07/28/2005

LIA LOOKING FOR AUGUST THREE-PEAT IN RIVERHEAD 200

    There’s no place like home” is a famous line from the Wizard of Oz movie classic, but no truer words ring louder for Donny Lia of Jericho when it comes to the August stop for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead Raceway. This Saturday night Lia will be gunning for his third consecutive victory at the fabled quarter mile facility.
     Having two wins in a row should make Lia feel comfortable at a track where he’s a former Rookie of the Year, right? Not exactly as he related to track announcer Bob Finan back in June prior to the Miller Lite 150, “this place scares me”. No, Lia isn’t afraid of racing at the demanding track, but more so of how quickly one can find trouble. “Our goal is to finish in the top five and come out of here in one piece” Lia furthered.
    In that June Miller Lite contest Lia met his goal with a third place finish to race winner Ted Christopher of Plainville, Ct. and Eric Beers of Northampton, Pa. Now however comes to race that Lia seems to excel at and after a 150-lap race in June the August race is back to 200-laps which should play right into Lia and the Huntington Honda team’s hands. Going into the July 30th race at Seekonk, Ma Lia finds himself in fourth place in the WMT championship tussle.
    Aside from all the regular competition from the Whelen Modified Tour regulars, Lia if he’s to three-peat will have to contend with a strong Riverhead Raceway contingent of drivers like Chuck Steuer of Bohemia, Bill Park of Manorville, Chris Young of Calverton, Wayne Anderson of Yaphank and Jimmy Blewett of Howell, N.J.
    Joining the Riverhead 200 will be the Timothyhalpin.com night Charger feature event and a 30-lap, double point Blunderbust contest. Qualifying for the Riverhead divisions will start at 4:30 pm with the WMT time trials set for 5:45 pm. Feature racing will immediately following the time trials.
    For further information please call 631-842-RACE or visit www.riverheadraceway.com

Source:  Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR
Posted:  July 29, 2005