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Riverhead, NY Sept. 13th.
By Bob Finan
The 3rd annual Sara Sylvester INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier will highlight the Saturday September 21st program at Riverhead Raceway. An extensive lap and bonus money program was announced this week for the prestigious event honoring a very special lady. A complete card of Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing compliments the evening of racing on Local Sports League Night. All kids with league sports jerseys will be admitted free.
With the race still over a week away, Erin Delaney of Riverhead Raceway revealed two complete sets of lap money had already been sponsored. Erin fondly recalled Sara’s love for arranging lap money, especially for this race, “Sara worked hard every year to get extra purse and lap money for our Legends and other divisions. Her presence in turn two sitting under the scoreboard is missed”. When Delaney realized there would be a void left with Sara’s passing, she stepped right into the role in her memory three years ago. A third set of laps are currently being sold with hopes all 50 will sell before Saturday night. Sponsorship is $10 per lap with the leader of each lap earning $5, $3 for second per lap, $2 for third.
Additionally, Erin disclosed Jimmy & Angela Rennick from JCR Motorsports are sponsoring a $102 Pole Award for the race, the significance of the additional $2 significant is that is Sara’s older brother Jim’s INEX Legend car number. Jim, in conjunction with Stan & Jen Morabito of Benimax Trucking announced they are adding $1,000 to the race purse, broken down among the top ten finishers. Billy Metcalf of Cesspool Pros has added a $500 Race Winner bonus for the 50-lapper, while former INEX Legend Race Car champion Rich Gerbe of HighMark Buidling Efficiency announcing a $500 Hard Charger bonus. The B-Main winner will receive $50 from long time race enthusiast Larry Murdock.
With the anticipation the third set of lap money being fully sponsored bringing that total to $1,500 and the announced bonus money announced at $2,152, the extra money up for grabs in the 3rd annual Sara Sylvester INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier 50 totals $3,652.
Last September, perhaps as Sara would have loved, youth was served during her event when 16-year Chase Van Houten of Wading River prevailed, taking the lead with just eight laps remaining. Riely O’Keefe of Manorville charged from 25th to finish second to Van Houten, while another rising talent Jeff Farruggia of Riverhead completed the podium. The trio are going to loaded for bear Saturday hoping for the victory with Van Houten joined by his father Brad of Wading River and Uncle Mike of Jamesport. O’Keefe comes to the 2024 National Qualifier as the championship leader.
Championship contenders looking to close in on O’Keefe include “Blankets” Joey Braun of Manorville, 13-year-old Rodney Dowless Jr. of Dix Hills, veteran Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead, Anthony Marsh of Riverhead, Ray Fitzgerald of Manorville, former champion Kevin Nowak of Medford, Jim Sylvester of Massapequa and Chris Sinatro of West Hempstead.
The Legend Race Cars will share the INEX spotlight with the Bock Auto Bandoleros who’ll compete in Beginner, Bandit and Outlaw features Saturday and are joined by the NASCAR Modifieds, Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds, Super Pro Trucks (8/17 make-up), Truck Enduro and a 4/6-Cylinder Git & Go Enduro.
For further information please visit http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach the track at office@riverheadracewasy.com, the land line remains 631-842-RACE.
