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Riverhead Raceway: Modified wins go to Soper, Solomito

On a hot August night for the NASCAR Whelen All American Series at Riverhead Raceway, with lightening dancing in the sky off in the distance, Kyle Soper of Manorville and championship leader Shawn Solomito of Center Moriches earned wins in NASCAR Modifieds Twin 50 feature events on Saturday. For Soper, it was his second win of the season and Solomito’s fourth.

On the strength of a late-race pass, Dave Brigati of Calverton was the runner-up in the first race. Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead placed third, Solomito fourth and Howie Brode of East Islip fifth.

In the second 50-lapper, Solomito was followed by Brode, Brigati, Soper and Jason Agugliaro of Islip.

Blunderbust championship leader Jack Handley Jr. of Medford, using a borrowed car from fellow competitor Rob Bader, scored his 19th career victory in a 30-lap event. Handley’s own car was down with engine issues, and if not for Bader’s offer to use his car, Handley would have lost a lot of ground to championship challenger Tim Mulqueen.

Making a rare start from the pole position, Handley cruised to victory. Jim Laird of Islip Terrace was second, with defending champion Tom Pickerell of Huntington making a late-race charge for third.

A photo finish determined the winner of the 20-lap Super Pro Truck feature, with Roger Turbush of Riverhead nipping Rob McCormick of Ridge for his third win of 2016. It was the 25th career win in the class for Turbush. Lou Maestri of Deer Park was credited with third.

Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead won his fourth INEX Legend Race Car feature of the season Saturday, but as he was telling everyone around him that the victory was won by his crew during the week. Just seven days removed from a blown engine and damaged race car, Ellwood happened to be in the right place at the right time with just over a lap left in the race when the top two cars came together. He prevailed in a heated race with Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills for the victory. Championship leader Vinny Delaney of Holtsville was third.

Grand Enduro veteran Jimmy White Jr. of Southampton won the first leg of the Sizzling Summer Series, taking a 40-lap race. Dave Antos of Lindenhurst was second and Glenn Simonin of Holbrook finished third.

After starting the 40-lap Truck Enduro from the 15th spot, Ben Gregor of Bridgehampton kept his perfect 2016 record intact, scoring yet another win. He moved from 15th to the lead by the time the field started the fifth lap. Second place went to Peter Rabaglia of Bohemia, and Don Nelson Jr. of Rocky Point took third.