(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)
Riverhead Raceway owners Eddie & Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz announced this week that due to the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent federal and state restrictions put into place by local & state officials they are forced to cancel all racing events for the month of May.
The track had previously canceled two safety technical inspection days and a warm-up up day slated for the final three weeks of April.
The official statement reads, “Due to Federal and Local regulations regarding the Covid-19 virus, Riverhead Raceway regrets to announce that all events in the month of May have been canceled. We will continue to monitor regulations set forth by the state and we will be ready to race when those regulations change and allow us. All of us at Riverhead Raceway are hoping that you and yours are staying safe and home during this worldwide pandemic.”
Riverhead Raceway is located 77 miles east of New York City considered by experts to be a “hot spot” of the Covid-19 outbreak in the United States.
Sadly the Long Island racing family has been directly affected by the coronavirus with the April 15th passing of Street Stock/Late Model legend Paul McElearney, 70. Both Joe Krukowski and Jim Kelly former Modified drivers at the track also contracted the virus. Earlier this week Kelly who remains active in racing with the LIVARS Vintage Race Car group was transferred to a physical therapy facility. Krukowski is also expected to be transferred from Southampton for PT later this week. Both McElearney & Krukowski are enshrined on the Riverhead Raceway Cromarty Wall of Champions.
Any updates concerning the 2020 Riverhead Raceway season will be posted on the track web page, www.riverheadraceway.com and various social media outlets.
Cuomo has made it clear that NYS will listen to the doctors and scientists. That leaves out Biff Tannen.
Given the severity of the outbreak, it could be safe to say Riverhead may not race at all this year, which really sucks.