Eric Goodale Hoping for Repeat Performance In Hoosier Tire East 200 at Riverhead
So far into the 2015 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season there have been no less than 14 teams on the circuit with a Long Island flavor. Of those teams either the car owner or driver have at one time or another called Barbara & Jim Cromarty’s Riverhead Raceway home and all those teams are looking forward to coming home to their racing roots for the Saturday June 27th Hoosier Tire 200, perhaps none more than defending race winner Eric Goodale of Riverhead who raced his way to his first career NASCAR WMT victory in the 2014 edition of the race.
In that race Goodale took full advantage of a lap 168 caution flag to roar by race leader Ted Christopher on the restart on lap 175 and never looked back from his Riverhead Building Supply Chevy as he drove to victory in front of numerous family members and friends. Afterwards Eric reflected, “I’ve been coming here since I was 3 years old. To win my first career Whelen Modified Tour race here in front of all my friends and family make it all the more special”. Goodale will be looking to replicate that performance in the 2015 running of the Hoosier Tire 200 with crew chief Jason Sheppard calling the shots for the Goodie Motorsports team once again.
Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct. enjoyed a recent week on the NASCAR WMT where he won 2 races in the span of seven days taking wins at the New London Waterford Speedbowl and Stafford Motor Speedway within six days for car owners Ed & Connie Partridge. Ryan topped off the successful week with a win in the NASCAR WAAS feature at Riverhead Raceway in the Bill Park entry June 6th, however for the Hoosier Tire East 200 Park has tabbed former WMT champion Ron Silk of Norwalk, Ct. as his driver.
The Solomito brothers are looking forward to Hoosier Tire East 200 with Timmy Solomito of Wading River and Shawn Solomito of Hampton Bays hoping to win their first career WMT races. Timmy moved to Flamingo Motorsports, a former championship winning team on the WMT in 2015, while Shawn replaced Timmy steering the famed Wayne Anderson machine for the former five time Riverhead track champion. Shawn won Twin 30 features at Riverhead in May.
Justin Bonsignore of West Islip who had a very successful 2014 WMT season for car owner Ken Massa will be among the favorites to take home a victory as will former two time WMT champion Donny Lia of Jericho who now drives for car owner Mark Sypher on another Long Island team. Both Bonsignore and Lia know their way to Riverhead Raceway victory lane in both WMT as well as WAAS competition. Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead, a 34 time NASCAR Modified winner at the famed quarter mile, will also bear watching with his new Billy Darrow owned WMT team.
Buzz Chew, noted Southampton car dealer and sponsor of two pace cars for the track since 1985, will be bringing his talented team with driver Woody Pitkat of Stafford, Ct. to the Hoosier Tire 200 and like last year’s winner, Goodale, Buzz would love to grab a win in front of family, friends and business associates on June 27th. Tested tough WMT veterans Ken Heagy of Calverton and Gary McDonald of Ronkonkoma will also be gunning for a good showing with Heagy having to haul his car less than a quarter mile to the track.
New to the 2015 NASCAR WMT but no strangers to Riverhead Raceway are Dave Sapienza of Riverhead, Kyle Ellwood also of Riverhead, Brendon Bock of Franklin Square and Jeffrey Goodale of Riverhead with this quartet hoping for a good showing.
It is expected that several NASCAR Modified teams that compete weekly in the track’s Whelen All American Series will also attempt making the field for the 200-lapper. Among them are defending track champion Howie Brode of E. Islip, current point leader John Fortin Sr. of Holtsville, Jason Agugliaro of Islip, Jerry Solomito Jr. of Hampton Bays and John Beatty Jr. of Merrick. Beatty set fast time for the 2014 race and led up until the 111th circuit when he was overtaken by Ted Christopher of Plainville, Ct.
Leading the WMT regulars into action will be defending champion Doug Coby of Milford, Ct. and Ted Christopher who if not for a 168th lap yellow last year might have pulled off the win. Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, Ct., Bobby Santos of Franklin, Ma., Keith Rocco of Wallingford, Ct., Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon, Pa., Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, NY and Cory LaJoie of Concord, NC are among those expected to compete.
No matter who captures the Hoosier Tire East 200 at Riverhead Raceway one thing is certain, there will be a huge presence of drivers in the field many of whom cut their eye teeth racing at Riverhead Raceway.