“The Natural” Timmy Solomito & Howie Brode Split Riverhead Raceway Sunoco Race Fuels Twin 30’s
RIVERHEAD, NY –Riverhead Raceway promoters Barbara & Jim Cromarty refused to give into Mother Nature this past Saturday afternoon as they out waited the old gal and low and behold the rain stopped falling just after 2:00 pm and the sun would break allowing for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program to be presented. In the headlining Sunoco Race Fuels Twin 30’s “The Natural” Timmy Solomito of Islip would capture the first feature while point leader Howie Brode topped the field in the nightcap.
In pre-race qualifying 15-year old Vinny Biondolillo set fast time in an upset of sorts with a lap 11.850 besting Shawn Solomito’s 11.865, however in the redraw it would be Shawn’s younger brother Timmy to draw the pole with David Roys drawing the outside pole. Biondolillo drew 5th while Shawn Solomito drew 3rd.
At the throw of the green for the first 30-lap event Timmy Solomito broke out front with his brother Shawn riding his back bumper to slip under David Roys for second. As the pack started the second lap Roys, who was hung on the outside lane got loose going into the first turn bounced off another car and hit the wall in turn two ending his night. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III was caught up as well but would return laps down later in the first race. On the double file restart that followed the yellow flag Dave Sapienza was able to muscle his way under Shawn Solomito for second and the race for the win in race #1 was on.
Sapienza would spend the following 28-laps trying to find a way by race leader Timmy Solomito but for every challenge Dave threw at Timmy the leader was equal to the task as he’d motor away every time his rival got a nose under him exiting the turns. At the checkers it was Timmy Solomito scoring his second win of the season in the Eastport Feeds Chevy with Dave Sapienza of Riverhead runner-up in the Frankie’s Towing Chevy. Howie Brode of E. Islip crossed the line third in his On Time Trucking Chevy while Dave Brigati of Calverton and Shawn Solomito of Islip completed the top five.
The second Sunoco Race Fuel 30 lap feature was lined-up by the finishing order of the first race and once again Timmy Solomito broke out front early with Howie Brode able to slide under Dave Sapienza for second in a move that would actually be the winning move of the race. On lap 2 the yellow waved for a stalled Vincent Biondolillo in turn four and on the ensuing double file restart Solomito missed a shift and was slow to get going off turn four allowing Brode to take over the top spot while Timmy made a quick recovery to remain second. Over the final 28-laps of the race Timmy instead of being the hunted as he was in the first 30-lapper was now the hunter as he rode Brode’s back bumper for a good part of the remaining 28-laps of the race.
However as the race hit the final 10-laps Howie Brode in the Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy was bale to distance himself from Timmy Solomito who was runner-up in the L.I. Fuel Oil Associates Chevy. Shawn Solomito of Islip was third racing for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation making a nice recovery after being shuffled back in the pack in the first race. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead turned in a stellar fourth place run with Jason Agugliaro of Islip completing the top five.
“I can’t thank Wayne & Joette Anderson along with Doug Corwin of Eastport Feeds for the opportunity they have given me” Solomito said in victory lane. Looking back on the second race he admitted “I missed a shift on that restart and that allowed Howie to get away, we lost our right rear and got really tight and in the end had nothing for him”.
Howie disclosed his game plan after taking the win in the second race, “we kinda played it cool in the first race and let things play out. Then in the second race we had some luck fall our way” Brode added “none of this would be possible without Peter Clark Motorsports and all my guys, I also have to thank my Mom & Dad for all they have done over the years”.
Cagey Late Model veteran Kevin Metzger of Massapequa went into Saturday’s 25-lap feature event having not won since May 22nd of 2010 but that all changed when the checker flag waved giving the former two-time champion his 11th career win. Armed with the pole to start the race Kevin quickly motored out front with Jeremy McDermott in tow. A quick yellow forced a early double file restart where Shawn Patrick got by McDermott for second for two laps before Jeremy reclaimed the position on lap 4 but while the duo fought for second Metzger was able to get away and build a comfortable lead. Lap after lap McDermott chipped away at Metzger’s advantage and would finally catch him on lap 13. The tandem waged a torrid fight for the lead with McDermott trying Metzger high and low with Kevin thwarting the challenges. On lap 22 the race for the win got too close coming off turn two as contact was made, Metzger who was trying to block an outside run by McDermott made slight contact with the wall while McDermott’s fate was much worse as he got a flat tire. The casing of Jeremy’s tire landed on the entrance of the third turn drawing a yellow allowing Jeremy to pit. With no ill effects from his brush with the wall Kevin Metzger in the County Tire Chevy was able to hold off Ken Alfano of Southold and his Prestigious Motors in a green, white & checker finish for the hard fought win. Roger Oxee of Peconic placed third in his Southold IGA Pontiac.
“Radiant” Ray Minieri of Bay Shore visited Charger victory lane for the third time this season when he topped their 20-lap main event for his 18th career win overall. Rookie talent Chad Churilla set fast time with a lap of 13.282 but could only muster a 6th place starting berth in the redraw. Ray Minieri and Tom Anderson drew the front row and when the green light winked on it was Minieri breaking out into the lead, a lead he’d never surrender. All the action was taking place in Ray’s mirror as Tom Anderson was passed for second on lap 2 by another talented rookie “Rocking” Rich Wilson on lap 2. It didn’t take long though for the cream to rise to the front of the field as Eric Zeh, the current point leader was able to come to second on lap 4. Zeh was able to keep step with Ray Minieri but at the finish it was Minieri scoring the victory in his Sunrise Chiropractic & Wellness Dodge and afterwards dedicated the race to a fallen friend. “I’d like to dedicate this race to Fred Bobb, who for many years was the Sunoco Race Fuels distributor at the track since it’s Sunoco Race Fuels night”. Eric Zeh of Selden was runner-up in the Randy’s Performance Chevy while Chad Churilla of Hauppauge continue’s to impress in his Angela’s House Pontiac as he was third.
It’s been and up & down Blunderbust season for 17-year old Jack Handley Jr. of Medford, this past Saturday it was all up as he won his 3rd feature event of 2013 in a 20-lap contest. Just one week ago “The Jack Attack” was riding along in the main event when the rear end assembly in his car just broke in half but this week no demons were to be found anywhere as Jack started on the pole and would lead wire to wire. “The Racing Grandfather” Bill Wegmann Sr. would run second to Handley for the first 11-laps of the race with Jack building up quite a commanding lead in the process. On lap 12 “The Wildchild” Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge, who has yet to win this year passed Wegmann for second. However the lead that Jack Handley Jr. had built up in his Goddfellas Auto Repair entry would prove to be insurmountable as he’d race off to victory. Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge was runner-up in the Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy with Bill Wegmann Sr. of N. Bellmore placing third in the Crackerjack Auto Stores Oldsmobile.
Mark Stewart of Riverhead, a 15-year old newcomer to the Super Pro Truck class turned heads once again this week as he won his second consecutive 20-lap main event.. Brian McElearney motored out front at the start of the race with Rob Bader in tow for the first circuit before he was overtaken by Mark Stewart on lap 2. All seemed to be going according to plan for race leader McElearney when disaster struck as he started the 7th lap of the race when his transmission blew forcing him to the infield. That turn of events moved Bader back to second behind new race leader Stewart for laps 7 & 8 before Rob was passed by Frank Dumicich Jr. on lap 9. Frank almost got by race leader Stewart in one clean sweep but the yellow waved moving him back to second. Over the final 11-laps of the race Dumicich, who came to the race as the points leader would test the youngster but he’d soon be challenged himself by “Dangerous” Dave Koenig who also happens to be Stewart’s truck owner. At the finish it was Mark Stewart taking another popular win in the Angela’s House Chevy with Frank Dumicich Jr. of E. Quogue runner-up in the East End Transmission Chevy. Dave Koenig of Freeport placed third in the Nelson’s Auto Salvage Chevy.
Joe Warren Jr. of Rocky Point is enjoying a breakout season in the 4/6-Cylinder Car Enduro division as he won for the fourth time in five races this season. The 75-lap race that started 38 cars was a barn burner right from jump street as Warren quickly moved out front chased at first by Brandon Esposito before George Davis came to second from 5th. Over nearly the entire distance of the race Warren and Davis swapped the lead numerous times while darting through lapped traffic and on more than one occasion did they go three and four wide in doing so. When the dust settled late in the race Joe Warren took control of the race over the final 10-laps or so and drove his tribute car to Jason Trinca Jr. to victory. George Davis of Patchogue was second in the Sign Design Saturn with James McCarthy of Bellmore turning in an astounding performance as he raced his way from 38th to a third place finish in the Pitbull Motors entry.
Sunoco Race Fuels NASCAR Modified Twin 30 1st feature: 1. Timmy Solomito 2. Dave Sapienza 3. Howie Brode 4. Dave Brigati 5. Shawn Solomito 6. Jason Agugliaro 7. Kevin Orlando 8. Vinny Biondolillo 9. Kyle Ellwood 10. Marisa Niederauer 11. Ken Darch 12. EJ Heim 13. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 14. David Roys
Sunoco Race Fuels NASCAR Modified Twin 30 2nd feature: 1. Howie Brode 2. Timmy Solomito 3. Shawn Solomito 4. Kyle Ellwood 5. Jason Agugliaro 6. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 7. Kevin Orlando 8. Dave Brigati 9. Vinny Biondolillo 10. EJ Heim 11. Ken Darch 12. Dave Sapienza 13. Marisa Niederauer 14. Davis Roys
Late Models: 1. Kevin Metzger 2. Ken Alfano 3. Roger Oxee 4. Scott Kulesa 5. Shawn Patrick 6. Mike Bologna 7. Chris McGuire 8. Jeremy McDermott 9. Chris LaSpisa 10. Kevin Orlando
Chargers: 1. Ray Minieri 2. Eric Zeh 3. Chad Churilla 4. Chris Turbush 5. CJ Lehmann 6. Rich Wilson 7. Cory Midgett 8. Scott Pedersen 9. Tom Anderson 10. Jayson White 11. Arne Pedersen
Blunderbusts: 1. Jack Handley Jr. 2. Tommy Walkowiak 3. Bill Wegmann Sr. 4. Bill Wegmann Jr. 5. Scott Maliszewski 6. Tom Pickerell 7. Ron Langdon 8. Tom Sullivan 9. Tim Mulqueen 10. Brandon Hubbard 11. Brian Brown 12. Justin Wahl 13. Tom Puccia 14. Jimmy White Jr. 15. Paul Parisi DNS- Bryan Quilliam
Super Pro Trucks: 1. Mark Stewart 2. Frank Dumicich Jr. 3. Dave Koenig 4. Lou Maestri 5. Frank Dumicich Sr. 6. Anthony Vecchio 7. Rob Bader 8. Mike Albasini 9. Erin Dumicich-Solomito 10. Roger Turbush 11. John Denniston 12. Brian McElearney 13. Rich Campo
4/6-Cylinder Car Enduro (top five): 1. Joe Warren Jr. 2. George Davis 3. James McCarthy 4. Peter Verwys Jr. 5. Mike Mujsce Sr.
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR