It's hard to
believe that the gates at Riverhead closed nine weeks ago
already and that it has been more than six months since the
“Offseason News and Notes” column was laid to rest for the
summer, but here we are, nine weeks closer to the start of the
2009 season. The track has released the 2009 schedule. Although
the schedule is, as always, subject to change, teams can now
definitively begin to make their plans for the year. Perhaps the
biggest sigh of relief is being breathed by those in the Late
Model division, whose future had been in question. The division
will see a limited eight-race schedule in 2009.
Other notes of
interest pertaining to the schedule include the addition of four
Legends races, and a shift in their schedule to more Saturday
night shows. The group is slated to run 12 races in 2009,
with eight Saturday shows and four Sunday races. It has been
reported that the Legends will go to a regular handicapping
system in 2009, instead of the draw that was utilized in 2008.
Drivers in the division will also be required to monitor the
track frequency with one-way RaceCeiver receivers. This is
expected to facilitate faster lineups under caution.
Also, enduro
divisions will see more Saturday shows, with one division slated
to run nearly every Saturday night during the season. The first
Saturday night enduro comes in the second week of the season,
when the Grands will put forward their first Saturday night
effort. The Blunderbusts will get time trials for their 30-lap,
double point races, and the Super Pro Truck division is slated
to run for double points during 2009 as well.
"Gobbling Up" the Opportunity
to Race
While 2008 racing at Riverhead is done, several teams are
gearing up for the Turkey Derby at Wall. Among those who have
confirmed that they plan to race are Eddie Brunnhoelzl III and
Ken Darch (Modified); Michael Power (Wall/SK Modified); John
Visconti, Kevin Nowak, and Tom Sherman (Legends); and Bill
Stockert (Factory Stock). Howie Bott, who many Riverhead drivers
know through NEETS, is pre-registered to run his Factory Stock,
and Grand enduro driver Richard Petey is as well. Other
pre-registered Long Island drivers include Chuck Steuer, Tom
Rogers Jr., David Roys, and Tony Ferrante Jr. (Modified); Ray
Minieri (Street Stock); and John Beatty (Legends).
LongIslandJam.com will be providing coverage from the Turkey
Derby, so that those who are not able to attend can keep tabs on
how the Long Islanders fare.
Championship-Winning Car Sold
Last year, John Cozza was among those who were at the Turkey
Derby, running his Grand enduro car. It has been confirmed that
Cozza, after winning the 2008 Grand enduro championship, has
sold his car. The buyer is 8 cylinder enduro veteran Philip
Lamanna. It is uncertain what - if anything - Cozza will be
behind the wheel of in 2009.
Modified
Driver Seeks Help
Modified driver Justin Bonsignore contacted LongIslandJam.com to
let us know that he is looking for both sponsorship and crew
help for the 2009 season. Bonsignore's crew chief has retired,
leaving a void in the team, which is looking for additional crew
help as well. Bonsignore finished 8th in 2008 points at
Riverhead, collecting nine top fives and 11 top tens in 16
races. Bonsignore hopes to have an even more successful 2009
season, and is hoping to secure some new sponsors to help in
that effort.
New Sponsor News
In sponsor news,
it has been announced that JTL Motorsports Enterprises LLC has
acquired the backing of Empire State Tools, which will come on
board the #29 Blunderbust presently driven by Jessica Larsen.
The JTL organization also informs LongIslandJam.com that the #37
Figure 8 car will return in 2009, with a driver or drivers to be
announced later, as it may be a shared driving effort.
Former Driver to Return
Rejoining
the Figure 8 field in 2009 will be Joe Larsen himself, who
informs us that he will be making a comeback. Larsen also has
plans to run a handful of truck enduros, after racing in the
class twice in 2008.
Nowak Ranks
Nationally
A peek at the points on the 600 Racing web site shows that
Riverhead's own Kevin Nowak currently sits 41st in national
asphalt Semi-Pro standings for the Legends. Nowak did a lot of
traveling during the 2008 season, taking advantage of numerous
opportunities to gain valuable seat time and hone his driving
ability.
Riverhead in
the News
It was confirmed last week by 600 Racing's
Communications Manager Michelle Theriault that an
article written as an overview of the Legends division's 2008
return to Riverhead Raceway will be included in the next edition
of 600 Racing Magazine, which is delivered to INEX
members nationwide. INEX is reportedly the nation's
third-largest sanctioning body (behind NASCAR and IMCA), with
more than 3,500 members who will get a glimpse at the season in
review.
Also getting some
press recently is none other than Dennis Freese of Oval Speed,
who was profiled for the November 19th Race Car Builder's Guide
in Area Auto Racing News. Freese is one of the people who
puts in an immeasurable amount of time, with relatively little
public acknowledgement of all that he does to help make racing
here on Long Island possible.
All NASCAR
members and subscribers to Speedway Illustrated magazine
were treated to none other than Riverhead Blunderbust competitor
Scott Sepe being profiled as the “NASCAR Member of the Month” on
page 126 of the December issue. The article, written by
LongIslandJam.com founder J.A. Ackley, gives readers a glimpse
of one of the true underdogs at Riverhead.
R.A.C.E.
Driver Fund Fundraiser Reminder
As a reminder, efforts are in full swing for the first
fundraiser for the Race and Collect Earnings (R.A.C.E.) driver
fund. The event will be a Chinese auction and bowling party, to
be hosted at East Islip Lanes on Saturday, January 26th. Tickets
are priced at $20 each, and include two games of bowling and
auction tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets,
send email to
racedriverfund@aim.com.
Send in Your Profiles!
Drivers have
begun to submit profiles for 2009, and they are in the process
of being entered into the database. Everyone is urged to take
full advantage, as it provides free exposure for yourself, your
race team, and your sponsors. The link to the team profile form
can be found on the front page of the Jam, and new profiles
should be viewable in the near future.
The next edition
of the "Offseason News and Notes" will be posted in December.
Anyone wishing to submit news should email
tchirico@longislandjam.com.
Source: Tracy
Chirico/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
November 23, 2008
