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Riverhead, NY Mar. 29th
By Bob Finan
Baseball fans have spring training to look forward to during a long off season, but if you are a race fan on Long Island you very much look forward to the two practice days at Riverhead Raceway signaling another exciting race season is right around the corner. Today track officials announced Saturday April 22nd and Saturday April 29th as the two practice days with the tradition of free grandstand admission remaining in place for eager race fans. Also, track owners Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz revealed the Enduro Opening Day program has been moved up one week to Sunday April 30th starting the new race season a week earlier.
During the off-season race teams have been planning and working towards the 2023 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series opener at Riverhead on Saturday May 6th. The practice days afford teams the opportunity to find out how their winter efforts will pan out and to make any further adjustments they hope land them in victory lane. Fans are encouraged to capture as many photos as they can of the cars in their new livery for the 2023 campaign and share them on social media. The two free admission practice days also serve as a good vehicle for loyal race enthusiasts to introduce to their friends, family and neighbors the sport they love at no cost.
John Ellwood, GM of Riverhead Raceway disclosed the agenda in place for race teams April 22nd and 29th. The pit window will open at 8:15, with pit gates to swing open at 9:00 am. At 11:00 am both weeks race cars take to the famed quarter mile in the following order, Blunderbusts, Street Stocks, Super Pro Trucks, Crate Modifieds. Late Models, INEX Legend Race Cars, NASCAR Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Eddie Partridge All-Star Vintage Cars, INEX Bandoleros and Figure Eights. NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series teams will practice in rotation until 4:00 pm, followed by the Truck Enduros, 8-Cylinder Enduros and 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go warm-ups that run until 5:00 pm.
All race teams are reminded by GM John Ellwood and Chief of Technical Inspection Randy Murray that no race vehicle can take to the track without first going through and passing a Safety Inspection. Two Safety Inspection days proceed practice days on Saturday April 8th and April 15th at the track from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm with a $20 fee per car. On practice days the Safety Inspection process will start shortly after the pit gste opening at 9:00 am. Additionally Ellwood also warned teams that no cars can practice without registering a 2023 car number. That process can only be completed by visiting www.riverheadraceway.com, click on the Competitors Page link to find the Car Registration portion. No car number will be registered at any point of the season in person, no exceptions.
Under the heading why wait a week, Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz recently decided it was best to move up the Enduro Opening Day to Sunday April 30th. Pit gates will open at 10:00 am, with practice starting at 11:00 am. Practice will be limited to only divisions racing Sunday, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, INEX Bandoleros, Truck Enduro, 8-Cylinder Enduro and 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go Enduro classes. The Street Stock and Mini Stock divisions get right down to business as they both run their first race of the 2023 Miller Lite Triple Crown Series, with classes in both utilizing heat race qualifying for feature event line ups. Heats start at 12:30 pm, opening ceremonies are set for 1:00 pm, spectator gates open at 12 noon.
For a complete schedule of events please visit www.riveheadraceway.com, e-mails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com with the phone number 631-842-RACE.
