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Riverhead, NY Oct. 20th.By Bob Finan
While restrictions pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic have eased over time that easing of regulations has not been fully seen at indoor catering facilities in New York State. With that in mind for the second straight year Riverhead Raceway management announced they will have to forgo a indoor championship celebration at Giorgio’s of Baiting Hollow. The nine 2021 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champions along with the top five from all divisions will be recognized track side prior to the Islip 300 Saturday November 13th.
Aside from their championship plaques the 2021 Riverhead Raceway champions will receive a handsome championship ring noting their accomplishments. The ring tradition was started in 2016 by the late Eddie Partridge, his wife Connie and nephew Tom Gatz when they took over ownership of the historic race track. The 2021 presentations will include the drivers who placed second through fifth in each of the nine divisions.
Leading the 2021 “parade of champions” will be Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified champion Kyle Soper of Manorville who delivered car owners Wayne & Joette Anderson their third championship in four seasons. Soper, 25 is now a six time track champion when you factor in his two Late Model and one INEX Legend Race Car titles into the mix. Another wheel man accustom to winning championships is 2021 Late Model champion Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead who scored his sixth career LM crown this year. For Rob Pelis, McDermott’s car owner it his his fifth consecutive Late Model title as Soper won two straight in 2017 & ’18 before McDermott started his three in a row streak in 2019.
“Big Money” Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches scored his second straight Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modified title in 2021 for car owner Stan Morabito and will be feted for that accomplishment along with 2021 Figure Eight champion Scott Pedersen of Shirley. Pedersen delivered the championship to car owner Benny Vecchio, his first while for Scott it was his second career title having won in 2010. Cody Triola of Bay Shore in his self owned Blunderbust earned his first career championship, clinching the title just two weeks after the birth of his first child.
Jack Handley Jr. of Medford for the second season in a row scored the 2021 Super Pro Truck championship however for truck owner Andre Vega it was his fourth championship in a row. Mark Stewart of Riverhead delivered Vega the 2018 and 2019 championships before Handley took over the seat in 2020. After playing the role of championship bridesmaid in 2019 and 2020, George Tomko Jr of Aquebogue won the 2021 INEX Legend Race Car championship for he and his Tomko Racing team proving that third time is the charm.
After a May Meltdown Street Stock win on May 2nd, Brian Brown of Riverhead who was only suppose to drive the Rob Bader owned entry until Rob rehabbed from wrist surgery finds himself with a career first Street Stock championship for he and his car owner. Brown with a strong early season performance was never able to turn the car back to Bader to drive and the rest as they as is history. For the second time in his career Paul Wojcik of Patchogue took a winding path to the 2021 Mini Stock championship. Wojcik who finished fifth in the Mini Stock finale not only found himself the race winner after the top four were DQ’D for unapproved camber but also enough points after the DQ to be declared champion.
For further information on the 5th annual Islip 300 Saturday November 13th please visit our web page at www.riverheadraceway.com. E-mails reach us at riverheadraceway1@gmail.com and our phone number remains 631-842-RACE
