Legends and Bandoleros were in action Saturday, June 10, at Riverhead Raceway in New York. Feature winners were Brad Van Houten (Legends), Mason Goodale (Bandolero Bandits), and Will Sipala (Bandolero Outlaws). Story and results below from the track.
The INEX Legend Race Cars had a rough go of it trying to run a 20-lap feature event, but numerous cautions slowed the race which was called official on lap 10 when a final caution flag waved. Brad Van Houten of Wading Riverhead earned his first win of the year. Van Houten broke to the race lead at the throw of the green but a multi car crash involving Ray Stulz, Eric Hersey, Riely O’Keefe and Ray Fitzgerald slowed the race on lap 2. When the race did resume it enjoyed a green flag run from lap 3 through 9 during which Van Houten and Joey Braun who came to second on lap 2 staged an exciting side by side fight for the lead. However, a series of yellow flags dragged things out on lap 9 and again on lap 10 before officials deemed the race official after the 30-minute time limit expired. Brad Van Houten in the Joe Ryan Race Cars machine, a team car to Jim Sylvester was declared the winner, his 6th career victory. Joey Braun of Manorville in the Uncle Carmine’s Hot Peppers entry and Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches in the Freddie & Megan Kraft backed racer were second and third, Davidowitz was aiming for his fifth win in a row before the time limit expired.
A few weeks back NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Eric Goodale announced he was dropping off the WMT as a full time driver to focus in part on his son Mason’s Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Bandit racing effort. Saturday night the old “apple falling not too far from the tree” adage proved out when Mason, in just his third ever start won the 15-lap Bandits feature with proud Papa Eric looking on. Emmett Grattan broke to the early advantage leading the first four laps of the race. On lap 5 Mason Goodale came calling taking the lead from Grattan and never looking back to score a very popular win in the Riverhead Building Supply racer. Emmett Grattan of Southold was second in the IGA Market machine while last race winner Reid Halpin of Wading River was third in the Huntington Honda mount.
Revenge can be a great motivator, just ask Will Sipala of Manorville who drove the JD Posillico Materials to the win in the 15-lap Bock Auto INEX Bandolero event. Last race out Sipala seemingly won the affair but had an unapproved restrictor plate placement on his car snatch his first career triumph away from him in post-race tech. The race got off to a shaky start with a first lap yellow slowing the contest. When the second attempt at starting the race was successful Will Sipala ducked to the inside of turn one to take the lead, a lead he’d not surrender earning him a long awaited first career win. 2022 Bandit champion Ben Morabito of Miller Place was runner-up in the 860 Motorsports Northeast racer while Cillian Tennant of Riverhead was third in the Miller & Caggiano Attorney At Law machine.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Brad Van Houten 2. Joey Braun 3. Richie Davidowitz 4. Jeff Farruggia 5. Jim Sylvester 6. Jason Castaldo 7. Chris Sinatro 8. Kevin Nowak 9. Chase Van Houten 10. Ryan Lutz 11. Nick Morabito 12. Riely O’Keefe 13. Pat Moore 14. Rodney Dowless Jr. 15. Mike Van Houten Jr. 16. Donald Doran 17. Rodney Dowless Sr. 18. Kevin Ohrnberger 19. Mike Benton 20. Kendall Van Houten 21. Michael Metcalf 22. Ray Fitzgerald 23. Ray Stulz 24. Eric Hersey
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Mason Goodale 2. Emmett Grattan 3. Reid Halpin 4. Kix Bock 5. Antonio D’Alonzo 6. Layla Quilliam 7. Aria Ligon 8. Brook Meyer 9. Aiden Pelis 10. Blake Grattan 11. Jordan Ryan
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Will Sipala 2. Ben Morabito 3. Cillian Tennant 4. Phillip Alaimo 5. Tucker Bock 6. Jayden Owens-Bader 7. Madison Tomaszewski 8. Giavanna Agugliaro 9. Gavin Romano DNS-Nick Hodge
