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Riverhead, NY June 3rd
By Bob Finan
Photos Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
Second generation driver Chris Young of Calverton snapped a two plus year winless spell Saturday night when he powered his way to victory in the Riverhead Raceway 50-lap NASCAR Modified feature event. It was the third career win for Young who last won on October 31st of 2020.
When the 5-lap tilt got underway high school senior Matt Brode jumped to the early lead with Owen Grennan and Dave Brigati it tow for the first lap, one lap later Grennan and Brigati swapped positions. With the race embarking on a long green flag run, Matt Brode was able to get away from Brigati in second while Chris Young moved by Grennan for third on lap 14. While Brode was clicking off laps up front and hoping for a caution free race, Young was busy reeling in Brigati for second. On lap 35 Young rolling the outside was able to work his way around Brigati for second. Just two laps later the scenario Brode did not want to see unfold did when the caution waved on lap 37 for a rare Dylan Slepian spin. The first attempt at restarting the race after the Slepian spin quickly went south as Chris Turbush pounded the wall in the first turn after contact.
Once the track was clear the double file restart with Brode to the inside and Young to the outside unfolded. Brode held serve for the first lap but on lap 39 Young rolled the top of the track to race his way into the lead. Once back to second Brode had a quick side by side battle with Tom Rogers Jr. for second. That duel ended quickly on lap 41 when Tom Rogers car suddenly dropped fluid in turns three and four with the entire field behind Tom piling in. Luckily all those caught up remained in the race, some after pit stops during an extensive clean up. The final restart of the race would again pit Young and Brode side by side, when the green flag reappeared for the final nine circuits Chris Young was able to remain out front to secure the long awaited return to victory lane.
“Between not winning since 2020, and all that speedy dry I feel like I’ve been to the desert” Young quipped afterwards, “this feels amazing, can’t thank Sendlewski Architects and Bobby Mason of Ace’s Landscaping enough for sticking by me”.
Matt Brode of East Islip was runner-up in the Freightliner of Long Island Chevy while Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills rebounded nicely from his lap 37 spin for third in the Eastport Feeds Chevy. Michael Rutkoski of Mattituck and Jack Handley Jr. of Medford were fourth and fifth.
Defending Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modified champion Owen Grennan of Glen Cove scored his second win of the season when he topped the 40-lap Miller Lite Triple Crown Series opener for the class. Starting from the pole Grennan quickly put his Eastport Feeds Chevy to the race lead with Sean Glennon in tow. Glennon, whose team burned the midnight oil to get damage repaired from a heavy crash a week earlier was all over the race leader as the race hit the halfway mark but a lap 27 caution for a Max Handley spin would change the complexion of the race. When the field was lined up and drivers chose at the cone Chase Grennan, younger brother to the race leader sat third and when the race resumed ducked under Glennon in a battle for second. Chase would pass Glennon for second on lap 31 but there would be no catching Owen who secured his 16th career victory. Chase settled for second in the Black Forest Auto entry while Sean Glennon of Northport was third in the R&R Brothers Electric Chevy.
Also kicking off their Miller Lite Triple Crown Series for 2023 were the Blunderbusts who went to post in a 30-lap contest with defending champion Cody Triola of Bay Shore scoring a milestone 10th career win. Brandon Hubbard led the first lap of the race before he was overtaken by Cody Triola, who quickly started building a very comfortable lead. That lead however was erased after a Brandon Hubbard spin on lap 12 drew a caution and bunched up the field. The ensuing restart pitted leader Triola and second place Jim Laird Jr. side by side. Laird, who raced his way to second on lap 10 hung tough on the outside of leader Triola for several laps before the Cesspool Pros driver eventually took sole possession of the lead and his second win of 2023. Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace was runner-up in the Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm Caprice while Brandon Hubbard of Mastic Beach rallied from his lap 12 spin for third in the United Exhaust Shop racer.
All-time leading Super Pro Truck winner Lou Maetsri of Deer Park notched his 38th career win Saturday in a 20-lap affair. Lou was a driver on a mission, wanting to end the two-race win streak of Jack Handley Jr. and wanting to win for one of his sponsors, former racer Jimmy Vaccaro of Goodfella’s Auto Repair who recently underwent major surgery. Maestri wasted no time taking control of the race at the throw of the green and indeed would later have his mirror full of Hanldey later in the race. In the end however Lou Maestri would drive off to his first win of 2023 ending the two-for-two win streak of Handley, dedicating the win to Vaccaro afterwards. Mission accomplished. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was runner-up in the River Walk Bar & Grill Toyota with “The Bullet” Ethan Brown of Floral Park in the FDNY Bravest Football Team Chevy.
The hottest driver on Long Island right now is “Big Money” Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches as he won his fourth INEX Legend Race Car feature in a row Saturday. Joey Braun broke to the race lead at the start with Jeff Farruggia in pursuit. Both young talents have been chasing Davidowitz in 2023 and were hoping to end his three-race win streak. Davidowitz, who started 6th made his way to third on lap 4, then settled in to hunt down Braun and Farruggia. On lap 10 Davidowitz made his way by Farruggia for second and two laps later executed a textbook crossover on Braun to take the race lead on lap 12. Once out in front Richie Davidowitz stayed there for his 29th career win in the Hampton Fleet Service entry. Jeff Farruggia Jr. of Riverhead was second in the Chris Mohr Landscaping mount while the ride of the night was turned in by Chase Van Houten of Wading River who finished third after starting 13th in his Terra Vite Vineyards racer.
For the second time this year Mike Mujsce Jr. of Hampton Bays topped the 4/6-Cylinder Git & Go Enduro in his East West Pest Control machine. Zach Tyler of Cutchogue was runner-up in the Miller & Caggiano Attorney-At-Law entry while John Palmeri of Lindenhurst was third in the J&J Towing mount.
Kevin Rommeney of East Meadow held off brother Michael Rommeney to win the School Bus Oval Race in his North Fork Sanitation bus.
NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Chris Young 2. Matt Brode 3. Dylan Slepian 4. Michael Rutkoski 5. Jack Handley Jr. 6. Chris Rogers 7. JR Bertuccio 8. John Beatty Jr. 9. Owen Grennan 10. Dave Brigati 11. Allan Pedersen 12. Tom Rogers Jr. 13. Chris Turbush 14. Howie Brode
Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds: 1. Owen Grennan 2. Chase Grennan 3. Sean Glennon 4. Eric Hersey 5. Terry Stiles 6. Michael Berner 7. Vinny Delaney 8. Charkes Macwhinnie 9. Max Handley 10. Ken Massa 11. Mike Albasini 12. Dennis Krupski 13. Alex Colasanto 14. AJ DeSantis 15. Chevy Rommeney 16. Eddie Schutze DQ-Kyle Ellwood
Blunderbusts: 1. Cody Triola 2. Jim Laird Jr. 3. Brandon Hubbard 4. Tom Sullivan 5. Bill Wegmann Jr. 6. Michael Accordino 7. Brad Bess 8. Bill Wegmann Sr. 9. Eddie Diaz 10. Emily Hubbard DQ-Joe Densieski DNS-Ralph Corsini
Super Pro Trucks: 1. Lou Maestri 2. Jack Handley Jr. 3. Ethan Brown 4. Matt Triola 5. Joe Cerabino 6. Chris Lescenski 7. Rob Corwin 8. Erin Solomito 9. Liam Patrick 10. Frank Dumicich Sr.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Richie Davidowitz 2. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 3. Chase Van Houten 4. Joey Braun 5. Jason Castaldo 6. Jim Sylvester 7. Brad Van Houten 8. Charlie Hodge 9. Nick Morabito 10. Jayden Glennerster 11. Ryan Lutz 12. Alex Halinar 13. Eric Hersey 14. Ray Stulz 15. Pat Moore 16. Chris Sinatro 17. Ryan Barbieri 18. Mike Van Houten Jr. 19. Michael Metcalf 20. Ed Stadtlander 21. Kendall Van Houten 22. Kim Daniel 23. Rich Braun 24. Mike Benton 25. Riely O’Keefe 26. Steve Harding
Gut & Go Enduro: 1, Mike Mujsce Jr. 2. Zach Tyler 3. John Palmeri 4. Jack Tessa 5. Chris Olivari 6. David Olivari 7. Ronan Levesque 8. Franky Abbatiello 9. Joey Palmeri Jr. 10. Frank Raynor 11. Chris Constantine 12. Dillon Reid 13. Mariah Lawrence 14. Joe Brodman 15. Jesse Bischel 16. Will Raynor 17. Anthony Fioriglio 18. Jake Rivera 19. Tyler Farrell 20. David Doran 20. Seth Neenan 21. Alex Endres 22. Bon Haeger 23. Michael Fragola 24. Brandon Turbush 25. Jason Castaldo 26. Peter Verwys Jr. 27. Jacob Hartard 28. Eoughan Heyward 29. Ryan Warren 30. Myles Murray 31. Rob Izzo 32. Alex Schewire 33. Megan Williams 34. Ally Turbush 35. Mike Mujsce III 36. Joe Rodriquez DQ- David Duran, James McCarthy
School Bus Oval Race: Winner- Kevin Rommeney
