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Riverhead, NY Mar. 5th
By Bob Finan
While Riverhead Raceway is the shortest track visited by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the demanding bullring nestled on Eastern Long Island will again be the most frequented by WMT teams in 2023. Track owners Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz have inked three dates for 2023 with Riverhead Raceway anchoring the 19 event WMT schedule. The first WMT stop at the demanding but always exciting bullring features the Buzz Chew Chevrolet-Cadillac 200 Saturday evening May 20th.
“It’s going to be a busy year for the WMT” proclaimed track GM John Ellwood, “Connie, Tom and I are super excited that Riverhead Raceway will be right in the thick of things in deciding the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship through our three races”. Indeed, there is cause for excitement for the ’23 WMT dates as in 2022 each of the three races told a very different story. Last May, just days before the Buzz Chew Chevrolet-Cadillac 200, Doug Coby of Milford, Ct., was announced as a substitute driver for Jimmy Blewett in the Tommy Baldwin Racing entry with Coby promptly winning the race. Fast forward to over a month later where four-time track Modified champion Kyle Soper of Manorville scored one for the home team winning the Miller Lite 200 becoming the first weekly Riverhead driver to win a WMT event since 1995. For the third WMT stop last season history was made when infield pitting was introduced at the inaugural Eddie Partridge 256, a race won by Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville, notching his 9th career WMT triumph at his home track.
The first WMT stop of 2023 at Riverhead unfolds Saturday evening May 20th with the Buzz Chew Chevrolet-Cadillac 200. Joining the WMT stars are the Blunderbusts, INEX Legend Race Cars, Street Stocks and Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars. A month later the WMT troops return to Riverhead for what promises to be a very special evening, the Miller Lite Salutes Mike Ewanitsko 200 Saturday June 24th. The race will celebrate the always popular and successful Mike Ewanitsko who ranks first in NASCAR WMT victories at Riverhead with 11. Ellwood noted, “Mike remains a polarizing personality whenever he visits the track, especially Riverhead and we feel it is time to honor his successes & popularity”. Ewanitsko will serve as the Grand Marshall for the night that includes the Crate Modifieds, Super Pro Trucks, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks.
The 2023 WMT visits wrap up with the 2nd annual Eddie Partridge 256 Saturday September 16th. NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Director Jimmy Wilson in conjunction with Riverhead Raceway officials announced that the infield pitting procedure introduced last year will be in place again for the 256. The first two Riverhead WMT races will use the “hot pit” set-up in the track pit area. The Late Models, Blunderbusts, Street Stocks and Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars round out the program.
Make your plans now to join us for one, or all three of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events at Riverhead Raceway in 2023. The 2023 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series opens up Saturday May 6th with seven divisions in action. The next stop for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is Friday March 31st at the Richmond Raceway. Weekly Riverhead racing as well all WMT events can be streamed live on the Flo Racing platform.
To view the 2023 track schedule please visit www.riverheadraceway.com and click the events link, e-mails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com. The phone number is 631-842-RACE
