At the Races: June 30, 2012

Hi Race Fans and welcome to another edition of……AT THE RACES

This evening it was Cody’s BBQ & Grill Night at Riverhead Raceway. It was a warm and humid evening, but the weather wasn’t the only thing that proved to be hot.

The first race, a 20-truck, 11-lap Super Pro Truck Main Event proved to be as hot as the BBQ in Cody’s. It was a non-stop race from the start with Peter Rotzi in the #3 truck leading the way for the first two laps until Lou Maestri slipped under Peter and took the lead for good. He lead the way while Mike Albasini in the #66 truck and Chris Turbush in the #81 truck fought for second and third place. In the end, Lou Maestri in the #68 Star Collision Repair Center Truck would walk away with his 23rd career win, second this season, and become the all time leading winner in Super Pro Trucks.

Second race: 10-car, 20-lap Charger event. In another flag-to-flag race, “Radiant” Ray Minieri in the #43 car took the lead while Eric Zeh in the #34 car stuck to Ray like white on rice. Eric did all he could throughout the race to catch Ray, including an exciting all-out push, in the stretch, to try and edge out Minieri. His attempt was fruitless as the “Radiant” one held on in the Sunrise Chiropractic & Wellness Center Dodge to garner his 15th career victory, tying him for 6th on the all-time win list.

Third race: 11-car, 15 lap Figure Eight event would prove to be the most exciting race of the evening. As fast as you could say Jackie Robinson, the light was green, and Arne Pedersen in the #34 car and Tom Ferrara in the #14 car bolted to the front of the pack. The pace slowed only for a short time, when Ken Hyde Jr. in the #58 car and Rick Swanson in the #19 car made contact and caused a double-file restart. Once the green shined bright, Arne Pedersen threw caution to the wind, and raced like a man on a mission. He timed his passes through the “X” with the precision of a surgeon. He narrowly missed car #28, driven by Roger Maynor, who himself was trying to recover from a spinout. At this point the crowd was on its feet, cheering every turn, and gasping every pass through the “X”. In the end, Arne Pedersen, in the BNR Home Improvement Dodge would claim the checkered square. This was one heck of a race!! My hat’s off to these gentleman.

The fourth race: a 20-car, 35-lap NASCAR Modified race that would see more changes in positions than a yoga class. Ken Heagy in the #18 car and Tom Rogers Jr. in the #0 car were side by side for the first lap before Rogers took the lead a lap later. After a third lap restart, Rogers found Tim Solomito in the #99 car on his bumper like a tick on a deer, with Ted Christopher in the #15 car passing Heagy for third place. Another restart in the 10th lap gave Christopher the second spot, behind Rogers, and a glimmer of hope for first. Rogers fought off Christopher’s attempts to gain the lead until a lap 29 caution, changed the strategies of all involved in this drama. It turned this race into a six-lap run for the roses, as Christopher would nudge Rogers in every turn, trying to slide under, and go for the lead. But Rogers said “no mas” and took the Relay Communications Chevy past the checkered square and into victory lane. This was Tom Rogers Jr. 17th career victory, second in a row, and third this season. It moved him into third place overall in the standings.

The fifth race, a 50-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro race, was dominated by Anthony Pizzo, in his United Exhaust Shop Caprice. He lapped all but the second- and third-place cars for his victory.

The final feature, a four-bus, School Bus Demolition Derby, had the crowds of parents and children alike yelling and screaming. It was a real barnburner, as these four buses literally destroyed each other as the feature progressed. Entire bus bodies were shifted off the steel frames, one bus was dragging its batteries before they shorted out and ended the race for the driver. It was a sweet aroma of anti-freeze and oil that permeated the air, as well as shards of glass, tail lights, seats, bumpers that littered the track. In the end, Kevin Rommeney outlasted Chris Van Cott with one final hit that would render Van Cotts bus useless. The victory for Rommeney was his first. In an interesting note, Mr. Rommeney drives a bus for the NYC Transit Authority through Brooklyn as his day job. If I were you, I’d have the token ready before getting on that bus.

Well folks, that wraps up another evening of thrills, spills, and chills on the race track. Hello to all the great people who make these Saturday evenings possible. Thanks to Barbara & Jim Cromarty for a great venue. Hi Wendy at the VIP gate, and the great bunch of NASCAR officials who keep the races in order. I’m gonna pick the rubber from my head, wash off the anti-freeze, fill up the tank, and see you guys next time…….

AT THE RACES !!

Be Well Motorheads,
George

RiverheadLOCAL photos by George Faella.
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