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Riverhead, NY Sept. 25th
By Bob Finan
Since 2020 Jimmy & Angela Rennick of JCR Motorsports have provided championship awards involving the Enduro racing at Riverhead Raceway. That tradition will continue on Championship Sunday with the Rennick’s JCR Motorsports presenting championship trophies for the three Enduro divisions of Riverhead Raceway along with the three classifications of Bock Auto INEX Bandolero racing. Second through fifth place drivers also receive JCR Motorsports awards in a post-race presentation.
The JCR Motorsports involvement began in that crazy year 2020 when the Truck Enduro, 8-Cylinder Enduro and 4/6-Cylinder Enduro championship point were no longer kept by the track, enter veteran Enduro racer Eric Germuth. It was Eric, longtime member of Ham Racing who tracked points for the three Enduro divisions while the new Street Stock and Mini Stock classes morphed into the tracks NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series. Jimmy Rennick, who began his driving career in the 8-Cylinder Enduro ranks during what many consider the golden era of Enduros. On opening night 2024, Jimmy won both the Late Model and Super Pro Trucks events.
Sunday will mark the 5th season of JCR Motorsports awards and a couple of tight battles loom in the Enduro ranks. Entering the Truck Enduro finale Sunday it can’t get any closer with former champion Mariah Lawrence of Southampton and Bobby Pease of Medford tied at the top. Mariah holds the first tiebreaker with two wins over Pease should that decide the winner of the JCR Motorsports championship trophy. Don’t count out former multi-time champ Don Nelson of Rocky point who comes to Sunday 16-points back of Lawrence and Pease.
Just 10-points separate 8-Cylinder championship leader Kevin Feeney of Quogue from his nearest rival Pat Collins Sr. of Southampton, the 2022 champion. Feeney seeks his first career title. Third is Pat Collins Jr. of Southampton, who holds the first tiebreaker in wins over Feeney and his father with a win in 2024. Pat Jr. has some work to do to earn the JCR Motorsports championship trophy.
Another championship leader heading into Sunday that has a family challenging his for the JCR Motorports championship hardware is 4/6-Cylinder Guy & Go leader Chris Olivari of Coram. Breathing down Olivari’s neck are the Palmeri brothers John and Joey Jr. of Lindenhurst. John is 8 points back of Chris, while Joey is 12 markers back.
The three Bock Auto INEX Bandolero category leaders will come to Championship Sunday able to breathe easier than their Enduro counterparts. Entering the 15-lap Outlaw finale Sunday, Will Sipala of Manorville enjoys a healthy 20-point cushion over impressive newcomer Thomas Grattan of Southold. For Grattan to wrestle the 2024 championship away he’d have to finish 11 spots better than Sipala, issue for Thomas is last Saturday 8 Outlaws made up the grid. Another freshman talent Michael Barry of Patchogue is third and cannot advance his ranking Sunday. Sipala, grandson of Islip Speedway Modified talent Fred Sipala likely will secure his first career championship.
It took defending Bandit champion Reid Halpin of Wading River some time to find his groove in 2024, but once he did with his first win of the year on July 31st, he’s been nearly unstoppable. Halpin comes to the final 15-lap main event 26-points up on Emmett Grattan of Southold. In order for Grattan, who has enjoyed a breakout year wining the first two races of the season to win the championship he has to be 14-spots ahead of Halpin. Like in the Outlaws the car count Saturday was 11, making Emmett’s task Sunday impossible.
The inaugural season for the Beginners found four different winners in eight races to date led by three-time winner Daxx Halpin of Wading River. Halpin leads Mackenzie Ulmet of Riverhead by 18 heading to the weekend and clinched the championship. Mackenzie Ulmet won her second race of 2024 last Saturday night and is the granddaughter of former Riverhead racer Wes Zaleski. Wyatt Goodale of Riverhead son of WMT star Eric, is third having won one race on August 10th.
Once the final race is run Sunday the three Enduro and Bandolero classes will gather pit side for the JCR Motorsports presentations with Jimmy & Angela Rennick. Afterwards all Enduro teams are welcome to a huge cookout in the camping area of the track adjacent to the rear of the pits area. Visit the Long Island Enduro Racing Facebook page for further details, or contact Eric Germuth directly.
Championship Sunday race day itinerary can be found at http://www.rivwerheadraceway.com, emails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com, out phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
