0
0
Riverhead, NY March 9th
By Bob Finan
Two grassroots racing organizations will collaborate to celebrate their 2025 champions on Saturday March 28th when the Suffolk Association of Figure Eight Racing and the Long Island Enduro Racing groups present their annual awards ceremony in a combined effort. Tom Ferrara and Kim Hyde of S.A.F.E.R and Long Island Enduro Racing honchos Eric Germuth and Mairah Lawrence got together during the 2025 season to combine the two award ceremonies after each having hosted separate affairs over recent years.
Once again Scott Pedersen will be crowned the S.A.F.E.R Figure Eight champion, earning the lion’s share of the club’s 2025-point fund as well being presented the “TK” Tom Kraft Drivers Cup honoring his 5th Riverhead Raceway and S.A.F.E.R championship. Allan Pedersen, Kim Hyde, Will Farrell, Bob Dalke and Will Farrell rounded out second through sixth in the final rankings and will be recognized for those accomplishments.
Two new inductees into the Ernie Maynor S.A.F.E.R Hall of Fame will be enshrined when Paul Specht, a former driver and Erin Larsen, longtime and continuing Riverhead Raceway official take their rightful place in the hall. S.A.F.E.R will also name their 2025 Rookie of the Year, Car Owner of the Year, Crew Chief of the Year and the Ralph Tasso Best Appearing Car winners at the March 28th bash.
Kevin Feeney will be presented his second consecutive 8-Cylinder Enduro championship from the Long Island Enduro Racing group, but the soft-spoken driver doubled up this past season by winning the 2025 Truck Enduro championship as well. Kevin becomes the second driver to win two Enduro titles in one season, Shawn Wanat turned the trick some years ago when he won a 4-Cylinder and 6-Cylinder title in the same season. Shortly after the two classes were combined and in 2025 veteran John Palmeri collected the 4/6-Cylinder Enduro title.
The champions, as well the second through fifth place drivers from the three Long Island Enduro Racing divisions will again receive handsome trophies from Jimmy & Angela Rennick of JCR Motorsports. Rennick started his driving career in the Enduro ranks before embarking on a successful Late Model and Super Pro Truck career at Riverhead Raceway.
In the Truck Enduro ranks, Mariah Lawrence, Phil LaManna, Brandon LaManna and Jackie Germuth were second through fifth behind Kevin Feeney, while those positions in the 8-Cylinder ranks were filled out by Pat Collins, Woot Lawrence, Ricky Carman and Sean Fitzpatrick. Chasing John Palmeri in the 4/6-Cylinder Enduro championship chase were David Olivari, Mike Fragola, Zach Tyler and Mike Mujsce Jr.
Three Long Island Enduro Racing Rookie of the Year awards will be presented to Charles Sherry (Trucks), Mariah Lawrence, (8-Cylinders) and Andrew Coll (4/6-Cylinders) along with the 2025 Dedication to Enduro Racing presentation. That award will be presented to a deserving individual chosen by 2024 winner Richie Carman of United Exhaust.
After officially wrapping up their 2025 seasons, the S.A.F.E.R and Long Island Enduro Racing racers turn their attention to the rapidly approaching 2026 race season at Riverhead Raceway and opening weekend Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd.
The ticket sales window for the March 28th banquet closed at the start of the month with nearly 100 attendees expected an uptick for both groups.
