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3/21/2009
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RIVERHEAD TO MARK 25 YEARS OF
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR RACING IN 2009 |
With the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour marking its Silver anniversary in 2009,
it has become a mainstay at Barbara & Jim Cromarty's Riverhead Raceway,
which for the 25th year in a row will play host to a WMT event Saturday,
August 1st.
After the NASCAR National Modified Championship became the NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour in 1985, the Cromarty's stepped-up and hosted three
shows that inaugural season, all mid-week shows on Wednesday nights. History
was made on July 10th, 1985 when "Mr. Excitement" Jimmy Spencer crossed the
line first chased by Brian Ross and local favorite Fred Harbach. Spencer
would win round two in 1985 on August 7th, while the late Richie Evans, a
9-time NASCAR National Modified champ won on August 28th.
In the 47 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races contested at Riverhead
in 24 seasons the win list is a virtual who's, who of NASCAR Modified
competition. Leading the all-time win list is the popular Mike Ewanitsko,
who graced victory lane at his home track 11 times before an early
retirement for health concerns. Second on that list and tops among the
active drivers on the WMT is "Mighty" Mike Stefanik with 6 triumphs, his
first of which came driving the #37 for Clint Hanks on July 9th, 1986.
Tied for third on the all-time WMT win list are the two most recent
champions on the circuit, Ted Christopher and Donny Lia with 4 victories
apiece. Christopher will defend his 2007 title for Long Island based car
owner Ed Whalen, while Lia the 2007 champion will return to the Mystic
Missile #4 in 2009.
The Riverhead Raceway regulars have fared well over the years with
Dan Jivanelli the first to win a race on August 6, 1986, the first of two
wins for Dan in a WMT race. Other Riverhead regulars to hit the winner's
circle include Wayne Anderson in 1993, Don Howe in 1994 while the last to do
so was Ed Brunnhoelzl Jr. in 1995.
Other drivers among the 20 all-time winners on the list include
two-time winners, Tom Baldwin, Rick Fuller, Jerry Marquis, Steve Park, and
Reggie Ruggiero. Drivers earning one career victory at the 58-year old
historic quarter mile oval include the late John Blewett III, Jimmy Blewett,
the most recent WMT winner in 2008, Tommy Cravenho, Ed Flemke Jr. and Bob
Park.
As the cars and stars of the 2009 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour head
to Riverhead Raceway in late summer, will a new winner expand the all-time
win list to 21, or will a driver already on that star-studded roster add
another victory to their portfolio? Can a Riverhead Raceway regular finally
end the 14-year dry spell since Ed Brunnhoelzl's 1995 win?
If you love NASCAR Modified racing and its rich history then mark
your calendar now for Saturday August 1st, 2009 as for the 25th consecutive
year Barbara & Jim Cromarty will play host to the NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour.
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Source: Bob
Finan
/ Riverhead Raceway
Posted: March
21, 2009 |
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