‘Lil Bear’ Constantino Finds His Jar Of Honey In Victory Lane At Glen Ridge

Column By: LAURIE FALLIS / RPW – FULTONVILLE, NY – With all the rain on Saturday and early morning in the area of the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, track crew worked vigorously to get the speedway ready for Sunday night’s action. All that rain made for a fast track and some great racing for the fans.

Jim Introne and Joe Orlando started the Crate Modified feature on the front row. As they took the green, it was Introne in the lead, but with one lap was in the record book , the red flag was brought out for Tim Hartman’s #27 as he went hard into the frontstretch wall. Hartman’s car encountered extensive front end damage.

Also involved was Nick Stone, who hit the back of Hartman’s machine as well as Dillon Zacharias. Stone would head to the pits but returned to the race, albeit in the rear of the field. Zacharias, however, went off on the hook. It was not good for the three 27’s in the race, but all drivers were okay.

The race would then resume with Introne still out front. Dave Constantino jumped into the runner-up position from his fifth starting spot, and it didn’t take long before he was the point man.

On a restart after another yellow flag, Chris Curtis made contact with Andrew Buff as the two were fighting for the second position, but it was the car that started in the 10th position, Tony Ferone, that took advantage of contact as he slipped by to take the runner-up spot.

A flat tire on Buffs car brought the yellow with five laps to go, setting up a shootout.

As the green flew, Constantino jumped the berm in the first and second turns letting Ferone make the pass on the inside. However, the “Lil” Bear Constantino clawed his way back on the outside and took back the top spot and held on to claim his second win in as many races.

Ferone settled for second, followed by Bobby Flood who had a strong finish to come home third. Fourth was Stephen Denton and coming back for a top five finish was Nick Stone.

“I blew the transmission as I was coming out of turn four,” Constantino said after the race. “I’m glad it was the last lap. The high side was good as that where I was running.”

The Limited Sportsman feature saw Derrick McGrew Jr. take advantage of a front row starting spot and drove it all the way to victory lane, claiming his second win of the year. Compared to last week’s where he won based on a disqualification, the young driver was able to cross the line as the winner this time, driving a super race. McGrew pulled away on many restarts and held off all challenges and took the checkers.

Greg Perron came home second with a solid run. Billy August had to settle for third with David Richer and Robbie Albreada completing the top 5.

It was Justin Knight and Luke Horning who put the best show of the night as the two passed each other, back and forth, for the lead the entire Pro Stock feature. At times, it was a three-car battle with Ivan Joslin getting into the mix.

With each restart, it was both Knight and Horning that had their turn at the lead spot. Joslin, piloting his own #49 Sunday night instead of his regular ride, hit the berm and sent his car airborne late in the race. The machine came down hard, breaking something underneath and he limped home to a fifth place finish.

On a restart with four laps remaining, “Cousin Luke” had the lead as “Knight Rider” looked to the inside of the 2H down the backstretch. Knight took over the top spot and went on to win the Pro Stock showdown.

“I hope that race was exciting to all of you because it sure was fun driving,” Knight said. “I want to thank my owner Todd Hoffman for the car he gives me every week. We finally have the car figured out.”

Horning wound up second followed by Ron Delease, Buck Gasner, and Joslin.

However, just like last week in the Limited Sportsman, the celebration didn’t last long. After post race inspection, it was deemed that Knight’s valve springs were illegal, thus giving the victory to Luke Horning for the fourth time in a row.

The Street Stock winner on the night was Chase Aussicker.

In the SR. Slingshots, Mike Hill was able to grab yet another win, his third straight, as he was uncontested. The race went caution free with Bryce Cherko, Dan Ballard, Tyler Vadney and Jim Mudge following him across the line.

JR. Slingshots also went caution as it was once again Garrett Poland taking the win. Runner-up was Cole Perry with Adriana DeRocher, Sloan Cherko and Juliana DeRocher completing the top 5.

The 4-Cylinders saw a new winner in the class as PJ Bleau took home the victory. Cole Lawton tried all he could do as he was all over the back bumper of Bleau for a good portion of the event. As the two split a lap car on the last corner, Bleau was able to beat Lawton to the line.

Third was CJ Shepler with TJ Marlitt, and Josh Samrov following.

Sunday night at the Ridge had lots of action. It was the best showing For the Crate Modifieds, with the biggest car count so far, and the night was full of jammed pack racing on the 1/4 mile.

God Bless our servicemen and women, and until the next race, everybody be safe, enjoy the time with your family and have fun.