(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)
Ever since their INEX Legend Race Car days Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills and Kyle Soper of Manorville have been close friends at or away from Riverhead Raceway and for a short time owned a driveway seal coating business together, Saturday night they did something together once again as they both won Twin 50 NASCAR Modified features with Slepian capturing the opener over Soper, while Kyle took home the win in the nightcap.
In qualifying Dylan Slepian led the way with a lap of 11.431 while championship leader Tom Rogers Jr. was second quick at 11.636. At the throw of the green Slepian got the advantage over Rogers who brought a 24-point cushion in the title chase over Slepian to the race. Rogers would pursue Slepian over the first 29 circuits of the contest until he was passed on lap 30 by Kyle Soper who started the race from third. Once dispatching of Rogers it was time for Soper to pull up to the rear bumper of his good buddy Slepian. On several occasions Soper ducked under the race leader entering the corner but each and every time Slepian was able to power away riding the outside lane.
As the race wore on Soper would try several more times to make a run to the inside for the race lead but in the end Dylan Slepian steering the Eastport Feeds Chevy would come out on top for his third win of 2020 and fourth of his budding career. Kyle Soper also backed by Eastport Feeds was runner-up while Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead was third in the Precision Water Works Lawn Sprinklers entry. John Baker of Brookhaven and Justin Brown of Manorville both making their first starts in a few weeks completed the top five.
In the second Twin 50 the top eight from race one were inverted for the start with Michael Rutkoski and Chris Young making up the front row. At the start Rutkoski moved to the race lead having chosen to start in the preferred outside lane forcing Young to start on the inside. Young who won earlier this year tucked into second chasing sophomore driver Rutkoski for the first 13 laps of the tilt. On lap 14 Kyle Soper who started the second race in 7th made his way towards the front passing Young for second. Once Soper got to leader Rutkoski a 5-lap duel for the lead developed with the leader committed to the top forcing Soper to use the less popular inside. However unlike race #1 Soper was able to make the inside work and on lap 20 moved his Dr. Martha Baker DDS Chevy out front.
Once in the command position Kyle Soper the two-time and defending NASCAR Modified champion would lead the remainder of the way for his 18th career win moving him into sole possession of 22nd on the tracks all time win list. 2019 Rookie of the Year Michael Rutkoski of Mattituck was runner-up in the Buzz Chew Chevrolet machine while Tom Rogers Jr. in the License To Chill Chevy scored his second third place finish of the night. Dylan Slepian was fourth while CJ Lehmann of Lake Grove came from a 10th place starting spot to place fifth at the finish.
The companion Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds had a 40-lap, time trial affair Saturday with Owen Grennen of Glen Cove leading wire to wire for the win in a caution free race. Richie Davidowitz led the way in qualifying with a lap of 12.686 with Grennan clocking in second quick at 12.706. As the young tandem brought the field to the green flag it appeared Davidowitz who chose the inside for the start didn’t fire off as strong as he normally does with Grennan pouncing to move to the race lead from the outside pole. While Davidowitz was able to stay in the tire tracks of race leader Grennan without the benefit of any double file restarts at all catching the race leader would be one thing but passing him an entirely another story. In the end the Dillner Precast Chevy with Owen Grennan at the keyboards nailed down his third win of the season and sixth of his career. Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches the championship leader coming to the race was runner-up in the Benimax Trucking Chevy with the Rittenhouse Properties Chevy of Sean Glennon of Northport third at the line.
Former Figure Eight champion Scott Pedersen of Shirley won his second 15-lap feature event of 2020 in the Vecchio Racing Chevy. A strong running Bryan Quilliam broke to the early race lead at the throw of the green with Pedersen quickly making his way from a sixth starting position to second on the very first lap. Pedersen would chase Quilliam over the first five laps of the race making a bid for the lead payoff on lap 6. Entering the corner Quilliam left the door open a tad too muck allowing Pedersen to slip under for the race lead. Two laps later Tom Ferrara made his way to second and quickly reeled in and challenged Pedersen for the race lead. However in the end the tested tough Scott Pedersen would be able to hold onto the race lead until the checker flag waved. Tom Ferrara of Patchogue was runner-up in the Beach Collision Cadillac while Bryan Quilliam of Shirley in the Stingray Entertainment Chevy had a strong showing to finish third.
After a week of hard work to repair some cosmetic damage from the race prior Sean Glennon of Northport topped the 20-lap Super Pro Truck main event. Joe Cerabino and Lou Maestri brought the field down for the start of the race with Cerabino taking control at the outset. Maestri was quickly passed on lap 2 for second by Frank Dumicich Jr. and just moments later on lap 4 Dumicich would also work his way by Cerabino for the race lead also bringing Sean Glennon to second with him. After five laps of chasing and sizing up Dumicich for the lead Glennon made an inside pass of the leader off turn four to start the 10th lap. Dumicich would run second until the two to go signal when he was overtaken by Jack Handley Jr. on the backstretch but by the time Handley got to second it was too little, too late. At the conclusion Sean Glennon would enjoy his first win of the season as well the fourth of his career in the LTE Drainage Chevy. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford brought the Hydro Action Chevy home second while Frank Dumicich Jr. of East Quogue placed third in the Sea Level Construction racer.
For the second time this season the INEX Legend Race Car main event was shortened due to a rough and tumble caution filled race. The event set to go 20-laps would go 15 circuits with Ray Fitzgerald of Manorville earning his third win of the 2020 campaign. Chris Sinatro broke to the early race advantage at the throw of the green with Anthony Colandro Jr. giving chase. Things went south in a hurry though as on lap two just before the third turn all heck broke loose and a multi car crash slowed the race with Sinatro among those involved. When the race went back green to start the third lap Jason Casatldo moved to the race lead over Shawn Wanat.Just a lap later Ray Fitzgerald who started the race 12th and was a benefactor of the lap 2 multi car tangle moved to second and would chase race leader Casatldo over the next six laps. On lap 12 Fitzgerald ducked under Castaldo entering the third turn to take the race lead in his Benimax Trucking Coupe and was the race leader on lap 15 when the final yellow waved for an Eric Hersey incident on the home stretch. Jason Castaldo of Shirley was runner-up in the M3 Technology racer while Joey Braun of Manorville was third in his Buzz Chew Chevy entry.
Justin Squires of Flanders nailed down his second Mini Stock feature event triumph when he won their 20-lap feature event. Johnny Cricchio broke to the race lead at the start just six days after a hard first tun hit the Sunday before. Cricchio was hoping to reward all his hard work during the week with a win but a double file restart would do him in on lap 8. With Justin Squires lined-up alongside Cricchio chose the inside lane for the restart and when the green light winked back on Cricchio didn’t not get off to a good start allowing Justin Squires to move out front and lead the remainder of the race in his Madden’s Auto Body entry. Cricchio of Port Jefferson was second in the Division 7 Roofing Toyota while CJ Zukowski of Riverhead was third in the Warren Motorsports Cavalier.
Joey Palmeri Jr. of Lindenhurst notched his first 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go Enduro win in a 50-lap event Saturday. Nearly over the entire distance of the race Palmeri along with Franky Abbatiello and Chris Olivari sliced and diced for the race lead all the while battling lapped traffic and other obstacles. In the end Palmeri wheeling the J&J Towing machine would prevail for the victory. Abbatiello of East Islip was runner-up in the Bike Depot East Hyundai while Olivari of Coram was third in his self funded racer.
NASCAR Modifieds 1st Twin 50- 1. Dylan Slepian 2. Kyle Soper 3. Tom Rogers Jr. 4. John Baker 5. Justin Brown 6. Roger Turbush 7. Chris Young 8. Michael Rutkoski 9. Dave Brigati 10. CJ Lehmann 11. Howie Brode 12. Vinny Delaney 13. Jack Handley Jr. 14. Jeremy McDermott
NASCAR Modified 2nd Twin 50- 1. Kyle Soper 2. Michael Rutkoski 3. Tom Rogers Jr. 4. Dylan Slepian 5. CJ Lehmann 6. John Baker 7. Chris Young 8. Justin Brown 9. Howie Brode 10. Roger Turbush 11. Jack Handley Jr. 12. Vinny Delaney 13. Dave Brigati DNS- Jeremy McDermott
Crate Modifieds: 1. Owen Grennan 2. Richie Davidowitz 3. Sean Glennon 4. Steve Ratti 5. Michael Berner 6. Chris Rogers 7. Matt Brode 8. AJ DeSantis 9. Eric Hersey 10. Mike Albasini 11.Terry Stiles 12. Alex Colasanto 13. Lou Maestri 14. Charlie Macwhinnie 15. Gerard Lawrence 16. Dennis Krupski 17. Eddie Schutze 18. Kenny Southard
Figure Eights: 1. Scott Pedersen 2. Tom Ferrara 3. Bryan Quilliam 4. CJ Lehmann 5. Joe Warren Jr. 6. Bob Dalke 7. Chris Elliott 8. Brian Hansen 9. Allan Pedersen DNS- Paul Cummings
Super Pro Trucks: 1. Sean Glennon 2. Jack Handley Jr. 3. Frank Dumicich Jr. 4. Jimmy Rennick Jr. 5. Max Handley 6. Lou Maestri 7. Mark Stewart 8. Ethan Brown 9. Joe Cerabino 10. Daniel Creegan 11. Frank Dumicich Sr.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Ray Fitzgerald 2. Jason Casataldo 3. Joey Braun 4. George Tomko Jr. 5. Shawn Wanat 6. Mike Van Houten Jr. 7. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 8. Frank Hodge 9. Jim Sylvester 10. Chris Sinatro 11. Charlie Hodge 12. Anthony Calandro Jr. 13. Nick Morabito 14. Rober Henninger III 15. Dave Strohmeyer 16. Eric Hersey 17. Chase Grennan 18. AJ Vasseur 19. Kevin Nowak 20. Patrick Moore 21. Brad Van Houten 22. Jake Curran 23. Allan Pedersen 24. Anthony Marsh 25. Mike Benton 26. Jerry Curran
Mini Stocks: 1. Justin Squires 2. Johnny Cricchio 3. CJ Zukowski 4. Tom Puccia 5. Joe Warren Jr. 6. Andrew Farnham 7. Mike Mujsce Sr. 8. Jesse St. Clair 9. Tony Collingsworth 10. Joe Cooke Jr. 11. Paul Wojcik 12. James O’Connell 13. Scott Phillips 14. Martin O’Connell 15. Woot Lawrence
4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go: 1. Joey Palmeri Jr. 2. Franky Abbatiello 3. Chris Olivari 4. Woot Lawrence 5. Bob Haeger 6. Dege Russell 7. Joshua Flynn 8. Zach Tyler 9. Donnie Oliver 10. Bob Dalke Jr. 11. Michael Brincat 12. James O’Connell 13. Frank Raynor 14. Tony Collingsworth 15. James Grandl 16. David Cohen 17. Patrick Collins 18. Ray Stulz 19. Mariah Lawrence 20. Chris Constantine 21. Steve Collins 22. Mark Raynor 23. Chris Dixon 24. John O’Neill 25. Jamie Mayer 26. Ed LaSpina 27. Robert Jett 28. Cutter Gera 29. Vinny Abbatiello Sr. 30. Maureen Murray 31. John Palmeri 32. Michael Bianco 33. Alyssa Benton
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