0
0
Riverhead, NY Oct. 20th
By Bob Finan
The 2024 regular season at Riverhead Raceway came to a rousing close with Championship Sunday, and in the 30-lap Street Stock feature Gerard Lawrence of Miller Place rode the outside line in the closing laps to score his second win of 2024. Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge won his 5th Mini Stock race of the season in their 30-lap finale, his fifth win in the eight races the division contested.
Championship leader Max Handley moved out front at the throw of the green leads the first three laps before Dave Antos, making his first start after an arm injury sidelined him for most of the year made a bold move to pass not only Handley, but Brian Brown who was second. Antos settled into the lead and would set the tone until the halfway signal of the race when Brown made a successful bid for the top spot on lap 16. Antos would also surrender second two lap later to early leader Handley. Aside from Antos, running in tight corners fourth through sixth right behind the leaders were Gerard Lawrence, CJ Lehmann and Jarrod Hayes. A Dennis Kurras spin drew a late caution on lap 26 and this is where Lawrence would go to work. When the race resumed Brown was still the pacesetter with Lawrence hanging his car outside of Handley for second. As the two-to-go signal was displayed Lawrence was second and now hanging to the outside of leader Brown. Over the final two circuits the tandem rode side by side and with the checker flag waving for a sure photo finish, Lawrence inched out front by a bumper cover to secure his 9th career win, quite possible his last.
“I can’t thank Phil LaManna and his family enough, we were done racing after 2020 and he offered me the seat in this EP Milling & Sweeping car, great opportunity” Lawrence reflected post-race. Sunday night some social media posts surfaced about the possibility Lawrence took his final ride, when reached by track management Monday he simply said, “going to try and find something a little more relaxing”.
Brian Brown of Baiting Hollow was runner-up in the Eastport Feeds Chevy and was the first to fist pump Lawrence after the thrilling finish. With his third place tally Max Handley of Medford won his first career Street Stock championship, as well wrapping up the 2024 Miller Lite Triple Crown Series title in the Rosenberg & Gluck Injury Attorneys Chevy. Just hours earlier on Saturday night Max’s older brother Jack clinched his fourth Super Pro Truck title.
Simply stated, Joe Warren Jr. dominated the 2024 Mini Stock season, winning his fifth race Sunday to clinch his second career championship. Joe’s nearest rival and good friend CJ Zukowski raced to the early race lead knowing he had to at least win the race for any shot at the title. After Tyler Farrell chased Zukowski for the first lap, Joe Warren made his way to his buddy’s rear bumper and the race was on. On lap 13 Warren was able to rim ride the outside lane to pass Zuwkowski for the race lead and championship advantage. In the waning laps CJ was throwing his car into the corner like in a video game to try and re pass Warren but to no avail. When the checkers waved Joe Warren Jr in the Schmidt’s Country Market Cavalier earned his division leading 16th career win and 2024 championship. Paul Wojcik of Patchogue made a last turn pass of a sliding Zukowski to claim second in the RFG Electrical entry, Zukowski of Riverhead in the Walls of Fame Cavalier was third. The only consolation for CJ came in winning the 2024 Miller Lite Triple Crown Series championship.
Winning his fifth race in nine starts propelled Will Sipala of Manorville to the 2024 Bock Auto INEX Bandolero championship, the first of his young career. Newcomer Michael Barry broke to the early advantage in the 15-lap contest before a lap 2 caution flag waved, When the green reappeared to start the third lap Will Sipala made a successful crossover maneuver to take the lead, but one lap later Barry returned the favor reclaiming the lead for lap 4. Undaunted, Sipala roared right back to lead lap 5 and all the remaining laps in his Riteway Automotive Center Outlaw earning the 7th win of his career. Michael Barry of Patchogue was runner-up in the Grease Garage Motorsports entry, Thomas Grattan of Southold placed third in the Sophie’s Rest Outlaw.
After coming so very close to a first career win earlier in his freshman campaign with the Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Bandits, second generation talent Tyler Oxee of Pelham earned his first career win in a 15-lap event. Oxee zipped right our front when the green light winked on, chased at first by Brooke Meyer for six cycles. On lap 7 John Alaimo passed Meyer for the challenger’s role and was closing on leader Oxee when disaster struck as smoke billowed from his car forcing him to the infield on lap 10. With just five laps to go Meyer moved back to second but Tyler Oxee was long gone in his North Fork Sanitation Bandit for the win. Brooke Meyer of Riverhead was an impressive second in the WES Trailer Sales machine while Reid Halpin of Wading River made a last lap charge for third in the Florida Connection Bandit for third. By starting the race, Reid secured his second consecutive Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Bandit championship on the strength of four wins in nine starts.
For the third time over the last four Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Beginner races Mackenzie Ulmet of Riverhead drove the Mark Davis Builders mount to victory in their 10-lap main event. Leighton Van Houten, returning from a hand injury led the first lap of the tilt before Ulmet made her bid payoff with the lead on lap 2. Once in the lead Ulmet never blinked and led the rest of the way. Van Houten of Wading River was runner-up in the Mike Van Houten Trucking entry, Wyatt Goodale of Riverhead was third in the Riverhead Building Supply racer. When Daxx Halpin of Wading River took the green flag, he clinched the inaugural Beginners championship in his Baldwin Automotive/Tommy Baldwin Racing Bando. Daxx joins older brother Reid and together they join the Handley brothers, Jack & Max as siblings earning a 2024 Riverhead Raceway track championship.
Coming to the final Truck Enduro 40-lap feature of 2024 Bobby Pease Sr. of Medford trailed former champion Mariah Lawrence of Southampton in the season long fight for the championship and up until the final stages of their race Sunday, Bobby was on easy street, Pease in the Fit Spot Gym truck made his way to the lead and was literally on a Sunday cruise with Lawrence mired further back in the pack, and then it happened. As the laps waned down to a precious few, then boom, Pease was clipped by a lapped truck sending him into spin cycle, losing the lead, Veteran Gary Voight was the new leader, but he too spun while leading and suddenly Mariah Lawrence’s fading championship hopes took on new life. Over the last few laps Lawrence, who came to the race with a slim championship lead led the rest of the way for her second win of 2024 in the Total Dental Care Chevy, securing the track championship to boot, Bobby Pease Sr, and son Bobby Jr, completed the podium, with the elder Pease still steaming from the unnecessary contact.
Second generation wheelman Ricky Carman Jr. earned a hard-fought win in the 40-lap, 8-Cylinder Enduro. Ricky is the son of 1998 Charger champion Richie Carman of United Exhaust fame and was chased to the line by Woot Lawrence of Southampton in the Gregor Well Drilling Camaro and James McCarthy Jr. of Bellmore on his Parkside Auto Center Camaro. With his ninth place showing, soft spoken Kevin Feeney of Quogue clinched the 2024 8-Cylinder Enduro championship, the first of the Ham Racing driver’s career.
Ryan T Warren of Mastic drove to his first win of 2024 when he topped the 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go Enduro. Warren, who recently moved back to Long Island from Florida was unstoppable from the throw of the green in his Westhampton Auto Salvage racer. John Palmeri of Lindenhurst clinched the 2024 championship with his runner-up finish in the J&J Towing entry, Andrew Coll of Mastic was third in his sponsored wanted entry. It was just the second race for Coll, nephew of former Late Model racer Mike Coll, who was 8th in this race.
In the first ever 20-lap Female 8-Cylinder Enduro race former racer Stacey Halsey of Southampton took home the win in the PC Truck & Equipment Chevy. Jamie Brown of Calverton was second in the Eastport Feeds racer, Kim Hyde of Riverhead third in the East Side Builders machine.
A 4/6-Cylinder race was held for the ladies too with Emily Hubbard of Mastic scoring the win in the United Exhaust mount. Tara Busan of Mastic and Jackie Germuth of Hicksville in her Ham Racing compact completed the podium.
Street Stocks: 1. Gerard Lawrence 2. Brian Brown 3. Max Handley 4. Jarrod Hayes 5. CJ Lehmann 6. Dave Antos 7. Brandon Hubbard 8. Tom Sullivan 9. Kyle Halpin 10. Bob Dalke 11. PJ McGay 12. Ricky Carman 13. Luke Foerster 14. John Harley 15. Chris Lescenski 16. Henry Cuesta 17. Tom Pickerell DQ- Dennis Kurras, Charles Sudano
Mini Stocks: 1. Joe Warren Jr. 2. Paul Wojcik 3. CJ Zukowski 4. Chris Olivari 5. Joe Cooke Jr. 6. Tyler Farrell 7. Ryan Warren 8. Will Garcia 9. Eoughan Hayward 10. Charles Astacio 11. Marissa Stewart
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Will Sipala 2. Michael Barry 3. Thomas Grattan 4. Jordan Ryan 5. Grace Cheslak 6. Madison White
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Tyler Oxee 2. Brooke Meyer 3. Reid Halpin 4. Emmett Grattan 5. Antonio D’Alonzo 6. Christian Ryan 7. Aria Ligon 8. Blake Grattan 9. John Alaimo
Bandolero Beginners: 1. Mackenzie Ulmet 2. Leighton Van Houten 3. Wyatt Goodale 4. Daxx Halpin 5. Scarlette Dumicich 6. Emily Gatz 7. Alexis Gatz
Truck Enduro (top ten) 1. Mariah Lawrence 2. Bobby Pease Sr. 3. Bobby Pease Jr. 4. Don Nelson Jr. 5. Kevin Feeney 6. Anthony Esposito 7. Gerard Lawrence 8. Gary Voight 9. Jim Kelly 10, Chris Ward
8-Cylinder Enduro (top ten) 1. Ricky Carman 2. Woot Lawrence 3. James McCarthy 4. Ken Hyde Jr. 5. Greg Harris 6. Richie Carman 7. Pat Collins Jr. 8. Pat Collins Sr. 9. Kevin Feeney 10. Christian Kalbfleisch
4/6-Cylinder Enduro (top ten) 1. Ryan T. Warren 2. John Palmeri 3. Andrew Coll 4. Joe Warren Jr. 5. Joey Palmeri Jr. 6. Zach Tyler 7. Chris Olivari 8. Mike Coll 9. Jack Tessa 10. Will Kennedy
8-Cylinder Ladies race (top ten) 1. Stacey Halsey 2. Jamie Brown 3. Kim Hyde 4. Denis Carman 5. Erin Delaney 6. Jackie Germuth 7. Chrissy Collins 8. Danielle Creegan 9. Emily Commins 10. Meredith Halpin
4/6-Cylinder Ladies race (top ten) 1. Emily Hubbard 2. Tara Busan 3. Jackie Germuth 4. Marissa Stewart 5. Jill Palmeri 6. Chloe Phillips 7. Stacey Hubbard 8. Kayla Kelly 9. Amanda Flecker 10. Victoria Walker
