Tom Rogers Jr. Roars From 21st To Sweep Twin 30’s At Riverhead Raceway Saturday Night
RIVERHEAD, NY — In a performance reminiscent of the late great “Charging” Charlie Jarzombek, Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue barnstormed his way from a 21st starting spot to sweep the Twin 30 NASCAR Modified features at Riverhead Raceway Saturday night. Rogers was forced to a back-up car when his Relay Communication Chevy suffered an broken axle as he was about to take time forcing him to his family owned car and having to start in the last row of the 22-car field.
For the second week in a row Dave Brigati set fast time with a lap of 11.840 and in a new twist Riverhead officials had “The Fancy Farmer” draw a pill to see if the field would start straight-up or the top six would redraw. Brigati picked a redraw but lo and behold drew the pole with Howie Brode pulling the outside pole. At the drop of the green in the first 30-lap segment Brigati broke to the lead with Brode in tow over the first 7 circuits before he worked his way by Brigati for the lead bringing Shawn Solomito to second in the process. Meanwhile Tom Rogers Jr. was on a torrid pace to the front of the field and before the 10th lap was complete he was making his way through the top ten. Rogers would work his way by Solomito for second on lap 12 and one lap later would sneak under Brode for the lead with Solomito reclaiming second as he too slipped under Howie.
With Rogers now out front and Solomito second the duo would run in that order until the 21st lap when Shawn suddenly veered into the infield giving up second. It was later discovered that a tooth in the rack & pinion steering unit broke off and locked the steering up in the car. That turn of events moved Eddie Brunnhoelzl III who was in the mix among the top five all race long to second as the final laps in the first segment played out and the checkers waved.
When the second segment got underway Tom Rogers Jr. picked-up right where he left off in the first 30 taking the lead with Brunnhoelzl giving chase while behind them there were some intense battles for position among the likes of Dave Brigati, John Beatty Jr., Howie Brode and David Roys among others. As the race wore on into its second half many drivers were struggling to hold on to their machines as many had used up their tires racing hard for position earlier. With just under 10-laps to go Brunnhoelzl was able to get closer to leader Rogers but when Eddie got too close Tommy was able to sneak away and drive to the checkered flag.
In victory lane NASCAR’S Jerry Cook was not only impressed with the valiant drive made by Tom Rogers Jr for his 15th career win but the spectacular burnout the former two-time track champion performed afterwards. “What happened to our Joe & Debbie Ambrose owned car was just weird” Rogers reflected, “the axle just split in a place it never does’. He furthered, “my guys work hard on both cars and that’s the reason we were able to turn what could have been a bad night into a very good one”.
Eddie Brunnhoelzl III of Levittown drove to a fine runner-up finish in the Senix Creek Inn Chevy and admitted later in the pits “Tommy was just toying with us, I’d get close and then zoom he’d pull away”. Howie Brode of East Islip recovered from a turn four spin to finish third in the Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy while Dave Brigati of Calverton and Dan Jivanelli of Hampton Bays was fifth in the Wayne Anderson machine.
Scott Kulesa of Georgetown, Ma. who was shut out of Late Model victory lane last year made sure that wasn’t going to be the case in 2012 as he won their 25-lap feature event, the 17th of his career. Chris LaSpisa and Roger Oxee renewed their opening night race for the lead at the throw of the green with Chris leading the first 6 laps before Oxee moved by on the 7th lap. LaSpisa sat second until lap 9 when Peter “Buzzy” Eriksen slipped by to set-up an old school fight for the lead between the two drivers who hold down the top two spots on the all-time win list. As expected the two waged a heated fight for the lead and on lap 18 going into the first turn Eriksen dove under Oxee, contact was made sending Roger up the hill and into a stall between the first and second turn drawing a yellow. NASCAR officials sent Eriksen to the rear of the pack for rough riding which moved Scott Kulesa, who was making his way back to the front after a spin of his own into the race lead. Over the final six laps Scott Kulesa was able to stay out front in the Eastport Feeds entry and take down the much needed and well deserved win. Opening night winner Mike Bologna of Melville was runner-up in the Russell H Nill Roofing Chevy with Kevin Metzger of Massapequa third in the LI Fuel Oil Accessories Chevy.
Armed with a new power plant under the hood of his Bill Beener Tree Service Figure Eight car Mike Mujsce of Westhampton Beach led all 15-laps to score his 12th career win. At the throw of Jim Kelly’s green flag Mujsce powered out front with rival Ken Hyde Jr. moving to second, a repeat of the opening night race a week prior. However this week Mujsce wasn’t going to allow Hyde to get close enough for last lap contact as the tested tough veteran was always able to keep a two to three car length cushion on his challenger. At the finish of the non-stop race it was Mike Mujsce scoring the win just hours after aiding Super Pro Truck driver Frank Dumicich perform and engine swap. Ken Hyde Jr. was runner-up in the Maples Bar entry while Roger Maynor of Bay Shore scored a third place finish in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford.
CJ Lehmann of Shirley led wire to wire to win the 20 lap Charger feature event which was also a caution free contest. Lehmann quickly hustled the Your Floor Store Chevy out front at the start of the race with “Radiant” Ray Minieri moving to second with the story of the race being written right there. For the entire race Minieri a past champion in the division hounded the 20-year old Lehmann for the top spot every turn of the race. Ray really began to turn up the heat as the laps clicked off and going into the corners he’d nudge Lehmann trying to rattle his cage and get him out of shape while never trying to turn him. At the finish it would be a hard fought victory for CJ Lehmann while Ray Minieri of Bay Shore had to settle for runner-up money in the Sunrise Chiropractic Pontiac, while Jeremy McDermott of E. Stroudsburg, Pa placed third in the Eastern Door & Remodeling machine.
“The Wildchild” Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge had one goal in mind coming to the 2012 Blunderbust campaign and that was to win his 50th career main event. He entered the new year with 48 wins and after just two races in 2012 his mission has been accomplished as he won his second straight 20-lap feature. After Scott Sepe led the first lap “The Pistol” Paul Parisi moved out front with an outside pass on lap 2 with Joe Seeger racing his way to second. Parisi and Seeger would proceed to swap the lead back and forth for several laps while Walkowiak who started 14th picked his way to the front of the field. A caution flag just prior to halfway would shuffle the running order as Seeger bolted out front again on lap 9 with Walkowiak working his way by Parisi for second. However Paul rebounded to pass both and move back out front on lap 10 with a nifty move but just a couple of laps later Tommy Walkowiak would take the lead for the first time in the race, a lead he’d never surrender in the Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy. As he climbed from his car in victory lane he was greeted by Riverhead owners Barbara & Jim Cromarty along with other well wishers. Paul Parisi of Riverhead was runner-up in the East End Jet Ski racer while Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was third in the Relle Electric Chevy.
Erin Dumicich of E. Quogue notched her second career Super Pro Truck win when she led all 20-laps of their feature event. Erin wheeling the Atlantic Auto Glass Dodge moved right out front as the race went green with her father Frank Dumicich Sr. moving to second. Frank had already been through quite the day at the track as he lost an engine in the first practice session of the race meet. Rather than load up and call it a night the team raced back to their shop, swapped motors and raced back to the track with 45-minutes to spare! With the benefit of no caution flags and the fact her father Frank would get engaged in a fight for second with Mike Albasini, Erin was able to open up a very comfortable lead that she’d enjoy until the conclusion of the race. Frank Dumicich Sr. crossed the line second in his Tonino’s Pizza Ford while Mike “The King of Queens” Albasini of Flushing posted a third placer finish in his HCC Collision Chevy.
Youth was again served in the 20-lap Legend Race Car feature as Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead scored the 20-lap win. Kevin Nowak raced out front early with young lion Dylan Slepian giving chase from second. Going into the third turn on lap 5 Slepian got into Nowak sending the race leader into a spin and drawing a yellow flag. During that caution Slepian was sent to the rear for rough riding. That turn of events moved Chris Rogers out front with Kyle Ellwood on his bumper in second over the next four laps before Ellwood took the lead on lap 11. The race for the lead in this contest aside from Rogers and Ellwood also included the likes of Paul Dodorico and Chris Young, with Dodorico coming to second when Ellwood moved out front. With less than five to go Young made a bid for second on Dodorico and once he completed that pass he set sail for race leader Ellwood. However Kyle in the Riverhead Building Supply racer was having none of that and he drove to his second career win as he and Chris Young reverse roles from opening night. Chris Young of Calverton was runner-up in the Bridgehampton National Bank entry, while veteran Paul Dodorico of Miller Place was third in the Bridal Suite of Centereach mount.
NASCAR Modifieds (final finish): 1. Tom Rogers Jr. 2. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 3. Howie Brode 4. Dan Jivanelli 5. Dave Brigati 6. David Roys 7. Richie Pallai Jr. 8. Amber Fortin 9. Jason Agugliaro 10. Ken Darch 11. Chris McGuire 12. John Beatty Jr. 13. John Fortin Sr. 14. John Fortin Jr. 15. Don Howe 16. Dave Sapienza 17. Shawn Solomito 18. Jerry Solomito Jr. 19. Timmy Solomito 20. Marisa Niederauer 21. Vinny Biondolillo 22. Al Ermmarino
Late Models: 1. Scott Kulesa 2. Mike Bologna 3. Kevin Metzger 4. Peter Eriksen 5. Shawn Patrick 6. Arne Pedersen 7. Chris LaSpisa 8. Dennis Krupski 9. Roger Oxee
Figure Eights: 1. Mike Mujsce 2. Ken Hyde Jr. 3. Roger Maynor 4. Arne Pedersen 5. Tom Ferrara 6. George Brown 7. Rick Swanson 8. Tim Mulqueen 9. Tim Farrell
Chargers: 1. CJ Lehmann 2. Ray Minieri 3. Jeremy McDermott 4. Chris Turbush 5. Eric Zeh 6. John Baker 7. Brian Doyle 8. Cory Midgett 9. Derek Stachecki
Blunderbusts: 1. Tommy Walkowiak 2. Paul Parisi 3. Jack Handley Jr. 4. Tom Pickerell 5. Jimmy White Jr. 6. Rob Bader 7. Tim Mulqueen 8. Fred Nolan 9. Ed Mistretta 10. Brandon Hubbard 11. Justin Wahl 12. Tom Sullivan 13. Thomas Puccia Jr. 14. Mike Accoreino 15. Scott Sepe 16. Bob Muller 17. Bill Portney Sr. 18. Frank LaPocca Jr 19. Scott Maliszewski 20. Joe Seeger 21. Bill Wegmann 22. Jessica Cohan 23. Ray Shannon 24. Brian Hansen 25. Joe Warren Jr.
Super Pro Trucks:
1. Erin Dumicich 2. Frank Dumicich Sr. 3. Mike Albasini 4. Chris Turbush 5. Lou Maestri 6. Dave Koenig 7. Frank Dumicich Jr. 8. Roger Turbush 9. John Denniston 10. Keith Rotzi 11. Peter Rotzi
Legend Race Cars: 1. Kyle Ellwood 2. Chris Young 3. Paul Dodorico 4. Kyle Soper 5. Chris Rogers 6. Brendon Bock 7. Jeffery Goodale 8. Jay Sendlewski 9. Vinny Delaney 10. Richie Davidowitz 11. Kevin Nowak 12. Greg Harris 13. Michael Rommeney 14. Bryan Kelly 15. Jim Byrne 16. Silas Hiscock 17. Dylan Slepian 18. Jim Pape Jr. 19. Artie Pedersen III 20. Joe Scibelli 21. Jim Sylvester 22. Mike Smith 23. Christian Conklin 24. Fred Card 25. Alex Urbina 26. Frank Scimeca Jr. 27. Shawn Wanat.
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR