Riverhead Raceway Kicks Off 30th Year Of Enduro Racing, Zaleski, Nelson, Pizzo & Mujsce Score Opening Day Wins
RIVERHEAD, NY — The curtain went up on the 30th consecutive season of Enduro racing this past Sunday at Barbara & Jim Cromarty’s Riverhead Raceway on a sun splashed afternoon with Greg Zaleski of Jamesport, Don Nelson of Rocky Point, Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma and Mike Mujsce Jr. of Hampton Bays all scoring victories. Pizzo actually won twice, sweeping the days two 8-Cylinder Enduro events.
School teacher Greg Zaleski would take the field in the 50-lap Grand Enduro event to class as he broke out to the lead on lap 4 passing Tom Talbot Sr. who was making his first start in the division. Once out front in his Willow Hill Automotive backed racer Zaleski who also coaches soccer in the Bayport school district ran away and hid from his competition and afterwards made a stunning admission. “My team is really just me and my Dad and honestly we really didn’t do too much to the car in the off season” Greg offered. That nugget of news surely must have been a surprise to his fellow drivers who could only watch as Greg dominated the race. Jess Martines of Shirley was runner-up in the RP Distinctive Landscaping Chevy while former champion David Antos of Lindenhurst placed third in the G&R Performance Monte Carlo.
One year ago in the opening day Truck Enduro Don Nelson sat dejectedly by his Nelson Brothers Farms machine that had blown a motor fearing his 2014 season was over. However as the old saying goes what a difference a year makes, a saying Nelson is celebrating. Gene Burbol who over the years won numerous 4-Cylinder races made his return to racing in the Truck Enduro and drew the pole for the race. Gene quickly took the race lead and seemed to be in a zone even with Don Nelson, another former champion within striking distance in second. Suddenly on lap 26 a lapped truck broke into Burbol’s path with Gene having to hit the brakes for a split second which allowed Nelson to race on by for the race lead and eventual win. Burbol of Brookhaven was runner-up in his Gene’s 112 Service Center entry with 68-year young “Handsome” Hank Hallock of Riverhead third in the Westhampton Auto Salvage Chevy.
All race car drivers dream of starting their season off with a win so Sunday must have been double dreamy for Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma who swept the wins in both 8-Cylinder Enduro races. In the first race, a 75-lap affair Pizzo and second year driver swapped the lead during the second half of the race. Lap 41 found Anthony spinning in oil from Jarred Halsey’s blown engine handing the lead over to D’Orta. Pizzo who never stopped his car went right back to work in tracking down D’Orta and on lap 51 reclaimed the lead for good in the United Exhaust Shop Caprice. Mike D’Orta of Deer Park was second in his Mustang Magic racer while Jeff Otto Jr. of Deer Park place third in the Designs For Vision machine.
In the 40-lap nightcap Pizzo would again have to work hard to earn first place money as he raced with Ed Brown Jr. The duo swapped the lead some four times just past the halfway mark of the contest. Pizzo would take the lead for good on the 32nd circuit to score the victory with Ed Brown Jr. of Mastic Beach runner-up in the Lyly’s Auto Body Supply Chevy. Mike D’Orta was third.
Coming into the 2015 Enduro season Mike Mujsce Jr. announced he would dedicate his racing efforts to his late cousin Eleanor Geier and on Sunday in the 75-lap 4/6-Cylinder Enduro his emotional motivation turned into one of the most dominating performances in the class. Mujsce broke out front at the drop of the green in his Premier Pest Control entry and not only did he never look back he nearly lapped the entire 35 car field twice! Ed Fontana of Wading River was second in the Good Wood Shop machine while Paul Wojcik of Centereach crossed the line third. George Davis gave his fellow competitors and fans alike a scare when he flipped into the first turn after contact and fortunately Davis after exiting the car was okay, his car was totaled.
Grand Enduro (top 5)
1. Greg Zaleski 2. Jess Martines 3. David Antos 4. Brian McCormack 5. Erick Zegel
Truck Enduro (top 5)
1. Don Nelson Jr. 2. Gene Burbol 3. Hank Hallock 4. Peter Rabaglia 5. Richard Galante
1st 8-Cylinder Enduro (top 5)
1. Anthony Pizzo 2. Mike D’Orta 3. Jeff Otto Jr. 4. Michael Sorrentino 5. Donald Lawrence
2nd 8-Cylinder Enduro (top 5)
1. Anthony Pizzo 2. Ed Brown Jr. 3. Mike D’Orta 4. Sean Fitzpatrick 5. Logan Fogg
4/6-Cylinder Enduro:
1. Mike Mujsce Jr. 2. Ed Fontana 3. Paul Wojcik 4. Steve Trimboli 5. Matt Wahl
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR