Sports

Auto Racing: Triumphant return for Brigati before S.R.O. crowd

RIVERHEAD RACEWAY ROUNDUP

Dave Brigati of Calverton shook off a run of bad racing luck on Saturday evening in front of a standing-room-only crowd at Riverhead Raceway when he held off teammate Dave Sapienza of Riverhead to win a 35-lap NASCAR Modified feature event. It was his first win since returning to Riverhead full time at the start of the 2013 season.

At the finish, it was a relieved and happy Brigati scoring a much-needed win, one ironically that wouldn’t have come without a phone call from Sapienza,

“I tore up all my equipment early in the season,” Brigati said. “I was done, and then Sap calls me and asked if I wanted to drive his older car, and now I’m glad I said yes.”

Following was Timmy Solomito of Islip in third place. Howie Brode of East Islip was fourth and Jason Agugliaro of Islip fifth.

In other races:

Eric Zeh of Selden worked his way through the Charger field from a seventh starting position to score his third win of the season and in the process reclaimed sole possession of the points lead. Chad Churilla of Hauppauge had to settle for runner-up money. Chris Turbush of Riverhead crossed the finish line third.

The Blunderbust division normally can be counted on for quick running feature events, with many going from start to finish without a yellow flag, but that was not the case Saturday. A rough and tumble race ended on Lap 12 because of a time limit. Jimmy White Jr. of Southampton was declared the winner, giving him his second victory of the year. Tim Mulqueen of Levittown took second, and Brian Brown of Baiting Hollow ended up third.

In a 20-lap Legend Race Car feature, Vinny Delaney of Holtsville finally won his first career main event after coming close before. Timmy Solomito of Islip sped in second after making one last bid for the lead off a turn. He came up half a car length short. Veteran Paul Dodorico of Miller Place claimed third.

James Charrier of Shirley continued his domination of Grand Enduro racing, topping the field in a 50-lap feature. White was second. Third place went to Greg Zaleski of Jamesport.

In the 8-Cylinder Demolition Derby, the defending National Demolition Derby champion, Jason Savoy of Lake Panamoka, outlasted veteran Michael Rommeney of Maspeth for the victory. Both drivers were coming off wins from the Sunday before at the Orange County Fair.

In the School Bus Demolition Derby, Rommeney rebounded for the win after outlasting Savoy. Chris Van Cott of Commack was third.