Archive for the 'Riverhead' Category

Ryan Preece to Make Nationwide Debut with Tommy Baldwin Racing

Published at June 11, 2013 in NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR WA-AS, NASCAR WMT, NHMS, Riverhead, Stafford and Thompson. Closed

Mooresville, NC  – Tommy Baldwin Racing welcomes NASCAR Next driver Ryan Preece as he prepares to make his stock car debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (F.W. Webb 200) in July.

Announced last week, Preece was selected as one of the 2013 NASCAR Next drivers. The NASCAR Next program began in 2011, and is a way to help spotlight up-and-coming drivers from around the world. This year’s elite drivers range from ages 15-24 and represent three different countries. Preece was chosen, by a voting panel for the great achievements in his young racing career thus far.

Ryan Preece, a Connecticut native, already has a long list of motorsports accomplishments, that all started from a young age. At just twenty-two, Preece has finished as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Championship runner-up twice. In addition, he has an impressive 12 pole awards and five wins. Currently, he is tied for the points lead in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and is currently leading the points at Stafford Speedway.

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Ryan Preece Captures Evans NASCAR Hall of Fame 100 Honors Saturday at Riverhead Raceway

Published at June 8, 2013 in NASCAR WA-AS and Riverhead. Closed

Popular Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct. won another signature event at Riverhead Raceway as he topped the Evans NASCAR Hall of Fame 100 Saturday night for his 5th career win at the quarter mile oval. Among Ryan’s wins in the past are two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins including last year’s race as well the 2012 Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 Memorial last July in Bill & Barbara Park’s NASCAR Modified.

Shawn Solomito set fast time with a lap of 11.855 taking home $100 from Brigandi Brothers Automotive but that would be as good as the evening got for the defending champion as a broken rocker arm found him dropping out of the race early. Timmy Solomito drew the pole for the 100-lapper with Ryan Preece outside and over the first five laps of the race the two young lions went side by side for a five lap battle for the lead before an early caution waved for a Kevin Orlando spin. On the ensuing double file restart Preece again found himself outside of Solomito with Justin Bonsignore trying to tuck under Ryan for second. The top three eventually singled out with Solomito finding himself under heavy attack from Preece who was plotting his move.

On lap 18 Ryan found an opening underneath Timmy, who was looking to make it two in a row and raced his way by on the inside to the lead with Solomito now second and under pressure from third place Bonsignore. The top three settled into their positions over the next 50-laps as Preece would have some breathing room as Bonsignore was starting to turn up the heat on Timmy Solomito for second. Racing into the third turn on lap 74 Justin, the 2011 Riverhead champ got under Timmy and was able to take over second with still a quarter of the race remaining. A series of late race caution flags put Bonsignore on the rear bumper of leader Ryan Preece but each and every time the green light winked back on Preece was able to motor away in his East-West Marine Chevy as he drove off to victory. Bonsignore’s late race pursuit of Preece was tamed somewhat by Ron Silk who moved to third when Bonsignore slipped under Solomito for second. Silk then stayed on Bonsignore’s tail for the remainder of the race.

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NASCAR Next Roster for 2013 Announced

Published at June 7, 2013 in NASCAR WMT, Riverhead, Stafford and Thompson. Closed

Sport’s Young Rising Stars Spotlighted

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Filled with prospects coming from Nevada to Georgia, from Canada to Mexico, and a number of hometowns in between, NASCAR unveiled today the 2013 driver roster for NASCAR Next program at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

NASCAR Next, an evolution of the Next9 initiative that began in 2011, is an overarching industry initiative to help spotlight NASCAR’s rising stars – and bolster fan recognition around talent that will grow into NASCAR Sprint Cup Series mainstays. In addition to competing on various NASCAR series across the country, drivers in the program will participate in several media and promotional activities throughout the next 12 months.

“This program has made great strides in a short time,” said Jill Gregory, NASCAR vice president, industry services. “The evolution of NASCAR Next builds on that success with the influx of young, talented drivers continuing throughout all of NASCAR’s racing series. This program provides a platform to help foster their growth within our sport, and introduce these young and talented drivers to NASCAR fans who will likely be hearing more about them in years to come.”

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Preece Has Ambitious Schedule for 2013

Published at March 20, 2013 in NASCAR WA-AS, NASCAR WMT, Riverhead, Stafford and Thompson. Closed

Plans to Be Factor in NASCAR National Point Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — One of NASCAR’s busiest and most successful short track drivers plans an ambitious schedule this year. A proven contender, Ryan Preece wants to win races and collect championship points.

Preece, 22, of Berlin, Conn., won 16 times in 64 NASCAR sanctioned races spread among five different teams in 2012. He’ll run wide open with those same teams in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour this year.

Preece won the 2012 Sunoco Modified division track championship at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway and placed second in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour point race. He placed fourth in SK Modified division standings at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Conn., and 11th in NASCAR Modified track points at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway running a partial schedule. He made two NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour starts.

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Preece To Begin Busy 2013 Slate In Daytona

Published at January 14, 2013 in Bristol, Daytona, Monadnock, NASCAR WMT, NHMS, Riverhead, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford. Closed

Modified Tour, All-American Series Driver Has Grand Plans

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Connecticut’s Ryan Preece – one of the “race anytime, anywhere” drivers that permeates NASCAR’s weekly and regional touring ranks – plans to launch his aggressive 2013 racing schedule with the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 18-19.

Preece has steadily increased his racing involvement since bursting on the scene at age 16 in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2007. Now 21, the Berlin, Conn., racer is looking at nearly 100 races in total for the 2013 season, starting with his first trip to the “World Center of Racing.”

“Drivers at my level, we don’t ever know if we’ll have the opportunity to race on the big track at Daytona, so to be able to be there [to race the short track] is pretty cool,” Preece said.

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KLM Motorsports to Pay It Forward during 2013 Season with Acts of Kindness

Published at January 2, 2013 in Monadnock, NASCAR WMT, NHMS, Riverhead, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford. Closed

Waterford, CT — This season, KLM Motorsports, competitors on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, led by car owner Mike Murphy of Valley Cottage, NY, and driver Ron Yuhas, Jr. of Groton, CT, will pay it forward during the 2013 season. Beginning in January and running through the remainder of 2013, the team will engage in 64 acts of kindness, symbolic of their car number, as part of the “Race It Forward 2013” program.

“We are incredibly fortunate to be able to race at this level,” said car owner Murphy, “and even more blessed to do it as a cohesive team that is more like an extended family. It is just the right thing to do to pay it forward. ” “The Murphy’s give us every advantage,” said Yuhas.“This amazing family would much rather that we ‘repay’ their kindness and generosity by helping others.”

Some of the most significant “Race it Forward” acts scheduled for 2013 will benefit the team’s favorite organization, Special Olympics Connecticut. The team will participate in the Penguin Plunge at Ocean Beach Park in New London, CT, on February 17, 2013. The New London Penguin Plunge raises funds for Special Olympics Connecticut' s year-round programs of sports training and athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities.For the second consecutive year, the team will also serve as volunteers at the annual Summer Games held in New Haven. A host of other events to benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, local community projects, and individual fans will take place during the year.

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2013 Whelen Modified Schedule Announced

Published at December 8, 2012 in Bristol, Daytona, Monadnock, NASCAR WMT, NHMS, Riverhead, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford. Closed

 

Action At All 3 Connecticut Short Tracks, 3Companion Events

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR announced today the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule that will feature traditional dates at some of the premier short tracks and speedways in the northeast.

In its 28th season of competition, the Whelen Modified Tour will see the 14-race slate spread across seven tracks in four states. New to the schedule in 2013 will be a special event as part of Speedweeks at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and a second date at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway.

“Modified fans are some of the most passionate in motorsports,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring series. “The 2013 calendar will give them plenty of opportunities to enjoy the stars, cars, and the tremendous excitement of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.”
The season will commence with the inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach non-points event on the short track at Daytona on Feb. 19 in which the Whelen Modified Tour and Whelen Southern Modified Tour will compete in combination.

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Preece Rolls To Riverhead Victory

Published at September 15, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Takes 2nd Whelen Modified Tour Win Of The Season

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Ryan Preece rolled to his second win of the season Saturday night in the Riverhead 200 at Riverhead Raceway.

To get it, the Berlin, Conn., driver led 168 laps before he survived a green-white-checkered finish for his fifth career win and second at Riverhead.

A caution on Lap 196 set up Preece in a battle with Jimmy Blewett on the final restart and pushed the race to 203 laps on the quarter-mile. Blewett was penalized to the tail end of the lead lap for jumping the restart and finished 12th.


Justin Bonsignore finished second. Bonsignore was the tour race winner and Riverhead's Modified Division champion last year. Todd Szegedy was third, followed by Riverhead regular Howie Brode and Ted Christopher.

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QUALIFYING: Preece Wins 6th Pole

Published at September 15, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Earns top spot for Whelen Modified Tour field at Riverhead

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Ryan Preece continue his 2012 trend of collecting Coors Light Pole Awards.

The Berlin, Conn., driver earned his sixth of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season Saturday at Riverhead Raceway in qualifying for the Rivehead 200. Preece had a time of 11.904 seconds (75.605 mph) around the quarter-mile for his 12th career pole.

It is the most poles in a season since Tony Hirschman Jr. had seven in 2005. The record of 10 was set by Steve Park.

Eric Goodale qualified second at 11.922 (75.491) at his hometown track, followed by John McKennedy at 11.937 (75.396). Todd Szegedy and Donny Lia completed the top five.

The Riverhead 200 is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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Whelen Mod Tour Stat Advance: Riverhead

Published at September 11, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Analyzing The Riverhead 200 At Riverhead Raceway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return to Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway for the rescheduled Riverhead 200 on Saturday, Sept. 15. Below is a statistical look at the performance of series and selected drivers at the track:

Riverhead Race Setup
• The most recent NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner this year, Justin Bonsignore, is the defending winner of the Riverhead 200, which marked his first NWMT win.
• There has not been a driver earn back-to-back wins at Riverhead since 2001 when Mike Stefanik swept the season’s two events at Riverhead.
• Ryan Preece, who had two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series wins at Riverhead this year, has four top-fives in five career NWMT starts at Riverhead, including a win in 2009.
• Four NWMT drivers recorded NWAAS wins at Riverhead this year including: Bonsignore (2), Preece (2), Ted Christopher (1) and Ron Silk (1).

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Whelen Mod Tour News & Notes: Riverhead

Published at September 10, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Bonsignore Brings Momentum Back To Home Track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After getting the monkey off his back last week, Long Island’s Justin Bonsignore will return to his home track with the momentum needed to defend his Riverhead 200 victory.

A darkhorse favorite to contend for the 2012 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title, Bonsignore and the No. 51 M3 Technology team has encountered more than its share of adversity this year, primarily due to three accident DNFs. His struggles had been even greater at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, where he had posted a career average finish of 19th.

The Holtsville, N.Y., native reversed both trends on Sunday, however, when he made a late-race pass and powered to victory in the Town Fair Tire Northern 75.

The Thompson win was the second of his career. The first came in the 2011 Riverhead 200, a victory he hopes to defend when the Whelen Modified Tour returns Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway this Saturday, Sept. 15.

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Whelen Modifieds Postponed At Riverhead

Published at July 28, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Rain Forces Riverhead 200 Postponement To Sept. 15

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – The Riverhead 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race scheduled for tonight at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway has been postponed due to rain at the track, and a forecast for continued precipitation on Long Island.


The Riverhead 200, which would have been the seventh of 14 events on the 2012 Whelen Modified Tour schedule, will now be contested on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The next Whelen Modified Tour event will now be the Stafford 150 on Friday, Aug. 3 and Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.

 

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Whelen Tour Statistical Advance: Riverhead

Published at July 24, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Analyzing The Riverhead 200 At Riverhead Raceway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will headline this weekend’s racing action at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway with the Riverhead 200 on Saturday, July 28. Below is a statistical look at the performance of series and selected drivers at the track:

Riverhead Race Setup
• The most recent NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner this year, Mike Stefanik, is also the active career wins leader at Riverhead with six.
• Justin Bonsignore is the defending winner of the Riverhead 200, which marked his first and only NWMT win.
• There has not been a driver earn back-to-back wins at Riverhead since 2001 when Stefanik swept the season’s two events at Riverhead.
• Ryan Preece, who has two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series wins at Riverhead this year, has a record of two wins and five top-fives in seven career NWMT starts at quarter-mile tracks. He won the NWMT race at Riverhead in 2009.

At Riverhead Raceway:
History
• Built in 1949.
• Held its first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race on July 10, 1985 during the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s first season. The inaugural race was won by Jimmy Spencer.
• Has held 50 NWMT races all-time, fourth-most among all venues.
• Is one of two tracks to play host to the NWMT in each of its now 28 seasons of competition, along with Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.

Notebook
• At .25 miles, Riverhead is the smallest track on the schedule along with Monadnock Speedway.
• There have been four NWMT races that have been won by Riverhead NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers, the last of which was Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. in 1995.
• Mike Ewanitsko experienced more success than any other NWMT driver at Riverhead during his days as a competitor. His 11 wins and eight poles lead in both categories.
• Mike Stefanik is the active wins leader at Riverhead with six while Ed Flemke Jr. has the most poles – four – among current competitors.
• The Riverhead 200 entry list – as of July 18 – included eight drivers that have previously won NWMT races at Riverhead and nine who hail from Long Island.

Continue reading ‘Whelen Tour Statistical Advance: Riverhead’

Whelen Modified News & Notes: Riverhead

Published at July 23, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Lia Returns To Home Track Looking For A Win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – As the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads to Riverhead Raceway this week, two-time tour champion and native Long Islander Donny Lia will look to get back to his winning ways at the track that launched his racing career.

Lia, from Jericho, N.Y., got started in auto racing at Riverhead in 2000 as the track’s rookie of the year in the Legends division. He made a significant jump to Riverhead’s famed NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modifieds the following year and once again took home Rookie of the Year honors.

Since first racing with the Whelen Modified Tour in 2001, Lia has been more successful than any active driver at the tight quarter-mile. In 12 events, he’s posted four wins, an additional pair of podium finishes, and has led 30-percent of all the laps he’s turned there. Riverhead is where three of his first four tour victories came, and Lia’s fourth home track triumph was part of his first Whelen Modified Tour championship season in 2007.

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NOTEBOOK: Riverhead Modified Tradition

Published at July 22, 2012 in NASCAR WA-AS and Riverhead. Closed

Baldwin Evans Jarzombek 77 A Tribute To Track’s History

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – It may have been a trio of 20-somethings that dominated the day on the track, but the Baldwin Evans Jarzombek Memorial 77 was all about celebrating the history of NASCAR Modified racing at Riverhead Raceway.

Present-day standouts supplied the competitive highlights Saturday night as 22-year-old Long Islander Timmy Solomito earned the pole, 29-year-old and defending 77 winner Ron Silk looked strong in leading the field early, and 21-year-old Ryan Preece turned out to be the class of the show and took the checkered flag. But it was the vintage cars and fond memories of days gone by that carried the day.

The venerable quarter-mile in eastern Long Island has been a Modified racing hotbed throughout its existence, which dates back to 1949, the second year of NASCAR racing. The annual 77-lapper, contested Saturday night, pays homage to three legendary Modified drivers who had strong ties to the bullring.

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Preece Wins Baldwin Evans Jarzombek 77

Published at July 21, 2012 in NASCAR WA-AS and Riverhead. Closed

Second Riverhead Modified Win Of The Year

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – Ryan Preece turned in a dominating performance Saturday night in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action at Riverhead Raceway to take the checkered flag in the Baldwin Evans Jarzombek Memorial 77.

Preece, from Berlin, Conn., piloted the No. 20 Modified to its second win of the season at the Long Island bullring. It was his eighth Whelen All-American Series win overall this year. He entered the weekend ranked seventh in the Whelen All-American Series national standings.

Shawn Solomito crossed the line second while Todd Szegedy joined him on the podium in third. Ted Christopher and Eric Goodale brought home the top five.

Ron Silk, John Beatty Jr., Kevin Goodale, David Sapienza and Howie Brode rounded out the top 10.

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Occupy the Oval R/C Charity Race at Enfield’s R/C Madness this Saturday

Published at February 29, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Modified racing stars and champions will meet at the Occupy The Oval charity R/C race on Saturday March 3rd. Three classes are scheduled: 17.5 SK, 17.5 Pan Car, 10.5 Pan Car. The cost per class will be $25 with $20 going to the Trinca Family Memorial Trust, P.O. Box 520, Ridge NY 11961. The event is to in memory of 7-year-old go-kart racer Jason Trinca and his mother, who were tragically killed in a traffic accident last fall. A 50/50 raffle is also planned.

NEAR Hall of Famer Mario Fiore has brought together some of his former Modified drivers for a race in custom painted #44 SKs: Rick Fuller, Mike Stefanik and Reggie Ruggiero. Joining them will be current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour stars Justin Bonsignore, Donny Lia, and Todd Szegedy.

The event will be held at R/C Madness – 101 North St., Enfield CT 06082; 860-741-6501.

The event schedule is listed below:

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Determined Richie Pallai, Jr. Seeking Improvement in 2012

Published at February 26, 2012 in Bristol, Monadnock, NASCAR WMT, NHMS, Riverhead, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford. Closed

2011 was a difficult season for Richie Pallai, Jr.. The season opener at Thompson was an example of the advertisty the team encountered. “We came out of the box at Thompson, blew a motor in practice, missed qualifying and had to put our short track motor in the car for the race with 0 laps on it,” said Pallai. “We were running in the top 3 when we unfortunately got caught up in a wreck late in the race. From that point on we just felt like we were struggling with our new car.”

Highlights from last season were Riverhead and Lime Rock Park. “At Riverhead we came from last to the top-5 and felt like we had a winning car until we had a flat and had to pit,” said Pallai. “We fought back for a top 10 and that was a moral victory in itself.” At Lime Rock, “We were fast all weekend and thought we had a good shot at the win. A top 5 that day was great, too bad we are not going back there this year.”

“I like to call our core of our team the "big three", almost like the Miami Heat,” said Pallai. “My Dad (Rich Sr.), Denis (Crew Chief) and Chuck (Spotter) are the reason why we show up every week so prepared. Without those three we wouldn't be anywhere and they always make sure we have a shot at winning. We also have a young guy in Alex Grab who is learning the ropes quickly and someone we will rely on very much this season to lend a helping hand in all aspects of the team, from the shop to the track.”

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Reigning Riverhead Champion Justin Bonsignore Eyes NASCAR WMT Title

Published at January 30, 2012 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. Closed

Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville, NY is looking to improve on the best season of his career in Modified racing. In 2010, Bonsignore won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s Rookie of the Year award. 2011 saw Bosignore receive accolades for his first career NWMT win, a top-10 finish in points and Riverhead’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship. He was also voted the Most Popular Driver by the fans.

Bonsignore had a rough start to 2011 including a carburetor penalty and engine issues that placed him outside the top-20 in points. Once the team hit their stride, the season showed steady improvement. “2011 was a great season,” said Bonsignore. “It started off a little slow but once we got luck on our side it turned out to be a great season. We won our first NWMT race and were in contention nearly every race in the 2nd half of the season. It was a lot of fun going to the track knowing you would have a chance to win every week! It’s all you can ask for as a driver.”

The 23-year-old also had another full-time commitment in Modifieds at Riverhead Raceway on Long Island. “Riverhead was really amazing every week,” said Bosignore. “There wasn’t too many nights that we didn’t leave there happy. We had a few tough runs which made the points closer than we would have liked, but we were the car to watch every week. It was so much fun to have all the fans come up to the car each week and say how much they enjoyed the show we were able to put on coming from the back to the front.”

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NEAR Presents “Class of 2012” At 15th Annual New England Auto Racing Hall of Fame Inductions

Published at January 30, 2012 in Airborne, Albany-Saratoga, Autodrome St. Eustache, Beech Ridge, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daytona, Dover, Eastern States, Holland, Hudson, Keene, Lakeville, Langley, Lee USA, Lonsdale, Martinsville, Monadnock, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, NASCAR WMT, NEAR, New Smyrna, NHMS, Norwood, Nostalgia, Oswego, Oxford Plains, Plainville, Pro 4 Mod, Riverhead, Riverside Park, Seekonk, South Boston, Spencer, Stafford, Star, Thompson, Twin State, USAC, Utica-Rome, W. Peabody, Wall, Waterford, Westboro and Wiscasset. Closed

East Windsor, CT — On Sunday January 29, The New England Antique Racers (NEAR), presented the 15th annual New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame Inductions. Award-winning sportswriter Matt Buckler served as Master of Ceremonies for the well-attended event held at LaRenaissance Banquet Hall in East Windsor, CT.

Receiving induction honors this year were drivers Reggie Ruggiero, Joey Kourafas, Moe Gherzi, Jerry Humiston, and Roland Lapierre Sr., owner/mechanics Mario Fiore and Jim Jorgensen and track operator Irene Venditti.

Though not present due to prior commitments, longtime Northern media personality Dave Moody was the recipient of the prestigious “Jack Ratta Memorial Media Award.” Veteran auto racing journalist and Hall of Fame Member Pete Zanardi received the Danny Pardi Memorial Award for his many contributions to NEAR over the years.

A pivotal figure during the formative years of the sport and truly one of the regions earliest stars, Moe Gherzi came to stock cars following a brief fling with midget racing during the busy post-war era. Gherzi won for some of the best teams in the early days of the sport while displaying a flashy style which became his trademark. Nicknamed “Moneybags” owed to a knack of winning many big-dollar events, he tasted success at virtually all of the regions tracks. He later served as the longtime Racing Director at Connecticut’s Plainville Stadium. Accepting for her late father from presenter Dave Dykes was Ms. Alma Michaud.

[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto

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‘Rapid Roman’ Richie Evans Rode Orange Chariot Into History

Published at January 19, 2012 in Albany-Saratoga, Bowman-Gray, Caraway, Chemung, Daytona, Dover, Fonda, Hickory, Holland, Langhorne, Lee USA, Martinsville, Monadnock, NASCAR WMT, New Smyrna, North Wilkesboro, Oswego, Oxford Plains, Riverhead, Riverside Park, Seekonk, Spencer, Stafford, Star, Thompson, Twin State, Wall, Waterford and Westboro. 0 Comments

New York Star Won Nine NASCAR Modified Series Titles In Hall Of Fame Career

Daytona Beach, FL — Richard Ernest “Richie” Evans certainly was the face of NASCAR – and modified racing – in the northeast, winning an estimated 475 times in approximately 1,300 starts. It equates to a win in every three starts (a 36.5% clip), something unheard of in modern racing at any level.

Evans will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday, one of five members of the Hall’s third class comprised of the New York native, legendary crew chief Dale Inman, team owner Glen Wood and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough. He is the first of 15 inductees without a connection to NASCAR’s premier series.

The 2012 enshrinement ceremony kicks off NASCAR Acceleration 2012 weekend, which includes the NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint, where fans can interact with the sport’s legends and current stars in person, get autographs and catch a sneak peek at the upcoming season. Fans can go to NASCARacceleration2012.com for more information.

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Key Decision Nets Bonsignore Riverhead Title

Published at December 22, 2011 in NASCAR WA-AS, NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. 0 Comments

Team Expands 2011 Schedule, Wins First Track Championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Justin Bonsignore and his team owner Kenneth Massa made a key decision early in Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway’s 2011 season.

They decided to add full-time Saturday night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing at Riverhead to their schedule. They had already committed to the full NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule and a partial Riverhead weekly schedule.

They were rewarded with Riverhead’s 2011 Modified Division track championship and a seventh-place finish in tour points.

“We didn’t plan to run Riverhead every week,” Bonsignore said. “We were just going to get the car tuned up for the tour by running the first couple of races there. But we were a top-five car every Saturday. Once we made it through the first schedule conflict we decided to stick it out at Riverhead.”

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2012 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Schedule Announced

Published at December 14, 2011 in Bristol, Monadnock, NASCAR WMT, NASCAR WSMT, NHMS, Riverhead, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford. 0 Comments

2012 Slate Includes Three Connecticut Short Tracks

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR announced today the 2012 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule that will feature traditional dates at some of the premier short tracks and speedways in the northeast.

In its 28th season of competition, the Whelen Modified Tour will see the 14-race slate spread across seven tracks in four states. New to the schedule in 2012 will be a return to Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl.

“Throughout the history of the Whelen Modified Tour, the schedule has featured a great mixture of short tracks, bullrings, speedways as well as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series companion events,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional & touring Series. “NASCAR welcomes many of those traditional venues back to the 2012 schedule as well as the addition of Waterford Speedbowl, another great northeast Modified racing facility.”
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Bonsignore Brings Home First Win

Published at July 30, 2011 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. 0 Comments

Takes Lighthouse Mission 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race at Riverhead

Riverhead, NY — Justin Bonsignore converted his home-track advantage into his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory. The 23-year-old from Holtsville, N.Y., drove away with the Lighthouse Mission 200 Saturday at Riverhead Raceway.

Bonsignore, the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco Rookie of the Year, also runs regularly in Riverhead’s weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified Division. He is second in the track’s point standings.

Todd Szegedy was second, followed by Ron Silk, Ryan Preece and Doug Coby. Rowan Pennink rebounded from an early wreck to finish sixth. The finish allowed Silk to take the points lead by five over Pennink.

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Statistical Advance: Lighthouse Mission 200

Published at July 26, 2011 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. 0 Comments

Analyzing The Whelen Modified Tour At Riverhead

Daytona Beach, FL — The 50th running of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway is set for Saturday, July 30 with the Lighthouse Mission 200.

Selected Driver Highlights:
Eric Beers (No. 45 Chevrolet)
•  Has two wins, nine poles and 64 top 10s in 160 career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts.
•  Is sixth in points with three top 10s in six races.
•  Has a pole, seven top 10s and a best finish of second in 11 starts at Riverhead Raceway.

Justin Bonsignore (No. 51 Chevrolet)
•  The 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year.
•  Has two poles and eight top 10s in 22 career starts.
•  Is 19th in the standings with two top 10s.
•  Has two top-five finishes in three NWMT starts at Riverhead.
•  Began his career at Riverhead, where he is two points out of the Modified division lead after 10 races this season.

Howie Brode (No. 96 Chevrolet)
•  Has 14 top 10s in 54 career NWMT starts. Sixteen of those starts have come at Riverhead and 11 have resulted in top-10 finishes.
•  Best career NWMT finish is third, twice. Both times were at Riverhead.
•  A competitor in Riverhead’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified division.

Continue reading ‘Statistical Advance: Lighthouse Mission 200′

News & Notes: Riverhead Bullring Up Next

Published at July 25, 2011 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. 0 Comments
Fiftieth Running Of the Whelen Modified Tour On Long Island
 
Daytona Beach, FL — The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will go from the largest track on its schedule to the smallest when it heads to Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway on Saturday, July 30 for the Lighthouse Mission 200.

Coming from New Hampshire Motor Speedway – which measures a little more than a mile – the Whelen Modified Tour will head to Long Island for its 50th all-time running at the quarter-mile bullring. The first race at Riverhead took place on July 10, 1985 and was won by Jimmy Spencer.

For the Whelen Modified Tour drivers from Long Island that regularly cross the sound on the ferry for the vast majority of the schedule, Riverhead is always a welcomed event. Of the 30 entries in for the race, 10 are drivers from across Long Island that relish the opportunity to compete at their home track with friends and family in attendance.

Continue reading ‘News & Notes: Riverhead Bullring Up Next’

Evans Inducted To NASCAR Hall

Published at June 14, 2011 in Albany-Saratoga, Bowman-Gray, Daytona, Dover, Fonda, Hickory, Holland, Langhorne, Martinsville, Monadnock, NASCAR WMT, New Smyrna, Oswego, Riverhead, Riverside Park, Seekonk, Spencer, Stafford, Star, Thompson, Twin State, Utica-Rome, Wall, Waterford and Westboro. 0 Comments

2012 class includes Yarborough, Wood, Inman, Waltrip

1981 - Richie Evans at Stafford

1981 - Richie Evans at Stafford

Members of the 55-member NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2012. The announcement was made by NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s “Great Hall.”

The class was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, which included a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.COM. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.

As was the case for the first two classes of the NASCAR Hall Of Fame, the results of this year’s voting were competitive. Yarborough led with 85 percent of the vote, followed by Waltrip (82%), Inman (78%), Evans (50%) and Wood (44%).

Continue reading ‘Evans Inducted To NASCAR Hall’

NASCAR Announces 2011 Whelen Modified Tour Schedule

Published at November 12, 2010 in Bristol, Delaware, Lime Rock Park, Monadnock, NASCAR WMT, NASCAR WSMT, NHMS, Riverhead, Stafford and Thompson. 0 Comments

Highlights Include: Thompson Special Event, First International Race, Third Event In Loudon

Daytona Beach, FL — NASCAR has announced the 2011 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule which features 16 races, highlighted by a new special event at a historic New England track, and the inaugural venture to Canada.

The 27th season of the Whelen Modified Tour will see NASCAR’s oldest division return to traditional venues like Connecticut’s Thompson International Speedway and Stafford Motor Speedway a combined eight times in 2011. Stafford will retain the four dates it has carried in recent seasons while Thompson has moved its August race to June and added a special event for September.

On Sept. 11, Thompson will bring both the Whelen Modified and Whelen Southern Modified Tours to its .625-mile oval for a new event that will feature an exciting format. There will be separate 125-lap, points-paying races for each Tour. The top 15 finishers of each race will then line up for a 50-lap non-points “dash for the cash” race.

Continue reading ‘NASCAR Announces 2011 Whelen Modified Tour Schedule’

Bonsignore Earns Modified Rookie Award

Published at October 20, 2010 in NASCAR WMT, Riverhead and Thompson. 0 Comments

Second Year in a Row Honor Goes to a Riverhead Alum

Daytona Beach, FL — NASCAR announced today that Justin Bonsignore has earned 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

Bonsignore, who hails from Holtsville on New York’s Long Island, registered four top 10s and was the Sunoco Rookie of the Race in eight of the season’s 14 events. His rookie campaign was highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Made In America Whelen 200 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and laps led at his home track, Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway, in the Riverhead 200.

Bonsignore finished 13th in the season standings behind the wheel of the No. 51 M3 Technology Chevrolet, a team owned by Kenneth Massa that competed on the Whelen Modified Tour for the first time. He earned Coors Light Pole Awards in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and in the CARQUEST Fall Final at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway and became the first rookie to capture more than one pole since Chuck Hossfeld recorded a pair in 2002.

Continue reading ‘Bonsignore Earns Modified Rookie Award’

NASCAR WMT Tune-In Alert

Published at August 4, 2010 in NASCAR WMT and Riverhead. 0 Comments

Don’t forget to tune in to the debut of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on VERSUS tonight at 7 p.m. The Riverhead 200 was held on July 31 at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway.

VERSUS can be found at:
DirecTV Ch. 603 / 603 HD
Dish Network Ch. 151 / 151 HD
Cable – check local listings

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