RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — When racing gives you lemons, you make lemonade. That is exactly what Chris Turbush did Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway, capturing his first career NASCAR Modified victory in spectacular fashion.
Turbush was penalized earlier in the race for rough driving after contact with another competitor. Instead of throwing in the towel, Turbush and his team pulled up their boot straps, went to work and drove back to the front for the win.
Kyle Soper won the $300 Pole Award by turning in a lap of 11.627 in qualifying with Dave Brigati second fastest at 11.667. When the race got underway, Soper raced out to the early lead while Brigati tucked in behind him.
Matt Brode slowed the race for the first caution with a left front flat. When the race resumed, the green flag didn’t stay out long when Justin Brown got into the wall on lap eight, ending his race night. It was deemed by race control that Turbush made contact with Brown and he was sent to the rear of the field for the restart.
When the race resumed, Soper and Brigati remained the top two in the 19-car field.
On lap 33, Brigati was able to gain a run to the inside and take the lead of the race from Soper, who was then sitting second. With the race settling in, Brigati began to pull away.
As the race neared the 100-lap mark, it was clear that the fastest car on track was Turbush who began picking off cars in the top 10 to race into third.
On lap 103, Turbush ducked under Soper to take second. After eight laps of gaining ground on leader Brigati, Chris had to try and find a way by the veteran driver. As the duo exited the fourth corner, Turbush found a way under Brigati and was the new race leader.
Brigati started to fall off with tire wear and moments later was passed by Soper for second.Â
At the finish, it was Chris Turbush steering the Eastern Fuel Chevy to his first career NASCAR Modified win after having won 66 times in other classes at the track. While unstrapping for victory lane, an overjoyed Turbush looked right into the cameras and shouted, “This is why you never give up, you kids out there never give up, you too can do this.”
After receiving The Bubba 150 trophy from the family of Bob Patanjo, Chris reflected, “Man after that call, which I didn’t agree with, my team and I knew we had a great car. I just tightened up the belts and went to work.”
Soper brought the Eastport Feeds Chevy home for runner-up money and noted afterwards, “Congrats to Chris and his team. As for our car, we were just a tick too tight for my liking but we think we know where to be for the next one.”
Completing the podium was Dylan Slepian who is chasing Soper for the season long championship. Michael Christopher Jr. drove from deep in the field to finish fourth while John Beatty Jr. was fifth.