Auto Racing: Hall of Fame 100 is smooth as Silk
RIVERHEAD RACEWAY
The defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, Ron Silk of Norwalk, Conn., topped a 26-car field to win the Richie Evans NASCAR Hall of Fame 100 for the NASCAR Modifieds on Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway. He became the first repeat winner of the race since its inception.
“I’ve said it before, driving for this team is a dream come true,” Silk said in victory lane.
Shawn Solomito of Islip was second, and in the process collected all the lap leader bonus money for the top Riverhead car per lap. Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville was third. Howie Brode of East Islip took over the Riverhead Raceway points lead with his fourth-place finish. Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn., was fifth.
In other races:
Young Figure Eight talent Ken Hyde Jr. of Medford scored the biggest win of his budding career as he won the Cromarty Cup 20, leading all the way in doing so. Tom Ferrara of Patchogue came in second place while his car owner and teammate Mike Mujsce of Westhampton Beach was third.
Bill Wegmann Sr. of North Bellmore was proclaimed the winner of a 20-lap Blunderbust feature after Rob Bader of Holtsville was moved back two spots for passing under the yellow line. Joe Seeger of Oceanside led the first five laps of the race before he was overtaken by Bader, but in the estimation of the NASCAR officials Bader’s pass was under the yellow line and therefore, after the checker flag waved in the non-stop race, he was moved back. This awarded Wegmann the win in an Oldsmobile, a car he built in 1989. Seeger was second, and Bader had to settle for third.
Chris Young of Calverton notched his second Legend Race Car win of 2012 as he topped a 20-lap main event just hours removed from his senior prom. Young, the defending champion, was able to keep a comfortable enough lead over the second half of the race to post another win over Kevin Nowak of Medford, who was second. Brendon Bock of Franklin Square enjoyed another top five-finish, coming in third.
Dege Russell of Rocky Point passed Dominic Ranieri just laps after the halfway mark of the 75-lap Eight-Cylinder Enduro to score a win in his Chevy. Early on it was a classic battle as Russell and Ranieri fought for the lead with Anthony Pizzo. However, once Russell got out front, he pulled away to claim the win. Ranieri of East Northport was second, with third going to Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma.
