03/24/2005

FAMILIAR NAME RETURNS AS TRUCK SPONSOR AT RIVERHEAD

    For the past four seasons Charlie Rizzo has provided the Riverhead Raceway Super Pro Truck division with seasonal sponsorship through his Auto Tech Diagnostic business. However for 2005 Rizzo announced recently he'd be bringing back a popular and familiar name to back the class for the new season, Golden Auto Body.
    Founded in 1971 by Lenny Costa Golden Auto Body was made so very successful and popular by the late Larry "King" Costa before his untimely passing in September of 2002. Charlie Rizzo, who first got involved in racing through Costa ran Golden Auto Body for the Costa family until January of 2003 when he purchased the popular College Point, Queens, N.Y. firm. Rizzo's Auto Tech Diagnostic is just blocks away in the very same town just a foul ball away from Shea Stadium.
    Golden Auto Body will add purse money to the weekly Super Pro Truck purse and host a night at the races on Saturday July 30th when all the drivers of the "tail gate" brigade will go all out for the victory and earn the Golden Auto Body hardware.
    Lou Maestri of Deer Park comes to 2005, as the defending Super Pro Truck champion and he and crew chief Joe DeGangi are busy readying for their title defense. Among those looking to oust Maestri are Dave Brigati, Danny Grennan, Bryan Sescila and Mike Albasini. Fans will also need to keep an eye on Dave Koenig, Frank Dumicich Sr. & Jr. and newcomer Brian McElearney.
    The Super Pro Trucks along with all five other divisions of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series are just days away from hitting the track for the first of two pre-season warm-up days. The first test and tune session will be Saturday April 16th at 12:00 noon and will be followed by a second such sessions Saturday April 23rd.
    Spectators should keep in mind grandstand admission for both practice days will remain free of charge as they traditionally have. The practice dates are just a pre-cursor to the opening weekend that features NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series action Saturday evening April 30th and Enduro action Sunday afternoon May 1st.

Source:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  March 24, 2005