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Riverhead, NY Apr. 22nd
By Bob Finan
A new race season dawned on Long Island Saturday afternoon as Riverhead Raceway hosted the first of two pre-season practice days leading up to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series opening night May 6th. After five sessions of NASCAR Modified testing was completed, 2002 track champion JR Bertuccio of Centereach was quickest on the day.
Bertuccio, wheeling the Gershow Recycling entry went a 11.702 in the second session of the day. JR with his father/car owner Joe started the 2023 season off running the first NASCAR WMT event in February at New Smyrna Speedway, however due to a lack of crew availability by-passed the second WMT race in Richmond back in March. Both Bertuccio’s were tight lipped about the remainder of their racing plans for 2023 but given his 28 career wins coupled with Saturday’s performance, if they opt to race Riverhead instantly become a threat for the 2023 championship. John Beatty Jr. and his MSM Elite Motorsports team, runner-up in the 2022 NASCAR Modified championship chase were second overall on the day going a 11.713 in the fourth session. Dave Brigati of Calverton was third quick overall with his Coors Light Silver Bullet turning in a lap of 11.720 in the final session.
Bertuccio wasn’t the only one blistering the track during the afternoon. After taking a season off to start a family, Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead showed no signs of rust in the Eastport Feeds entry as he was the quickest Late Model on the day, going a 12.643 in the 2nd session. The fastest Crate Modified of the day was Sean Glennon of Northport in the LTE Drainage Chevy clicking off a lap of 12.516 in the fourth session. Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace in his Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm Caprice was the fastest Blunderbust of the day with a lap of 14.465 in the third session. Jack Handley Jr. in the River Walk Bar & Grill Super Pro Truck was the fastest Super Pro Truck at 13.329 in session number three. The speediest INEX Legend Race Car of the afternoon belonged to NoMo Motorsports driver Kevin Nowak of Medford who toured the track at 13/419 is the third session. Defending INEX Bandolero champion Ben Morabito of Miller Place was quickest in his Benimax Trucking racer with a lap of 14.922. The Figure Eight cars were part of the practice day festivities, but their scoring loop was unavailable, and no times were recorded.
Readying for their season opening event this Sunday April 30th plenty of testing and tuning unfolded among teams in five race divisions. Gerard Lawrence of Rocky Point runner-up in the 2022 Street Stock championship chase was fastest on the afternoon going a 13977 in the third session while defending Mini Stock champion Andrew Farnham of Baldwin was quickest in his class with the Ken Matlach Motorsports entry going a 14.864 in the second session. Marian Lawrence of Southampton, the 2021 Truck Enduro champion was fast in her Unique Golf machine turning in a lap of 15.509 in the second of four sessions. Kevin Feeney of East Quogue topped the 8-Cylinder Enduro testing going a 15.135 in the first session is his sponsor wanted Chevy while Zach Tyler of Cutchogue was the quickest Gut & Go car turning in a 15.500 in his Miller & Caggiano Attorneys @ Law racer.
The second Riverhead Raceway practice day is set for this Saturday April 29th, again featuring free grandstand admission for spectators. Race cars take to the track at 11:00 am
Then it’s right down to business Sunday afternoon April 30th with the Spring Enduro program. The Street Stocks and Mini Stocks get right after it as both will run 30-lap feature events, first race of the Miller Lite Triple Crown Series. The INEX Bandolero racers will be in action with feature events for the Bandit and Outlaw classes, with the Truck Enduro, 8-Cylinder Enduro and a 4/6-Cylinder Enduro completing the exciting opener for the 2023 season. Pit gates will open at 10:00 am, practice is set for 11:00 am with qualifying set for 12;30. Spectator gates open at 12 noon, adult admission is $30, kids 6-12 $15 with 5 and under free.
The complete 2023 race schedule can be viewed by visiting www.riverheadraceway.com, e-mails reach the track at office@riverheadraceway.com and our phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
