Sports

Auto Racing: For Rogers, victory and some doughnuts

Riverhead Raceway

RIVERHEAD RACEWAY

Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead notched his second NASCAR Modified feature event win of the 2014 Whelen All American Series Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway before a standing-room-only crowd. It was the 26th win in Rogers’ career.

When the race concluded, Rogers celebrated with some doughnuts on the back stretch. “This is a great win for my team” he said in victory lane.

Dave Brigati of Calverton was the runner-up. The division leader, Howie Brode of East Islip, took third place. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead and Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, Conn., were fourth and fifth, respectively.

In other races:

The 15-lap Figure Eight feature event ended just in the nick of time for race winner Mike Mujsce of Quogue, who captured his second win of the year and the 16th overall of his career. The final lap of the race saw Mujsce having to hold on for dear life as his right front tire went down. He was unable to take the traditional victory lap because of the flat tire. The division’s defending champion, Ken Hyde Jr. of Medford, was second, with Scott Pedersen of Shirley placing third.

Tim Mulqueen of Levittown scored his first Blunderbust win of the season, holding off the hard-charging Terry Stiles of Rocky Point. It was Mulqueen’s second career win. Stiles rebounded from a penalty for second-place honors. The division leader, Jack Handley Jr. of Medford, moved from 16th to finish third.

Kyle Soper of Manorville scored his second Legend Race Car win, withstanding heavy pressure from Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches in a 20-lap race. On the closing laps, Davidowitz tapped the wall with his right rear wheel and that affected his car’s performance for the rest of the race. He was able, however, to nurse the car home for second place. Bryan Kelly of Riverhead drove a stellar race, finishing third.

On opening day for the Four/Six-Cylinder Truck Enduro division back in May, former champion Don Nelson Jr. of Rocky Point blew his engine and at the time thought his season was over before it even started. That wasn’t the case. Nelson came back with a vengeance Saturday as he not only won a 40-lap feature but dominated the race. Greg Harris of Riverhead was second, and Robin Vollmoeller of Riverhead was third.

History was made in the School Bus Demolition Derby as the talented field of daredevils went toe to toe for nearly 45 minutes before Michael Rommeney of Maspeth was the last bus standing and the winner of the event. It all boiled down to Rommeney, John Denniston of Westbury and Mike O’Keefe of Islip. Denniston was second.