Coby & Bonsignore Bring Tight NWMT Title Fight to Riverhead Sept. 13th

Going into the final four races of the 2014 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour one of the tightest championship battles in WMT history involving Doug Coby of Milford, Ct. and Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville will take center stage at Riverhead Raceway Saturday September 13th. Heading into the Riverhead 200 on Buzz Chew Chevrolet-Cadillac night Coby enjoys a slim 4-point advantage over Bonsignore, 407 to 403.

Bonsignore has already authored three WMT victories in 2014, two at the Thompson Speedway and one at Monadnock Speedway and should enjoy a home track advantage over Coby cutting his eye teeth at the demanding Long Island oval. Bonsignore and car owner Ken Massa won the 2011 Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified title running both the Whelen All-American Series and WMT in what was a busy season for the tandem. Coby, a versatile wheel man comes to the Riverhead 200 with one win in 2014 and hopes to turn his recent luck at Barbara & Jim Cromarty’s quarter mile around in the 200.Both drivers have a great chance to wind up in the winner’s circle September 13th.

With a late race pass with 23-laps remaining in the 2013 Riverhead 200 Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct. is the defending race winner and the driver he passed for that triumph Timmy Solomito of Islip will both come to the 2014 race ranked among the favorites to win as well. Solomito steering Wayne Anderson’s famed NASCAR Modified comes to the 200 as the leading Sunoco Race Fuel Rookie of the Year driver.

Eric Goodale of Riverhead notched his first career NASCAR WMT victory back on June 28th in the Hoosier Tire 200 and the rugged driver will be going for the clean sweep in the September 13th tussle. “TC” Ted Christopher of Plainville, Ct who Goodale passed on a late race restart is hoping to even the score in the Riverhead 200 after his runner-up finish in June. Matt Hirschmann of Northampton, Pa. drove a smart and steady race for third that race and is primed to visit victory lane.

All the top ranking drivers on the 2014 WMT will come to the Riverhead 200 well rested having run their last race in the middle of August at Bristol. Bobby Santos of Franklin, Ma., Ron Silk of Norwalk, Ct., Woody Pitkat of Stafford, Ct., Donny Lia of Jericho, Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, NY, Tommy Barrett Jr. of Mills, Ma., Ron Yuhas of Groton, Ct., Jamie Tomaino of Howell, NJ., Wade Cole of Riverton, Ct., Gary McDonald of Ronkonkoma and Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon Valley, Pa. will all be on hand.

Among the Riverhead WAAS regulars ready to do battle in the Riverhead 200 will be John Beatty Jr. of Merrick who had nearly a race long duel with Ted Christopher back in June with the duo going side by side in a breathtaking race for the lead. Beatty won the Coors Light Pole Award for the June event. Howie Brode of East Islip and Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead are currently locked in the 2014 Riverhead Raceway title fight that will have one race to go (9-20) when the Riverhead 200 is contested and may or may not enter the 200 depending on where the championship battle stands. Former 2-time Riverhead Raceway champion Frank Vigliarolo Jr. of Mt. Sinai will enter the 200 and also expected are Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead, 2012 champion Shawn Solomito of Islip and Dave Brigati of Calverton.

After the Riverhead 200 the NASCAR WMT championship battle will close out with races at the New Hampshire Speedway, Stafford Motor Speedway and the finale at the Thompson Speedway.

Joining the Riverhead 200 on Buzz Chew Chevrolet-Cadillac night are the Chargers, Blunderbusts and Legend Race Cars.

Source: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR