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Riverhead, NY Nov. 3rd
By Bob Finan
Three second generation racing personalities bearing iconic names will collaborate for a two car effort at the Islip 300 Tour Type Modified event Saturday November 13th at Riverhead Raceway. In the waning days of October Tommy Baldwin Jr. announced he’ll field two cars for the $7,000 to win race, naming Jimmy Blewett of Howell, NJ and Michael Christopher Jr. of Wolcott, Ct. as his drivers. The racing lineage among the three families runs deep in the Northeast.
Baldwin, owner of Tommy Baldwin Racing and former Daytona 500 winning crew chief grew up at the bullrings of Long Island while his father “Tiger” Tom Baldwin raced back then chasing the NASCAR National Modified championship. Whether it was Islip Speedway, Riverhead Raceway, Freeport Stadium or New Egypt Speedway in New Jersey Tommy would tag along hanging in the grandstands with among others Stephen Park John Blewett III and John’s younger brother Jimmy. When the elder Baldwin decided to hit the road in 1985 to follow the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Tommy Jr. when his school schedule permitted was part of the effort. It started a career that not only led Baldwin to a Daytona 500 championship with Ward Burton, but also to becoming a NASCAR Cup owner. These days Tommy enjoys fielding his potent Ultra Wheel Tour Type Modifieds chasing the NASCAR WMT and just about any other major Modified race on the eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida.
Originally TBR Racing was heading to the Islip 300 with young Michael Christopher Jr., 22 as their driver. While Baldwin’s racing roots are steeped on Long Island, the Christopher family forged a name for themselves in Connecticut, namely the Stafford Motor Speedway. While Michael’s father Mike was successful in the SK Modified ranks winning 28 feature events in route to three of his own SK Modified titles, Michael’s fabled uncle Ted who ruled the historic half mile. “TC” authored 131 feature event wins on his way to an astounding nine track championships. The Islip 300 will mark only the second Riverhead start for Michael Christopher Jr. after he and TBR teamed up for the WMT in September yielding a 14th place showing.
While preparing his race cars in late September, Tommy Baldwin Jr. came upon a social media post by Jimmy Blewett seeking a ride for the Islip 300. The two friends who used to sit in the grandstands and watch their fathers “Tiger” Tom Baldwin and John Blewett Jr. race quickly struck a deal for “Showtime” to wheel a second TBR entry. Blewett, like his father and brother before him carved a name for himself in their native New Jersey. Over the years Jimmy, 41 has won some 80 feature events at Wall Stadium where he is also a four time track Modified champion. Jimmy in the previous four Islip 300 events has not competed, but when his former car owner Eddie Partrdige passed away suddenly in September he knew he had to do what he could to race Eddie’s race. Jimmy took to social media, Tommy saw the post and the rest just naturally came together.
With two chances at victory Tommy Baldwin Racing is very much looking forward to the $32,650 Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway. So are some 24 other Tour Type Modified teams who have indicated they will compete for the rich win. The Riverhead Raceway Crate Modifieds and INEX Legend Race Cars will complete the program.
Pit gates will open at 8:00 am. A continuous half hour practice for the INEX Legend Race Cars runs from 10:00 am through 10:30 am, the Crate Mods then take to the track at 10:30 for a half hour. At 11:00 am the spectator gates will open just in time for a one hour Tour Type Modified practice. Qualifying will be via time trials for the three divisions and commence at 1:00 pm. Rain date is Sunday November 14th, if the weather is bad Sunday too, the race will then shift to Saturday November 20th.
For further information please visit www.riverheadraceway.com, e-mails reach the track at riverheadraceway1@gmail.com, our phone number remains 631-842-RACE
