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Riverhead, NY May 30th
By Bob Finan
With Memorial Day weekend in the mirror, Riverhead Raceway speeds into summer this Saturday June 3rd with a busy seven event Advance Auto Part Weekly Series program. Two classes, the Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds and Blunderbusts kick off their 2023 Miller Lite Triple Crown Series during the program, that will conclude with a wild School Bus race on the tight quarter mile oval.
Three Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Division I Modified events have been run to date in ’23 with three different winners, Timmy Solomito of Islip, Jack Handley Jr. of Medford and Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead scoring wins. Will that trend continue Saturday in the 50-lap NASCAR Modified feature is the question with drivers like Dave Brigati of Calverton, John Beatty Jr. of Merrick, Dylan Slepain of Dix Hills and Chris Young of Calverton just a handful of drivers hoping to make it four winners in four events.
Coming off a rough and tumble May 27th event teams that compete in the Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds will burn the midnight oil this week. Chase Grennan of Glen Cove, older brother and defending champion Owen and Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead have all won once this year, hoping to become the first repeat in the 40-lap Miller Lite Triple Crown Series lid lifter. Among the teams scrambling to repair damage for this past week are Sean Glennon of Northport, Dennis Krupski of Calverton, AJ DeSantis of Yaphank and Stephen Coleman of East Islip. A win Saturday would truly make all the thrashing during the week for those teams worthwhile.
The Blunderbusts return for competition with both defending champion Cody Triola of Bay Shore and Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace having already visited victory lane in 2023, both are favorites to win the 30-lap MLTCS opener Saturday. Brandon Hubbard of Mastic Beach, Bill Wegmann Sr. of North Bellmore and Tom Sullivan of Massapequa will be aiming for their first win of the season.
The INEX Legend Race Cars go to post in a 20-lap event Saturday with “Big Money” Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches going for his fourth win in a row. Over in the Super Pro Trucks who’ll compete in a 20-lap tilt, Jack Handley Jr. of Medford hopes to go three for three in ’23 having won the first two races. Also in action are the 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go Enduro machines with another wall-to-wall brawl expected.
Once the stock cars are done doing their thing, the deck will be cleared for a wild School Bus Race with track management changing things up running this contest on the oval. Earlier in the season, 15-year old Chevy Rommeney of Oakdale in his first ever School Bus start took the win. The 2022 Bock Auto Bandolero Outlaw champion hopes to go back-to-back Saturday.
Spectator gates open at 4:00 pm Saturday, qualifying starts at 5:30 pm with opening ceremonies at approximately at 6:30 pm. Adults $30, kid 6-12 $15, 5 & under free. The complete 2023 schedule of events can be found at www.riverheadraceway.com, e-mails reach the track at office@riverheadraceway.com while the phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
