Auto Racing: Brigati takes new owner to victory lane

Dave Brigati of Calverton announced just weeks before the 2011 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series opener at Riverhead Raceway that he would be teaming up with John Redding Motorsports. In just his fifth start for John Redding Motorsports, Brigati drove to victory in the 35-lap main event on Saturday.

Brigati, sitting in victory lane with his new car owner, former driver John Redding, said, “I really wanted to get John to victory lane.”

John Beatty of Valley Stream was second, with Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville roaring back from an early-race trip to the pits to finish third. John Fortin of Holtsville and Eddie Brunnhoelzl III of Levittown rounded out the top five.

A few years ago, Eric Lutz of Miller Place vacated the seat in both his Charger and Late Model machines for his young son, Craig, to take over. Saturday night was dad’s turn to take back the wheel of the family’s Charger car, and the result was Eric Lutz taking a last-lap win, his first since 2007.

The race boiled down to the white-flag lap when Lutz, exiting the second turn, got a run under Frank Dumicich, who attempted to throw a block going into turn three. Lutz held his ground, while Dumicich tried to hold on in the outside lane. Dumicich couldn’t hang on and Lutz was able to score his 10th career win. Dumicich of East Quogue finished the race backwards in second place, much to the delight of fans. Chris Turbush of Riverhead drove from seventh to third place.

Arne Pedersen of Mastic Beach notched his second Figure Eight win in three starts, winning a 15-lap feature. It was his sixth career win. Tom Ferrara of Holbrook was second, and Mike Mujsce of Westhampton Beach came in third.

The defending Legend Race Car champion, Kevin Nowak of Medford, continued his early-season hot streak with his second win of 2011 in a 20-lap event. Mike Malone of Mastic Beach was second and Justin Strumpf of Selden placed third.

Three drivers slugged it out for the four-cylinder Enduro and when the dust settled on the 50-lap contest it was Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma scoring the win. Dennis Nelson of Coram made a late-race pass for second, and Steve Trimboli of Freeport had to settle for third.