Solomito topped a tough field of NASCAR modified veterans at Riverhead Raceway in a 35-lap contest on Saturday evening. The 17-year-old driver turned the trick in just his fifth start for car owners Dave and Cindy Brigati.
"They kept telling me before the race the key was to get the jump on Wayne [Anderson] going into [the first turn], and I was able to accomplish that," said Solomito. Referring to Anderson, a five-time track champion, Solomito said, "I can't tell you how it feels to race and beat a Long Island legend."
Anderson of Yaphank kept the heat on Solomito until the checkers waved to finish second. John Fortin of Holtsville, who kept Anderson busy in the second half of the race in a fight for second place, was third. Fortin is the division's points leader. Completing the top five were Chuck Steuer of Bohemia and Bill Park of Manorville.
Chris Turbush of Riverhead showed that the outside lane works at Riverhead Raceway when he won his fourth charger race in six starts this season. It was his 17th career triumph. Jay Henschel of Levittown was second, and Frank Dumicich of East Quogue made a late-race move for third.
Ron Langdon of Wantagh made a triumphant return to the blunderbust victory lane for the first time since July of 2002, when he won a 30-lap feature event. Langdon won by less than a car length in front of Riverhead Raceway's all-time leading blunderbust winner, Tommy Walkowiak of Ridge. Tom Pickerell of Huntington was third.
Dave Koenig of Freeport would rather forget the first six super-pro truck races of the season, but not the seventh. That is because the veteran won a 20-lap feature event, leading from start to finish for his sixth career triumph.
Roger Turbush of Riverhead, who drove a Koenig team truck last year, was second. Dumicich scored his first of two third-place finishes on the night.
Michael Rommeney of Maspeth collected his second win of the year in a 12-lap school-bus figure-eight race.
Matt Brown of Ronkonkoma scored his second four-cylinder enduro victory in 13 days, winning a 75-lap affair. Matt Guida of Riverhead, who led early in the race, was second, and Donald Lawrence of Hampton Bays placed third.
Michael Wahl of East Islip won an eight-cylinder demolition derby in a hotly contested event. Wahl, Jimmy White and Tim Mulqueen slugged it out for the win with Wahl almost eliminating both with one blow on the front stretch.