07/17/2003

MILLER LITE 200 ON TOP AT RIVERHEAD AUGUST 2

    The visits of the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series to Barbara and Jim Cromarty's Riverhead Raceway are always much anticipated.  However after rain cancelled the June Miller Lite 200 the August stop is looked forward to even that much more. Miller Lite will sponsor the August 2nd 200-lap contest with Ed Flemke of Southington, Ct. the defending race winner.
    Twenty-eight NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series cars will take to the quarter mile oval for a posted purse of $64,675. Flemke hopes to right the Hill Enterprises ship, which has hit rough water the first half of the 2003 FMS season. After winning the Riverhead 200 last summer Flemke noted how special it was to win a race where his Long Island idol Charlie Jarzombek had won so many races and five titles.
    John Blewett III of Howell, NJ, who owns one Riverhead FMS triumph and is in the thick of the title fight for 2003, hopes to score his second victory in the Miller Lite 200. All the cars and stars will be on hand including Jerry Marquis of Broad Brook, Ct., Tony Hirschman of Northampton, Pa, Rick Fuller of Auburn, Ma, Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, Ct. and Eric Beers of Northampton, Pa.
    "Mighty" Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I. has filed an entry blank having the weekend off as of now from his Busch North Series. Stefanik owns six Riverhead Raceway FMS victories, the last of which came on August 4th 2001 in the T.S. Haulers 200. Ted Christopher of Plainville Ct., winner of the '02 Miller Lite 200, will be on hand, as will Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y., Jamie Tomaino of Howell, N.J., Rob Summers of Manchester, Ct. and Nevin George of Kunkletown, Pa.
    Donny Lia of Merrick will lead the Long Island regulars into the Miller Lite 200 and be joined by Tom Baldwin of Bellport, Tony Ferrante of New Hyde Park and Howie Brode of Bay Shore.
    The Riverhead regulars entering as of press time include defending track champion J.R. Bertuccio of Centereach, Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. of Levittown, Wayne Anderson of Yaphank, John Fortin of Holtsville, Ken Heagy of Riverhead Gregg Shivers of Rocky Point Kevin Goodale of Riverhead and Lew Hallock of Manorville. All will have to make the 23 car cut in time trials, as the 5 available provisionals will go to the FMS regulars.
    Joining the NASCAR FMS action will be the Chargers and Blunderbusts with their heat races at 4:30 pm to be followed by the FMS time trials. Main event racing will commence at 6:30 pm with the Riverhead Raceway classes leading off prior to the Miller Lite 200.

    For additional information please call the track office at 631-842-RACE or visit our website at www.riverheadraceway.com.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  July 17, 2003