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Riverhead, NY Oct. 19th
By Bob Finan
When the 7th annual Islip 300 Tour Type Modified event unfolds Saturday November 11th at Riverhead Raceway, the INEX Legend Race Cars will compliment the busy fall afternoon of racing. Recently, track management in conjunction with Rich Gerbe of HIGHMARK Building Efficiency announced the 40-lap INEX Legend Race Car event would pay the hefty sum of $2,000 to the race winner.
While making the sponsorship announcement, Gerbe explained his motivation for making the 40-lap victory so lucrative. “I started driving a Legend at 16-years old Gerbe reflected, “it really shaped me in so many ways. I am the person I am today in part to the experiences I gained from racing them as a kid. Twenty-two years later after my last Legends race, I’m really excited to give back to the class. These drivers put on an awesome show every week, and there are some rising stars in the class, they deserve a showcase race” Gerbe boasted. “I want to thank track ownership, John Ellwood and Peter Milano for reaching out with the sponsorship idea”. Rich concluded.
Gerbe not only competed with the INEX Legend Race Cars as a teenager, but he’d also be quick to find success winning three main events between 1999 and 2000, leading him to the track championship in 1999. As happens so often in life, Gerbe would leave the racing game for a while, for nearly 20-years in part to launch HIGHMARK Building Efficiency. Since 2013, HIGHMARK Building Efficiency has been pioneering innovative building efficiency. HIGHMARK supports sustainability, electrification, decarbonization and cost savings in the NYC Metro area via the best global building efficiency technologies.
Rich Gerbe found his way back racing a few seasons back, competing with the Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds when his busy business schedule allows. Earlier this summer Gerbe was active with special award bonuses at Riverhead for two NASCAR Modified events. In August for The Bubba 150 the HIGHMARK Building Efficiency Challenge was available a driver who qualified in the top three. If that driver dropped to the rear and won the 150, a bonus of $2,500 awaited them. After pole sitter & eventual race winner Timmy Solomito and second quick John Beatty Jr opted out of the challenge, third quick Chris Young accepted. Young charged his way to second, which was worth $500, but Gerbe, so impressed raised it to $1,000. For the Celebrating Chris Young Twin 49’s in September, Rich posted the HIGHMARK Building Efficiency Clean Sweep Award for winning both races. Kyle Ellwood earned that bonus when he topped both 49-lappers.
The HIGHMARK Building Efficiency 40 is open to all INEX Legend Race Car teams. Registration for the event free of charge until November 9th, visit http://www.riverheadraceway.com and follow the links to register. Entries received after November 9th will be charged a $150 late fee. Qualifying for the race will come via heat races and B-main events as needed by car count. Pits will open Saturday November 11th at 7:30 am, a half-hour practice session will take to the track at 9:45 am, qualifying starts at 12 noon. Rain date for the Islip 300 program is Saturday November 18th.
For further details please visit http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com and our phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
