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Riverhead, NY May 14th
By Bob Finan
Photo Michael jaworecki/Myracenews
When NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour officials released the entry list for the Miller Lite Salutes Wayne Anderson 200 at Riverhead Raceway, it revealed an eye-opening number of competitors of the track’s Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series entered. Eleven drivers who call the demanding quarter mile home on either a full, or part-time basis will chase success in Saturday’s race that celebrates the 30th anniversary of Wayne Anderson’s 1994 WMT championship. A total of 29 entries for the 74th WMT event at Riverhead was announced Monday.
Heading up the entrants among the locals is former five-time track champion Tom Rogers Jr of Riverhead who will drive the New England based BNP Machines entry of Steve Mendoza of Dartmouth, Ma. For the controversial Rogers the 200 will mark his first start of 2024. Entering competition Tom is tied at the top of the tracks all-time win list at 63 with Charlie Jarzombek. Former WMT regular JR Bertuccio of Centereach will be making his 45th career WMT start in the Gershow Recycling Chevy. Bertuccio is a 29-time winner at Riverhead where he returned to weekly racing in 2023.
After competing in the season opening WMT event at New Smyrna Speedway, JB Fortin of Holtsville has competed in the first two Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series events at Riverhead. Fortin, the 2021 Islip 300 winner is hopeful of collecting a first career WMT victory in the John’s Fuel Oil entry Saturday. Another second-generation talent, Chris Young of Calverton is hoping to turn the WMT apple cart upside down with a victory steering the Earth’s Splendor LFR Gen2 machine.
One week removed from his 25th career Riverhead victory, Timmy Solomito of Islip will be racing for his 10th career WMT victory Saturday in his USNE Power entry. “The Natural” is a three-time WMT victor at Riverhead, tying him for 6th all-time with Doug Coby and the late Ted Christopher. Turbush Racing will indeed be a busy bunch Saturday, fielding two cars for the Miller Lite Salutes Wayne Anderson 200. Mark Stewart of Riverhead turned heads in last September’s Eddie Partridge 256 when he brought the Cromer’s Market Chevy home for a runner-up finish behind race winner Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville. Mark’s uncle Roger Turbush of Riverhead did the same back in September of 2021, coming home third in Rheem Air Conditioning Chevy. Both will be seeking further WMT success Saturday.
A quartet of young, rising NASCAR Modified drivers have registered for action Saturday, led by Riverhead opening night winner Justin Brown of Manorville in the Motorcycle Mike Attorney at Law Chevy. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford with his Hydro-Action team, Matt Brode of East Islip and his Peter Clark Motorsports group, and Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches with his CheckerWon Manufacturing effort will all be on hand.
Defending NASCAR WMT champion Ron Silk of Norwalk, Ct will lead the charge of 18 WMT regulars entered for the 200, enjoying a 6-point lead over Justin Bonsignore into the 200. Bonsignore was the May 2023 WMT at Riverhead.
Final WMT practice will go hot at 3:30 pm Saturday and run through 4:15. Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole qualifying is set for 6:00 pm, with a 8:00 pm start slated for the Miller Lite Salutes Wayne Anderson 200.
A complete race day itinerary is available at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach the track at office@riverheadraceway.com, the phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
