag first. Peter Verwys Jr. of East Rockaway was second in the Usedparts.com entry with Mike Wahl of East Islip third.

Grand Enduro (top 5) 1. Jimmy White Jr. 2. Greg Zaleski 3. James Charrier 4. David Antos 5. Cody Triola

Truck Enduro (top 5) 1. Greg Harris 2. Rob McCormick 3. Hank Hallock 4. Gary Voight 5. Mariah Lawrence

1st 8-Cylinder Enduro (top 5) 1. Anthony Pizzo 2. Jim Laird Jr. 3. Kris Dane 4. Donald Lawrence 5. James Muench

2nd 8-Cylinder Enduro (top 5) 1. Jimmy Denis 2. Anthony Pizzo 3. Jess Martines 4. Tom Doherty 5. Tom Talbot Sr.

4/6-Cylinder Car Enduro (top 5) 1. Steve Trimboli 2. Peter Verwys Jr. 3. Mike Wahl 4. George Davis 5. Jeff Dotzel