Sports

Auto Racing: Bonsignore drives to Modified championship

John Beatty Jr. of Merrick made an early-race move pay dividends Saturday night as he scored his second career NASCAR Modified victory in a 35-lap main event that saw Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville sew up the division title on the strength of a fourth-place finish.

Bonsignore raced his way to fourth early in the race with his nearest rival, John Fortin of Holtsville, coming in fifth. That was more than enough for Bonsignore to wrap up the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series title.

“We did a lot of traveling along the way to win this championship,” Bonsignore said. “I can’t thank Ken Massa, my owner, and all my guys for the sacrifices they made to get us here tonight.”

Beatty, the 2010 rookie of the year and a Rockville Center police officer, dedicated his race victory to the victims of 9/11. “This win goes out to all those fellow police and firefighters who lost their lives that tragic day,” he said.

In the 35-lapper, Chris Young of Calverton posted a second-place finish, with Dave Sapienza of Riverhead third.

Jarrod Hayes of Calverton won a 50-lap Late Model race. With seven laps to go, Hayes made his way by Mike Bologna of Melville for the race lead and his second win of the season. Bologna was second and Roger Oxee of Peconic took third.

Tom Ferrara of Patchogue notched his third Figure Eight win of the year in a 15-lap main event. Roger Maynor of Bay Shore was second and Arne Pedersen of Mastic third.

Chris McGuire of Shirley scored a career-best fourth Charger win of the year when he won a 20-lap race. Ray Minieri of Bay Shore made his way to second, and the points leader, Chris Turbush of Riverhead, was third.

Tom Pickerell of Huntington made his second visit to victory lane in 2011 when he won a 20-lap Blunderbust feature. Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge clinched the Blunderbust title, his fifth in six years, with a runner-up finish in the race. Rob Bader of Holtsville charged his way to a third-place showing.

Roger Turbush of Riverhead posted his fourth Super Pro Truck win of the season in a 20-lap affair that saw him having to fight off his brother, Chris, for the win. Chris Turbush was the runner-up, Frank Dumicich Jr. of East Quogue was third.

In a time-limit 13-lap Legend Race Car main event, Paul Dodorico of Miller Place completed a 20-year dream as he scored his first career win. Kevin Nowak of Medford took second and third went to Mike Malone of Mastic Beach. On the strength of a fourth-place showing, Chris Young of Calverton, a five-time feature event winner, clinched the 2011 Legend Race Car championship. Dodorico moved out front at the start of the race and led the entire distance before the sloppy race was cut short by time.