RONNIE SILK HOLDS OFF TOM ROGERS JR FOR $3,025 VICTORY IN RIVERHEAD NASCAR HALL OF FAME 100
By, Bob Finan
Riverhead NY May 15th.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame 100 NASCAR Modified event at Riverhead Raceway Saturday night turned out to be a race for the ages in its own right as Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, Ct. held off a torrid late race charge by Tom Rogers Jr. of Patchogue to win and earn for him and car owner Eddie Partridge a $3,025 payday. Silk swept the "$1,000 to win" bonus from race fan Jim Schaefer, as well an additional $500 as the first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour car across the line from another loyal fan, Chris Buchman.

In pre-race time trials Wayne Anderson, himself a Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame inductee, set fast time with a lap of 12.017 earning a $100 award from Brigandi Brothers Automotive of Nesconset and the pole for the 100-lap tilt. At the drop of the green Anderson zipped out front with Rowan Pennink and Justin Bonsignore in two, with Bonsignore slipping by Pennink on lap 4 after a double file restart. Out front Anderson and Bonsignore pulled away from Pennink who later found himself locked in a battle for third with Ronnie Silk, but several early race cautions would bunch the field back up. On a lap 21 restart Bonsignore was able to wrestle the lead away from Anderson, while Silk moved to third dropping Pennink to fourth. Silk also utilized a quick restart four laps later to sneak by Anderson for second and set sail for race leader Bonsignore.

When under green flag conditions Bonsignore and Silk were able to distance themselves from Pennink, Anderson and Tom Rogers Jr.,  among others, and race for the lead with Silk staying right on the rear spoiler of Bonsignore waiting for an opening. After the yellow waved on lap 39 and the cars were circling the track, disaster struck for leader Justin Bonsignore when his car suffered an alternator problem forcing him to the pits for the night which moved Ronnie Silk into the lead with Pennink now running second. That caution period also forced NASCAR Officials to go to a single file restart procedure for the rest of the race.

That call prompted an extended green flag run in the race that saw Silk able to build a comfortable cushion over Rowan Pennink who was locked in a fight for position with Tom Rogers Jr., with Rogers taking the spot on lap 77. That set-up turned out to be old fashioned shootout for the win that would leave the fans on the edge of their seats. In the final 10-laps of the race, which also saw a late race caution, Rogers tested Silk each and every lap staying glued to his rear bumper. In fact with under five laps to go Tom got Ronnie a tad loose going into turn three, but Silk was able to gather his car back up and remain in the lead. On the white flag lap everyone expected Rogers to try the same move going into both the first and third turns but it never materialized and Ronnie Silk drove to his first career Riverhead Raceway victory.

"I just can't say enough by Eddie and Connie Partridge and this TS Haulers team" Silk noted after receiving the NASCAR Hall of Fame trophy and hat from promoters Barbara and Jim Cromarty. "I like this place and enjoy racing here and that race for the lead was intense, Tom tried to loosen me up once or twice getting into a corner but never drove through me" Silk reflected. As to the $1,500 in bonus money which Jim Schaefer and Chris Buchman handed him in the winners circle Silk admitted, "I knew NASCAR Modified racing has the most loyal fans but tonight proves that."

Tom Rogers Jr. would have to settle for runner-up money in his Bellecon Acrylic Asphalt Sealing Chevy, Tom jogged from the pit area after the race to congratulate Silk. Rowan Pennink of Huntington Valley, Pa. had a solid night for third in the Monk's Mechanic Hand Cleaners entry, with Howie Brode of East Islip and Glenn Tyler of Hampton Bays completing the top five.

Mike Bologna of Huntington scored his third career Late Model victory in the 25-lap Late Model main event which served as a tune-up for this next week's 50-lap time trial event. Shawn Patrick paced the race early on leading the first four laps of the race before Bologna powered his way into the lead on a double file restart from the outside lane. Once in the lead Bologna, wheeling the Schlaugies Fuel Oil Chevy, never looked back as he would lead the remainder of the race. Shawn Patrick and Chris LaSpisa ran in close quarters in a battle for second and early on in  the 2010 campaign these two veterans have done that in all three races to date. Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters would earn runner-up money in the Meade's Welding mount, one he very much needed while Chris LaSpisa of Shirley backed up his win from last week with a third in the McBetts Racing Engines Chevy.

Tommy "The Wildchild" Walkowiak of Ridge scored his second Blunderbust victory of the season, but more importantly it was also his 40th career triumph in the class. After veteran Scott Sepe paced the first lap of the event, "Racing" Ray Shannon moved by along with Bill Portney Sr. to take over out front. That duo would stay out front until lap 3 when they had contact which moved Paul Parisi and Tommy Walkowiak into the first two positions after a caution flag. Parisi did all he could to keep Walkowiak at bay but a 6th lap restart found the defending champion able to ride the outside groove into the lead. One lap later Scott Maliszewski passed Parisi for second and once again these two friends would decide the race. In the waning laps of the contest Scott would work over the rear bumper of Walkowiak, even getting Tommy sideways once going into turn three. In the end however it would be a milestone victory for Tommy Walkowiak in his Blaze Fuel Oil Chevy. Scott Maliszewski of Deer Park was runner-up in the Thomas J Stock Attorney At Law entry while Paul Parisi of Riverhead took home third place honors in his Tidewater Dock Building racer.

In Legend Race Car racing Johnny Gloor IV of Flanders went wire to wire to win the 20-lap main event for his first win of 2010. When the green light came on Gloor moved out front with Jimmy Sylvester and Chris Rogers giving chase for the first three cycles. Lap 4 saw opening night winner Tom Sherman come to second and spending the next eight laps giving chase to Gloor who seemed able to open up a comfortable lead under green. Some good racing took place for second over the second half of the race, as Paul Dodorico was able to sneak under Sherman for second on a double file restart on lap 12. Two late race cautions forced two attempts at a green, white and checker finish. However after the second try at finishing the race on lap 19 the yellow waved a second time that ran the time limit out with Johnny Gloor IV scoring the victory in the TS Motorsports machine. Paul Dodorico of Miller Place finished second in the Epiphany Trading mount while Kevin Nowak of Medford in the Racing Creation sedan was third.

The 60-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro that closed out the card of racing went down to the wire as veteran drivers Robin Schewire and Anthony Pizzo slugged it out in the closing laps to determine who would win the race. Schewire of East Quogue in the Westhampton Auto Salvage Chevy would out last Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma in the STS Tire Works entry for the win. Early race pace setter "Mad" Mike Smith of Kings park would drive his John's Fuel Oil backed racer to third place money.



NASCAR Hall of Fame 100- 1. Ronnie Silk 2. Tom Rogers Jr. 3. Rowan Pennink 4. Howie Brode 5. Glenn Tyler 6. John Beatty 7. John Fortin 8. Richie Pallai Jr. 9. Timmy Solomito 10. Johnny Bush 11. Bill Park 12. Wayne Anderson 13. Amber Fortin 14. Chuck Steuer 15. Ken Darch 16. Mike Andrews Jr. 17. Al Ermmarino 18. Chris Young 19. Ken Heagy 20. Justin Bonsignore 21. Dave Brigati 22. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III 23. Kevin Goodale 24. Jerry Solomito DNQ- Eric Goodale, Brad Van Houten, Sean McDonald, Steven Booker, Tommy Sekulski, Frank Russo

Late Models 25-laps: 1. Mike Bologna 2. Shawn Patrick 3. Chris LaSpisa 4. Kevin Metzger 5. Roger Oxee 6. Mike Mortimer 7. Peter Eriksen 8. Ken Alfano 9. Ralph Stanzione 10. Jeremy McDermott 11. Doug Renalds 12. Artie Pedersen Jr. 13. Daryn Miller

Blunderbusts 20-laps: 1. Tommy Walkowiak 2. Scott Maliszewski 3. Paul Parisi 4. Tom Pickerell 5. Kevin Rommeney 6. Ray Shannon 7. Bryan Sescila 8. Tom Sullivan 9. Jimmy White Jr. 10. Jason Wegmann 11. Fred Nolan 12. Tim Mulqueen 13. Scott Sepe 14. Dave Bruno 15. Bill Portney Sr. 16. Alexandra Sweeney 17. Rob Bader 18. Russ Skippon

Legend Race Cars 20-laps: 1. Johnny Gloor IV 2. Paul Dodorico 3. Kevin Nowak 4. Tom Sherman 6. Tom Rogers Jr. 7. Chris Young 8. Tony Naglieri 9. Glenn Maningo 10. Chris Rogers 11. Jim Pape Jr. 12. Vinny Delaney 13. Jim Byrne 14. Jay Sendlewski 15. Anthony Cacioppo 16. Kyle Elwood 17. Bryan Johnson 18. Joe Scibelli 19. Johnny Brand 20. Jim Sylvester 21. Jeffrey Goodale 22. Chris Turbush 23. Silas Hiscock Sr.  24. Bill Hiscock

8-Cylinder Enduro 60-laps (top five): 1. Robin Schewire 2. Anthony Pizzo 3. Mike Smith 4. Dominic Ranieri Jr. 5. Donald Lawrence