Sports

Riverhead Raceway: Turbush, 65, trucks to 80th victory

Dan Turbush of Riverhead, 65, won the New England Truck Series Riverhead Nationals 55-lapper for his 80th career win at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday. John Baker of Brookhaven won his first career NASCAR Modified feature in the first Twin 30 feature and championship leader Shawn Solomito of East Moriches took the nightcap.

A mix of New England Truck Series teams along with several Riverhead Super Pro Truck teams made up the 17-NETS Truck field for the Riverhead National event. Turbush, who started racing at Riverhead Raceway in 1967, claimed the win, His son, Roger Turbush of Riverhead, came in second. The next three finishers were Dave Koenig of Baldwin, Jimmy Rennick Jr. of Howard Beach and Jerry Giordano of Freeport.

Following his first win in the Modified ranks, Baker said: “This is a great feeling. … It really is a dream come true.”

Dave Brigati of Calverton was second, with Jason Agugliaro of Islip third, Howie Brode of East Islip fourth and Solomito fifth.

The second Twin 30 saw Solomito held off runner-up Kyle Soper of Manorville for the victory. Agugliaro logged another third-place tally. Brigati and John Fortin Sr. of Holtsville completed the top five.

Former Charger standout C.J. Lehmann delivered his first Modified Crate victory in a 25-lap main event. Brigati drove in second, and third went to Dillon Steuer of Bohemia.

Championship leader Jack Handley Jr. of Medford claimed his third Blunderbust win of the season, surviving a late-race challenge from Tim Mulqueen of Levittown. Mulqueen turned in the drive of the race, advancing from the 16th starting spot to finish second. Teammate Joshua Creel of Monks Corner, South Carolina, was third, the best finish to date for the freshman driver.

Another driver laying claim to his third win of 2016 was INEX Legend Race Car winner Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead, who prevailed in a 20-lapper. Kevin Nowak of Medford was second, and Brendon Bock of Franklin Square placed third.

A 20-car field turned out for the Mini 8 Enduro, making the action at the intersection plentiful and at times breathtaking. When the wild race concluded, Michael Rommeney was the apparent winner, but after the race was disqualified for having an unapproved tire on his car. That handed the win in the 20-lap event to Jason Savoy of Lake Panamoka. Preston Prydatko of Hicksville was second and Tim Lento of Medford third.

A scary incident occurred during the race when Brandon Esposito, while leading the race, making hard contact with another car.

Esposito spun around violently from the impact and was sore but otherwise OK afterwards.

A 20-lap School Bus Figure Eight race saw Paul Fox of Ridge win. Asked about his risk taking and some near misses at the intersection, Fox quipped: “It’s only a bus. I’ll get another one if I wreck this one.”