Donny Lia Wins Again at Riverhead : Raceway Media - Motorsports News & Information

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – (Aug.7, 2004) Donny Lia of Jericho, N.Y. successfully defended his Riverhead 200 title Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway. Lia, who earned his first career NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series victory in this event last year, passed Chris Young on lap 49 and led the remaining 152 laps.

It was the first victory for Lia and the Huntington Honda Chevrolet race team this season. He continued his recent string of top finishes as this was his fourth straight Top-5.

“We had a simple game plan,” said Lia. “We wanted to start near the front and conserve the tires. I used them up a little getting the lead, but I was able run my own line after that. It feels great to get a win for the whole team, we’ve been so close this season.”

Frank Vigliarolo of Mt. Sinai, N.Y. finished second, just .68 seconds behind, in the NuCom/Bear Motorsports Dodge. Third place went to Wayne Anderson of Yaphank, N.Y. in the Insula-Dome Skylights Chevrolet. Anderson, the 1994 series champion, also earned the Powerade Power Move of the Race Award after starting 22nd.

Jerry Marquis, the winner at Riverhead in June, finished fourth in the Roby’s Propane/Reynolds Auto Chevrolet. Tony Ferrante, Jr. rounded out the Top-5 in the Petro Fuel Oil Chevrolet. Ferrante set fast time in qualifying to earn the first Bud Pole Award of his career.

The Top-10 qualifiers drew for starting position. Young drew the pole while Vigliarolo picked starting position number two. Lia started third and Ferrante drew fourth. Young held the top spot at the start. Lia moved to second on lap 3 and waited 45 more laps before making the pass for the win.

Series point leader Tony Hirschman finished 10th, one position ahead of Eddie Flemke. Hirschman leads Flemke by just nine points with seven races remaining.

The next event for the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series is the New England Dodge Dealers 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Conn. on Aug. 11.

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. Unofficial results of the Riverhead 200 NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series race at Riverhead Raceway showing starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, make of car, alps completed, winner’s average speed in mph, reason out if any and money won.

1. (3) Donny Lia, Jericho N.Y., Chevrolet, 200, 43.860 mph, $6,000
2. (2) Frank Vigliarolo, Jr, Mt. Sinai N.Y., Dodge, 200, $2,800
3. (22) Wayne Anderson, Yaphank N.Y., Chevrolet, 200, $2,700
4. (6) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Chevrolet, 200, $2,500
5. (4) Anthony Ferrante, Jr, Franklin Square, Chevrolet, 200, $2,100
6. (12) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Ford, 200, $2,100
7. (10) John Fortin, Holtsville N.Y., Chevrolet, 200, $1,200
8. (20) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 199, $1,800
9. (21) Howie Brode, Bayshore N.Y., Chevrolet, 199, $1,050
10. (11) Tony Hirschman, Jr, Northampton PA., Chevrolet, 199, $1,800
11. (5) Eddie Flemke, Southington Conn., Pontiac, 199, $1,775
12. (17) Gregg Shivers, Rocky Point N.Y., Pontiac, 199, $1,650
13. (8) Doug Coby, III, Milford Conn., Chevrolet, 198, $1,625
14. (24) Rick Fuller, Auburn Mass., Pontiac, 198, $1,675
15. (14) Ken Heagy, Calverton N.Y., Chevrolet, 198, $850
16. (27) Zack Sylvester, Lebanon Conn., Chevrolet, 198, $1,625
17. (16) Larry Altholtz, New York N.Y., Chevrolet, 194, $800
18. (18) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y., Chevrolet, 190, $1,075
19. (1) Chris Young, Calverton N.Y., Chevrolet, 188, $750
20. (28) Ken Barry, Griswold Conn., Chevrolet, 186, $1,525
21. (26) Tommy Cravenho, Jr, Raynham Mass., Dodge, 172, Accident, $1,500
22. (9) Thomas Rogers, Patchogue N.Y., Chevrolet, 164, Accident, $700
23. (23) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 137, Accident, $1,500
24. (25) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn., Ford, 126, Accident, $2,000
25. (15) Michael Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 121, Accident, $1,400
26. (7) Chuck Steuer, Bohemia N.Y., Chevrolet, 116, Overheating, $700
27. (13) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo N.Y., Dodge, 79, Accident, $1,500
28. (19) Nevin George, Kunkletown Pa., Chevrolet, 26, Accident, $1,400

Failed to Qualify: (17) Dan Jivanelli (#42), Jimmy Kuhn, Jr (#72), Tommy Cloce (#69), Dave Etheridge (#54), Thomas Bolles (#76), Renee Dupuis (#90), Steve Whitt * (#06), Kevin Konopka (#51), Tom Baldwin (#7), Fred Vordermeier (#04), Mike Andrews, Jr (#10), Daniel Knoll (#70), Wade Cole (#33), Mike Curtis (#5), Jake Marosz (#9), Mike Molleur (#35), John Blewett, III (#77).

Time of Race: 1 hrs., 8 mins, 24 secs
Average Speed: 43.860 mph
Margin of Victory: .68 Seconds
AUTOMETER ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Gregg Shivers *, 23 Reynolds Insurance Pontiac
BUD POLE AWARD: Anthony Ferrante, Jr, 31 Ferrante Racing Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Wayne Anderson, 45 Insula-Dome Skylights Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 14-22; 27-32; 81-87; 95-100; 105-110; 113-118; 119-129; 139-143; 167-169. 9 for 59 laps.
Lap Leaders: Chris Young 1-48, Donny Lia 49-200.
Total Laps Led: Donny Lia 152, Chris Young 48. 1 changes involving 2 drivers.

Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points:
1. Tony Hirschman, Jr 1770
2. Eddie Flemke 1761
3. Jerry Marquis 1655
4. Ted Christopher 1627
5. Rick Fuller 1600
6. Donny Lia 1563
7. Jamie Tomaino 1518
8. Chuck Hossfeld 1452
9. Tommy Cravenho, Jr 1435
10. Zack Sylvester * 1435
11. Ken Barry * 1422
12. Nevin George 1392
13. Todd Szegedy 1346
14. John Blewett, III 1320
15. Thomas Bolles 1295
16. Doug Coby, III 1291
17. Gregg Shivers * 1192
18. Eric Beers 1149
19. Tommy Cloce 1122
20. Anthony Ferrante, Jr 1115

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