NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Riverhead Raceway 

Analyzing The Riverhead Hoosier Tire East 200 At Riverhead

rgeepro Comments

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return to action with the Riverhead Hoosier Tire East 200 on Saturday at Riverhead Raceway on New York’s Long Island. Below is a statistical look at the performance of tour and selected drivers at the track:

Riverhead Hoosier Tire East 200 Setup:

  • Championship points leader Ryan Preece leads all active drivers with seven career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour bullring victories, including four at Riverhead Raceway. Preece is one of just two drivers, along with Mike Ewanitsko, to win three consecutive races at Riverhead.
  • Riverhead native Eric Goodale earned his first career victory in this race last year. Justin Bonsignore (2011), Donny Lia (2003) and Rowan Pennink (2010) also captured their first tour wins at the track.
  • Four drivers on the entry list already have NASCAR Whelen All-American Series modified division feature wins this year at Riverhead: Tom Rogers Jr. (4), Preece (2), Shawn Solomito (2), Ron Silk (1).
  • Fifteen of the 35 drivers entered for the Riverhead Hoosier Tire East 200 are Long Island natives

At Riverhead Raceway:

History

  • Opened in 1951 as a dirt track and converted to asphalt in 1955.
  • Held its first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race on July 10, 1985 during the NWMT’s first season. The inaugural race was won by Jimmy Spencer.
  • Has held 54 NWMT races all-time, fourth-most among all venues.
  • Is one of two tracks to play host to the NWMT in each of its 31 seasons of competition, along with Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Notebook

  • At .25 miles, Riverhead is the smallest track on the schedule along with Monadnock Speedway.
  • Including 2015, Riverhead will have played host to multiple events in 22 of 31 NWMT seasons.
  • There have been four NWMT races that have been won by Riverhead NASCAR Whelen All-American Series drivers, the last of which was Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. in 1995.
  • Mike Ewanitsko experienced more success than any other NWMT driver at Riverhead during his days as a competitor. His 11 wins and eight poles lead in both categories.
  • Donny Lia and Ryan Preece are the active wins leaders at Riverhead with four apiece while Ted Christopher and Preece have the most poles among current competitors with two.
  • Six races have been won in wire-to-wire fashion at Riverhead, and 14 have been won from the pole.
  • Preece was the youngest winner in Riverhead history at 18 years, nine months and seven days in 2009.
  • Jerry Marquis was the oldest Riverhead winner at 48 years, three months and 22 days in 2004.

Riverhead Raceway Data

Race:  #6 of 15 overall, #1 of 2 at Riverhead

Track Layout:  .25-mile banked asphalt oval

Race Length:  200 laps (50 miles) 

Qualifying/Race Data

2014 Race Winner:  Eric Goodale, 39.938 mph, 1 hr. 15 mins. 7 secs.

2014 Pole Winner:  John Beatty Jr., 75.257 mph, 11.959 secs.

Qualifying Record:  Chuck Steuer, Chevrolet, 77.949 mph, 11.546 seconds, June 10, 2000

 
Active Category Leaders At Riverhead:
Wins

1. Donny Lia … 4

Ryan Preece … 4

3. Ted Christopher … 3

Poles

1. Ted Christopher … 2

Ryan Preece … 2

3. five drivers with … 1

Top Fives

1. Ted Christopher … 11

2. Ryan Preece … 8

3. Donny Lia … 6

Jamie Tomaino … 6

Top 10s

1. Jamie Tomaino … 22

2. Ted Christopher … 16

3. Ryan Preece … 9

Laps Led

1. Ted Christopher … 560

2. Donny Lia … 516

3. Ryan Preece … 406

Starts

1. Jamie Tomaino … 52

2. Ted Christopher … 25

3. Donny Lia … 16 

Select Driver Highlights:

NOTE: Bullring races defined as tracks .25-.375 miles

Justin Bonsignore (No. 51 M3 Technology Chevrolet)

  • Has six wins, five poles and 44 top 10s in 78 career starts.
  • In 17 career bullring races he has three wins, 12 top fives, 396 laps led and an average finish of seventh.
  • Has a win (2011), five top fives, 185 laps led and an average finish of ninth in eight career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts at Riverhead Raceway. Made his NWMT debut at Riverhead in 2007 with a fourth place finish.
  • The 2011 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track champion at Riverhead, where he has four modified wins.

Ted Christopher (No. 13 Mr. Rooter/Cape Cod Aggregates Chevrolet)

  • The 2008 NWMT champion has 42 wins, 24 poles and 196 top 10s in 353 career starts. His 42 wins rank third all-time and his 24 poles are eighth.
  • Is looking to end a 47-race winless drought. It’s the second-longest such streak in his career. His first win came in his 94th race.
  • Sits seventh in points after five events with four top 10s.
  • Has five wins, three poles, 1,104 laps led and an average finish of 10th in 73 career bullring starts.
  • Has three wins, two poles, 16 top 10s, 560 laps led and an average finish of 10th in 25 career NWMT starts at Riverhead.

Doug Coby (No. 2 Dunleavy’s Repair/HEX Performance Chevrolet)

  • The 2012 and 2014 NWMT champion has 12 wins, five poles and 82 top 10s in 162 career starts.
  • Ranks third in points after five events, highlighted by wins in both events at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
  • Has 15 top 10s and an average finish of 13th in 34 career bullring starts.
  • Has three top 10s, an average finish of 14th and a best result of fifth (2011) in nine career Riverhead races.

Patrick Emerling (No. 07 Buffalo Auto Auction Chevrolet)

  • Has 19 top 10s in 59 career starts with a best finish of fifth, recorded on four occasions.
  • Ranks eighth in points this year on the strength of three top 10s in five outings.
  • Has two top 10s and an average finish of 13.5 in 13 career bullring starts.
  • Has two top 10s, an average finish of 16th and a best result of eighth (2011) in five Riverhead starts.

Eric Goodale (No. 58 GAF Roofing/Supreme Skylights Chevrolet)

  • Has a win, a pole and 38 top 10s in 91 career starts. The win came in this race last year.
  • Maintains the NWMT’s active starts streak lead, now at 89 races.
  • Ranks 10th in points after five races with three top 10s and a best finish of fourth at Stafford Motor Speedway in April.
  • Has a win, a pole, seven top 10s and an average finish of 13th in 16 career bullring starts.
  • In addition to his 2014 win, he has four other top 10s and an average finish of eighth in seven career Riverhead races.

Donny Lia (No. 8 Sypher Construction/Bardahl Chevrolet)

  • The 2007 and 2009 NWMT champion has 17 wins, 21 poles and 80 top 10s in 159 career starts.
  • Two top 10s in five starts this year has him 12th in the points standings.
  • Has six wins, five poles, 16 top fives, 867 laps led and an average finish of 12th in 42 career bullrings starts.
  • Tied with Ryan Preece for the lead among active drivers with four wins at Riverhead. Has two poles, seven top 10s and an average finish of 12th in 16 career NWMT starts at his home track.

Rowan Pennink (No. 93 Van Wickle Auto Supply Chevrolet)

  • Has two wins and 58 top 10s in 116 career starts. His first victory was earned at Riverhead in 2010.
  • Ranks ninth in points this year with three top 10s in five races.
  • In 19 career bullring starts he has the Riverhead win, 10 top 10s and an average finish of 11th.
  • Has four top 10s and an average finish of 12th in nine career Riverhead races. 

Woody Pitkat (No. 88 Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East Chevrolet)

  • Has three wins, two poles and 46 top 10s in 96 career starts.
  • Ranks second in points, five behind Ryan Preece, with a tour-high five top-five finishes and a win in the Stafford Spring Sizzler.
  • Has six top 10s and an average finish of 12th in 12 career bullring starts.
  • Has two top 10s, an average finish of 12th and a best result of fourth (2013) in five previous Riverhead races.

Ryan Preece (No. 6 TS Haulers/East West Marine Chevrolet)

  • The 2013 NWMT champion has 13 wins, 13 poles, 31 podiums, 52 top fives and 69 top 10s in 113 career starts.
  • Has a five-point lead in the season standings after five races, with consecutive wins at New London-Waterford Speedbowl and Stafford.
  • Leads active drivers at bullrings with seven wins and an average finish of 6.5. Has 874 laps led and 14 top fives in 20 career bullring races.
  • Has four wins, two poles and an average finish of third in nine career NWMT starts at Riverhead. His first tour start there in 2007, in which he finished 10th, is his only result outside the top five.
  • First Riverhead win came in 2009, followed by three in a row there in 2012-13.
  • Ranks third in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national standings with four wins and 13 top fives in 18 starts. Two of those wins came at Riverhead, where he as eight career modified division triumphs.

Keith Rocco (No. 22 Canto Paving/Milton Caterpillar Chevrolet)

  • The 2010 NWAAS national champion has 11 top 10s in 26 career NWMT starts with a best finish of third in the 2012 Stafford Spring Sizzler.
  • Did not participate in the Thompson opener, but ranks 11th in points with three top 10s in the four events since.
  • Has top 10s in all four of his career NWMT bullring starts with an average finish of ninth.
  • This will be his first career NWMT start at Riverhead.
  • Currently sits atop the NWAAS national standings with nine wins and 15 top fives in 19 modified starts.

Tom Rogers Jr. (No. 0 Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm/CAC Industries Chevrolet)

  • Has seven top 10s in 18 career NWMT starts with a best finish of fifth in the 2011 Thompson World Series.
  • Has an average finish of 12.5 and a best result of sixth (2012) in four NWMT races at Riverhead.
  • The 2004 and 2010 NWAAS track champion at Riverhead where he has 35 career modified division wins.

Bobby Santos (No. 44 Tinio Corp./Dan Kelley/Curb Records Chevrolet)

  • The 2010 NWMT champion has 13 wins, 16 poles and 54 top 10s in 98 career events.
  • Sits fourth in points after five races with four top 10s and a best result of third in the Thompson Icebreaker 150.
  • Has a win, eight top 10s and an average finish of 12th in 13 career bullring starts.
  • Has three top 10s, an average finish of 13th and a best result of ninth (twice) in four previous Riverhead starts.

Ron Silk (No. 20 Elite Towing & Transport Chevrolet)

  • The 2011 NWMT champion has nine wins, eight poles and 84 top 10s in 140 career starts.
  • Has participated in two events this year, both at Thompson.
  • Has a pole, 15 top 10s and an average finish of 11th in 24 career bullring starts.
  • Has four podiums, an average finish of 12th and a best result of second (2008) in 10 career NWMT starts at Riverhead.
  • Has a feature win this year in NWAAS modified action at Riverhead.

Shawn Solomito (No. 75 Eastport Feeds/Axel Anderson Inc. Chevrolet)

  • Has a pair of top 10s in 13 career starts with a best result of fourth at Riverhead in 2013.
  • Has two top 10s and an average finish of 14th in seven career bullring starts. Four of those starts have come at Riverhead, where he’s posted an average finish of 11th.
  • Earned the 2012 NWAAS track title at Riverhead, where he has 10 career modified division wins, including two this year.

Timmy Solomito (No. 16 Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises Ford)

  • The 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year has a pole and 11 top 10s in 25 career starts with a best finish of third at Riverhead in September 2013 and at Stafford this June.
  • Ranks sixth in points with three top 10s through five events.
  • Has two top fives and an average finish of 13th in six career bullring starts.
  • Has finishes of 23rd, third and fifth in three Riverhead NWMT starts. Earned his first career pole and led a career-high 176 laps in the September 2013 race.

Todd Szegedy (No. 4 Mystic Missile Racing Dodge)

  • The 2003 NWMT champion has 18 wins, 10 poles and 119 top 10s in 192 career starts.
  • Sits fifth in points with four top 10s in five outings in his first season with Mystic Missile Racing.
  • In 45 career bullring races he’s recorded four wins, two poles, 26 top 10s and an average finish of 11th.
  • Has six top 10s, an average finish of 14th and a best result of second (2011) in 15 career Riverhead races.

Other Driver Notes

  • Jamie Tomaino has participated in 52 of the 54 all-time Riverhead races and has 22 top 10s.
  • Frank Vigliarolo Jr. has five top 10s in 24 NWMT starts at Riverhead. He’s participated in 36 NWMT races overall.
  • Dave Sapienza is a multi-time NWAAS modified division winner at Riverhead.
  • Kyle Ellwood made his NWMT debut in this race last year.
  • Vincent Biondolillo will attempt to make his NWMT debut in this event.

Up To Speed:

  • This is the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s 30th Anniversary season. The inaugural race was contested March 31, 1985 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
  • The 2015 schedule features 15 points races at seven different tracks across four states.
  • Doug Coby opened up his title defense with a win from the pole in the Thompson Icebreaker 150 on April 12.
  • Woody Pitkat earned the NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 victory on April 26 at Stafford Motor Speedway.
  • Ryan Preece emerged victorious at New London-Waterford Speedbowl in the Mr. Rooter 161 on May 30.
  • Preece made it two-in-a-row with a victory in the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 on June 5 at Stafford.
  • Coby won at Thompson for the second consecutive outing with the Mr. Rooter 125 victory on June 10.