Sports

Denis wins race, but Charrier takes grand enduro title

The summer of 2010 could be described as the summer of young Jimmy Denis’ life. The 18-year-old grand enduro driver captured his third win of the season in a 50-lap event this past weekend at Riverhead Raceway just three months after graduating from high school. While Denis won the battle, James Charrier of Shirley rode a three-race win streak to start the season off with his first career grand enduro championship.

With his victory Denis clinched second place in the final point standings. Joe Parcelluzzi of West Sayville drove in second, and Walter Stroud of Yaphank had a good run for third.

Although the final race didn’t go the way Charrier would have liked, his three-race win streak to start off the championship chase proved to be the key ingredient for the title. Charrier added a division-leading fourth win in July.

They say the first career win is the toughest, but trips to victory lane get easier after that. Ben Gregor of Bridgehampton may be living proof of that theory. Gregor notched his third four/six-cylinder enduro a little over a month after his first career win.