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Riverhead, NY July 3rd
By Bob Finan
Photo Michael Jaworecki
Over the weekend, Riverhead Raceway management announced the third race of the 2023 Crown Jewel Series for the Ted Christopher Cup on July 29th will be Celebrating Chris Young, Twin 49 features for the NASCAR Modifieds. A complete card of Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing will compliment the NASCAR Modifieds.
While making the announcement on the event track GM John Ellwood noted, “Chris was a blue collar kind of racer, nothing too fancy, but man he was fast”. After scoring his first career NASCAR Modified victory and July 13th, 1985, the late Chris Young would tally a total of 33 wins ranking him 5th all time. While a NASCAR Modified title escaped him, Young was a two-time Figure Eight champion at Riverhead Raceway in 1976 and 1977 before moving over to Islip Speedway where he won the 1978 and 1979 Figure Eight championship.
Chris and Ann Young’s son Christopher continues to carry the racing torch for his father, pretty much doing things the way his Dad would. Heading into July the second generation racer has one win on the season. When he received the call from John Ellwood about Twin 49’s to celebrate his father Young was overcome with emotion. After gathering his emotions he recalled fondly, “I appreciate it so much, it’s such an honor to know my Dad is still talked about from time to time. He was the epitome of racing at Riverhead, relentless, hard-nosed, and when he was hooked up pretty hard to beat. I’m just so proud of my Dad for all he did, but racing still keeps him close, whenever I am at the shop it’s like he’s still there”.
Indeed, Chris Young was old school as recalled by retired track announcer Bob Finan, “Chris was the working man’s racer. If he could build it or fix it himself, he would” Bob then pointed to one particular instance, “back when everyone was running out to buy a fancy enclosed hauler or trailer, Chris Young was not among them, no sir. He actually built his own enclosed box truck type hauler with his own two hands, oh and by the way that truck is still in use to this day with the Figure Eight team of Gary Fritz Jr.”
This will not be the first Twin 49 event run in Celebrating Chris Young, as Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead swept Twin 49’s in August of 2015 not long after Chris passed suddenly after post-surgery complications. Rogers like Young came through the Figure Eight ranks and after the sweep in 2015 remembered it was Young who gave him advice on racing NASCAR Modifieds at Riverhead. “Chris was the first guy to give me advice, simply he told me what happens one week forget it by the next week” Rogers recalled.
As to the logistics of the Celebrating Chris Young Twin 49’s, John Ellwood disclosed, “they will be two separate races, two sets of track championship points, and Crown Jewel Series points will be earned. Cars will go to impound area between races, teams can work on the cars and change tires. The adding of fuel or removal of lead between races will not be permitted”. The line-up for the second Twin 49 will be inverted to a number picked by the first race winner.
The July 29th Celebrating Chris Young Twin 49’s marks the return of the NASCAR Modifieds after a two week summer break for the class. Also in action are the Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds, INEX Legend Race Cars, Street Stocks, Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars and an 8-Cylinder Enduro. Qualifying will be at 5:30 pm, followed by opening ceremonies.
Visit http://www.riverheadraceway.com for our complete schedule of events in 2023, e-mails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com and the phone number is 631-842-RACE.
