After months of waiting and getting cars
ready, the gates finally opened on the Riverhead season with the
first of two scheduled practice days. There were a number of
cars on hand from all of the divisions, and an impressive
turnout of Legends cars. As always, the beginning of the season
is a time of getting acquainted with new drivers, new bodies,
new paint schemes and new cars.
Many of the returning drivers were happy to
finally get the opportunity to get seat time once again, while
some new drivers got to turn their first laps. Among the notable
rookies was John Gloor IV, who will be wheeling both a Late
Model and a Legends car out of the "Young Guns Motorsports"
stables. Bill Park, Dan Turbush and Tommy Walkowiak were on hand
to shake their machines down in preparation of their title
defense runs. Defending Charger champ John Ellwood ran practice
as well, though his practice laps were turned in a Modified.
Among those who were notably not present were defending
champions Roger Maynor and Dan Grennan. Tony Naglieri, the last
Legends champion crowned at Riverhead in 2000, took some
practice laps in his machine as well. In the Enduro ranks,
defending champions Bobby Pease, Ed Brown Jr. and Russ Jansen
were all present, while Shawn Wanat was not.
While most drivers were able to use the day
to make any necessary adjustments, not everyone's day went quite
according to plan. Some drivers, including Ray Shannon, Rob
Bader, Erin Dumicich, Anthony Battisti, Kevin Nowak and James
Badalato, suffered mechanical woes. Late Model rookie Artie
Pedersen Jr. had a hard hit into the wall during his second
round of practice.
Next Saturday, April 26th, will be the
final practice prior to the start of the 2008 Riverhead Raceway
season. Once again, the gates will open at 9 a.m., with practice
for Legends, Super Pro Trucks, Blunderbusts, Chargers, Figure
8s, Late Models and Modifieds running from noon until 4:30 p.m.,
followed by practice for the Enduro classes.
Source: Tracy
Chirico/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
April 19, 2008
