Eye on Riverhead: November 2014
NASCAR WMT Visits Riverhead Twice in 2015
Great news to start off our first off season Eye On Riverhead comes from promoters Barbara & Jim Cromarty who disclosed today that the 2015 Opening Weekend at Riverhead Raceway Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd. Of course it will be the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series stock cars kicking off their season on Saturday May 2nd while the Enduro season will go green the next afternoon May 3rd. The two pre-season practice days will take place on Saturday April 18th and again the following week April 25th.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will once again make two visits with the first race set for the tradition last Saturday in June that being June 27th in 2015. The second WMT event will unfold a tad earlier this year as the Saturday August 29th has been tabbed as the date for the second 200-lapper for the popular series. The entire 2015 schedule is still in the works as Barbara Cromarty works her magic and will be released in the weeks to come.
A quick reminder that your truly will be once again hosting the Long Island Automotive Swap Shop on Sunday December 7th in the pit area of the track. It’s time to clean out the garage and turn all that stuff you been tripping over into cold hard cash. Robert Clock will be on hand once again with his huge photo album collection for those who like to take a look back to the golden era of racing. Last year was indeed a very successful Swap Shop and from all indications this year will be bigger and better. The biggest item moved last year was when Gary Fritz Sr. bought Chris Young’s enclosed ramp truck. Don’t miss out on either selling or buying this year. It is just $20 per vendor spot and a $5 general admission, so come on out!
Attention all Enduro and Demolition Derby teams Mike Cappiello and Steve Tooker will once again hold a meeting at the Swap Shop which will take place at 12:00 noon. John Ellwood will be involved especially with the Demolition Derby teams as he will introduce new rules for the Demo events at the track in 2015 for regular season events. Cappiello & Tooker will again host the Enduro meeting and be joined by Walter Bonzyck for that gathering. Please make every effort to attend.
The Riverhead Raceway Rewind is back and underway at TJ Halpin’s as you read this effort. This Wednesday November 12th will feature week number three of the season May 17th. Feature winners that night were Howie Brode (Mods), Tom Rogers Jr. (F8), Jimmy White Jr, (BB), Erin Solomito (SPT) and Richie Davidowitz (Legends). Remember all feature winners receive a FREE dinner for 2 the night their win is subject of the Riverhead Rewind. Week 4 is set for November 19th. The races start at 7:00 pm each and every Wednesday and to keep track of who the weekly winners are please like TJ Halpin’s or Stephen Halpin’s Facebook page.
We are still ironing out some details as to the 2014 Riverhead Raceway Champion’s Luncheon and should have the finalized plans for you very soon. We can tell you the tentative date is the final Sunday in January which is the 25th. Keep an eye to Facebook as well as here for more details.
Congratulations to Kyle Soper the 2014 Legend Race Car champion who will be making the move to the NASCAR Modified class in 2015. Kyle and his family have purchased one of Dave Brigati’s NASCAR Modifieds as Soper makes a run for Rookie of the Year. We hear the championship Legend Race Car has been sold to a team off Long Island.
We also hear the Jeffrey Goodale and his Riverhead Building Supply team have ordered a new Spafco Chassis for use in the NASCAR Modified ranks at Riverhead Raceway in 2015. The car they ran this past year is for sale.
Speaking of Spafco and the famed Barry family we offer our congratulations to Art & Ken Barry and their driver Justin Bonsignore #21 on the 2014 Valenti Modified Racing Series championship.
Plenty of ride swapping involving Long Island teams and drivers on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in October. 2014 Sunoco WMT Rookie of the Year Timmy Solomito shifts from the Eastport Feeds #75 team to the Flamingo Motorports #16, while Ryan Preece leaves that team and heads to Eddie & Connie Partridge’s TS Haulers #6. That move has already paid dividends as the new combination won the North-South Shootout! Also Donny Lia, a two-time WMT champion has left the Garbarino #4 for at this time parts unknown.
As announced by Eddie Partridge on social media a few weeks ago Ryan Preece will continue to run the East West Marine #20 of Barbara & Bill Park at Riverhead Raceway when their schedule allows. By the way look for Team Park at TJ Halpin’s on November 19th for Riverhead rewind as they will not only be celebrating Ryan Preece’s May 24th win but also Stacia Park’s birthday!
Early in October during the weekend of the 4th and 5th Vinny Delaney was declared the overall winner of his Legend class at the Bethel Motor Speedway in Sullivan County steering his Cleary’s By The Water #17. The weekend was run in two segments Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
Early word was that Shawn Solomito would replace his brother Timmy in the Wayne & Joette Anderson #75 but no official announcement has been made as of this writing.
Two Riverhead drivers found off the Island success the third week of October. It all started Saturday afternoon October 18th when Richie Davidowitz topped the Legend Race Car field at Wall Stadium in his Thriftway Auto Body racer. That would be the first of two big wins for “Big Money” during a two week span.
The next evening at the Thompson Speedway Chris Turbush topped the New England Truck Series event during the World Series of RacIng at the Thompson Motorsports Park. The race actually started late Saturday night and was stopped due to curfew and was picked up the next evening with Turbush in the Lenny’s Pizza #8 collecting the gold.
Saturday October 25th a glorious field of 37 Senior Champ Karts turned out for the 4th annual East West Marine ‘Lil Jay Trinca Memorial 48 event at Riverhead Raceway. With a winners share of $1,500 on the line you guessed it “Big Money” Richie Davidowitz was the big winner driving a kart owned by Wall Stadium racer Justin Gumley.
Numerous Riverhead Raceway teams are now gearing up for the annual trek to the Jersey Shore during Thanksgiving Weekend for the popular Turkey Derby and all of us at Riverhead Raceway want to wish them the very best of luck!
We’ll be back in late November for a recap of that month as far as news and notes go.
Until next time – BF
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway