Riverhead Raceway Sunday Enduro Wins Go To James Charrier And Hank Hallock
RIVERHEAD, NY — The Memorial Day weekend of racing at Riverhead Raceway concluded Sunday afternoon with a full card of Enduro racing which found James Charrier of Shirley topping the Grand Enduro 50-lap feature for his second win in a row, while “Handsome” Hank Hallock of Riverhead collected his first ever 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro victory in their 50-lap main event.
Chris Lescenski got the jump on the Grand Enduro field to take the early lead but David Antos, the defending Grand Enduro champion quickly over took Lescenski for the lead on the second lap. Antos would show the way until lap 4 when opening day winner James Charrier not only got by early leader Lescenski for second, but in one clean sweep also got by Antos for the lead. As was the case with his first win once in front Charrier in the Clear Beer Draft Chevy pulled away to a comfortable lead while Antos, Lescenski and later Steve Mastro all raced for positions two through four. At the finish it was James Charrier first over the line followed by his brother-in-law Bob Engelfried of Stony Brook, while Steve Masrtro of Port Jefferson was third in the Sheep Pasture Tree & Nursery Supply Chevy.
“Handsome” Hank Hallock had come close to winning at Riverhead Raceway over the years but never was able to grab the brass ring until Sunday when the 65-year old driver won the 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro. “Daddy Cool” Andy Owen, a tested tough veteran himself led from the start of the race over Jimmy Badalato and later Greg Harris over the first 15-laps of the contest. During that time Owen built himself a sizeable lead over his challengers, that is until Hallock moved to second on lap 16. For the following 26 laps Hallock chipped away at Owen’s lead and finally on lap 42 he worked his way by and promptly drove his Westhampton Auto Salvage Chevy to a very popular win. Robin Vollmoeller of Riverhead moved to second with just five laps to go and would settle for second in the Spit’s Speed Shop entry, with Ben Gregor of Bridgehampton placing third in the Gregor Well Drilling Chevy.
Two 8-Cylinder Enduro events were presented with the first going 75-laps in distance with Dege Russell of Rocky Point scoring his third win of 2012. Russell battled early with rivals Dominic Ranieri and Anthony Pizzo before breaking away to a nice lead, a lead he’d take to victory lane in the Kelly Russell Realty Chevy. Dominic Ranieri of E. Northport was runner-up in the Western Beef Chevy, while Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma was third in the United Exhaust Shop Caprice.
In the 40-lap nightcap Jess Martines of Shirley started on the pole and took the early race lead and never looked back as rolled to his first win of the year in his un-sponsored Chevy. Dominic Ranieri and Anthony Pizzo again completed the top three.
Dennis Nelson of Coram made a late race charge to win the 75-lap 4/6-Cylinder Car Enduro in his Repo Joe Saturn. Nelson passed early race leader Gene Burbol well after the halfway mark to collect his first win of the 2012 campaign. Gene Burbol of Brookhaven was runner-up in the Gene’s 112 Service Center machine with Mitchell Pattern of Southold third in the MoJo racer.
Grand Enduro (top five): 1. James Charrier 2. Bob Engelfried 3. Steve Mastro 4. Don Carasiti 5. Joe Parcelluzzi
4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro (top five): 1. Hank Hallock 2. Robin Vollmoeller 3.Ben Gregor 4. Andy Owen 5. Don Nelson Jr.
1st 8-Cylinder Enduro (top five): 1. Dege Russell 2. Dominic Ranieri 3. Anthony Pizzo 4. Donald Lawrence 5. Ed Brown Jr.
2nd 8-Cylinder Enduro (top five): 1. Jess Martines 2. Dominic Ranieri 3. Anthony Pizzo 4. Donald Lawrence 5. Jason Savoy
4/6 Cylinder Car Enduro (top five): 1. Dennis Nelson 2. Gene Burbol 3. Mitchell Pattern 4. Anthony Pizzo 5. Joe Warren Jr.
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR