Kyle Ellwood Captures His First Two Wins of the Season with Twin 30 Victories

It was a windy day at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday, May 30th, which saw a lot of firsts this season. Kyle Ellwood was able to grab his first two wins of the season in the Modifieds.

With Tom Rogers Jr. not at the track on Saturday, someone would be able to break his streak of setting fast time in Time Trials. Kyle Ellwood was the first of 11 cars to go out for time trials and finished with the 8th fastest time. John Beatty Jr. set fast time with an 11.992, the only time under the 12 second mark. Beatty would re-draw 3rd, while Ellwood drew the pole with Jerry Solomito Jr. starting on his outside.

When the green flag flew Ellwood and Beatty were neck and neck for the top spot. Solomito and Kyle Soper got together on the front stretch on the first lap; both drivers were able to continue. The first caution flag waved when Vinny Biondolillo looped the No. 06 in turn 2. On the restart the battle for first continued between Beatty and Ellwood as the two were side-by-side until lap 7 when Beatty lost his car off of turn 4 and collected Jerry Solomito. Jason Agugliaro in the No.69 was also collected in the incident as he found the wall on the front stretch; destroying the right front of the car and ending his night, Beatty and Solomito were able to continue.

On the restart Ellwood had to hold off Beatty again and a hard charging Kyle Soper. On lap 10 things got wild as Soper took advantage of Ellwood slipping up in turn 1 to make it three wide off the exit of turn 2. Of course that sort of thing doesn’t quite work at Riverhead Raceway; as Soper got into the Riverhead Building Supply No.17 entering turn 3. Soper, Ellwood, and Beatty all spun with Beatty making contact with the turn 4 wall. All drivers were able to continue however, Beatty and Soper had to restart in the back while Elwood got to keep his spot as the leader. John Fortin Sr. and Howie Brode moved up to 2nd and 3rd respectively after the caution. The final caution in race 1 came out on lap 20 when John Fortin Jr got into John Beatty in turn 2. On the last restart Kyle Ellwood was able to hold on for the win.

Race 2 went much smoother going caution free with Kyle Ellwood again holding off John Fortin Sr. for the win and completing the sweep of the Twin-30’s.

“I thought the races were pretty good just everyone wants to win it on the first lap” Ellwood said, “It’s 60 laps I don’t know what everyone is in a hurry for but, the setup came to me towards the end of the race, we set the car up for a long run and that’s exactly what it did.”

Dan Turbush Takes Down His 75th Career Win After Battling Side by Side with His Grandson 

The Super Pro Trucks had a big night going 30 laps with the field set based on time trials. Point leader Lou Maestri set fast time with a 13.684 beating out Dan Turbush by .004. On the re-draw Maestri picked out 6th. “Dynamite” Dan picked the pole with his grandson Mark Stewart starting on the outside. When the feature started there was no holding back as Turbush and Stewart battled hard for the lead.

Behind them Mike Albasini and Dave Brigati battled for 3rd. By lap 5 things started to cool off a bit as the field went single file. Dave Brigati and Mark Stewart started battling for 2nd on lap 17 until the caution came out the following lap because Brigati’s No.98x was leaking fluid.

On the restart Stewart showed no mercy on his grandfather as going into turn 3 he looked under the No.38 and made contact. Lou Maestri made a late charge to the front and was able to catch the New York Auto Giant truck. However, Dan Turbush was able to hold him off and score his 75th career win at Riverhead Raceway.

“I still have that burning fire in my heart as you saw tonight,” the now un-retired Turbush said “When my grandson was underneath me and got me sideways my brain was working like 90 miles an hour figuring out how we’re gonna work this out. And when my radio man told me I was clear I was gone.”

George Tomko Jr. Captures First Career Win in Legends 

For the second week in a row the Legend division has seen a first time winner. George Tomko Jr. started from the pole and was able to lead from green to checker but it wasn’t that easy.

Bryan Kelly started to his outside and stayed with the No.5x until lap 8 when Artie Pedersen III caught Kelly and the two battled for second. Point leader Richie Davidowitz was also in this mix until he and Pedersen got together on the front stretch. Both drivers continued but, lost a lot of ground to the leaders. Artie’s brother Allan was able to move into second but, Tomko had a commanding lead over him.

The one and only caution came out on lap 18 and it was a big one. Ed Cheslak in the Northeastern Office Equipment No.89 went hard into the turn 4 wall, similar to a crash that Artie Pedersen III had a few weeks ago. Cheslak was upset but ok after the incident. On the restart Tomko was able to pull away from the No.52 of Allan Pedersen and cruised into victory lane for the first time in a Legend car.

“We worked hard for this one” Tomko said, “I thought it was over on that last restart but, I kept it going and kept it going straight.”

Tom Pickerell in Victory Lane for the Blunderbusts 

The Blunderbusts were back in action after having a week off as Tom Pickerell went to victory lane for his first win of the season.  Two Wegmann’s led the field to green with Bill Jr. starting on the pole and Derek Wegmann on the outside.

Action started to heat up early as cars went side-by-side and even three wide in the back. It wouldn’t be long before the first caution came out on lap 4. Andrew Wegmann in the No.38 was slow on the bottom of the track in turn 1 when he was clipped by Scott Maliszewski which sent the No.22 into the turn 1 wall. Point leader Jack Handley Jr. and Dennis Scott also got into the outside wall but were able to continue with minor damage. After a long clean up the race restarted and Bill Wegmann Jr. continued to lead.

By lap 10 Tom PIckerell had worked his way up to second after starting 9th. Two laps later the Pickerell Clam No.4 was in the lead. Jim Laird Jr. ran into trouble when his car quit on him down the front stretch but there was no caution thrown. Pickerell was able to hold off Wegmann and win the feature.

Jarrod Hayes Wins Second Race in a Row 

The Late Models were the fourth division to take the track and Jarrod Hayes was able to capture his second straight win in a row.

Things were off to a bad start already as during hot laps Chris La Spisa and Chris McGuire got together, there was no significant damage and both drivers were able to continue and start the race. Richie Davidowitz started on the pole in the No.11; he didn’t get off to a great start which stacked up the field but everyone was able to avoid an incident. Jack Orlando was in the No.07 this week normally driven by John Baker. Baker was in the No.99 that Jack drove last week. Orlando was able to take the lead after starting on the outside pole and pulled away from the field. But, in his rear view mirror all he could see was Jarrod Hayes as the two ran nose to tail with about a straightaway lead over the rest of the field. Orlando looked as though he would be able to hold off Hayes until lap 23 came. La Spisa and McGuire made contact again in turn 2; right in front of the leaders. Both Orlando and Hayes were collected with the No.07 receiving the most damage and had to be towed off the track. Hayes was able to continue and gained the lead. Hayes hung on for the remainder of the race and took down his second win of 2015.

After being disqualified last week for a missing exhaust, Mike Mujsce Jr. was able to take the win in the 6/4 Cylinder Enduro.

 

Photos available at: http://www.racerhub.com/photos/index.php?cat=2378

 

SPT

1. Dan Turbush (1)

2. Lou Maestri (6)

3. Mark Stewart (2)

4. Mike Albasini (3)

5. Dave Brigati (4)

6. Gerard Gioradano (7)

7. Brian McElearney (5)

8. Amanda Andersen (10)

9. Anthony Vecchio (9)

10. Erin Solomito (8)
Legends

1. George Tomko Jr. (1)

2. Allan Pedersen (3)

3. John Beatty Jr. (6)

4. Vinny Delaney (7)

5. Kyle Ellwood (11)

6. Dylan Slepian (8)

7. Bryan Kelly (2)

8. Chris Rogers (9)

9. Ray Fitzgerald (14)

10. Greg Harris (10)

11. Shawn Wanat (12)

12. Artie Pedersen III (4)

13. Eric Hersey (15)

14. Richie Davidowitz (5)

15. Mike Van Houten Jr. (13)

16. Kurt Kreiger (16)

17. Wally Davidowitz (19)

18. Jerry Curran (18)

19. Eric Henschel (21)

20. Bill Fitzgerald (17)

21. Ed Cheslak (20)

 

Blunderbusts

1. Tom Pickerell (9)

2. Bill Wegmann Jr. (1)

3. Ed Mistretta (5)

4. Terry Stiles (7)

5. Joseph Warren Jr. (10)

6. Tim Mulqueen (6)

7. Jack Handley Jr. (11)

8. Tom Sullivan (8)

9. Ron Langdon (14)

10. Derek Wegmann (2)

11. Dennis Scott (13)

12. Tom Puccia (12)

13. Fred Mullen (15)

14. Andrew Wegmann (16)

15. Jim Laird Jr. (3)

16. Scott Maliszewski  (4)

 

Late Models

1. Jarrod Hayes (4)

2. Kevin Metzger (3)

3. Scott Kulesa (5)

4. Mike Balogna (7)

5. Jeremy McDermott (11)

6. Shawn Patrick (8)

7. Roger Oxee (13)

8. Chris McGuire (9)

9. Chris Lescenski (6)

10. Chris La Spisa (10)

11. Kaitlyn Schober (12)

12. Jack Orlando (2)

13. John Baker (14)

14. Richie Davidowitz (1)

 

Modifieds Race 1

1. Kyle Ellwood (1)

2. John Fortin Sr. (7)

3. Howie Brode (8)

4. Vinny Biondolillo (6)

5. Jerry Solomito Jr. (2)

6. Kyle Soper (5)

7. Ken Darch (11)

8. John Beatty Jr. (3)

9. Ron Silk (9)

10. John Fortin Jr. (10)

11. Jason Agugliaro (4)

12. Dave Brigati (12)

Modifieds Race 2

1. Kyle Ellwood (1)

2. John Fortin Sr. (2)

3. Howie Brode (3)

4. Vinny Biondolillo (4)

5. Kyle Soper (6)

6. Jerry Solomito Jr. (5)

7. Ron Silk (9)

8. John Fortin Jr. (10)

9. John Beatty Jr. (8)

10. Ken Darch (7)

11. Jason Agugliaro (DNS)

12. Dave Brigati (DNS)

Source: Brenden Madonia/LongIslandJam.com