Greg Zaleski And Greg Harris Top Labor Day Sunday Enduro Winners At Riverhead Raceway
RIVERHEAD, NY — The second half of the Monster Truck Labor Day weekend doubleheader at Riverhead Raceway was completed Sunday evening under threatening skies with veteran Greg Zaleski of Jamesport topping the 50-lap Grand Enduro for his second win of 2013. Greg Harris of Riverhead continued his domination of the 4/6-Cylinder Truck class as he won their 50-lapper for his fourth win of the season.
As the Grand Enduro troops took the green flag it was Sal Sinatro pacing the field for the first lap in his new machine before Bob Engelfried moved by on lap 2. Things were going along nicely for Engelfried until the 12th circuit when a lapped car slowed the race leader off turn two allowing Jimmy White Jr. who had closed in on Engelfried to move by for the race lead. Once in front the driver of the Busy Pest Control Chevy stepped out on the field building a commanding lead over Greg Zaleski who moved to second on lap 13 and Greg seemed to be heading to a runner-up finish, that is until the 46th lap. As White raced through the third and fourth turn coming to start the 47th lap of the contest his car snapped into a spin handing the lead over to Zaleski. Jimmy quickly gathered up his car hoping to stay close to the new leader but as he tried to exit the second turn the car spun again as he had lost a radiator and was spinning in his own fluid.
With just three laps to go in the race Greg Zaleski wheeling his Blue Point Auto Body Chevy was able to drive of to victory and afterwards the Physical Education Teacher in the Bayport School District noted, “Rob Bader once told me sometimes its better to be lucky that good, today I was lucky”. Former champion David Antos of Lindenhurst was runner-up in his CR Customs Monte Carlo with James Charrier of Shirley roaring from a 17th starting spot to finish third in the Clear Beer Draft Chevy.
The 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro provided an exciting finish as the race boiled down to the final turn. “Handsome” Hank Hallock paced the race for the first 10 laps before he was overtaken by both Greg Harris and Ben Gregor on lap 10 as they raced up the back stretch and into the third turn. At first Harris got away by a couple of truck lengths and later Gregor would pull back up to the leader’s rear tailgate. That scene played out a few times during the race setting up for a wild finish. With just a handful of laps remaining Gregor closed in on Harris as the duo darted through some light lapped traffic. It would be the final lap that Ben threw caution to the wind in an effort to catch Greg as they were glued nose to tail racing through the third and fourth turn.
As the checker waved it would be Greg Harris in his SGS Stone Works Chevy holding on for the hardest fought win of his four this season, “Ben gave me a run there, it is god to have him running with us again” Harris admitted in victory lane. Ben Gregor of Bridgehampton was second in the Gregor Well Drilling entry while Robin Vollmoeller of Riverhead crossed the line third in the Spit’s Speed Shop Chevy.
Rob “The Racer” McCormick won the 75-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro and to the casual observer it looked to be an fairly easy win and on the track it was, however the work that went in at the race shop overnight to correct a fuel issue is where the difficulty came in. Rob shook his car down Saturday afternoon prior to the NASCAR program at the track and discovered water in his fuel that he purchased at an out of state track. Crew chief Scott Denis stayed up until 3:00 am to clear all the contaminated fuel out of the Pete’s Landscaping Chevy as well change the carburetor. All that hard work paid off as Rob McCormick took the race lead early and never looked back as he won by nearly a half a lap over runner-up Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma in his United Exhaust Shops Caprice. Bob Baker of Shirley in his JC Performance Chevy was third.
In the 50-lap nightcap for the 8-Cylinder Enduro Anthony Pizzo would top the 50-lap race. Pizzo and fellow veteran Bob Baker diced for the race lead early on but eventually Anthony would pull away and drive off to yet another victory as he seems to excel in the second race more often than not. Dominick Ranieri of East Northport got by Baker and would finish second in his Westhampton Auto Salvage Chevy which perhaps is the oldest car in terms of races run. Bob Baker of Shirley was third as he closes out his Riverhead Raceway Enduro career as the taxes of Long Island are forcing Bob to move out of state.
For the first time in his long driving career Ed Fontana of Wading River scored his first career victory when he topped the 50-lap 4-Cylinder Car Enduro. Early on Fontana and veteran Jim McCarthy went toe-to-toe for the race lead before Fontana asserted himself as the man to beat in his Miller Place Auto Upholstery machine. McCarthy tried to keep pace at first but a late race spin off turn four ruined his chances at catching the eventual race winner. At the checkers it was an elated Ed Fontana scoring that long awaited first career triumph with Joe Warren Jr. of Rocky Point runner-up. Jim McCarthy of Bellmore made a nice recovery to come home third in his Pitbull Motors racer.
Grand Enduro (top five)
1. Greg Zaleski 2. David Antos 3. James Charrier 4. Kevin Nowak 5. Phil LaManna
4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro (top five)
1. Greg Harris 2. Ben Gregor 3. Robin Vollmoeller 4. Russ Jansen 5. Don Nelson
1st 8-Cylinder Enduro (top five)
1. Rob McCormick 2. Anthony Pizzo 3. Bob Baker 4. Mark Wolf 5. Dominick Ranieri
2nd 8-Cylinder Enduro (top five)
1. Anthony Pizzo 2. Dominick Ranieri 3. Bob Baker 4. Jeffrey Otto Jr. 5. James Johnson
RIVERHEAD, NY –
The second half of the Monster Truck Labor Day weekend doubleheader at Riverhead Raceway was completed Sunday evening under threatening skies with veteran Greg Zaleski of Jamesport topping the 50-lap Grand Enduro for his second win of 2013. Greg Harris of Riverhead continued his domination of the 4/6-Cylinder Truck class as he won their 50-lapper for his fourth win of the season.
As the Grand Enduro troops took the green flag it was Sal Sinatro pacing the field for the first lap in his new machine before Bob Engelfried moved by on lap 2. Things were going along nicely for Engelfried until the 12th circuit when a lapped car slowed the race leader off turn two allowing Jimmy White Jr. who had closed in on Engelfried to move by for the race lead. Once in front the driver of the Busy Pest Control Chevy stepped out on the field building a commanding lead over Greg Zaleski who moved to second on lap 13 and Greg seemed to be heading to a runner-up finish, that is until the 46th lap. As White raced through the third and fourth turn coming to start the 47th lap of the contest his car snapped into a spin handing the lead over to Zaleski. Jimmy quickly gathered up his car hoping to stay close to the new leader but as he tried to exit the second turn the car spun again as he had lost a radiator and was spinning in his own fluid.
With just three laps to go in the race Greg Zaleski wheeling his Blue Point Auto Body Chevy was able to drive of to victory and afterwards the Physical Education Teacher in the Bayport School District noted, “Rob Bader once told me sometimes its better to be lucky that good, today I was lucky”. Former champion David Antos of Lindenhurst was runner-up in his CR Customs Monte Carlo with James Charrier of Shirley roaring from a 17th starting spot to finish third in the Clear Beer Draft Chevy.
The 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro provided an exciting finish as the race boiled down to the final turn. “Handsome” Hank Hallock paced the race for the first 10 laps before he was overtaken by both Greg Harris and Ben Gregor on lap 10 as they raced up the back stretch and into the third turn. At first Harris got away by a couple of truck lengths and later Gregor would pull back up to the leader’s rear tailgate. That scene played out a few times during the race setting up for a wild finish. With just a handful of laps remaining Gregor closed in on Harris as the duo darted through some light lapped traffic. It would be the final lap that Ben threw caution to the wind in an effort to catch Greg as they were glued nose to tail racing through the third and fourth turn.
As the checker waved it would be Greg Harris in his SGS Stone Works Chevy holding on for the hardest fought win of his four this season, “Ben gave me a run there, it is god to have him running with us again” Harris admitted in victory lane. Ben Gregor of Bridgehampton was second in the Gregor Well Drilling entry while Robin Vollmoeller of Riverhead crossed the line third in the Spit’s Speed Shop Chevy.
Rob “The Racer” McCormick won the 75-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro and to the casual observer it looked to be an fairly easy win and on the track it was, however the work that went in at the race shop overnight to correct a fuel issue is where the difficulty came in. Rob shook his car down Saturday afternoon prior to the NASCAR program at the track and discovered water in his fuel that he purchased at an out of state track. Crew chief Scott Denis stayed up until 3:00 am to clear all the contaminated fuel out of the Pete’s Landscaping Chevy as well change the carburetor. All that hard work paid off as Rob McCormick took the race lead early and never looked back as he won by nearly a half a lap over runner-up Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma in his United Exhaust Shops Caprice. Bob Baker of Shirley in his JC Performance Chevy was third.
In the 50-lap nightcap for the 8-Cylinder Enduro Anthony Pizzo would top the 50-lap race. Pizzo and fellow veteran Bob Baker diced for the race lead early on but eventually Anthony would pull away and drive off to yet another victory as he seems to excel in the second race more often than not. Dominick Ranieri of East Northport got by Baker and would finish second in his Westhampton Auto Salvage Chevy which perhaps is the oldest car in terms of races run. Bob Baker of Shirley was third as he closes out his Riverhead Raceway Enduro career as the taxes of Long Island are forcing Bob to move out of state.
For the first time in his long driving career Ed Fontana of Wading River scored his first career victory when he topped the 50-lap 4-Cylinder Car Enduro. Early on Fontana and veteran Jim McCarthy went toe-to-toe for the race lead before Fontana asserted himself as the man to beat in his Miller Place Auto Upholstery machine. McCarthy tried to keep pace at first but a late race spin off turn four ruined his chances at catching the eventual race winner. At the checkers it was an elated Ed Fontana scoring that long awaited first career triumph with Joe Warren Jr. of Rocky Point runner-up. Jim McCarthy of Bellmore made a nice recovery to come home third in his Pitbull Motors racer.
Grand Enduro (top five): 1. Greg Zaleski 2. David Antos 3. James Charrier 4. Kevin Nowak 5. Phil LaManna
4/6-Cylinder Truck Enduro (top five): 1. Greg Harris 2. Ben Gregor 3. Robin Vollmoeller 4. Russ Jansen 5. Don Nelson
1st 8-Cylinder Enduro (top five): 1. Rob McCormick 2. Anthony Pizzo 3. Bob Baker 4. Mark Wolf 5. Dominick Ranieri
2nd 8-Cylinder Enduro (top five): 1. Anthony Pizzo 2. Dominick Ranieri 3. Bob Baker 4. Jeffrey Otto Jr. 5. James Johnson
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR