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Riverhead, NY June 11th
By Bob Finan
After going without a win in 2021, Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills quickly found his way back to victory lane at Riverhead Raceway in 2022 when he topped the 50-lap NASCAR Modified feature event Saturday night. The win was the 5th of Dylan’s career. New York Mets pitching star Jacob deGrom took in the action with his family Saturday while he rehabs from injury.
Chris Turbush raced his way from the pole to the early race lead at the drop of the green but there was a hungry Dylan Slepian waiting in the wings. Turbush, a 46-time winner in three other classes at Riverhead held serve until lap 4 when Slepian made a power move to the outside of Chris to take the lead on lap 5. Also in the mix among the top three was Chris Young who like Slepian was seeking to end a winless streak of his own. The race would run caution free until lap 21 when John Baker caught the front stretch wall with the right front with his damaged car coming to a halt in turn one. During the caution flag period a light rain began to fall but the moisture left as quickly as it came and once the track was deemed safe for racing the action resumed.
On the restart Slepian stayed out front with Turbush second and Justin Brown third. Brown would make his move on Turbush with 15-laps to go in the tilt and once the young driver made his way to second Justin started to reel in race leader Slepian. Motivated with the thought of not winning in 2021 Slepian continued to hit his marks with Brown closing in as the laps clicked off. Not even a late race double file restart would keep Slepian from his mission to return to victory lane despite Brown throwing all he could at him in hopes of scoring his first ever NASCAR Modified win.
At the conclusion Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills took home the victory in his Eastport Feeds Chevy. “It’s great to be back here” Dylan proclaimed in the winner’s circle. “After not winning last year it is that much more satisfying, then throw in all the work my owner Rob Pelis and my guys did during the week after the damage from last week, just a testament to who we are as a team”. Pelis and Slepian field a self-built NASCAR Modified machine the built themselves a couple of winters ago.
Justin Brown of Manorville continues to knock on the door of victory with a second place finish in the Motorcycle Mike Attorney At Law Chevy. Earlier in the day Brown took a selfie photo with deGrom in the first and second turn. Chris Young of Calverton crossed the line third in the Sendlewski Architects Chevy with the team cars of Dave Brigati of Calverton and Chris Rogers of Patchogue fourth and fifth.
Jimmy Rennick Jr. of Howard Beach topped the 20-lap Super Pro Trucks feature event for his 6th career win in the class. 2022 Rookie of the Year driver Matt Triola raced out to the early race lead besting all-time leading winner Lou Maestri who started from the pole. Lap 3 found Rennick who started third on the grid slipping by Maestri for second. Over the first 14 laps of the race it was Matt Triola showing the way and as the laps wore down many thought a first career win was in the offering. However, the tested tough veteran Rennick was having none of that as on lap 15 Jimmy made an outside pass on Triola for the lead. Over the final laps Jimmy Rennick kept the Metropolitan Recycling Chevy out front for the popular victory, celebrating with a post-race Cannoli. Like Brown in the Mods, Matt Triola of Bay Shore is close to a career first win but had to be content with second in the Cesspool Pros entry Saturday. Defending champion Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was third in the River Walk Bar & Grill Chevy.
Prior to winning the INEX Legend Race Car portion of the 2021 Islip 300 weekend Cameron Bolin of York, SC never even flew over Riverhead Raceway let alone race it. After Saturday night Bolin might just set up a camper on the property as he is two-for-two after winning the 30-lap feature event Saturday. As a matter of fact, Bolin scored a clean sweep on the evening after setting fast time in qualifying with a lap of 13.398 earning him the pole. When the race started Bolin, steering the Stan & Jen Morabito owned Benimax Trucking Coupe raced right our to the lead with Jason Castaldo filing into second. Castaldo, who won earlier a few weeks back in his M3 Technology machine stayed in Bolin’s tire tracks but never really got close enough to make a serious bid for the win and would come home second at the finish. Former champion and all-time leading winner Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches raced his way to a third place finish in the Hampton Fleet Service mount after starting 5th.
The Street Stocks clicked off a non-stop 20-lap feature event and when it concluded Greg Harris of Riverhead made his return to victory lane for his third career win. Early on Danny Pizzo set the pace over the first five circuits of the race with Harris right on his bumper. As the field raced off the fourth turn to start the 6th circuit, Harris made his move ducking under Pizzo for the race lead, once out front in the SGS Stone Works Chevy Harris would have late race worries when defending champion Dave Antos, who swept the first two SS races of the season raced his way to second. However Harris kept his cool and drove off to the popular win. Antos, of Lindenhurst was second in the JTEC Electric Monte Carlo while Danny Pizzo of Holbrook was third in the Momo’s Sports Bar Chevy.
Mike Mujsce Jr. of Hampton Bays took over the second spot on the all-time win list for the class when he topped their 20-lap feature event for his 7th career win. Mujsce is now just one back of leader Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge on that list with both drivers still active in the class. Mujsce, who won the May Meltdown less than a month ago rebounded from his second race that didn’t go so well by leading all 20-laps of the contest for the win in his Mike’s Auto Service of Quogue racer. Andrew Farnham of Baldwin was second at the line in his sponsor wanted machine while Tony Collinsworth of Calverton was third in the Walls of Fame Cobalt.
Darren Krantz Jr. of Huntington is now two for tow on 2022 as he topped the 15-lap INEX Bandolero Bandits feature in his Raceforkids.com entry. This win was no walk in the park for DJ, who won the night before at the famed Seekonk Speedway. Ben Morabito of Miller Place was all over Krantz during the race, even taking the lead for a spell. However, Krantz roared back to reclaim the lead and eventual win. Morabito was runner-up in the Benimax Trucking racer with Rodeny Dowless Jr. of Dix Hills third in his sponsor wanted car.
The 15-lap INEX Bandolero Outlaw feature was also a barn burner with Chevy Rommeney of Bohemia in his Hollis Court Collision machine taking his second win as many races in 2022. Gavin Romano of Riverhead broke to the early race lead and for the first 14 laps looked as though a first career trip to the winner’s circle was forthcoming. As the race started to wind down Rommeney was all over Romano for the race lead with the two teammates racing nose to tail every step of the way. As the duo came off the fourth turn for the white flag Romano in traffic hesitated just for a second allowing Chevy Rommeney to sneak by for the race win leading just the final lap. Romano in the Mil-Aero Solutions racer was runner-up with Tucker Bock of East Hampton third in the Bock Auto machine.
Returning to his old stomping grounds Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge topped the 40-lap Gut & Go Enduro leading from green to checker in his MSM Motorsports Chevy. Frank Raynor of North Sea was second in the Raynor Landscaping racer while John Palmeri of Lindenhurst placed third in the J&J Towing entry.
In a 12-lap School Bus Figure Eight race second generation racer Timmy Lento of Medford scored his first career win topped an all-star field of bus drivers. Lento took over the lead just prior to halfway and over the final laps had to thwart the effort of the Rommeney brothers, Kevin and Michael before he could lay claim to the winner’s trophy, Kevin Rommeney of East Meadow was second, Michael “Cheesebox” Rommeney of Bohemia third.
NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Dylan Slepian 2. Justin Brown 3. Chris Young 4. Dave Brigati 5. Chris Rogers 6. Michael Rutkoski 7. Eric Zeh 8. Jeffrey Goodale 9. Owen Grennan 10. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 11. Jack Handley Jr. 12. John Beatty Jr. 13. Jason Agugliaro 14. JR Bertuccio 15. Kyle Soper 16. Brian Brown 17. John Baker 18. Chris Turbush 19. Glen Steger 20. Dillon Steuer DNS- Sal Accardi Jr., JB Fortin, Roger Turbush
Super Pro Trucks: 1. Jimmy Rennick Jr. 2. Matt Triola 3. Jack Handley Jr. 4. Lou Maestri 5. Sean Glennon 6. Mark Stewart 7. Frank Dumicich Sr. 8. Joe Cerabino 9. Ethan Brown 10. Rob Corwin 11. Liam Patrick
Legend Race Cars: 1. Cameron Bolin 2. Jason Castaldo 3. Richie Davidowitz 4. Nick Morabito 5. Allan Pedersen 6. Anthony Marsh 7. Eric Hersey 8. Jeff Farruggia 9. Riley O’Keefe 10. Joey Braun 11. Colin Hoeffner 12. Christopher Coleman 13. Chase Van Houten 14. Chris Sinatro 15. Jerry Curran 16. Jake Curran 17. Ryan Lutz 18. Jim Sylvetser 19. Ray Stulz 20. Mike Van Houten Jr. 21. Jayden Glennerster 22. Mike Benton 23. Cody Triola 24. Charlie Hodge 25. Ryan Barberi 26. Kim Daniell
Street Stocks: 1. Greg Harris 2. Dave Antos 3. Danny Pizzo 4. Jay Henschel 5. Brian McCormack 6. Jamie Curtis 7. Carmine Ragusa 8. Gerard Lawrence 9. Kyle Halpin 10. Kyle Curtis 11. Chris Lescenski 12. Rhett Fogg 13. Jarrod Hayes 14. James Dipietro 15. Alyssa Paprocky DQ Dennis Kurras
Mini Stocks: 1. Mike Mujsce Jr. 2. Andrew Farnham 3. Tony Collinsworth 4. CJ Zukowski 5. James O’Connell 6. Joe Cooke Jr. 7. Joe Warren Jr. 8. Paul Wojcik 9. Chris Elixson 10. Jesse St. Clair 11. Scott Phiilips 12. Ed Laspina 13. Nick Squires 14. Justin Squires 15. Ryan Warren
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Darren Krantz Jr 2. Ben Morabito 3. Rodney Dowless 4. Phillip Alaimo 5. Kix Bock 6. Giavanna Agugliaro 7. Reid Halpin 8. Emmett Grattan 9. Nick Hodge 10. Aiden Pelis 11. Jordan Ryan 12. Layla Quilliam
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Chevy Rommeney 2. Gavin Romano 3. Tucker Bock 4. Will Sipala 5. Austin Allen 6. Chris Mancz Jr. 7. Jayden Owen-Bader 8. Julianna Kramer 9. Marissa Stewart
Gut & Go Enduro: 1. Joe Warren Jr. 2. Frank Raynor 3. John Palmeri 4. Frankie Abbatiello 5. Zach Tyler 6. PJ McGay 7. Joe Palmeri Jr. 8. John Silver 9. Pat Collins Jr. 10. Robert Izzo 11. James Grandi 12. Mariah Lawrence 13. Bob Dalke 14. Jeremy Rand 15. Jack Tessa 16. Ronan Levesque 17. Anthony Paretta 18. David Olivari 19. David Duran 20. Robert Lindner 21. Mark Raynor 22. Brian Moore 23. Michael Serpa 24. Nick Rogers 25. Justin Moritz 26. Adam Esposito 27. Will Raynor 28. Bruce Graham 29. Chris Constantine 30. Nick Johnson
School Bus Figure Eight: 1. Timmy Lento 2. Kevin Rommeney 3. Michael Rommeney 4. Paul Fox 5. Dennis Scott 6. Mike Fredrickson 7. Rob Savoy
