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Riverhead, NY May 4th
By Bob Finan
Sunday afternoon the opening weekend celebrating the start of the 75th Anniversary season at Riverhead Raceway concluded with the May Meltdown program. Not even a light, passing shower late in the program could dull the fun as Brian Brown of Calverton raced his way to the 30-lap Street Stock win while former Mini Stock champion Paul Wojcik of Patchogue won their 30-lap feature.
All-time leading Street Stock winner Dave Antos made his return to racing after a year off for shoulder surgery and quickly raced out front at the throw of the green. Jake Curran tussled with Antos for the first two laps before Brian Brown, who started 4th moved by Curran during a double file restart after a debris caution was needed. Once Brown got to second, he would chase Antos for three laps before making a successful bid for the lead on lap 7. Soon after taking the top spot, Brown in his Eastport Feeds Chevy began to distance himself from Antos who fell into the clutches of Brandon Hubbard and Jarrod Hayes who ran third and fourth. As the race came to a conclusion Brian Brown drove off to his 11th career win. While Brown took the checker a wild last turn unfolded as Jarrod Hayes of Calveron was able to claim second in the North Fork Sanitation Chevy as Antos and Hubbard got momentarily bogged down in lapped traffic. Dave Antos of Lindenhurst would survive the wild final turn for third in the EP Milling & Sweeping Monte Carl.
Former Mini Stock champion Paul Wojcik triumphed for his 8th career victory, tying him for 4th on the all-time win list with Mike Mujsce Jr. Early on CJ Zukowski, a former champion of the class as well paced the field with Wojcik in pursuit over the first six circuits. As the duo came off turn four to start the 7th lap, Wojcik in his Honda Prelude raced underneath Zukowski in his Chevy Cavalier for the advantage. One lap later CJ reclaimed the lead only to have Paul take it back three laps later on the 11yh cycle. Once he had the Superior Business Solutions Honda out from this time, Paul never looked back in scoring the win. CJ Zukowski of Riverhead was second in the Walls of Fame Chevy, while Euoghan Heyward of Seaford was third in the Ace Cleaning and Restoration entry.
Second generation driver mason Goodale of Riverhead claimed his third career INEX Bandolero Bandit victory when he topped their 15-lap main event. Emmett Grattan showed the way over Mackenzie Ulmet over the first 8-laps of the contest. Whikle racing up the backstretch Ulmet threw her car outside of Grattan to take the lead dropping Grattan to second. One lap later Mason Goodale worked by Grattan for second behind Ulmet. Unfortunately for Mackenzie two lapped cars would tangle and she’d clip one of them with her front bumper that starting to drag, ever so slightly on the track. INEX rules call for a pit stop to correct the situation, which Ulmet did during the caution. When the race resumed Goodale found himself the new race leader and the driver of the Riverhead Building Supply Bandit hit his marks the remainder of the race to notch the popular win. In a spectacular comeback, Mackenzie Ulmet of Mattituck raced her was back to finish second in the Mark David Builder entry, early leader Emmett Grattan of Southold was third in the Southold PBA Bandit.
Thomas Grattan of Southold realized the dream of his young lifetime when he won his first career INEX Bandolero Outlaw 15-lap feature event. Aria Ligon showed the way for the first mile leading 4-laps of the tilt before John Alaimo passed her for the lead. Alaimo would pace the race over the following three laps before Grattan came calling, moving to second on lap 8 with a pass of Ligon. It took Thomas all of one lap to size up and pass Alaimo for the race lead on lap 9, as he led the rest of the way in his Sophie’s Rest Outlaw. John Alaimo of Miller Place was runner-up in the Turf king machine, while Madison White of Southampton impressed with a Riverhead Raceway career best third place showing in the Busy Bee Pest Control Outlaw.
The old adage the apple does not fall far from the tree came into play when Bobby Pease Jr. of Medford led all 40-laps to win the Truck Enduro. Bobby Jr. in his Foit Spot Gym mount leaped out front at the drop of the green and never looked back. Kevin Feeney of East Quogue was runner-up in his Ham Racing truck while Mariah Lawrence of Southampton brought the Total Dental Care racer home third.
In the 40-lap, 4/6-Cylinder Enduro Chris Olivari of Medford in the Middle Country Automotive machine scored the win. Ryan T Warren zipped to the early race lead when the green lights came on and would lead the first half of the contest. Meanwhile, Chris Olivari was hard at work racing his way from deeper in the field trying to get to the front. After making his way up to second on lap 11, Chris would finally catch and pass leader Warren to start the 21st lap. Olivari would then pace the race the rest of the way. Former champion Zach Tykler of Cutchogue was runner-up in the Miller & Caggiano, PC entry with defending champion John Palmeri of Lindenhurst third in the J&J Towing racer.
The 8-Cylinder Enduro class started the Enduro craze in 1986 at Riverhead Raceway, Sunday had an old school feel to the race when a light rain shower left the track wet for the start of their 40-lap race. Former champion Pat Collins had no issues with the wet conditions as he broke out front at the start in his PC Truck & Equipment Chevy. Early on in the wet Collins was turning laps in the 20 second range, but the rain left as quick as it arrived and by lap 24, Pat posted his fastest lap of the race at 15.390. Following Collins at the conclusion was Greg Harris of Riverhead who turned in the performance of the race finishing second in his SGS Stone Works Chevy after starting 25th. Defending champion Kevin Feeney of East Quogue was third in the Ham Racing entry.
Jackie Germuth of Hicksville topped the 20-lap Ladies Enduro utilizing 4/6-Cylinder cars & trucks. Jackie would dominate the race in the United Exhaust Shop 4X4. Wendy Rommeney of Medford and Peggy Zukowski of Riverhead were second and third.
Street Stocks: 1. Brian Brown 2. Jarrod Hayes 3. Dave Antos 4. Brandon Hubbard 5. Alyssa Paprocky 6. Jake Curran 7. Danny Pizzo 8. Dennis Kurras 9. James DiPietro 10. John Harley 11. Tom Sullivan 12. Chris Lescenski 13. Ricky Carman 14. Anthony Cacioppo 15. Henry Cuesta 16. Bobby Dalke 17. Luke Foerster 18. Chris McGuire DNS-Max Handley, Kyle Halpin
Mini Stocks: 1. Paul Wojcik 2. CJ Zukowski 3. Eoughan Heyward 4. Marissa Stewart 5. Charles Astacio 6. Tyler Farrell 7. Scott Setek DNS- Joe Warren, Ryan Warren
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Mason Goodale 2. Mackenzie Ulmet 3. Emmett Grattan 4. Brooke Meyer 5. Leighton Van Houten 6. Wyatt Goodale 7. Blake Grattan 8. Landon Solomito 9. Emily Gatz 10. Scarlette Dumicich 11. Carissa Busam DNS- Daxx Halpin
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Thomas Grattan 2. John Alaimo 3. Madison White 4. Michael Barry 5. Tyler Oxee 6. Grace Cheslak 7. Aria Ligon 8. Jordan Ryan 9. Reid Halpin 10. Tyler Ross 11. Madison Tomaszewski 12. Antonio D’Alonzo 13. John Licata
Truck Enduro (top ten): 1. Bobby Pease Jr. 2. Kevin Feeney 3, Mariah Lawrence 4. Chris Grover 5. Phil LaManna 6. Don Nelson 7. Brandon Anderson 8. Jackie Germuth 9. Chris Ward 10. Jimmy Kelly
8-Cylinder Enduro (top ten): 1. Pat Collins 2. Greg Harris 3. Kevin Feeney 4. David Cohen 5. Richie Carman 6. Don Carasiti 7. Ricky Carman 8. James McCarthy 9. Sean Fitzpatrick 10. Stacy Halsey
4/6-Cylinder Enduro (top ten): 1. Chris Olivari 2. Zach Tyler 3. John Palmeri 4. Ryan Warren 5. Joey Palmeri Jr. 6. Bobby Dalke 7. Eoughan Heyward 8. Anthony Paretta 9. David Olivari 10. Ryan Zukowski
