Chris McGuire Declared Winner Of Time Limit In Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified Feature Saturday
RIVERHEAD, NY — For the NASCAR Modifieds of Riverhead Raceway it was indeed a “Murphy’s Law” night on Saturday at the 63-year old quarter mile oval and when the dust settled Chris McGuire of Shirley in just his 4th start in the class was declared the winner in a time limit affair. The scheduled 35-lapper actually went just 15-laps which took well over an hour to run forcing NASCAR Officials to declare the race with McGuire out front when they did.
Right from the start of the race things went south as Jerry Solomito Jr. jumped to the early lead but after just leading a lap he spun off turn four after contact drawing a yellow flag with Solomito going to the rear of the field. Don Howe jumped out front on the restart with Timmy Solomito in tow but they would get together on lap 2 and tangle in turn four forcing the second caution in two laps. The third attempt at getting the race underway found rookie driver Chris McGuire bolting out front with John Beatty Jr. and Shawn Solomito in tow. As hard as the top three tried to get a good flow to the race numerous spins and one hard crash by Amber Fortin in turn three would continue to slow the race with double file restarts scrapped on lap 7.
As the cars circulated the track during a 15th lap yellow flag the field was reset and when in order starter Mike Boken waved the checker flag much to the delight of race leader and former Charger standout Chris McGuire in the Ken Massa owned M3 Technologies Chevy. After exiting his car Chris admitted, “hey I wanted to win in a 35-lap race, but I’ll take this for sure”. During the off-season McGuire was tabbed by 2011 championship car owner Ken Massa to drive his Riverhead entry while he and his NASCAR Modified Tour driver Justin Bonsignore chase that title. McGuire, realizing this was the opportunity of a racing lifetime, jumped at the offer, “we got off to a rocky start and I was about ready to give Ken the car back but my crew kept digging and we’re getting there.”
John Beatty Jr. of Franklin Square was runner-up in the North Shore Recycling Chevy and before the race was called due to time, was working on McGuire for the race lead, Shawn Solomito of Islip was third in his American Tent Chevy. Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue and Jason Agugliaro of Islip completed the top five.
Mike Bologna of Melville scored his second win in three races for the Late Models as he was the overall winner in the Twin 15’s for the class. Scott Kulesa set fast time in the pre-race qualifying with a lap of 12.600 earning the Brigandi Brothers Automotive fast time award. Kulesa pulled the #1 to have the field start straight up rather than redraw and he quickly put his Eastport Feeds entry out front with Kevin Metzger in pursuit. At the end of the first segment Kulesa was the leader with Metzger still second but as segment two began things changed in a hurry. With the green flag waving Kevin Metzger gained a good run to take the lead over Kulesa. Not long thereafter Mike Bologna came calling as he’d moved by Metzger for the lead as Kevin, along with early leader Kulesa had their night go sour in the second segment. Peter “Buzzy” Eriksen moved to second and kept pace with the race leader but in the end there was no stopping the defending champion. At the conclusion it was the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Chevy of Mike Bologna notching his 9th career win while “Buzzy” Eriksen of Baldwin was runner-up in the Harley Davidson of Nassau County Chevy. Third went to Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters in his sponsor wanted Dodge.
The 20-lap Charger main event also provided some fireworks and in the end it was CJ Lehmann of Shirley claiming his second consecutive win of 2012. Lehmann broke out front early with Chris Turbush applying the pressure with Chris moving out front on lap 3. Just two laps later Jeremy McDermott entered the frey as he worked his way by Lehmann for second and quickly pulled alongside Turbush and a heated fight for the lead ensued. The 7th lap saw Turbush and McDermott get together for the lead with Jeremy saving his car which was pointed right for the wall under the starters stand. However just a few moments later McDermott couldn’t save his car after contact from Ray Minieri who moved to second on lap 8 by the spinning McDermott. The complexion of the race would change on lap 12 when the yellow flag waved for a minor incident, at which time NASCAR Officials penalized both Turbush and Minieri who were running one-two for rough riding McDermott at separate times. That moved third place CJ Lehmann back into the race lead and the driver of the Your Floor Store Chevy collected his second win of 2012, assuming the point lead in the process. Chris Turbush of Riverhead made a spirited charge late in the race to claim runner-up money in the A&M Electric Chevy. Chris was closing in on Lehmann when the checkers flew. Brian Doyle of Ronkonkoma was third in the Leading Edge Fabricating Chevy.
Hoping to shake a run of bad racing luck that dates back to halfway through the 2011 season, Roger Turbush of Riverhead won the 20-lap Super Pro Truck feature, his 11th career triumph. After a quick battle with pole sitter Erin Dumicich for the race lead Roger took sole possession of the race lead on lap 2 working his Allied Air Conditioning Chevy, using the outside lane to do so. Once out front Turbush was then able to gain a comfortable enough lead over Dumicich to perhaps breath easier but given the recent run of luck nobody would blame Roger if he started hearing noises in his truck. Over the remainder of the race Roger Turbush stayed out front to score the win and hopefully turn his fortunes around. Erin Dumicich of E. Quogue was runner-up in the Sea Level Construction Dodge, while her father Frank Dumicich Sr. of E. Quogue crossed the line third in the Whitney’s Deli Ford.
Kyle Soper of Manorville scored his first career win in a thrilling 20-lap Legend Race car main event that featured numerous lead changes all race long as well as a fevered fight to the finish. In the first ever time trial qualifying for the class Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead set fast time and a track record in the process with a lap of 13.879 earning the Brigandi Brothers Automotive fast time award. In the draw to determine a straight-up or redraw Kyle drew straight-up for the pole. At the throw of the green Ellwood quickly moved out front with Vinny Delaney tucking into second and applying the heat to the leader. Delaney moved by for the lead on lap 5 with Ellwood dropping to second over the next 9 laps before he retook the top spot from Delaney on lap 14. Joining the race for the lead as well were Kyle Soper, Tom Sherman and Chris Young. The final five laps of this race featured numerous position changes among the top five including Kyle Soper getting by Ellwood for second on lap 17. Soper wasn’t done there as just after the completion of lap 18 he worked his way under Delaney to take the lead. As the white flag waved on lap 19 Ellwood re-passed Delaney for second and tried to make a last ditch run for the race win however Kyle Soper would race to the popular win in his Atlantic Chevrolet-Cadillac racer. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead was second in the Riverhead Building Supply machine, while Vinny Delaney of Holtsville completed the top three in his sponsor wanted mount.
In the season’s first Demolition Derby, tested tough veteran Rich Fowler of Wantagh took the win in a 4-Cylinder Demolition Derby. In the end it came down to Fowler, Jason Savoy and Matt Mulqueen slugging it out for the win. Mulqueen was the first to drop out of the three leaving Fowler and Savoy to have at it with Fowler taking the win in his Timmy’s Towing machine. Jason Savoy of Lake Panamoka was Judge’s Choice in his Albin Avenue Auto Salvage entry despite being hit in the driver’s door early in the contest, the offender was black flagged from the event. Matt Mulqueen of Levittown was voted Fan’s Choice.
NASCAR Modifieds 35-laps (time limit lap 15): 1. Chris McGuire 2. John Beatty Jr. 3. Shawn Solomito 4. Tom Rogers Jr. 5. Jason Agugliaro 6. John Fortin Sr. 7. Howie Brode 8. Ryan Preece 9. Brad Van Houten 10. Dave Brigati 11. Glenn Logan 12. Ken Darch 13. Don Howe 14. Vinny Biondolillo 15. Jerry Solomito Jr. 16. Al Ermmarino 17. John Fortin Jr. 18. Ted Christopher 19. Dave Sapienza 20. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 21. Frank Saladino 22. Amber Fortin 23. Kevin Orlando 24. Timmy Solomito 25. Marisa Niederauer
Late Models Twin 15-laps: 1. Mike Bologna 2. Peter Eriksen 3. Shawn Patrick 4. Chris LaSpisa 5. Roger Oxee 6. Ken Alfano 7. Dennis Krupski 8. Kevin Metzger 9. Scott Kulesa 10. Arne Pedersen
Chargers 20-laps: 1. CJ Lehmann 2. Chris Turbush 3. Brian Doyle 4. John Baker 5. Jeremy McDermott 6. Ray Minieri 7. Derek Stachecki 8. Cory Midgett 9. Jayson White 10. Eric Zeh
Super Pro Trucks 20-laps: 1. Roger Turbush 2. Erin Dumicich 3. Frank Dumicich Sr. 4. Frank Dumicich Jr. 5. Chris Turbush 6. Keith Rotzi 7. Mike Albasini 8. Peter Rotzi 9. Anthony Vecchio 10. John Denniston 11. Lou Maestri
Legend Race Cars 20-laps: 1. Kyle Soper 2. Kyle Ellwood 3. Vinny Delaney 4. Tom Sherman 5. Chris Young 6. Brendon Bock 7. George Baker Jr. 8. Richie Davidowitz 9. Dylan Slepian 10. Chris Rogers 11. Kevin Nowak 12. Bryan Kelly 13. Jeffrey Goodale 14. Shawn Wanat 15. Mike Smith 16. Jim Byrne 17. Christian Conklin 18. Jim Pape Jr. 19. Silas Hiscock 20. Joe Scibelli 21. Fred Card 22. Cody Triola 23. Greg Harris 24. Jim Sylvester 25. Jay Sendlewski 26. Anthony Marsh 27. Bill Hiscock
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR