0
0
Riverhead, NY May 28th
By Bob Finan
Just prior to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour visiting Riverhead Raceway for the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200 Saturday, the return of the HighMark Building Efficiency Crew Chief of the Race Award was announced jointly by track GM John Ellwood and Rich Gerbe of HighMark. Earlier in the week NASCAR released a 25-team entry list for the 78th start for the WMT at Riverhead with seven weekly teams who call the historic quarter mile bullring home eyeing WMT glory.
“Crew chiefs are the unsung heroes of Modified racing” Rich Gerbe noted during the HighMark Building Efficiency Crew Chief Award announcement, “unfortunately we lost two of the best from Long Island when Glenn Dixon and Jason Shephard passed away in 2024”. Shortly after the untimely passing of Jason in August, Gerbe introduced the Jason Shephard Crew Chief of the Race Award for the Eddie Partridge 256. Ron Silk would wind up winning the 256 with his crew chief Phil Moran winning the inaugural Jason Shephard award. Gerbe then announced the HighMark Building Efficiency Glenn Dixon Crew Chief of the Race award for the Islip 300 in November. Owen Grennan would win the Glenn Dixon award after his younger, 17-year-old brother Chase scored an upset win in the 300.
For 2025 Rich Gerbe and Riverhead Raceway announced that the HighMark Building Efficiency Glenn Dixon Crew Chief of the Race Award was moving to the June WMT event at Riverhead Raceway, a race won by Justin Bonsignore with crew chief Ryan Stone capturing the award. The Jason Shephard Crew Chief of the Race Award was presented to former driver Ron Yuhas after the September WMT event when his driver, and eventual 2025 NASCAR WMT champion Austin Beers took the Eddie Partridge 256 victory.
The winning crew chief from the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200 Saturday will receive $250 from HighMark Building Efficiency as well a plaque designed by ASI in the name of Glenn Dixon. For the Eddie Partridge 206 in September the winning crew chief will be presented the same awards in the name of Jason Shephard.
“The passion Rich Gerbe has for Modified racing is amazing” John Ellwood commented, “it’s the same passion that both Glenn Dixon and Jason Shephard exemplified during their careers, Rich honors their legacy through his passion”.
The Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200 is set to go green at 8:00 PM Saturday at Riverhead Raceway. General admission open at 3:00 PM, just in time for fans to take in the first of two schedules WMT practice sessions at 3:15 PM. WMT qualifying starts at 6:15 PM, with the popular autograph session set for 7-7:30 PM in the third turn midway. Adults are $40, kids 6-12 $20, 5 & under free. For those out of the area or unable to make it to the track in person the entire race program will be available on Flo Racing.
Complementing the WMT Saturday are the Super Pro Trucks, INEX Legend Race Cars, Street Stocks and Eddie Partridge Vintage All-Stars of the Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Local Racing Series presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. A complete race day itinerary can be found at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach the track at office@riverheadraceway.com and the phone number is 631-842-RACE.
