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Riverhead, NY Oct. 29th
By Bob Finan
No matter what he drives, Kyle Soper of Manorville knows how to do two things with a race car, win races and championships. For the third time in the past four seasons Kyle Soper brought home the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified championship honors at Riverhead Raceway for car owner Wayne Anderson. The tandem hope to ride that championship momentum to a second victory in the Islip 300 Saturday November 13th. Kyle won the 2019 edition of the $7,000 to win Tour Type Modified extravaganza.
When the checker flag waved on the final Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified event of the season September 25th, Kyle Soper took down his fifth win of the year, winning exactly one third of the fifteen regular season races. Since his first career NASCAR Modified victory with his family team on June 20th 2016, Soper has compiled an impressive 24 career victories with NASCAR’S oldest division. Soper’s winning ways are not just limited to NASCAR Modified racing. Kyle scored nine career Late Model wins on his way to the 2018 and 2019 tracks championships with car owner Rob Pelis, six INEX Legend Race Car wins along with their 2014 title, and throw in a Crate Modified win subbing for Jack Orlando. Tally up the wins and Kyle is a 40 time career winner across four divisions as well a six time track champion at just 25-years old.
Despite his astounding driving stats Kyle realizes credit is shared through out any good race team, a point as he so often makes during victory lane interviews. “My Dad, Tom just puts endless hours into my racing, right from day one in the go-karts” Soper reflects, “I have a dream ride and opportunity to drive for Wayne & Joette Anderson and the faith that the Corwin family of Eastport Feeds has in me is very much appreciated. It truly is the perfect situation”.
Entering the 2021 Islip 300 Kyle Soper is looking to sweep the three race Crown Jewel Series for the Ted Christopher Cup with Kyle having won both the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 and The Bubba 100. The Crown Jewel Series was slated to have been a four race series but rain washed out the first schedules race, a 71-lapper July 3rd. The series pays separate points in addition to track points. Soper will carry a 26-point lead over JB Fortin of Holtsville into the 300. “Winning the Ted Christopher Cup would be amazing, TC meant so much to Modified racing in the Northeast, simply a legend”.
Soper will have plenty of Saturday night foes to contend with as a solid contingent of Riverhead Raceway regulars are readying for the Islip 300. Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills, John Baker of Brookhaven, Michael Rutkoski of Mattituck, Dave Brigati of Calverton, the Turbush brothers, Roger of Riverhead and Chris of Wading River, Chris Young of Calverton, John Beatty Jr. of Merrick, Justin Brown of Manorville, CJ Lehmann of Lake Grove, Artie Pedersen of Center Moriches and Eddie Brunnhoelzl III of Levittown.
Thirteen “invading” drivers are currently gearing up for a run at the $7,000 payday led by 2021 WMT champion Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville. Two time 300 winner Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct. is hoping for a third win while Tommy Baldwin Racing is bringing Mike Christopher Jr. of Plainville, Ct and Jimmy “Showtime” Blewett of Howell, NJ giving TBR two chances at victory. Keith Rocco of Berlin, Ct., Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Ma., JB Fortin of Holtsville, Kyle Bonsignore of Bay Shore, Eric Goodale of Riverhead, Craig Lutz of Miller Place, Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Ma., Dave Sapienza of Riverhead and Gary McDonald of Ronkonkoma are all in Islip 300 preparations.
Pits will open at 8:00 am Saturday November 13th at Riverhead Raceway with one hour continuous Tour Type Modified practice to run from 11:00 am through 12 noon. The Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds and INEX Legend Race Cars will compliment the 300, INEX Legend Race Cars will practice for a continuous half hour, 10:00-10:30 am followed by the Crate Mods, 10:30-11:00 am. Qualifying for all three classes will start at 1:00 pm with time trials for the Legends, followed by Crate Mods and Tour Type Mods. B-Mains will be contested only if necessary.
For those unable to be at the track in person the Islip 300 will be streamed live on Riverheadraceway.Tv starting at 12:45 pm. Campers are welcome at no charge but are required to park in the rear lot behind the back fence of the pit area only. There are no hook-ups. Further information can be found at www.riverheadraceway.com, e-mails reach us at riverheadraceway1@gmail.com. The track phone remains 631-842-RACE.
