Sports

Riverhead Raceway: Ellwood’s decision is a winning one

Earlier in the week leading up to the Twin 30 NASCAR Modified features this past Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway, Kyle Ellwood and his team decided to withdraw from a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at the New London Waterford Speedbowl which was Saturday evening as well in Connecticut. The decision was made in part because of logistical reasons. It was a choice that paid dividends when he swept both races in front of family and friends.

Ellwood would captured the first 30-lap feature over John Fortin of Holtsville and Howie Brode of East Islip. Vinny Biondolillo of Farmingville and Jerry Solomito of Hampton Bays rounded out the top five.

The first four finishers were the same in the second race, with Kyle Soper of Manorville racing to a fifth-place finish.

With his two runner-up tallies, Fortin is the new championship leader with 113 points.

“My crew chief, Rico, couldn’t make it to Waterford or for that matter here this weekend so we decided to race Riverhead,” Ellwood said. “We know this place pretty good and we made the right choice.”

In other races:

Jarrod Hayes of Calverton was in the right place at the right time, scoring his second straight win in a 25-lap Late Model feature. Or, perhaps more importantly, he wasn’t in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A collision moved Hayes into the lead during the final laps and he held on for the victory. Kevin Metzger of Massapequa was second, with Scott Kulesa of Georgetown, Mass., third.

The defending Blunderbust champion, Tom Pickerell of Huntington, scored his 13th career win in the division, taking first in a 20-lap main event. Bill Wegmann Jr. of Patchogue was second and Ed Mistretta of Lindenhurst crossed the line third.

Veteran Dan Turbush drove to his first Super Pro Truck win since July 8, 2006. The defending champion, Lou Maestri, finished second and Turbush’s grandson, Mark Stewart of Riverhead, was third.

For the second week in a row, the Legend Race Car 20-lap main event yielded a first career victory, with George Tomko Jr. of Aquebogue coming home with the win. Second and third went to Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches and John Beatty Jr. of Merrick, respectively.

Six days after scoring what appeared to be his second straight 4/6-Cylinder Enduro win, only to have the victory taken away with a disqualification for not having an exhaust system, Mike Mujsce Jr. of Hampton Bays came back to win a 60-lap feature event. Brandon Esposito of Farmingville was second and George Davis of Patchogue placed third.