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Riverhead, NY Apr 28th
By Bob Finan
Riverhead Raceway owners Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz faced with an extreme weather forecast for the weekend, decided Friday afternoon to call a halt to the Saturday afternoon practice session and Sunday’s Enduro Opening Day. This sets up an exciting and big doubleheader opening weekend this weekend May 6th and May 7th. Saturday evening the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series goes to post with seven divisions headlined by the NASCAR Modifieds, while the Enduro opening day also hosts seven exciting feature events Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a tough weekend to be in the short track business on the east coast” surmised Riverhead GM John Ellwood, “tracks from New England to Florida have had to pull the plug in advance due to the extreme forecast”. Indeed as of 2:00 pm Friday updated weather app forecasts called for 90% chance of rain Saturday on Long Island, with an 80% chance forecast for Sunday.
The chase for the 2023 championships gets underway Saturday for the NASCAR Modifieds. Late Models, Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds, Figure Eights, Blunderbusts, Super Pro Trucks and INEX Legend Race Cars. Qualifying gets started at 5:15 pm with opening ceremonies planned for 6:15 pm. General Admission gates open at 4:00 pm. Competitors should note Modified and Crate Modified haulers will enter from 11:00 am until 12 noon, at which time the pit gate officially opens. Rotating practice starts at 3:00 pm, a 4:30 pm drivers meeting will be held.
The Street Stocks and Mini Stocks get right down to business Sunday as they both run 30-lap openers for the 2023 Miller Lite Triple Crown Series. The Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Bandits and Outlaws along with a Truck Enduro, 8-Cylinder Enduro and a 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go Enduro join the Sunday festivities. Qualifying is set for 12:30 pm, followed by opening ceremonies while the general admission gates open at 12 noon. Race teams on Sunday can expect pit gates to open at 10:00 am with rotating practice set for 11:00 am.
Adult general admission for both events is priced at $30, kids 6-12 $15 with 5 & under free.
For a complete listing of all 2023 events please visit www.riverheadraceway.com, e-mails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com and the phone number is 631-842-RACE.
