(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)
The eight division who compliment the headline NASCAR Modifieds of the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series at Riverhead Raceway will compete in a mini series during the 2021 race season as the dates for the Miller Lite Triple Crown Series have been firmed up and announced by track management. The Miller Lite Triple Crown Series was set to debut in 2020 but the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic delayed and shortened the season putting the series on hold. Miller Lite a marketing partner with Riverhead Raceway since 1985 will serve as the title sponsor of the Triple Crown Series through Long Island distributor Boening Brothers of Lindenhurst.
While announcing the Miller Lite Triple Crown Series prior to the 2020 season track GM John Ellwood revealed the thinking behind the three race series for the eight participating classes, “over the years due to either work or family obligations some teams just can’t commit to racing all the races on the schedule and are out of the championship hunt. With the Miller Lite Triple Crown Series offering a championship within a championship so to speak they can run for that title”. The Triple Crown is the concept of Ellwood and Race Director Scott Tapley. The Miller Lite Triple Crown Series will keep a separate set of points for the three races all of which will use time trial qualifying to set the starting grid with no inverts or redraws after qualifying with all events extra distance races. The Miller Lite Triple Crown Series contests will still pay points towards the season long championship. The Miller Lite Triple Crown Series champion will be crowned and honored at the final series race for all eight divisions.
The Super Pro Trucks will have the distinction of kicking off the 2021 Miller Lite Triple Crown Series on week two of the season May 8th with that race followed by SPT series races on June 17th and Sept. 11th. The Street Stocks compete in thier first scheduled Miller Lite Triple Crown Series race of 2021 as part of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour program Saturday May 15th and complete the three race series on July 3rd and August 7th. Up next on May 22nd both the Crate Modifieds and Figure Eights go to post in their first of three Triple Crown Series tilts with the Crate Modifieds racing Miller Lite events on July 24th & Sept. 4th while the Figure Eights are slated for June 17th and Sept. 11th. On May 29th the Mini Stocks get thier three races series under way which are followed by events on July 10th and September 18th.
INEX Legend Race Cars will see action racing for the Miller Lite Triple Crown Series title on June 12th, August 7th and Sept. 11th. The August 7th contest for the INEX Legend Race Cars falls on their annual National Qualifier date with a 50-lap race on the agenda that evening. Saturday June 19th will find the Blunderbusts running the first of three Triple Crown Series races that are followed up by July 31st and Sept. 4th events. The Late Models are only slated for six races in 2021 but 50% of those will be for the Miller Lite backed series on June 26th, July 24th and August 28th. The July 24th date will indeed be a very special one not just for the Late Models but Riverhead Raceway in general as the Paul McElearney Memorial 60 will honor a true Long Island racing icon who sadly passed away last April.
“This Triple Crown Series would not be possible without the support of Miler Lite and Boening Brothers” Ellwood added, “2021 marks the 37th consecutive season as a marketing partner for the Boening family they are truly part of the fabric here”. Miller Lite along with Twisted Tea and other Boening Brothers distributed products are served in the two beer gardens located in the first and third turn midways of Riverhead Raceway.
The 71st season of racing at Riverhead Raceway will kick off with 2021 Opening Weekend Saturday evening May 1st and Sunday afternoon May 2nd. Saturday’s festivities will feature seven divisions ushering in the new campaign with the NASCAR Modifieds, Late Models, Crate Modifieds, Figure Eights, Blunderbusts, Super Pro Trucks and INEX Legend Race Cars in action with qualifying set for 5:00 pm. Then Sunday as part of the May Meltdown the Street Stock and Mini Stock stars will headline the second half of the doubleheader weekend and be joined by Enduro events for the Trucks, 8-Cylinder Gut & Go and 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go with qualifying set to start at 12:30 PM.
A complete schedule of the events for what promises to be a busy, fun & exciting 2021 race season chock full of returning family entertainment attractions can be downloaded at www.riverheadraceway.com. To e-mail the track address your correspondence to [email protected] with our phone number remaining 631-842-RACE.
I personally have July 24th marked on my calendar. The Late Models will be running the “PAUL MCELEARNEY MEMORIAL 60” on that evening. I used to crew for the 60 Team when it was a Street Stock at Islip with a different driver. They then went “Outlaw” Racing in New England with Paul as the driver. He was an amazing talent who knew how to wheel AND set up a car. MY best man was the owner of the car (Richie Resner) and he eventually married Paul’s sister Milissa. This will be a tremendous memorial to Paul, who we lost this past year