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Riverhead, NY Apr. 27th
By Bob Finan
With two successful practice days in the books setting the stage for 2024 at Riverhead Raceway, promoters Connie Partridge & Tom Gatz are ready to open a new season of racing with opening weekend Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th. The NASCAR Pack the Track night debuts the 2024 Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series action Saturday evening, while the May Meltdown Enduro opener is featured on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday afternoon during the second test & tune afternoon, Chris Young of Calverton was quickest among the NASCAR Modifieds in his Earth’s Splendor Chevy cruising the track in 12.647 during the third of four sessions. Young will be among the drivers to keep an eye on this Saturday during the opening night 50-lap Tour Type Modified feature, along with defending track champion John Beatty Jr of Merrick. Beatty and car owner Mark S. Mina of MSM Elite Motorsports will defend their 2023 in an all-new Fury built machine. Others joining Young and Beatty for the 2024 championship chase starting Saturday include Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills, JR Bertuccio of Centereach, Tom Rogers Jr, of Riverhead, Justin Brown of Manorville, Jack Handley of Medford, Mark Stewart of Riverhead, Dave Brigati of Calverton, Michael Rutkoski of Mattituck and Chris Rogers of Patchogue. Other teams announcing part-time schedules include, Timmy Solomito of Islip, a four-time winner in 2023, Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead, Matt Brode of East Islip and Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches.
In the six divisions that complement the NASCAR Tour Type Modifieds on Saturday nights, four 2023 champions will be back to defend their crowns while two titles will be vacated heading into opening night. Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead will shoot for his eighth Late Models championship while Owen Grennan of Glen Cove hopes for his third Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modified title in a row. Super Pro Truck champion Jack Handley of Medford will seek his fourth SPT championship while “Big Money” Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches chases his third INEX Legend Race Car crown. Ken Hyde Jr. of Medford will not defend his 2023 Figure Eight championship, announcing a limited schedule for the new season while 2023 Blunderbust champion Brandon Hubbard of Mastic moves up to the Super Pro Trucks in ’24.
Saturday night the Late Models along with the Eagle Auto Crate Modifieds will race in 25-lap features with the Blunderbusts, Super Pro Trucks and INEX Legend all going 20-circuits, with a 15-lap Figure Eight event closing out the show.
Pit gates open at 12 noon Saturday, practice will commence at 2:30 pm, spectator gates open at 4:00 pm. Qualifying takes to the track at 4:45 pm with opening ceremonies set for 6:00 pm. Adults $30, kids 6-12 $15, 5 & under free.
Sunday afternoon May 5th the racing picks right up where it left off the night before with the May Meltdown program featuring seven divisions. Dave Antos of Lindenhurst will be gunning for his fifth career Street Stock championship when he takes to the track for a 30-lap, Miller Lite Triple Crown Series race. The Mini Stocks will also kick off their Miller Lite Triple Crown Series with a 30-lap tilt with Joe Cooke Jr. of Shirley looking to repeat as champion in 2024.
Returning Enduro series champions are all ready to defend starting Sunday as Bobby Pease Sr. of Medford, Truck Enduro, Woot Lawrence of Southampton, 8-Cylinder Enduro and Zach Tyler of Cutchogue, Gut & Go Enduro will return in 2024. The event distance for these three classes is predicated by number of entrants.
The ever growing and popular INEX Bandoleros are back in 2024 opening their new season Sunday. Reid Halpin of Wading River, Bandolero Bandits and Ban Morabito of Miller Place, Bandolero Outlaws are the returning champions.
Pit open Sunday at 10:00am, practice starts at 11:00 am with qualifying at 12:30 pm. Opening ceremonies will follow qualifying. Adults $25, ids 6-12 $15, 5 & under free.
The complete 2024 schedule of events is available at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach the staff at office@rivcerheadraceway.com with the phone number 631-842-RACE.
Saturday April 27th practice day fast times (driver, time and session): Modifieds- Chris Young, 11.647 (3) Late Models- Jeremy McDermott, 12.645 (2) Crate Modifieds-Vinny Delaney, 12.457 (4) Figure Eights- Gary Fritz Jr., 16.610 (1) Blunderbusts- Jim Laird Jr., 14.438 (3) Super Pro Trucks- Frank Dumicich Jr., 13.154 (3) Legend Race Cars-Jayden Glennerster, 13.372 (1), Vintage Cars-Don Conradis, 12.920 (1) Street Stocks- Gerard Lawrence, 13.396 (1) Mini Stocks- Joe Warren Jr., 14.719 (1) Truck Enduro- Mariah Lawrence, 17.351 (3) 8-Cylinder Enduro- Greg Harris. 15.133 (3) Gut & Go- Mike Musjce Jr., 15.258 (3) Bandolero Bandits- Reid Halpin, 16.538 (3) Bandolero Outlaws- Ben Morabito, 14.804 (2)
