Charrier Continues Grand Enduro Hot Streak at Riverhead, Vollmoeller Takes Truck Thriller

James Charrier of Shirley continued his early season hot streak at Riverhead Raceway as he won his second straight Grand Enduro on Father’s Day while Robin Vollmoeller of Riverhead scored his first 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro win of the year in a thrilling race that went right down to the final turn.

After newcomer Jerry Koenig and veteran Greg Zaleski jockeyed early on for the top two spots over the first four laps, James Charrier worked by Koenig for second on lap 6 with an inside pass in turn 3 and four laps later he made a pass of Zaleski to the outside in the same turn to take over the lead. As per usual once out front James Charrier never looked back in his Clear Beer Draft Chevy as he drove off to another comfortable win. Zaleski ran second to Charrier until lap 22 when he was over taken by Bob Engelfried of Stony Brook who would wind up finishing in that position in his St. James Lumber Chevy. Greg Zaleski of Jamesport the opening day winner back in May crossed the line third in the Gallo’s Used Auto Parts entry.

The 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro was the race of the day as Robin Vollmoeller had to hold off both Greg Harris, his son-in-law and Ben Gregor to lay claim to the victory. After Russ Jansen set the pace over the first five laps Ben Gregor making his first start of the year took over the top spot on lap 6. Ben’s stay out front was short as Greg Harris came along and took the lead on lap 8 with Vollmoeller coming to second on lap 10. What ensued for the rest of the race was a three truck battle royal as they ran under a blanket for the rest of the race with Harris leading until the 35th lap when his father-in-law took over. Over the final 15 laps with Vollmoeller and Harris side by side Gregor was trying to go with whoever had the advantage. In the end it would be Robin Vollmoeller in the Spit’s Speed Shop Chevy the winner in a photo finish over Greg Harris of Riverhead in the SGS Stone Works Chevy. Ben Gregor of Sagaponack was third in the Gregor Well Drilling S-10.

In the regularly scheduled 60-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro Jess Martines of Shirley picked-up another win in his JC Performance Chevy taking the lead from Bob Baker on lap 10. Baker hounded Martines for a spell before fading later in the contest and settling for second. Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma was third in the United Exhaust Shops Caprice.

In the 60-lap 8-Cylinder nightcap it was Anthony Pizzo scoring a very convincing win with Bob Baker of Shirley notching his second runner-up finish of the day with Martines crossing the line third.

Joe Warren of Rocky Point made it three out of four in the 4/6-Cylinder Enduro ranks as he drove off to another dominating win after taking the lead from Steve Trimboli on lap 26. Once out front Warren pulled away from all comers for the win which he again dedicated to the late ‘Lil Jay Trinca. Ed Fontana of Wading River was runner-up in the Miller Place Upholstery Ford with Jeff Dotzel of Kingwood WV third in the Orient Country Store racer.

Grand Enduro (top five): 1. James Charier 2. Bob Engelfried 3. Greg Zaleski 4. Tim Blank 5. Brian McCormack

4/6-Cylinder Trucks (top five) 1. Robin Vollmoeller 2. Greg Harris 3. Ben Gregor 4. Russ Jansen 5. Don Nelson Jr.

1st 8-Cylinder Enduro (top five) 1. Jess Martines 2. Bob Baker 3. Anthony Pizzo 4. Ed Brown Jr. 5. Donald Lawrence

2nd 8-Cylinder (top five): 1. Anthony Pizzo 2. Bob Baker 3. Jess Martines 4.Donald Lawrence 5. Kris Dane

4/6-Cylinder Cars (top five) 1. Joe Warren 2. Ed Fontana 3. Jeff Dotzel 4. Peter Rabaglia 5. George Davis

Source: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR