At the races: June 2, 2012

The late afternoon sun wasn’t the only thing looking for an opening against the dark clouds this afternoon, as the first race, a 30 lap, 22 car Blunderbust feature proved to be a heck of a race. At the startup the #49 car, driven by Jack Handley Jr., led the field against car #22, followed by cars 19 and 7. It was a heated battle for the lead between cars 49 and 22 all the way to lap 19, when car #77 tried to do the down low on cars #8 and #32, but to no available car, and #77 nudged car #8, causing a spinout, and sending the #79 car into the back of the #8 car.

Bill Wegmann, driving #79 Crackerjack car, went up in smoke and his day was done. The #8 car driven by Jessica Cohan was also done for the day. On the restart for lap 19, Tommy “WILD CHILD” Walkowiak in the #00 car moved into third place. The final 10 laps of this feature were a real barn burner as you had cars #49, #22, #00 all fighting for position, but not until lap 30 would the true winner emerge. Going into turns 3 and 4, cars #49 and #22 got tangled up ,giving an opening for car #00 to scoot past and get the victory. It would be the 51st win in the grand career of Car #00 driven by Tommy “WILD CHILD” Walkowiak.

The second race, a 27-car, 20-lap Legends race, also proved not to be sleep-inducing. It was quiet the first few laps, but by lap 8, a spinout by #96 caused the car to slam into the wall full speed, sending a gasp through the crowd. The force of the collision snapped a front tire right off the car as well as a fender. In the end, George Baker Jr. in the #96 car was okay, leaving his car the only thing shattered. The race continued with cars #49, #53, #2 and #12 as the top four, but it was too soon to cheer when #63 also hit the wall, avoiding the spinout of #53. Car #63 would be done, and the restart would see car #49 in the lead followed by #12. By the 20th lap, in which Chris Young driving the #49 “Ray the Plumber” car would claim victory, a four-car pileup in turn four involving cars #2, #46, #71, #00 closed out the race. This was Chris Young’s third time in victory lane in 2012.

The third race, an 11-Truck, Super Pro Truck race, was incident-free. Truck #88 driven by Roger Turbush led the field from start to finish as his brother Chris, in the #81 truck stayed a close second throughout. It was basically a cut and dry race with a little wild driving at the finish as yours truly came awfully close to seeing the hood of a truck up close and personal as they drove through the infield. In the end, Roger Turbush, in the “Dangerous Dave” racing Chevy truck was victorious, his second in a row.

The fourth race, a 10-car, 25-lap Late Model race, had Roger Oxee in the #39 car out front from the beginning. In lap two, #23, driven by Kevin Metzger, and #7 Chris Laspisa tangled in the back stretch bringing out the yellow caution which caused car #23 to go to the rear of the pack. The race belonged to Oxee as Scott Kulesa gallantly tried to overtake Oxee numerous times. In the end, Roger Oxee in the #39 Southold IGA car would be the victor, his first of the season, and 61st overall.

The fifth race, a 22-car, Twin 30 Lap race, turned out to be a real classic as Shawn Solomito, in the #66 car, and Ted Christopher in the #15 car battled both 30 lap races with numerous restarts, both double and single file. There were accidents in laps 3, 10, 18 and 26, both spinouts and rough riding which caused the #26 to be sent to the rear of the pack in the first thirty lap race. Ted Christopher, one of the most victorious pavement drivers in the Northwest, forced the hand of Shawn Solomito on many of the restarts. But in the end, Shawn Solomito in the American Tent Chevy #66 car would win both 30 lap races. In victory lane, Solomito was choking back tears speaking of Lil Jay and Keri Trinca, speaking of how much they are both missed. This season has been dedicated to the Trinca family on behalf of Solomito.

The sixth and final race, the 4/6 cylinder Enduro race was won by Dennis Nelson in the “Repo Joe” Saturn, his second win in six days.

Well folks, once again a truly exciting evening of racing at Riverhead Raceway! Thanks to Jim & Barbra Cromarty for their great hospitality. A big hello to my fellow photographers on the infield, Brigandi Brothers towing, always an excellent job clearing the accidents, the Track Services guys. And let’s say a prayer for the Trinca family dealing with their loss. God bless America!

I am outta here, gotta up the life insurance, have a third eye put in the side of my head, wash the windows, and put air in the tires. Until next week, I’ll see you…

AT THE RACES

RiverheadLOCAL photos by George Faella.

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