(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)
The time honored tradition of two preseason practice days featuring free grandstand admission for fans will return to Riverhead Raceway in 2021 track owners Eddie & Connie partridge and Tom Gatz announced recently.
The two “spring training” days for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series will unfold Saturday afternoon April 17th and again the following week April 24th with cars hitting the track at 12 noon both dates.
Fans will look on as drivers make their first laps preparing for the 71st season of stock car thrills at the Riverhead Raceway quarter mile oval in either updated or new equipment.
Fans are encouraged to take photos and post them to social media for all to see what the new season has in store. The NASCAR Modifieds, Late Models, Crate Modifieds, Figure Eights, Blunderbusts, Super Pro Trucks, INEX Legend Race Cars, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Vintage All Stars and the newest race division INEX Bandoleros will practice on a rotating basis throughout the afternoon gearing up for the 2021 Opening Weekend Saturday May 1st and Sunday May 2nd. Later in the afternoon when the NASCAR and INEX teams have completed their testing and tuning the Truck, 8-Cylinder Gut & Go and 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go Enduro classes will take to the track to shake down their cars.
Once the practice days are completed all eyes turn to the 2021 Opening weekend with a seven for one Saturday evening program kicking things off May 1st. The NASCAR Modifieds will headline the show with a 50-lap main event and be joined by the Late Models, Crate Modifieds, Figure Eights, Blunderbusts, Super Pro Trucks and INEX Legend Race Cars. Qualifying set the opening night feature events with heat races that will start at 5:00 pm with opening ceremonies and features to follow. Competitors should note the pits will open at 1:00 pm with pit fees remaining $36 for those with a NASCAR/INEX License or $56 without. Practice is set for 2:30 pm with spectator gates opening at 4:00 pm. Adults are $30, kids 6-12 $10 with 5 and under free.
The second half of the 2021 Opening Weekend will see the annual May Meltdown return after a year absence. The five division card finds the Street Stocks and Mini Stocks sharing the spotlight and will be joined by three Enduro classes in the Trucks, 8-Cylinder Gut & Go and 4/6-Cylinder Gut & Go. Pit open at 10:00 am with practice at 11:00 am, spectator gates open at 12 noon with qualifying via heat races starting at 12:30 pm. Adult admission is $25, kids 6-12 $10 with 5 & under free.
It is expected that all 12 champions from 2020 will be returning in 2021 to defend their titles. Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead (NASCAR Modifieds), Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead (Late Models), Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches (Crate Modifieds), Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge (Figure Eights), Tom Pickerell of Huntington (Blunderbusts), Jack Handley Jr. of Medford (Super Pro Trucks) and Kevin Nowak of Medford (INEX Legend Race Cars) start their title defenses Saturday night. The very next afternoon Dave Antos of Lindenhurst (Street Stocks), CJ Zukowski of Riverhead (Mini Stocks), Justin McGrady of Stony Brook (Trucks), Brian Halsey of Southampton (8-Cylinders) and Franky Abbatiello of East Islip (4/6-Cylinders) seek to start their championship defense.
For a complete comprehensive 2021 schedule of events and up to date news please visit www.riverheadraceway.com or call 631-842-RACE. E-mails reach us at riverheadraceway1@gmail,.com
Nice that they offer free admission to their loyal fans. I wouldn’t dare say it would be nice if our local CT short tracks would do the same. The deranged Dafella would again berate me for it.
🌈🦄2020,
Do you know what the local regulations or insurance regulations are for tracks in CT vs tracks in NY when it comes to opening up the grandstands? That very likely plays a part.
I don’t know what the rules and regulations are now but Stafford at some point in the last few years let fans in on Friday free to see the practice sessions because I was there. The year not so sure of. My recollection was that it was a beautiful sunny spring day that I am certain of. I also recall but with less certainty that there were very few people that were present and the people there were mostly team members wondering up into the stands.
After a long winter it’s nice to see the cars on the track but I don’t think this is a big deal at all. Tedious for the teams shaking down their cars and making incremental changes to see how they work. Even more tedious after 15 minutes or so watching it with no access to the paddock to see what’s going on in the trenches.