(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)
Just one week after racing on the shores of Lake Ontario at the Oswego, NY Speedway the stars of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be southbound this Saturday June 19th for the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200 at Riverhead Raceway on the shores of Long Island Sound. The race will mark the second of three stops at Riverhead in ’21 with Doug Coby of Milford, Ct. winner of the Miller Lite 200 in May looking to go back to back at the demanding quarter mile facility.
After surrendering the lead to eventual Miller Lite 200 winner Coby with 25-laps remaining Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville will be seeking to exact revenge on his friendly foe this Saturday. The defending NASCAR WMT champion leads active WMT drivers in events won with eight victories putting Justin just three back of the iconic Mike Ewanitsko (11). Meanwhile Doug Coby returns to the WMT fold after bypassing the Oswego event to participate in the inaugural SRX at Stafford Motor Speedway. Aside from Coby and Bonsignore another driver who turned heads in May was Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, NY wrestling second away from Bonsignore late in the Miller Lite 200. Emerling with crew chief Jan Leaty have been chipping away at Riverhead and perhaps will breakthrough with a win in the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200 Saturday. Kyle Bonsignore a Bay Shore, L.I. native had an impressive fourth place tally in the first race and looks to build upon that finish Saturday as does popular Woody Pitkat of Stafford, Ct. the fifth place finisher in May.
A week after a solid 8th place finish in the WMT Jennerstown Salutes 150 second generation talent JB Fortin drove his Kenny Lechner Sr. prepared race car to the winner’s circle at Riverhead Raceway in the June 5th 50-lap Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified event. JB hopes to build on his recent momentum Saturday. Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville NY was on the move in the Miller Lite 200 running in the top five before settling for a 6th place tally. Like Coby, Norwalk, Ct. resident Ron Silk has yet to win a NASCAR WMT race at Riverhead despite winning previously in the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series a few years back could Ron turn that around Saturday.
Early season winner Eric Goodale of Riverhead looks forward to returning to the track that produced his first career WMT race in 2014 as does local businessman and resident Dave Sapienza of Riverhead. “Sap” will be returning to the WMT after taking the Oswego race off. Goodale was 8th, Sapienza 10th in the Miller Lite 200. Sandwiched between was Riverhead Raceway regular Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills who finished 9th. After the May race the 2020 championship runner-up at Riverhead noted if he and his Rob Pelis owned team figure out the WMT Hoosier Tire they may be able to make some noise Saturday.
Also looking for success in the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200 Saturday are top flight WMT drivers Tommy Catalano of Ontario, NY, Timmy Solomito of Islip, Craig Lutz of Miller Place, Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Ma.,Tyler Rypkema of Owego, NY, Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Ma., Walter Sutcliffe of East Haven, Ct., Gary McDonald of Ronkonkoma and Melissa Fifield of Wakefield, NH.
Aside from Slepian the Riverhead Raceway drivers who competed in the Miller Lite 200 that are expected to run the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200 are, John Baker of Brookhaven, Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead, Kyle Soper of Manorville, Roger Turbush of Riverhead and defending track champion Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead.
Complementing the WMT event Saturday are the Eagle Auto Mall Crate Modifieds, Blunderbusts, INEX Legend Race Cars and Street Stocks. The Blunderbust event race will serve as the first of the three race Miller Lite Triple Crown Series and go 30-laps. The Crate Mods will race 25-laps while the Legends and Street Stocks go to post in 20-lap feature events.
Spectator gates will open at 3:00 pm Saturday with the NASCAR WMT final practice to run from 3:00-4:00 pm while qualifying for the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200 set for 6:00 pm. The Riverhead Raceway Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series divisions will practice and qualify prior to the WMT sessions. The Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200 is scheduled to start at 8:00 pm and live streamed on NBC Sports Gold Track Pass. Riverheadraceway.Tv will carry all on track action starting at 3:00 pm prior to yielding to NBC Sports Gold for the 200.
Adult admission is $40, kids 6-12 $10 with 5 & under free. Campers are welcome at no charge and must utilize the SE corner of the parking lot adjacent to the end of the pit area, there are no hook-ups.
For additional information please visit www.riverheadraceway.com, while e-mails reach us at riverheadraceway1@gmail. The track phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
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