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Riverhead Raceway: Slepian goes wire to wire on hot night

Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills scored his second NASCAR Modifieds win of the season Saturday on a hot, sultry night at Riverhead Raceway. Slepian went wire to wire in a 40-lap main event.

Dillon Steuer of Bohemia drove in second, with C.J. Lehmann of Shirley third, championship leader Dave Brigati of Calverton fourth and Peter Bertuccio of Bohemia fifth.

Defending Figure Eight champion Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead had been sidelined from racing since May for health reasons. But Rogers made a triumphant return to action Saturday, winning his 25th career feature event, a 15-lapper. Rogers, subbing for the vacationing Tom Ferrara, started 12th in the field. He made his way around Ken Hyde Jr. of Mastic Beach with two laps remaining for the lead and eventual victory. Hyde had to settle for second. The championship leader, Roger Maynor of Bay Shore, took third.

Defending Blunderbust champion Tom Pickerell of Huntington bounced back from his disqualification from the previous week and won a 20-lap race for the 17th time in his career (and second time this year). That moved him into a three-way tie for third place on the all-time win list with the active Scott Maliszewski and retired Mark Tooker. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was the runner-up. Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge claimed third.

Owen Grennan of Glen Cove continued a family tradition when he went out and won a 20-lap Super Pro Truck feature event. Grennan’s father, Danny, won 22 races as well two track championships (2002, 2003) in the division prior to hanging up his helmet. Roger Turbush of Riverhead used a last-lap pass to grab second. Mike Albasini of Flushing motored in third.

Just a week after a jarring crash that left his INEX Legend Race Car heavily damaged, Kyle Soper of Manorville won a 20-lap Legend Race Car feature. John Beatty Jr. of Merrick grabbed second. Kevin Nowak of Medford raced his way from a ninth-place starting berth to finish third.