04/09/2004

RIVERHEAD CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE UNDERWAY SATURDAY APRIL 24TH

    The quest to become a 2004 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series champion in 2004 at Barbara and Jim Cromarty's Riverhead Raceway will commence Saturday night April 24 with all six divisions in action. The Blunderbust division will usher in the new campaign in a big way, as they will run a 30-lap feature event on Miller Lite night paying double points.
    As has been tradition on Long Island the high-powered NASCAR Modifieds will be the premier division weekly at Riverhead and John Fortin will be out to garner his third title in the last four years. Fortin will face plenty of stiff competition for that crown in '04 with drivers like Chuck Steuer, Wayne Anderson, Bill Park, J.R. Bertuccio, Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr., Mike Andrews Jr., Ken Heagy, Dan Jivanelli, Tom Rogers Jr. and Mike Curtis all out to dethrone him.
    Veteran Glenn Tyler who enjoyed taking his first career Late Model championship in 2003 hopes to do the same this season, but like Fortin, he faces a tough road ahead. Popular Roger Oxee hopes to earn his first career title this season with other championship hopefuls Dave Brigati, Scott Kulesa, Peter Eriksen, Greg Kleila, Kevin Metzger, Doug Wholey, Jarrod Hayes "Mighty" Mike Mortimer and Sean Patterson all in the mix for the crown.
    With two-time champion Tom Rogers Jr. focusing on NASCAR Modified racing in 2004, the Figure Eight title comes to the new season vacated so to speak. Of course multi-time champion Roger Maynor hopes to add another notch to his belt this year, but many others hope to have a say in the matter. Veteran talents such as George Sprague, Bill Steen, Tom Kraft, Ken Hyde, Ron Harrison and Mike Mujsce all hope to be at the top of the standings come September.
    "Dynamite" Dan Turbush comes to 2004 as the defending Charger champion, but if the cagey veteran is to collect his third career title he'll have to contend with the likes of Jack Orlando, Rusty Turbush, Chris Buetler, Rob Tribuzio, Eric Lutz, Brad Van Houten, Chris McGuire, Steve Ratti and the returning Robin Vollmoeller.
    Armed with a new car for 2004 Eugene Malverty, two-time defending Blunderbust kingpin, is set to go for the hat trick. Out to trip him up will be the likes of Bobby Gardner, Chris Chirico, Kevin Clarke, Anthony Aiello, Doug Watson, Chris Busick, Tommy Walkowiak and Scott Maliszewski.
    Like Malverty, Super Pro truck champion Danny Grennan has won two championships in a row and if a three-peat is in order he'll have to contend with Lou Maestri, Mike Albasini, Lenny Costa, Troy Ferdinando and the Dumicich father and son tandem of Frank Sr and Jr.
    The journey for championship glory at Riverhead Raceway all begins Saturday night April 24th, with qualifying at 4:30 pm and feature event action at 6:30 pm.
    Additional information can be obtained by calling 631-842-RACE or visiting our website at www.riverheadraceway.com.

Sources:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  April 9, 2004