Let’s start off with some good news, for a change. I spoke to Mike Cappiello’s wife Pat before the races last night. Mike has had 2 surgeries, one to repair the broken bone in his leg, and the other for muscle repair and a skin graft. By a great stroke of luck, he is NOT in a cast. He’s in a bit of pain, tolerable, and feeling a bit fatigued, but is otherwise recuperating nicely, and he expects to be released from the hospital this week and start a physical rehabilitation program. The possibility of him being at the track next week is good. Many people signing in last night were given the chance to sign a huge ‘Get Well’ card for him. All that’s needed now is for him to get the proper rest to recover, so if you feel the need to visit or call, keep it brief; please keep in mind that his getting rest is the most important part of him getting well.

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This week's LaFilms Video, featuring exciting SPT finish, and why the Legends just never got started.  Link to video of SPT finish & Legends plus,  Chargers , featuring Daryn Miller's First Win! Click on either link to view these videos, and keep in mind, Steve LaFountaine contributes these clips from videos he makes for specific drivers. We want to thank Steve once again for sending them along for our use here.

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     Now for the racing. The Freshman Legends feature was run prior to opening ceremonies, with the 10 lap affair being won by Justin Strumpf, with Kyle Soper finishing 2nd, and Kyle Ellwood in 3rd, just outside of the qualifying top two. After that, the National Anthem followed with the pace car parade, and some very moving words about the true meaning of Memorial Day read by Bob Finan. Remember, everyone, it’s about who gave up all or part of their lives for your freedoms, not barbecues, beaches and shopping. Don’t forget to “Thank a Vet” if you know one.

     The first feature of the night showcased the Super Pro Trucks, led to the green by Kevin Scharfenburg and Anthony Vecchio. With the drop of the green, Scharfenburg nosed out to the front, taking the lead, while Erin Dumicich challenged Vecchio for 2nd, taking the spot on the next lap, with Mike Albasini moving into 3rd. Scharfenburg by then had a 3 truck length lead over E. Dumicich, while Albasini and Chris Turbush ran bumper to bumper behind her. On lap 3, yellow flew for Kathleen Hallock’s spin in turn 3. With the green out again, Scharfenburg and E. Dumicich battled for the lead, with Scharfenburg winning out a lap later, as Albasini also got by just as Shaun Gouldsbury spun in turn 2 after contact with Roger Turbush, with the yellow coming out once more as Gouldsbury was unable to refire. When the green flew again, Albasini got out in front of Scharfenburg to take the lead, as C. Turbush got along side to battle him for 2nd, while Roger Turbush and E. Dumicich followed in 4th and 5th. Scharfenburg managed to fend off C. Turbush to hold 2nd spot for a lap, but C. Turbush got under and passed him to take 2nd, leaving Scharfenburg to contend for 3rd with R. Turbush. Up front, Albasini was stretching out his lead to about 3 truck lengths over C. Turbush, as R. Turbush took over 3rd, with Scharfenburg fading back as Frank Dumicich, Jr. took 4th by lap 10. On lap 11, yellow flew once more for Hallock as she spun once again in turn 4, closing up the field for a side by side restart.

    When the green came out again on lap 11, Albasini and C. Turbush battled for the lead, with Albasini holding him off as F. Dumicich, Jr. and R. Turbush followed closely, with Dave Koenig trailing them in 5th spot. A collision between Keith Rotzi, Frank Scimeca, Jr. and Matt Odwazny failed to slow the race as all 3 quickly recovered before a yellow was necessary. Koenig had now moved to 4th spot, but an apparent broken or missing hold pin had allowed the right side of his hood to bend upwards, eventually breaking a lap later, and causing a debris caution on lap 16 to remove the pieces from turn 1. With the green out once more, Albasini took off, as the Turbush brothers battled for 2nd, with Roger taking 2nd as they completed another lap, with F. Dumicich Jr. and Shaun Gouldsbury running side by side for 5th spot. A lap later, R. Turbush got under Albasini, as they ran side by side as they took the white flag, stayed that way through turns 1 & 2 and down the backstretch, with R. Turbush edging ahead as exited turn 4, with Roger Turbush taking the win, Mike Albasini settling for 2nd, Chris Turbush 3rd, Dave Koenig 4th, and Shaun Gouldsbury nipping Frank Dumicich, Jr. at the line for 5th. Dumicich showed his displeasure in turn 1 by dumping Gouldsbury after they crossed the line, with Gouldsbury spinning into the turn 1 wall. 

     The legends 20 lap feature was up next, with Wild Bill Hiscock on the pole, and Silas Hiscock, Sr. on the outside. After 4 attempts to start that were marred by spins, crashes (2) and a debris caution, the 5th attempt was successful as Wild Bill Hiscock took the lead, with Chris Rogers moving quickly into 2nd spot, dropping Silas Hiscock, Sr. to 3rd, as Jason Sendlewski and Anthony Cacioppo got together in the back stretch, but were able to continue with no yellow as Wild Bill Hiscock built a 5 car length lead over C. Rogers, while Silas Hiscock, Sr. held 3rd, Tony Naglieri ran 4th, while Kevin Nowak and Timmy Solomito battled side by side for 5th spot, but another debris caution brought the field to a halt on lap 2 once more. On the next restart, Wild Bill Hiscock held the lead, as C. Rogers, Silas Hiscock, Sr., Naglieri and Solomito followed, but yellow flew again as Bryan Johnson hit the turn 1 wall after contact with another car, and the yellow was out again. With green out once more, there was no change in the running order, but a battle for 5th was building once more as Nowak challenged Solomito for the spot, but Solomito not only held on, but managed to get by Naglieri to takeover 4th spot, but on lap 4, Jeffrey Goodale spun in turn 2, and was unable to restart, bringing out the final caution of the race as track officials decided the time limit had been reached. After taking the time to re-line up the field, a yellow checker finish took place, but Timmy Solomito, who’s raceiver was malfunctioning, took off as the field exited turn 4, thinking it was another restart, and he was almost disqualified for ‘crossing the start/finish line out of order’ until he was able to explain his situation to the officials. So, Wild Bill Hiscock was declared the winner of the time shortened wreck fest, er… race, while Chris Rogers, Silas Hiscock, Sr., Timmy Solomito and Tony Naglieri rounded out the top 5.

 Just my opinion here, but maybe heat race qualifying would put the best of the best out on the track, and help avoid the type of race this turned out to be.

     The next event of the evening was for the Chargers, with Daryn Miller and Jay Henschel on the front row, followed by Tom Anderson and Brian Doyle. At the drop of the green, Miller drove out to the lead, with Henschel tucking in behind to hold 2nd, as Doyle got past Anderson to take 3rd, with Anderson holding 4th until Dan Turbush took that spot on lap 2, with Anderson settling into 5th. Miller continued to hold the lead as Henschel rode near his bumper, as D. Turbush looked outside of Doyle to takeover 3rd, but Doyle held him off as they ran almost side by side for about 4 laps until Doyle pulled ahead of D. Turbush once more, as the top 4 ran in a pack about 4 car lengths ahead of Anderson in 5th.  By lap 9, Miller held about a 2-3 car length lead over Henschel, while Doyle and D. Turbush followed, but Anderson now had his hands full as he battled Jeremy McDermott for 5th, with McDermott winning that battle after about 2 laps, while Miller continued to cruise around ahead of Henschel, with Doyle and D. Turbush following in bumper to bumper formation. Anderson moved up once more to challenge McDermott for 5th, as D. Turbush once more mounted a challenge on Doyle for 3rd, but neither could advance since they were right on Henschel’s rear bumper, and Doyle once again prevailed as Turbush fell back to 4th once again by lap 17. McDermott, meanwhile, had won his battle with Anderson, who was then passed by Chris Turbush and Kevin Orlando, as up front Miller was taking the white flag 4 car lengths in front of Henschel, as Daryn Miller motored on to his first ever feature win after being close so many times in the past. Jay Henschel, Brian Doyle, Dan Turbush and Jeremy McDermott rounded out the top 5. It was nice to see the crowd, aware that Miller is hearing impaired, wave their hats and hands to help Daryn Miller celebrate his first ever victory.

      The Modifieds rolled out next, 20 cars strong for their 35 lap feature, with Ken Darch and Amber Fortin on the front row, with Al Ermmarino and Timmy Solomito behind them. With the drop of the green, Darch and A. Fortin took off side by side into the turns, but exiting turn 2, A. Fortin got his from behind, and spun, collecting Dave Brigati, who’d started 6th, and caution was out before a lap was completed. Now it became a complete restart, with A. Fortin in the back, and Dave Brigati in the pits, done before he got started. With Darch on the pole, and Al Ermmarino on the front row, Darch took off into the lead, but went high out of turn 2,and Solomito moved under him to battle him for the lead, as Ermmarino faded back to 4th, while Eddie Brunnhoelzl III came up into 3rd spot. Solomito took the lead from Darch the next time around, with Brunnhoelzl moving up to 2nd as Darch faded back to 3rd. Suddenly, Darch and Ermmarino came together in turns 1 & 2, as everyone behind them took evasive action, and the caution flag flew once again. On the restart, Solomito had Brunnhoelzl to his outside, and Solomito and Brunnhoelzl ran side by side, nice and clean like they were bolted together. Behind them, Ermmarino was holding up the rest of the field, but John Fortin and Chuck Steuer passed Ermmarino on the outside, with Tom Rogers, Jr. following them through to take 5th spot as Ermmarino dropped back even more, when Bill Park and A. Fortin got together coming into turns 1 & 2, with both hitting the wall, and the caution flew once again. Under this caution, Solomito suddenly pitted, not to return due to power steering issues. 

      When green flew once more, it was Brunnhoelzl and John Fortin, Sr. on the front row, with Brunnhoelzl taking the lead as Fortin, Sr. tucked in behind him, as Roger’s, Jr. nosed ahead of Steuer to take 3rd. Rogers, Jr. then began to size up Fortin, Sr. looking to make the pass for 2nd spot, and he looked outside briefly, but thought better of it and tucked back in behind him. Rogers, Jr. then decided to ride it out a little longer, as the top 5 circled the track in a single file for a few more laps. On lap 15, Roger, Jr. saw the opening to get by Fortin, Sr. underneath, making the pass cleanly and setting his sights on Brunnhoelzl for the lead. But Rogers, Jr. had to catch him first, as Brunnhoelzl was running very fast once again this week, and Rogers, Jr. had his work cut out as the race approached the half way mark. The top 5 runners were pulling away from 6th place, currently held by Mike Andrews, but Andrews was blocked in by the lapped car of Darch, as Darch frustrated every try Andrews used to get by him. That came to a head on lap 18, as Andrews and Darch made contact in turn 3, with Darch going around. Both were black flagged for the incident, and sent to the pits. When the green flew again, Brunnhoelzl and Rogers took off side by side, with Rogers slightly ahead entering turn 1, but Brunnhoelzl took him a little high, breaking their momentum, and Steuer made contact with Rogers, sending him sideways, and the field bunched up and came to a stop as yellow flew once again. 

     On the next attempt at a restart, with everyone in their original restart positions from the last attempt, Rogers jumped out front, as Steuer put a challenge on Brunnhoelzl for 2nd as they ran side by side, with Steuer getting 2nd a lap later. Fortin, Sr. hung on in 4th, while Chris Young and Howie Brode battled for 5th, but Rogers was running away up front, just as he had the week before when he took the lead, stretching it out a little bit more each lap. By lap 25, Rogers was ahead of Steuer by 4 car lengths, who himself had a 2 car length lead over Brunnhoelzl, as Fortin, Sr. and Young followed him, while Jerry Solomito, Jr. was now up to 6th spot. Essentially, the race was finished at that point, as Tom Rogers, Jr. just cruised to his 2nd victory in as many weeks, with Chuck Steuer, Eddie Brunnhoelzl III, John Fortin, Sr. and Chris Young rounding out the top 5. In victory lane, Rogers thanked his crew and sponsors, including brand new sponsor, The Steam Room of Port Jefferson, a seafood restaurant that Tommy said features great food. 

    The last regular division race of the night were the Figure-8s, running the 20 lap, double point Cromarty Cup race, with 12 cars on hand. Mike Mujsce and Kenny Hyde, Jr. led the field to the green, with Mujsce edging out into the lead by the completion of the first lap, as Hyde, Jr., Scott Pedersen and Arne Pedersen followed. Quickly moving up to challenge A. Pedersen for 4th was Roger Maynor, who’d started 6th. Mujsce built an early lead of about 3 car lengths as Hyde, Jr. continued to follow along, with S. Pedersen in 3rd, Maynor now in 4th, and A. Pedersen 5th by lap 3. The top 5 pulled out ahead of the rest of the field by lap 5, with Mujsce still cruising out front by 4-5 car lengths over Hyde, Jr. 2 laps later, Maynor made a move to get by S. Pedersen to takeover 3rd, but S. Pedersen held him off, and on lap 9, with a stalled car in the X, yellow waved for the first time. When the green flew once more, Mujsce took the lead with Hyde, Jr. following, as Maynor and S. Pedersen renewed their battle for 3rd spot, jockeying back and forth until Maynor slipped up into Pedersen, causing him to slow for a moment as Maynor moved into 3rd, and leaving Scott and Arne Pedersen to contend for 4th. But S. Pedersen wasn’t done, charging back after Maynor, and just as he caught him in turn 2 on lap 9, Mujsce spun, along with Maynor, who was trying to avoid him, and yellow was out again. With Nascar officials ruling the both Mujsce and Maynor were the cause for the yellow, both were sent to the rear, putting Hyde, Jr. and S. Pedersen on the front row for the restart, or so it seemed. During the caution, track officials put Hyde, Jr. to the rear for rough riding, moving A. Pedersen up alongside his brother for the restart.

     Out came the green once more, and A. Pedersen pulled immediately out in front of his brother, and Ken Hyde, Sr., and Tom Ferrara followed, while Ralph Tasso ran in 5th.  Arne and Scott pulled away from the rest of the field a bit, as in the back, Maynor and Mujsce were fighting their way back to the front, but the front kept getting further away, as Arne Pedersen was on rails, leaving even his brother Scott to wonder what it would take to catch him. Maynor and Mujsce made progress after battling to get by Johnny Vullo, with Maynor moving up into 5th as the laps wore on, and up front, A. Pedersen almost lost it all in a close call at the X with Will Farrell’s beautiful new car, but it was only a near miss, and Pedersen and Farrell motored on. Meanwhile Tasso had gotten by Hyde, Sr. tot take 3rd, but Armne Pedersen was unbeatable once again as he took down his 2nd win in a row, with Scott Pedersen, Ralph Tasso, Ken Hyde, Sr. and Roger Maynor rounding out the top 5 in a very exciting Figure-8 race.

    Next up was the 5 school bus figure 8 race, which was won by Donny Fox, and the 13 car, 4 cylinder demolition derby, which went to Jason Savoy.

News and Notes: This week’s guest driver in the Wayne Anderson #15 Modified was George Brunnhoelzl III, using the opportunity to re-familiarize himself with the track before running in his regular WMT ride in the tour race scheduled for the end of July….  Next week’s announced driver in Anderson’s car will be 2009 WMT Champion, Donny Lia, as it is an off week for him in the Camping World Truck Series. It will be nice to have Donny back at the track where it all began for him…  It was announced this week that that annual Evans, Jarzombek, Baldwin Memorial race would be moved up a week, from July 17th to July 10, to allow WMT driver’s to be able to enter the race. It was a good decision after the great turnout of WMT drivers entered in the Hall of Fame 100 earlier this month. The original July 17th date conflicted with a regular WMT race at Monadnock Speedway…. Brian Doyle suffered a quick fire under his hood in practice, caused by a loose fuel line, but he and the track crew were able to get it out before it caused enough damage to put Doyle out for the night. He will have to re-wire the car, but it was in okay condition for tonight’s racing…  The carnage in the Legends race will see a lot of teams working to repair body damage in the coming week. Something has to change, or this will be a regular occurrence each week. Many I spoke to in the pits feel heat races would be the best way to qualify the more than 30 Legends who show up each week to support the division…  Look for possible video later this week from LaFilms, as it’s popularity will see a little something different being posted each week. See what you missed if you weren’t there that might be of special interest to you. Steve always sends something good, so check back as the week goes on...  That will do it for this week’s effort. Until next week, be safe, live well, and continue to keep a good thought for the full recovery of Wayne Anderson and Mike Cappiello. We want to see both of them back where they belong soon. WJ

As always, all comments welcome, subject to editing….and the Texas worm is quiet once more, lol!!