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Riverhead, NY Apr. 27th
By Bob Finan
Sunday afternoon May 4th Riverhead Raceway will close out a busy opening weekend that kick starts the season long 75th Anniversary celebration with the annual May Meltdown program. The NASCAR Street Stocks will take center stage of the matinee that gets underway with qualifying at 12:30 pm.
The growing ranks of Street Stock competitors led by 2024 champion Max Handley of Medford and his Rosenberg & Gluck, LLP Personal Injury team will compete under a full NASCAR sanction for the 2025 campaign. Handley, a UNOH graduate will start his title defense in a 30-lap tilt Sunday. Also running under full NASCAR sanction for the new season are the Mini Stocks and their defending champion Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge in his Schmidt’s Country Market Caviler. Both classes will now race for a full field payout and be eligible for season ending point fund checks from NASCAR in the fall.
The INEX Bandolero stars of tomorrow are in action in 15-lap feature events for both the Bandit & Outlaw classes. With 2024 Outlaw champion Will Sipala of Manorville concentrating on his INEX Legend Race Car effort in 2025, the chase for the Outlaw championship will be wide open. Two-time Bandit champion Reid Halpin of Wading River moves up to the Outlaws in ’25 seeking his third straight INEX Bandolero title in his John Blewett Inc. Outlaw. Younger brother Daxx, the 2024 Beginner champion advances to the Bandits in his MC-11 Performance prepared machine for ’25. A 10-lap Bandolero Beginner event will be contested if applicable.
Mariah Lawrence of Southampton returns with her Total Dental entry to defend her 2024 Truck Enduro championship, as do the two other Enduro 2024 champions, Kevin Feeney of East Quogue in his Ham Racing 8-Cylinder Enduro mount, and John Palmeri of Lindenhurst in the 4/6-Cylinder Enduro ranks with his J&J Towing racer.
The May Meltdown itinerary finds the pit gates opening at 10:00 am, rotating practice commences at 11:00 am. At 12 noon practice ends with a driver meeting in the pit area, spectator gates will also open at that time. Qualifying heats for Street Stocks and Mini Stocks go green at 12:30 pm, opening ceremonies to follow.
Adults $30, kids 6-12 $15, 5 & under free. The entire schedule of event for 2025 can be viewed at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach the track at office@riverheadraceway.com. The phone number is 631-842-RACE.
