At the races: July 6

Hi all, and welcome to another edition of “AT THE RACES” !

It was a steamy night in Riverhead for the Miller Lite Night – 50 Lap Cromarty Cup Modified Challenge, as well as the after-show fireworks display. So let’s start things off with a bang, here we go:

First Race, 20-lap, 15-car Blunderbust Race. The race started slow with the field jockeying for position. By lap 7, there would be a few spinouts, car #7, driven by “Turbo” Tom Sullivan spins out in the stretch between turns 4 & 1, then a few seconds later, car #77, driven by Tim Mulqueen, spins into the wall, sending sparks and flattening his rear tire in the process. Finally, car # 69x, driven by Paul Parisi, spins out in turn 4. When all is said and done, the race resumes with car #61, driven by Justin Wahl in the lead. There are a few more scrums in lap 10 and lap 11. The race gets tight with Wahl leading, and Jack Handley Jr., in car #49 a close second, and Tommy “Wild Child” Walkowiak, in car #00 third. By the throw of the checkers, Jack Handley Jr., in car #49, would grab the victory. He started 12th, and finished 1st. Good job, Jack!

Second Race, 20-lap, 27-car Legends Race. Johnnie Gloor IV, in the #1 car, started on the pole, with Justin Strumpf, in the #15 car, and Anthony Marsh, in the #11 car keeping Gloor IV on his toes the entire race. There was a minor fender bender in lap 16, between cars # 53, 11, and 46 sent parts flying all over the track. But in the end, Johnnie Gloor IV, in car #1, would grab the checkered square for the victory. Nice race John.

Third Race, 11-car, 15-lap, Figure Eight Race. In a usually exciting race, one would expect many close calls, and some really cool accidents. But not today, as John Vullo, in car #66, would vault out into the lead ahead of Scott Pedersen, in car #34, as well as repeated tries by Roger Maynor, in the #28 car to take the lead, stand true and hold on for his second win in a row at Riverhead. Congrats John!

Fourth Race, 9-car, 20-lap Chargers Race. The race started smooth, with John Baker, in the #07 car on the pole. he maintains a solid lead going into lap 13, when Baker hits the wall in turn one, blows a tire, which causes Chris Turbush, in car #81 & Chad Churilla, in car #20 to get tangled avoiding Baker car and shower of sparks. After the caution is lifted, Chris Turbush , in car #81, would grab the lead and hold on for his 35th career victory, and the 2nd win of 2013 at Riverhead. Nice job, Chris!

Fifth Race, 18-car, 50-lap Cromarty Cup Modified Race. With some good numbers in the time trials, we would see Timmy Solomito, in car #15, on the pole, with David Royes, in car #26 second. At the throw of the green, Timmy Solomito would grab the lead, with Howie Brode, in car #96 a close second. This would be the setting until lap 13, when a caution slowed the field, and at the restart, Brode would see an opening, and vault out into the lead, with Ryan Preece, in car #20 a close second. By lap 25, the scenario would once again change, as Preece would grab first, Tim Solomito would snuggle into second, and Brode would go to third. From this point on, slick driving by Ryan Preece would help him maintain the lead all the way to the end, as he would grab the checkers as well as the Cromarty Cup. This kid has been a winning fool lately, so keep an eye on him, he will go places in the race world. Fantastic job, Ryan!

Sixth Race, 4-cylinder Enduro Demolition Derby. I was unable to get the winner at the time of print, my apologies to the Demo drivers and Demo fans.

Well, race fans, it was another grand night of racing, as well as a spectacular fireworks display from the folks at Bay Fireworks. Thanks to the great people at Miller Lite for the brew, and to Barbara & Jim Cromarty for the Cromarty Cup presentation. Thanks to Miss Polish Town queen & the Long Island Bluebirds band for a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled banner. I’m gonna go rinse the race dirt off, grab a Miller Lite, and hunker down with a good cigar. Great job by the Track Services crew, Brigandi Brothers towing, Dan from Saw Grass Productions, Mike the photographer. Well Motorheads, till next time, be safe, stay cool, and I will see you…

“AT THE RACES”

George

RiverheadLOCAL photos by George Faella
Click thumbnails to enlarge images
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