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Riverhead, NY June 8th
By Bob Finan
Photo: Fohlin Photos
One of the more popular drivers to compete at Riverhead Raceway before his driving career advanced to the top three NASCAR national touring series, Steve Park will be celebrated with the running of the Miller Lite Salutes Steve Park 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Park, an East Northport native will be on hand to greet his legion of fans at the track including being part of the scheduled WMT autograph session, giving the command to fire engines and more.
Prior to his success on the national stage, Park enjoyed many triumphs in NASCAR Modifieds starting with Riverhead Raceway before advancing to the Whelen Modified Tour. “We are excited and honored to salute Steve Park Saturday” track GM John Ellwood shared, “we will focus on Steve’s Modified heritage and the impact he had on weekly racing at Riverhead, as well on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour”. Miller Lite has been a marketing partner of Riverhead Raceway through their Boening Brothers Inc. facility in Lindenhurst since 1985.
Park cut his racing teeth with the Mini Modifieds at Islip Speedway in a car he and his youthful team built under the watchful eye of his father, NASCAR Modified legend Bob Park and Bob’s longtime crew chief Buddy Loecher. Steve would hone his craft competing against Mini Modified stars as Joe Santiago, Dan Meservey, Tim Contarino, Jerry Solomito, Ray Grennan and Vinnie Ciliberti, with whom Park had a heated rivalry from time to time.
After his vocational stint with the Mini’s, it was time to move up to NASCAR Modified racing at the rough and tumble Riverhead Raceway, where from his first practice laps it became evident quickly Steve possessed a natural ability behind the wheel, as well communicating and understanding what the car was doing and needed. It didn’t take Park long to find victory lane, scoring his first of seven Riverhead Raceway victories a week after his 19th birthday on August 30th, 1986. A year later, Park won the inaugural Charlie Jarzombek Memorial, greeted by Charlie’s father Super and brother Ricky, a Riverhead career highlight at a mere 20-years old.
Two of Park’s career triumphs at Riverhead were in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events, both during his time driving the Marciel/Ronzoni United Ceramic Tile entry. Steve took his first Riverhead WMT win in June of 1993 besting Reggie Ruggiero and Rick Fuller. In August of 1994 he bested eventual WMT champion Wayne Anderson and Ed Flemke Jr. for his second WMT at his home track.
During his time with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour the Thompson Speedway would become among Steve’s favorite and successful venues to compete at. Park’s first of sixteen career WMT wins came in the 1991 Thompson 300 as he won over Reggie Ruggiero and the late NASCAR Hall of Fame talent Mike Stefanik. Thompson would bookend Park’s first and final WMT win as Steve won the 1996 World Series of Racing event in a 125-lap tilt.
Once NASCAR Cup owners Richard Childress and the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. had their famed chat discussing the potential talent Steve Park had shown in Modifieds and Busch North racing, a conversation that eventually catapulted Steve to success on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck, Xfinity and NASCAR Cup Series.
Fans are encouraged to breakout their Steve Park wearing apparel for Saturday, whether from his days as a local racer or from the NASCAR top three national touring series days.
The Whelen Modified Tour autograph session including Steve Park takes place in the turn three midway of Riverhead Raceway from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm. On track activity for WMT teams gets underway with the first of two practices at 3:30 PM running until 3:55 PM, final practice runs 4:00 PM through 4:35 PM. Single car WMT qualifying goes green at 6:15 PM with the Miller Lite Salutes Steve Park 200 slated for 8:00 PM. The entire June 14th program will be available on Flo Racing.
Riverhead Raceway Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series divisions complementing the 200 are the Super Pro Trucks, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars. Those teams will practice from 2:00 PM through 3:15 PM and then qualify starting at 4:40 PM. The opening ceremonies followed by the local division features will start after WMT qualifying is completed.
General admission gates open at 3:00 PM, adults are $40, kids 6-12 $20 with 5 & under free. Campers are welcome at no charge. Camping is confined to the area adjacent at the rear of the pit area, there are no hook-ups available.
Further information can be obtained at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com, the phone number is 631-842-RACE.
