Sports

Auto Racing: A late-race drive-by brings Preece victory

RIVERHEAD RACEWAY ROUNDUP

Ryan Preece of Berlin, Conn., raced his way into the lead with just eight laps remaining to post his third win of the season Saturday night in a 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All- American Series Modified main event at Riverhead Raceway.

Jason Agugliaro was driving his heart out in hopes of scoring his first career NASCAR Modified feature event win, but as the race hit the halfway mark, Preece started to make his presence known. On Lap 18 Preece was able to wrestle second away from Dave Brigati and after a few laps closed in on the leader, Agugliaro.

With 10 laps remaining in the race it looked as though Agugliaro might be able to keep Preece at bay but then Preece, exiting a turn on Lap 26, made a charge under Agugliaro. By the time the duo raced through the third and fourth turns, Preece had the lead, a lead he never surrendered over the final eight laps.

“Jason had a good car but as the race wore on he got tight off the corner and my car was great on the bottom and I was able to get by,” said Preece.

After coming in second, Agugliaro of Islip joked, “I wish there was a tour race somewhere tonight we would have won.”

Dave Sapienza of Riverhead made a late-race move to secure third place. Dave Brigati of Calverton and Chuck Steuer of Bohemia were the next two finishers.

In other races:

On the strength of an early-race outside pass, Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead scored his second Late Model win of the year in a 25-lap main event. The race saw many of the championship contenders going into the contest have issues, notably the points leader, Scott Kulesa, and challenger Roger Oxee. Kulesa was knocked out with a damaged shock while Oxee was stopped by a right front flat and fell from the race. That didn’t matter to McDermott, who drove off to victory. Shawn Patrick of Brightwaters was the runner-up. Chris LaSpisa of Shirley made a great comeback from an early-race flat to finish third.

The 20-lap Chargers race saw C. J. Lehmann of Shirley motor to his first win of the season. Chad Churilla of Hauppauge had to settle for second. Chris Turbush of Riverhead made some late-race moves to finish third.

The 20-lap Super Pro Truck feature was decided by three drivers in yet another closely contested short-track classic. The defending champion, Roger Turbush of Riverhead, scored his 16th career win. In a photo finish for second, Brian McElearney of North Babylon edged Mike Albasini of Flushing.

The defending Legend Race Car champion, Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead, extended his points lead, driving to his fourth win of the season in the 27-car field. Timmy Solomito of Islip was second and third went to Kyle Soper of Manorville.

Jason Savoy of Lake Panamoka scored his second consecutive Demolition Derby win of 2013 as he topped newcomer Andrew Ferrante of Riverhead.