Riverhead Hosts Two Practices – Apr. 20 & 27

After what has seemed like and endless off-season for Long Island race fans which included Superstorm Sandy, a Nor’ Easter and a record setting Blizzard the sweet sound of race car engines and the aroma of Sunoco Race Fuel will again fill the air at Barbara & Jim Cromarty’s Riverhead Raceway Saturday April 20th. That afternoon will feature the first of two pre-season practice sessions for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and Enduro Race Series teams that will call the historic oval home in 2013. A second test & tune date will follow the next week Saturday April 27th, with both sessions featuring free grandstand admission for race starved fans.

At high noon Saturday April 20th the first round of testing will get underway for the NASCAR stock cars who will practice until around 4:00 pm or so before the track then is turned over to the Enduro race teams or their first runs of the new season. Judging by the first pre-season Safety Technical Inspection day held April 6th where a large number of teams took advantage of going through that process, the 2013 Riverhead Raceway season is shaping up nicely.

The NASCAR Modifieds once again highlight the weekly Whelen All-American Series programs at Riverhead Raceway where Shawn Solomito of Islip captured not only the track title but the New York State Championship as well for the NWAAS. Shawn and his team have an all-new Troyer Engineering car for use in 2013, while younger brother Timmy Solomito has signed on to drive with Wayne Anderson this season. Both are expected for the first practice day of the year and are just two teams that will call the 63-year old quarter mile home.

In fact all of the 2012 champions at Riverhead Raceway are expected to return this season as Mike Bologna of Melville goes for his third straight Late Model title while Mike Mujsce of Westhampton Beach seeks his second career Figure Eight title. Newlywed Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead will be out to defend his Charger championship of last year, as will Blunderbust kingpin Tom Pickerell of Huntington. Roger Turbush of Riverhead will be gunning for his third Super Pro Truck title in four years, while young gun Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead will look to make it two in a row in Legend Race Car competition.

The two warm-up days are equally important to both defending track champions and drivers looking to dethrone them in 2013 and especially important to rookie drivers making their formative first laps of a racing career. Look for plenty of race teams to take full advantage of the pre-season testing at Riverhead Raceway on April 20th & 27th as they prepare for opening weekend 2013 Saturday evening May 4th and Sunday afternoon May 5th.

As they have over their entire promotional careers Barbara & Jim Cromarty will swing the gates open for the April 20th & 27th practice session to their loyal fans free of charge so they can get a sneak peek at what is sure to be another ultra competitive and exciting season of short track racing and family entertainment.

Competitors should note the pit gates will open at 9:00 am on the practice days, with the technical inspection area opening as well for those still needing to go through and pass Safety Technical Inspection. No car will be permitted on the track without a sticker indicating the car has passed tech. Practice will commence at 12 noon and run in divisional rounds all afternoon long before the track is turned over to Enduro teams sometime during the 4 O’clock hour.

The entire 2013 Riverhead Raceway schedule, rules and entry blanks can be downloaded from our web page, www.riverheadraceway.com or you can call the track office at 631-842-RACE.

Source: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR