(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)
Another exciting family fun night is set for this Saturday August 12th, with Riverhead Raceway owners Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz celebrating I Love America Night with a Fireworks extravaganza. The Fireworks compliment the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series race program featuring the Two for TK, Twin Figure Eight feature events honoring Tom Kraft who passed away on July 29th.
Tom Kraft was truly a Figure Eight icon on Long Island, with a majority of his success coming at Riverhead Raceway. Ranked 5th on the track win list with 29, “TK” was a three-time track champion with titles in 1986, 1998 & 2006.
Shortly after retiring Kraft was asked to and agreed to join the NASCAR officiating staff of Riverhead Raceway with his vast driving experience a valuable insight to the race director. Tom saw his new position on the staff as a way to further advocate for his beloved Figure Eights. Many point to Kraft actually saving the class on more than one occasion. His presence at the track, especially at the fourth turn pit gate will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Saturday will be a way to celebrate the life and accomplishments of “TK” Tom Kraft with Twin 9-lap Figure Eight features. The event was originally slated to be the second leg of the 2023 Miller Lite Triple Crown Series with a 20-lap feature originally planned. However, with Tom’s most famed car number 9, the idea to run Twin 9’s was born.
The two races will serve as the second Miller Lite Triple Crown Series leg with full MLTCS points paid for both events, as will track championship points. Kim Hyde of S.A.F.E.R announced Sunday that four sets of lap bonus money have been sold for the Two for TK Twin 9’s.
Joining in on the I Love America Night fun are the NASCAR Tour Type Modifieds, Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds, INEX Legend Race Cars, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks. Once all the racing has been contested it will be time to douse the track lights and enjoy another award-winning pyrotechnic spectacular celebrating the great United States of America.
Spectator gates will open at 4:00 pm Saturday with qualifying set for 5:30 pm and opening ceremonies at approximately 6:30 pm. Adults $30, kids 6-12 $20, 5 & under free.
Please visit our new, state of art website at http://www.riverheadraceway.com, e-mails reach us at [email protected] and our phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
These are the glory days of modified access. Saturday night Riverhead then onto Lancaster. Sunday night watched the 100 lap modified feature replay from Bowman Gray. I don’t see how they don’t beat and bang on that track it’s so short and narrow. The feature mostly well mannered but one incident under caution that was a puzzler. A wronged driver used his rear end to purposely back into the front end of the guy he had a beef with demo style hoping to end his night. Ended his night all right but he got thrown out too.
If you get a chance pop a coin in the FloRacing jukebox and hit the Alaska Raceway button. Big beautiful track. First event I saw was the Bomber Stocks. They included an 80’s era El Camino, 60’s Chevy pickup and even an early 50’s Chevy Sedan. Never have seen mini’s and Legends go as fast as the do on that big track. What will take your breath away is the mountains you see in the background on every lap. Not picturesque mountains like in northern New England they’re super sized mountains that make you feel insignificant just viewing them.
At Riverhead a couple things. I don’t get how Modifieds at Riverhead survive. The weather was ideal, the racing terrific yet the crowd sketchy. The contrast to the prior two non modified, slam bang Enduro-Demo shows with great crowds make you wonder what does turn out the fans on Long Island?
First modified heat. Last lap dust up turns the two leaders before the checkers. Flag man called it a completed event how can that be?
That bunch down there are still buying new cars, still producing great racing and the only tour mod regular series around. But the lack of real fan interest compared to ones that have more slam bang is a head scratcher.
Good comments by Doug. My two cents say that like me, maybe everyone’s watching on flo. This has undoubtedly hurt their attendance. Also loss of longtime competitors like Anderson, Park, Brunhoezls and low car counts don’t help.
I know Riverhead has a rich tradition of very popular drivers. I don’t know any of the specifics on that but can say this crop of tour modified drivers is absolutely outstanding in my view. They prove it all the time when the Tour comes to town.
Fair enough but the bus demos and enduro’s at Riverhead are streamed as well, at $30 bucks certainly not a bargain price and they get great crowds. Is that to say those need to be witnessed in person versus traditional racing is fine on TV?
Being in my 30’s or 40’s with a family is a decades old memory at this point. I love streaming it’s perfect at this point in my life. However were I younger with a family I’m virtually certain we’d want to be at the track just as we were long ago.
The question is, does streaming hurt live attendance? Anyone? Can anyone say based on any kind of hard data if that’s true? And were it true why on earth would any track or series stream races?
Anyone?