A unique look back at the 2011 Racing Season on Long Island by Finnegan McGhee.  We thank Fin for this wonderful contribution, and encourage all of you to give it a go if you'd like. If we like it, we'll publish it here.

Looking back on another action packed racing season at Riverhead Raceway, one can only wonder what a truly special place the track know as the 'quarter mile bull ring’ has become.  This season would be driven with the rise of the young guns ready to make their mark on one of NASCARS oldest tracks, to a veteran battle tested group of old school racers who are not ready to hang up their helmets just yet.  So take another tug down on your racing straps and let’s take a look back at a season to remember.

The season started on another chilly spring night with all 7 division firing up their motors to break-in the 62^nd season of racing.  But something new, as you entered this season; the old lady had a fresh coat of paint and many other little fixer ups to spruce up the track.  New race track Facilities Manager John Ellwood and staff got the place in terrific shape to get the early excitement going.  Week one would see the young versus old battle and two of 2010's biggest rivals, veteran Chris Young, and young lion Timmy Solomito, put on a great show of racing and sportsmanship with “The Natural” Solomito racing to the stripe first.  By week two, Tommy Walkowiak and Chris McGuire, both veterans in their respective racing classes, would double their Pleasure with back to back wins. And in what would become a magical season for youngster Chris Young, the son of opening night runner-up in the Modifieds, would grab his first career win in the Legends racing division. The junior wheelman would go on to a very special season, as he would win 5 races in total and the 2011 Legends Championship. Continuing the early season surge by the youthful drivers, Justin Bonsignore and Timmy Solomito would duel for the checkered flag in the 100 lap Hall of Fame feature, with Solomito once again coming out on top. Unfortunately for "The Natural", a wrist injury would derail what was starting out to be a tremendous season for him. Bonsignore would go on to another win, and also capture the bigger prize, the 2011 Modified Championship, his first Riverhead Championship.

It was great to see veteran Wayne Andersen return to victory lane early in the season after a medical scare in 2010.  He was closely followed to victory lane a short time later by past five time track champion Don Howe who had been ‘retired’ for 15 years.

The season also sparked the return of some terrific car counts to the Late Model division.  And with this came some great racing.  Early on, Chris LaSpisa would drive his Late Model to an emotional victory as he dedicated the win to the late wife of racing teammate Kenny Alfano, who’s wife Julie passed away earlier in the year.  The championship battle for the Late Models would be an epic one as four drivers would have a chance at glory on the final racing night of the season.  In the end Mike Bologna would best Scott Kulesa, Jarrod Hayes and Peter ‘Buzzy’ Eriksen, with all four finishing only 6 points apart and Bologna and Kulesa tied in points, with Bologna winning the championship with his 2 wins compared to none for Kulesa.

Tommy ‘Wild Child’ Walkowiak and Chris ‘The Cranberry Kid’ Turbush would continue to show the young pups why they are multi-time champions.  Both Walkowiak and Turbush would power their way to five wins each, and earn the end of season championship hardware.  Walkowiak’s championship victory would be easier to achieve as early season rivals Tom Pickerel and Scott Maliszewski would both suffer mechanical and racing issues and young ‘veteran’ Rob Bader would also fall off.  Turbush on the other hand had to rely on all his experience and talent to hold off good friend and racing rival Chris McGuire in what became a last night to remember.  The two put on a battle at the quarter mile bull ring that became heart break for McGuire, and a championship for Turbush.

The figure eight championship would also be settled on the final night with Arne Pedersen, who lost the championship on the last night of 2010, driving to a very popular win.  Roger Maynor, the grizzled figure eight veteran with over 100 career feature wins, would give Pedersen all he could handle, but would have to settle for a second place finish in the standings, just a mere 4 points behind Pedersen.

The 2011 Super Pro Truck champion, in what was yet another last night battle, was ‘Dangerous’ Dave Koenig, who beat out Frank Dumicich Jr.  by the slightest of margins, just 2 points.  The two put on a race and show of sportsmanship that showed what great racing is all about.

Some memorable wins from 2011, well where do we begin?  So many and some real heart warming ones as well.  The ‘Pistol’, Paul Parisi's win on 7/2/11 felt like Christmas in July.  Parisi lost his wife Traci  earlier in the year and re-decorated his race car in her favorite holiday, Christmas.  Not a dry eye in the house as family, friends and fellow drivers watched as ‘The Pistol’ parked his race car in victory lane.  How about young driver Jack Handley Jr. driving his Blunderbust car to a victory, the first ever for the 15 year old hot shoe.  On the same night, Erin Dumicich with the very popular victory in the Super Pro Truck division, the first at Riverhead for a female driver since 1998.  Ronnie Silk would duel fellow Whelan Modified Tour driver Todd Szegedy and win the 77 Lap Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek Memorial race.  Also in the modifieds, how about Tommy Rogers Jr. winning on 3 tires, yes that was 3 tires, as one tire was going flat and coming off the rim!  Bonsignore would win the biggest race of the season and of his life when he beat the field to the checker in the 200 Lap Lighthouse Mission Whelan Modified Tour race.  Once again Jim Schaefer, also know as the Long Island Mod Maniac, would make this winning purse and the 77 Lap memorial race much sweeter, as his fund raising made both winning checks much more valuable.  2010 Super Pro Truck Champion Roger Turbush, battling electrical demons all season, would finally get it all figured out and then be able to visit victory lane another 3 times before the season is up.  Tom Ferrara would notch 3 victories in the Figure Eight division and Jarrod Hayes would win 3 Late Model feature events, including the last two of the season putting the division on notice for 2012.  1999 Charger Champion Ray Minieri would return to Riverhead and post two victories in the Charger division.  Rob Bader Jr. would set a new track record in time trials on the last night of the Blunderbust racing season.    The ‘father’ of the Late Model division, Roger Oxee, with career win number 60.  Shawn Solomito of the famed Solomito racing family was able to notch his first Riverhead Raceway Modified win.  Eddie Brunnhoelz achieved his first victory to end a three year dry spell at Riverhead.  Great to see the McElearney name back in victory lane as Brian McElearney won his first Super Pro Truck main event.  Brian is the son of 45 time feature event winner Paul McElearney.

There was also some impressive showings but some other drivers.  John Beatty Jr. notching a win and finishing 3^rd in the modified point standings, along with a fine showing from rookie modified driver Jason Agugliaro.  A experienced driver to many different divisions, but a rookie in the Late Model division, Rob ‘The Racer’ McCormick drove some very good races and showed he has what it takes to be considered a front running driver.  Charging his way up the Charger division, CJ Lehman drove some wild races, finished 5^th in the point standings and grabbed a victory.  I am sure he is raring to go for the 2012 season.  In what is becoming one of the toughest divisions to even make a feature event, Justin Strumpf and Kevin Nowak gave Legends champ Young all he could handle this year.  The Legend racing division has grown, and with car counts expanding quicker than the national debt, we are going to see some tremendously exciting racing in the coming seasons.

The Riverhead Raceway Enduro racing would be limited in 2011 due to a lighter schedule, but this did not stop it from some exciting racing.  The champions in each division were: Grand Enduro-  Dave Antos, 4/6 cylinder trucks – Robin Vollmoeller, 8 cylinder- Dominic Ranieri, 6 cylinder- Gene Burbol, and 4 cylinder- Dennis Nelson.  The demolition deby champion was James Kilkenny.  The 2011 season also marked the return to drag racing on Long Island, as Riverhead Raceway hosted the 100 Ft. Hole Shot Drag competition.  Many unique and very cool and powerful drag racing cars showed up and put on a very nice show.

Yes, 2011 was a wild ride around the quarter mile bull ring known as Riverhead Raceway.  Many young drivers established themselves as true champions and perhaps future champions.  But as 2012 approaches right around the corner, the veteran battle tested group of racers that have been pounding the pavement at Riverhead will be there to let the youngsters know that these old dogs still have a few tricks of their own.