0
0
Riverhead, NY Apr. 20th
By Bob Finan
Despite the efforts of mother nature to extend the off season at Riverhead Raceway another week, track officials waited out a stubborn weather front to complete the first of two practice days Saturday afternoon. Another test and tune practice will take place Saturday April 27th before a doubleheader weekend ushers in the 74th race season Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th.
Cool and damp conditions greeted race teams and fans alike early on Saturday thanks to a frontal boundary working its way from west to east over Long Island. However, track owners Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz held firm that the practice session, albeit later than they’d planned, would be completed Saturday. GM John Ellwood and the track facilities staff went to work once the moisture stopped to ready the track for action and nearly two hours later than planned the Blunderbusts hit the track to start 2024.
Timmy Solomito of Islip would click off the fastest lap among the 15 NASCAR Modifieds on hand touring the quarter mile in 11.662 during the third and final session. “The Natural” was a four-time winner in his USNE Chevy in 2023 racing just a handful of events due to his rapidly expanding Natural Designs firm. Timmy made seven starts last season.
Other drivers topping their class were Late Model champion Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead with a 12.684 in the Eastport Feeds Chevy. Michael Berner of Patchogue was quickest among the Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds at 12.510, while former three-time Figure Eight champion Scott Pedersen of Shirley was fastest in Figure Eights going a 17.133 in the Bobby’s One Stop Automotive & exhaust Coupe. The quickest in Blunderbust testing would be Joe Densieski of Riverhead with a 14.502 in the Hydro Action Caprice while Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was tops in Super Pro Trucks, 13.194 in the East End Building Toyota. Tom Pickerell of Huntington was the top Eddie Partridge Vintage All Star in the Frenchy’s Auto Body Cavalier, 12.923.
The INEX classes took to the track led by the Legend Race Cars where Joey Braun of Manorville was fastest at 13.395 with his High-Mark Building Efficiency racer. In the INEX Bandolero Bandits Will Sipala in the JD Posillico Construction entry clocked in at 14.988, while Aria Ligon of Center Moriches was fastest among the Bandits in her Chesterfield Associates racer, 16.659.
Hoping for a bounce back 2024 season, Gerard Lawrence of Miller Place topped Street Stock testing in the EP Milling & Sweeping Chevy, 14.147 while all-time leading Mini Stock winner Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge topped the charts at 14.451 in his Schmidt’s Country Market Cavalier. Defending Truck Enduro champion Bobby Pease of Medford was quickest in his Fit Spot Gym Chevy, 15.466 while 2023 8-Cylinder Enduro champion was likewise in his Gregor Well Drilling Chevy, 14.997. Ryan Warren of Ridge was fastest in his self-funded 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go at 16.138.
The schedule for this Saturday April 27th will see pit window opening at 8:30 am with the pit gates swinging open at 9:00 am. Cars will hit the track at 11:00 am sharp. General admission seating will again be free, normal pit fees will apply for race teams.
Once the testing & tuning is completed all eyes look towards the NASCAR Pack the Track Night opener for the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Saturday May 4th and the May Meltdown Enduro lid-lifter Sunday afternoon May 5th. The complete 2024 schedule of events is available at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, visit the events link. Emails can be forwarded to office@riverheadraceway.com, our phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
