At the races: June 16, 2012

Hello, everyone and welcome to another edition of “At the Races”…

It was a clear, cool Saturday afternoon, and Riverhead Raceway Owners Jim & Barbara Cromarty were going to donate 100 trees to the Town of Riverhead in the NASCAR Clean Air Tree Planting Program. Also on hand was Town of Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter to accept the generous donation. But first, lets get to the races……

First race was a 23-car, 20-lap Blunderbust event. Scott Malizewski in the #22 car started in the second position and quickly jumped out to first ahead of a hard charging “Racing’ Ray Shannon in the #64 car, and “Krazy” Ed Mistretta in the #27 car both fighting for second and third position.It had only one caution, and in the end, Scott Malizewski would gain his 16th career victory.

Second race, a 27-car, 20-lap Legends event, Riverhead HS Junior Kyle Elwood, in the #71X car, shows why it pays to be in school. He set a qualifying record for his two laps + drew the pole position = Victory? Elwood would lead the entire race with a few nibbles from Vinny Delaney in the #17 car, and Chris Young in the #49 car. Young would have problems all night as he spun out a few times, and never regaining his place in the pack. In the end, Elwood would “put the V in Victory and take the checkered in a convincing win in the Riverhead Building Supply car.

Third race, an 11-car, 30-lap Chargers race, would be a wild one. From the start, “Radient” Ray Minieri in the #43 car would take the lead, with Eric Zeh in the #17 car nipping at his heels. Zeh would make his pass on Minieri in lap 15 to take the lead. With that, Jeremy McDermott in the #5 car would go for second place. A accident in lap 18 Brian Brown in the #32 car hit the wall, he would be done for the night. After the restart, Chris Turbush in the #81 car spins out and stalls in turns 1&2, lap 21, making matters worse Cory Osland in the #14 car would crash into Turbush. Put the fork in both of them, they were done. In lap 24, McDermott would pass under Zeh for the lead, and never look back, getting his 4th career win.

Fourth race, a 9-car, 15-lap Figure-Eight event. Just when you thought you had figured out the traffic circle in town, the figure eight race will have you second guessing yourself. The race started with Roger Maynor in the #28 car and Arne Pedersen in the #34 car would go neck and neck until about lap 7 when Tim Mulqueen in the #77 car spun out, causing Pedersen to shoot to the pits, but he never returned. That let points leader Mike Mujsce in the #13 car to slip into second, he still was not able to catch Maynor, who posted his 105th victory in the Barrasso & Sons Mason Supplies Ford, and 1st of the season.

Fifth race, a 21-car, 35-lap NASCAR Modified race would prove to raise the hair on the dog. John Fortin in the #48 car, and Ted Christopher in the #15 car would give quite the show on driving skills as the race progressed. Christopher would be all over Fortin like white on rice. Fortin would lead the entire race, with Christopher applying his bump and go on almost every lap. In the wings, we had several cautions in lap 24 and 31 which would cause a few single file restarts, but in the end, Fortin, a 3 time NASCAR Modified champion, would claim the checkers, driving the SGS Stone Works Chevy.

After the race, Fortin was greeted by Jim & Barbara Cromarty, as well as an excited Town Supervisor, Sean Walter. Walter exclaimed ” this track has a long history in the Town of Riverhead, with many more years of entertainment like tonight to give.” A smiling Jim & Barbara Cromarty heartily agreed.

Fifth race, an 8 Cylinder Demolition Derby, the winner would who outlasted them all, and didn’t cry uncle…. Brian Fassen.

Well Guys & Girls, it was a grand night, my feet are sore, I have to get home to water the shrubs, but first a big hello to Wendy, the gracious woman who cheerfully greets us at the VIP window every Race day, thank you. To all the track guys, as always a great job, my other photographer pals, use your new camera’s, and of course Riverheadlocal.com always number one in my book, and I think the Town of Riverhead agrees. Well gang, gonna lube the joints, tighten down the pistons, and get ready for next time, when I’ll see you ……. AT THE RACES

Be Well,
George

RiverheadLOCAL photos by George Faella.
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