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Photo Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
By Michael Jaworecki
What was started in 2017 by Eddie Partridge, Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz to revive the long dormant 300 lap Modified race run at Islip Speedway has turned into a must-see November race. Solid fields of Modifieds from all over the east coast trek to the end of Long Island for the annual event. The 2024 edition is this Saturday November 16th and now pays $12,000, double the winners share of inaugural event.
The list of the previous Islip 300 winners is impressive, Dillon Steuer, Ryan Preece, Kyle Soper, JB Fortin, Anthony Nocella and Matt Hirschman. Only one driver has won more than one Islip 300, Ryan Preece. Anthony Nocella and Matt Hirschman will try to match that feat this Saturday.
Matt Hirschman, winner of the 2023 Islip 300 and winner of the 2024 North South Shootout win will lead the invaders in the Long Island based Elite Motorsports #60, the Islip 300 will be Matt’s 47th race of the season.
The Baldwin brothers Luke and Jack will make the long tow from North Carolina to compete at the track that their grandfather turned many a lap. Luke has really come on this year in his Modified, winning the 2024 Smart Modified championship.
Timmy Solomito, who has a high winning percentage running a part time schedule at Riverhead this season is bringing the family owned #66 looking to win his first Islip 300.
Jimmy Blewett fresh off his 5th place finish at the North South Shootout will return to Riverhead for the first time in a while.
2024 Riverhead Raceway and NY State NASCAR champion John Beatty has entered his immaculate Elite Motorsports #5 and should be one of the favorites.
Team cars of Mark Stewart and Roger Turbush, who are always near the front at the end of long-distance races, will look for a big one/two finish.
NASCAR WMT regular, who always runs strong at Riverhead Craig Lutz has filed an entry looking to rebound after a 15th place finish last year.
Kyle Ellwood, who has won in several divisions at Riverhead, was a late entry in the Gershow recycling #21.
A new award in this year’s race will be the Crew Chief of the race in memory of Glen Dixon. Sadly, Glen who helped so many teams and drivers over the years unexpectedly passed away earlier this year.
Up to 25 starters and one provisional will start the 8th Islip 300. If over 30 cars enter the race a consolation is run with one cars qualifying for the feature. Caution laps count until lap 275, the final 25 laps will be green flags only.
Notes: The very popular Infield pitting is back again this year. Cars on pit road during a caution will not lose a lap, cars on pit road during green flag laps will lose laps to the field. If 75 consecutive green flag laps are run a caution a yellow flag will be thrown.
The 2024 TC Ted Christopher Crown Jewel series will be decided this weekend. Chris Rogers, John Beatty, Jack Handley Jr., Mark Stewart and Timmy Solomito are the top five in points.
Unfortunately Paulie Hartwig III who was last year’s pole winner has had to withdraw due to a hand injury he suffered in the North South Shootout.
I addition to the $12,000 to win Islip 300 the INEX Legends will have a 40 lap feature paying a cool $2,000, the Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds and the Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars.
It will be an early day as pit gates open at 7:30 with the drivers meeting at 9:00 AM Legends practice at 9:45 followed by Tour Modified practice at 10:15. Qualifying for all divisions starting with the Tour Type Modifieds begins at 12:15 followed by opening ceremonies and features. Can’t get to the track, catch all the action on FloRacing.
Current entry list 11/13/2024
- 00 Chris Rogers
- 2 JR Bertuccio
- 5 John Beatty
- 7NY Luke Baldwin
- 7NY Jack Baldwin
- 8X Eddie Brunnhoelzl III
- 10 Dylan Slepian
- 13 Max Zachem
- 21 Austin Beers
- 21 Kyle Ellwood
- 24 Justin Brown
- 46 Craig Lutz
- 55 Chase Grennan
- 60 Matt Hirschman
- 66 Timmy Solomito
- 70 Owen Grennan
- 72 TJ Potrzebowski
- 73 Paulie Hartwig III *
- 78 Walter Sutcliffe
- 81 Mark Stewart
- 88 Roger Turbush
- 92 Anthony Nocella
- 96 Mathew Brode
- 99 Jimmy Blewett
* denotes withdrawn.
