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Riverhead, NY Oct 31st
By Bob Finan
Photo Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
Early registration for the November 11th Islip 300 has begun and a quartet of drivers are among those who have registered for the $7,000 to win Tour Type Modified event. Fresh off his NASCAR Modified Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series championship John Beatty Jr. of Merrick, red hot Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. and 2021 300 winner JB Fortin of Holtsville are among the entrants.
For popular John Beatty Jr and car owner Mark S. Mina ending their NASCAR Modified championship season with an Islip 300 triumph would be icing on the cake for the MSM Elite Motorsports team. In a racing oddity, Beatty did not register a victory in route to his first career Modified crown, in fact he never led a lap. However, the 2017 INEX Legend Race Car champion was the model of consistency completing all 914 laps run in 2023. John is no stranger to the longer distance events of Riverhead Raceway as he last lap, last turn duel with Justin Bonsignore in a 2019 WMT event remains the closest & wildest finish in 73-years of racing at Riverhead.
Perhaps the hottest Modified driver rolling into the pits November 11th for the Islip 300 is “Money” Matt Hirschman. Matt has made a career of rising to the occasion when the big dollar races for Tour Type Modifieds are presented, lately he’s been on a roll. Car owner Alan Dering of Elite Towing has entered Hirschman to wheel his sleek machine for the 300, the team operates out of the Baker Racing shops. An arm injury suffered in August only temporarily slowed Hirschman down, as over a six day stretch between October 22nd and October 28th, Matt went two-for-three. Matt started by winning Monaco Ford Tri-Track Series races at the Waterford Speedbowl on October 22nd and then the NAPA Fall Final at Stafford Motor Speedway October 28th. A fourth place showing at the WMT Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville kept Matt from going three for three, but he hopes to find victory lane this weekend at the John Blewett III North-South Shootout at Caraway Speedway.
No question JB Fortin enjoyed the biggest win of his career when he topped the 2021 Islip 300 at his home track. Fortin was perfect on late race restarts two years back warding off Ryan Preece and Jimmy Blewett in the final 100-lap segment before driving off to the $7,000 payday. Not only was JB an Islip 300 winner, but he also clinched the 2021 Ted Christopher Cup as the champion of the Riverhead Crown Jewel Series. The 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour campaign did not go to plan for Fortin and the John’s Fuel Oil group but a win at the Islip 300 would send them off into the off season in style. If Fortin can take the win, he’d join Ryan Preece as the only two-time winner of the 300.
No question the driver with the highest batting average in 2023 at Riverhead Raceway was Timmy Solomito of Islip. “The Natural” made six starts during the summer, four of those attempts wound up with a trip to victory lane. Over the past few seasons Timmy has cut back his racing efforts, whether with the WMT or Riverhead mainly because his Natural Designs Co. business has grown substantially. In 2023 Solomito just wanted to race when he could, have fun with his family team, and move up the all-time win list of Riverhead. The driver of the USNE Utility Service Chevy did just that as he advanced from 20th all time to 15th with 24 career victories. No better race than the Islip 300 for Timmy to reach a milestone 25th career victory.
Teams who have also registered for the Islip 300 include Allan Pedersen, Justin Brown, Andrew Krause, Jack Handley Jr., Chris Young, Chase Grennan, Walter Sutcliffe, Mark Stewart, Roger Turbush, Matt Brode, Dylan Slepian, Tom Rogers Jr.
Free registration for the 2023 Islip 300 is open until November 9th, after the 9th a $150 late fee will be applied. The entry form, along with race procedure and race day itinerary can be accessed at www.riverheadraceway.com
Joining the Islip 300 Saturday November 11th will be the General Welding Supply Corp. 50, a $2,500 to win 602 Crate Modified event, plus the HIGHMARK Building Efficiency 40 for the INEX Legend Race Cars worth $2,000 to the winner. The Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars will join the festivities. Rain date for the Islip 300 program is Saturday November 18th.
For further details please visit us at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails find us at office@riverheadraceway.com with our phone number 631-842-RACE
