(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)
–Regular Modified Feature Events Extended To 50 Laps
Fans who love the open wheel racing excitement of Tour Type NASCAR Modifieds can quench their thirst for their favorite form of racing at Riverhead Raceway in 2019 as track owners Eddie & Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz have scheduled a historic 1,821 laps of feature event racing.
The action will begin on Saturday evening May 4th when the 2019 NASCAR Whelen All American Series swings into action with a seven division program featuring a 50-lap main event for the NASCAR Modifieds. During the winter track management announced the distance for a regular Saturday feature would be stretched from 40 to 50-laps.
Kyle Soper of Manorville will defend both his Riverhead Raceway and New York State NASCAR Whelen All American Series title starting with the May 4th lid-lifter. Most of the drivers who finished behind Soper in the 2018 championship chase are expected back in an effort to dethrone the young driving talent. Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead, John Fortin Sr. of Holtsville, John Beatty Jr. of Merrick, Dave Brigati of Calverton, Chris Young of Calverton, Roger Turbush of Riverhead and Eddie Brunnhoelzl III of Levittown are all planning on a busy season of racing at the historic quarter mile oval. 2018 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville is expected to make as many as 10 starts in ’19 for car owners Denise & Ken Darch who finished 10th in points in 2018 with Brad Van Houten.
After the opening night 50-lapper the NASCAR “Mod Squad” will return for week two on May 11th for a 75-lap contest with time trial qualifying with 50-lap events slated for May 18th and Memorial Day weekend May 25th. Business certainly picks-up in June with five race meets planned starting with another 75-lap tilt on June 1st. After a 50-lapper on June 8th the stage will be set for the 3rd annual Islip 300, the signature event on the 2019 Riverhead Raceway schedule Saturday June 15th. Early indications are defending race winner and current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct. is planning on running the 300 as the MENCS enjoying an off weekend. The month of June will conclude with a 50-lap event on June 22nd while a 69-lap feature set for the 69th Year Celebration complete with Fireworks Saturday June 29th.
The first of the two traditional NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events at Riverhead will kick off the month of July off in high gear Saturday night July 6th, a race defending WMT champion Justin Bonsignore is looking forward having swept both races at his home track on his way to the 2018 championship. The one and only scheduled Wednesday night race for the NASCAR Modifieds will unfold on July 10th and be followed by an off night Saturday July 13th. To close out July a 50-lapper on July 20th will proceed the popular Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 that will close out the month July 27th.
August, like June features five Saturdays in the month with 50-lap races planned for the first three weeks August 3rd, 10th & 17th. A 75-lapper will highlight the August 24th race program with a 50-lap feature closing out the month August 31st the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.
The NASCAR WMT returns to start the month of September with their second 200-lap contest that could turn out be a “wild card” race in determining the 2019 NASCAR WMT champion. The lone 100-lap NASCAR Modified race of 2019 will be presented September 14th while 50-lap races September 21st & 28th will close out the busy season of racing.
Joining the NASCAR Modifieds on Saturday nights starting with the May 4th opener are the Late Models, Crate Modifieds, Figure Eights, Blunderbusts, Super Pro Trucks and INEX Legend Race Cars. The 34th season of Enduro racing will be ushered in Sunday afternoon May 5th with a full card of Street Stock, Mini Stock, Truck, 8-Cylinder and 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go racing planned.
A sneak preview of the 2019 season will be available to race fans Saturday April 20th and again April 27th when the track presents two pre-season practice days featuring free grandstand admission for spectators.
The complete schedule of events can be viewed at www.riverheadraceway.com while e-mails reach us at [email protected]. Our phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
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