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Riverhead, NY Sept. 21st.
By Bob Finan
On a bust night of Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing at Riverhead Raceway Saturday night, Chris Rogers of Patchogue won his second career NASCAR Modified feature the hard way driving to victory lane riding the outside groove. In the 2024 Sara Sylvester INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier 50, Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead marched to his fifth win of 2024, his first ever in this event. Ten feature events kept the fans busy on the last evening of summer.
Chris Young and Chris Rogers brought the Tour Type Modifieds to green with Young launching out front while Rogers fell to third when defending champion John Beatty Jr. rallied from his third starting berth to second. Over the first 20-laps Young and Beatty often ran side by side for the top spot with Rogers waiting in the wings. After trying Beatty for second to the inside a few times, Rogers switched up his game plan jumping to the outside. Beatty gave Rogers plenty of room and Chris took advantage moving to second on lap 21. Once he dispatched of Beatty, Rogers set sail for leader Young whose car was working better on the bottom half of the track and once again Chris realized if he were to make a pass he’d have to take the long way around. On lap 30 off the fourth corner Rogers jumped outside of leader Young who gave him plenty of room as well.
Once in front with his JDL Environmental Chevy Chris Rogers would lead the remainder of the event in the Brian Schwarz prepared racer. Chris Young of Calverton would cross the line second in the Earth’s Splendor Chevy while championship leader John Beatty Jr of Merrick was third in the Elite Sound Studios racer. Most recent winner Michael Rutkoski of Mattituck was fourth, Jack Handley Jr of Medford fifth at the conclusion.
Prior to 2024 race season, versatile wheelman Kyle Ellwood hooked up with INEX Legend Race Car owner and former racer Eric Lutz and to say the combination has clicked would be an understatement. Saturday, Ellwood in the Millennium Limited Contracting won the Sara Sylvester National Qualifier for his 5th win of the season. Jeff Farruggia Jr. won the JCR Motorsports Pole Award of $102 with a time of 13.449 i qualifying with tested tough veteran Ray Fitzgerald second quick at 13.458. Farruggia led the first lap before Joey Braun snuck by on lap two. Bruan led the second and third laps before he was overtaken by Fitzgerald on lap 4. One lap after Fitzgerald took the lead Kyle Ellwood moved to second and the race for the win was on. After 11 laps of chasing and sizing up Fitzgerald for a pass, Ellwood made his winning move on lap 17 working his way out front with “Fitzy” second. Early leader Braun remerged at the halfway point of the race getting by Ray for second, but that would be as good as it would get for the driver dubbed “Blankets”. When the checker flags waved Kyle Ellwood triumphed for the 24th time in his INEX Legends career, none of the previous 23 wins carried the emotion as winning Sara’s race did Saturday. Joey Braun of Manorville was runner-up in the HighMark Building Efficiency coupe while championship leader Riely O’Keefe of Manorvillle was third in the Crystal Clear Window Cleaning entry.
The Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds were a busy bunch Saturday, running a make-up race rained out on August 17th after qualifying, and a regularly scheduled tilt. In the holdover race Michael Berner of Patchogue would prevail in the 25-lapper for his second win of 2024. Berner started the race from the pole and led impressive rookie Andrew Farnham over the first 7 circuits. On the 8th lap Max Handley threw his car to the outside of Farnham to take second hoping to reel in the leading Berner. However, there would be no stopping Michael Berner from earning his 8th career victory as he drove the Clear River Environmental Chevy to the winner’s circle. Second went to Max Handley of Medford in the Suffolk Precast machine whole Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead placed third in the Kelco Contacting Chevy.
Entering the 25-lap nightcap Max Handley was hoping to improve his finish from the first race by one spot and that’s exactly what the UNOH graduate did to post his second win of the campaign. Max wasted no time in racing out front at the throw of the green taking the lead over AJ DeSantis early on. Eric Hersey made some noise on lap 4 passing DeSantis for second, but AJ kept digging reclaiming the spot back from Hersey on lap 12. With s series of yellows slowing the race, the place to be was up front, and Max Handley took full advantage to claim his 4th career win on the Hydro Action racer. AJ DeSantis of Yaphank was second in the Strong Oil entry, with championship leader Chase Grennan of Glen Cove third in the Eastport Feeds Chevy.
The Super Pro Trucks had their own makeup race from August 17th to contest and when the dust settled on the 20-lapper Sean Glennon of Northport enjoyed his 2nd win of 2024, a milestone 10th of his career. Frank Dumicich Jr. and Dave Koenig raced off the front row at the start to run one-two before Koenig was passed by Sean Glennon on a 4th lap restart. Dumicich remained out front until the 9th lap when Glennon made what would turn out to be the winning pass. Once the former champion had his Glennon Construction truck out front he’d be able to stay there until the race was completed. Lou Maestri of Deer Park had a good run for second in the Goodfellas Auto Repair mount while the sponsor wanted machine of Tony Naglieri of Island Park had his best showing of 2024 in third.
Mackenzie Ulmet of Riverhead scored her second Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Beginner victory in a 10-lap contest. Ulmet started fourth on the grid and quickly moved forward to take the lead from Leighton Van Houten on the 4th lap. Once she put the Mark Davis Builders Bando out front Ulmet, the granddaughter of former Riverhead Raceway driver Wes Zaleski drove to the popular win. Wyatt Goodale of Riverhead was second in the Riverhead Building Supply entry, while Daxx Halpin of Wading River was third in the Mike Van Houten Trucking Bando.
It might have taken defending Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Bandit champion Reid Halpin time to find victory, lane in 2024, but once he did for the most part hasn’t left. Since July 31st, his first win of the season, “Speedy Reidy” has won four of the past five Bandit events including Saturday’s 15-lap affair. Tyler Oxee paced the race for the first three laps before Halpin, who started the race from 7th came calling on lap 4 for the lead. Once out front the MC-11 prepared, Steve Park Properties driver led the rest of the way earning his 8th career win. Tyler Oxee of Pelham drove the North Fork Sanitation Bandit to a runner-up showing with Aria Ligon of Center Moriches third in the Chesterfield Associated entry.
the 15-lap Bock Auto Bandolero Outlaw event had a dramatic conclusion and when the dust settled Will Sipala of Manorville was the winner. Sipala, who drives the Riteway Automotive Center Outlaw is on a hit streak having won four of the past six races since July 27th. Tucker Bock had led nearly the entire distance of the race seeking his second win of 2024. However, racing up the backstretch side by side Bock and Sipala went for the same piece if real estate and contact was made, sending Bock hard into the inside wall. After replay review the contact was deemed incidental and Will Sipala indeed won his 6th career race. Michael Barry of Patchogue was second in the Grease Garage Motorsports Outlaw, third went to Thomas Grattan of Southold in his Sophie’s Rest machine.
In the 30-lap Truck Enduro Mariah Lawrence of Southampton won her second feature of the season in her Tital Dental Care of Mattituck Genral Lee and heads to the 2924 finale next Sunday tied with Bobby Pease Sr. of Medford for the championship. Mariah holds the first tie breaker with 2 wins. Brandon Hubbard of Mastic was second Saturday in his United Exhaust Shop 4X4, while Kevin Feeney of Quogue was third in his sponsor wanted truck.
Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge has watched as his 4/6-Cylinder Enduro car has won twice in 2024 with younger brother Ryan and good friend Johnny Cricchio at the wheel. Saturday it was Joe’s turn to visit victory lane as he won the 30-lapper in the Newton Landscaping entry. The “Z-Man” Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead was second, third fell to Jack Handley Sr. in the Handley’s Lawn & Landscape Design mount.
NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Chris Rogers 2. Chris Young 3. John Beatty Jr. 4. Michael Rutkoski 5. Jack Handley Jr. 6. Mark Stewart 7. Owen Grennan 8. JB Fortin 9. Kyle Ellwood 10. Tom Rogers Jr. 11. Matt Brode 12. CJ Lehmann 13. Allan Pedersen 14. JR Bertuccio 15. Dylan Slepian
Crate Modifieds (8/17): 1. Michael Berner 2. Max Handley 3. Kyle Ellwood 4. AJ DeSantis 5. Eric Hersey 6. Chase Grennan 7. Vinny Delaney 8. Terry Stiles 8. Mike Albasini 10. Tom Sekulski 11. Andrew Farnham
Crate Modifieds: 1. Max Handley 2. AJ DeSantis 3. Chase Grennan 4. Terry Stiles 5. Owen Grennan 6. Vinny Delaney 7. Mike Albasini 8. Eric Hersey 9. Tom Sekulski 10. Michael Berner 11. Kyle Ellwood DNS- Andrew Farnham
Super Pro Trucks (8/17): 1. Sean Glennon 2. Lou Maestri 3. Tiny Naglieri 4. Jack Handley Jr. 5. Liam Patrick 6. Frank Dumicich Jr. 7. Cillian Tennant 8. Erin Solomito 9. Frank Dumicich Sr. 10. Mark Stewart 11. Matt Triola 12. Dave Koenig 13. Rhett Fogg
Legend Race Cars: 1. Kyle Ellwood 2. Joey Braun 3. Riely O’Keefe 4. Rodney Dowless Jr. 5. Anthony Marsh 6. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 7. Tanner Jones Jr, 8. Chris Sinatro 9. Jayden Glennerster 10. Chase Van Houten 11. Charles Hodge 12. Phillip Alaimo 13. Will Sipala 14. Mike Van Houten Jr. 15. Colin Volpe 16. Jim Sylvester 17. Kevin Ohrnberger 18. Marc Godnick 19. Kevin Nowak 20. Brad Van Houten 21. Ray Fitzgerald 22. Alex Halinar 23. Pat Moore 24. Michael Collier 25. Richie Davidowitz 26. Chevy Rommeney
Bandolero Beginners: 1. Mackenzie Ulmet 2. Wyatt Goodale 3. Daxx Halpin 4. Leighton Van Houten 5. Emily Gatz 6. Scarlette Dumicich DNS- Alexis Gatz
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Reid Halpin 2. Tyler Oxee 3. Aria Ligon 4. Antonio D’Alonzo 5. Emmett Grattan 6. Christian Ryan 7. Layla Quilliam 8. Blake Grattan 9. Brooke Meyer 10. John Alaimo 11. Mason Goodale
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Will Sipala 2. Michael Barry 3. Thomas Grattan 4. Tucker Bock 5. Madison Tomaszewski 6. Kix Bock 7. Grace Cheslak 8. Madison White
Truck Enduro: 1. Mariah Lawrence 2. Brandon Hubbard 3. Kevin Feeney 4. Justin McGrady 5. Bobby Pease Jr., 6. Phil LaManna 7. Bobby Pease Sr. 8. Brandon Anderson 9. Woot Lawrence 10. Don Nelson Jr. 11. Jackie Germuth 12. Jim Kelly 13. Gary Voight 14. Chris Ward 15. Danielle Creegan 16. Vinny Pease 17. Nikki Giordano 18. Anthony Esposito 19. James Kelly
4/6-Cylinder Enduro: 1. Joe Warren Jr. 2. Ryan Zukowski 3. Jack Handley Sr. 4. Chris Olivari 5. CJ Zukowski 6. Zach Tyler 7. Ryan Warren 8. Joey Palmeri 9. David Olivari 10. John Palmeri 11. Anthony Paretta 12. Franky Abbatiello 13. Frank Raynor 14. Ryan T Warren 15. Will Farrell 16. Robert Kramer 17. Steve Jappell 18. Jack Tessa 19. Charles Astacio 20. Mike Fragola 21. Aiden Farrell 22. Jamie Cafaro 23. Danny Southard 24. Mike Coll 25. Mike Mujsce III 26. Charles Sherry 27. Joe Buttafuoco 28. Mike Kowalski 29. Jacob Hartard 30. Chris Smith 31. Mike Mujsce Jr, 32. Andrew Coll 3. Richie Carman
