NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series Makes First Season Visit To Riverhead Raceway June 5 : Raceway Media

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 2, 2004) -- The NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series will travel to the Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, N.Y. on June 5 for the annual Miller Lite 200. It will be the first of two series races at Riverhead
in 2004.

The event will mark the 40th appearance of the series at the Ľ mile bullring which has hosted at least one series event since the inception in 1985. Riverhead is the only speedway hosting an event where series legal modifieds run weekly as part of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Drivers who compete every Saturday night at Riverhead can use the same cars to attempt qualification for the Miller Lite 200.

Over the years a few “Riverhead Regulars” have visited victory lane. Dan Jivanelli scored two wins, in 1986 and 1987. Don Howe was a series winner in 1994 and Eddie Brunnhoelzl, Jr. scored his only series win in 1985. A number of Featherlite Modified Series drivers who have earned victories at Riverhead once called it home. Mike Ewanitsko recorded 11 series wins at Riverhead and is the series all-time winningest driver there. Another Riverhead alumnus, Bob Park, drove to his only series victory at Riverhead in1988. Tom Baldwin, who is competing on the series for the 20th year in 2004 was a winner at Riverhead in 1986 & 1991. And most recently Donny Lia, who began racing modifieds at Riverhead in 2001, scored his first series win last year at Riverhead in August.

Qualifying for any Featherlite Modified Series event has proved to be a challenge in 2004 as 40 or more teams have attempted to qualify for each race. The addition of the Riverhead regulars makes the challenge even tougher as the series regulars come to the home turf of drivers who have competed at the Long Island oval for many years.

Current series point leader Eddie Flemke picked up his first career win at Riverhead just two seasons ago.

MILLER LITE 200 NOTES

- Bud Pole Qualifying is scheduled for 5:45 on June 5. The fastest 23 cars will earn a starting position.

- Five provisionals (Two based on 2004 Featherlite Modified Series owner points, two on driver points and one past champion) will bring the starting field to 28 cars.

- The Miller Lite 200 is scheduled to start at approximately 8:30 p.m.
- Posted Awards are $67,103

- The qualifying record at Riverhead is 11.562 seconds (77.949 mph) set by Chuck Steuer on 6/10/00.

- The 200 lap race record is 51 minutes, 55 seconds (57.784 mph) set by Richie Evans in 1985.

- The following current series drivers have wins at Riverhead: Tom Baldwin (2), John Blewett, III (1), Ted Christopher (1), Tommy Cravenho (1), Eddie Flemke (1), Rick Fuller (2), Jerry Marquis (1), Reggie Ruggiero (2) and Mike Stefanik (6)

- As of May 28, 2004 48 teams have filed entries for the Miller Lite 200.

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