Bandoleros and Legends raced Saturday, August 10, at Riverhead Raceway (NY). Feature winners were Wyatt Goodale (Beginner Bandoleros), Reid Halpin (Bandolero Bandits), Tucker Bock (Bandolero Outlaws), and Chase Van Houten (Legends).
Race stories and results below, as provided by the track.
Chase Van Houten of Wading River made a rare 2024 Riverhead Raceway start in the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Cars feature, and it paid off when the third-generation talent took down the victory in a caution free affair. Chase broke to the early lead from the pole besting of all people his father Brad when the race got underway. Chase, 17, showed dear old Dad the way around over the first 11-laps of the event. On lap 12 after laps of pressuring the elder Van Houten, Riely O’Keefe worked his way by Brad for second. By the time O’Keefe made his way to second, Chase Van Houten in the Mike Van Houten Trucking coupe had pulled away enough to score his first win of the season third of his young career. O’Keefe of Manorville was runner-up in the Crystal Clear Window Cleaning entry, Joey Braun of Manorville completed the podium in third with the HighMark Building Efficiency coupe.
It had been a while since Tucker Bock of East Hampton scored a Bock Auto INEX Bandolero victory, but he changed all of that Saturday winning the 15-lap Outlaw feature. Giavanna Agugliaro broke out front leading the first two laps before spinning from the lead after starting the third lap. Tucker Bock who chased GiGi for the first two laps took the lead on the restart and never looked back the remainder of the race in his Bock Auto Outlaw. Cillian Tennant of Manorville making his first start of 2024 was runner-up in the Miller & Caggiano Attorney At Law machine, Michael Barry of Patchogue was third in the Grease Garage Motorsports racer.
Defending Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Bandit champion Reid Halpin of Wading River survived an early race score to collect his second consecutive Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Bandit win. Brooke Meyer impressed early on leading the first two circuits over newcomer Tyler Oxee. It would be a lap three restart that would change the complexion of the race when a three wide situation unfolded off the fourth turn as cars bounced off each other and the wall. When the dust settled Reid Halpin was able to survive the incident, becoming the new race leader. Once he had the MC-11/Anthony Ferrante & Co Bandit in the lead Halpin never looked back earning his 6th career victory. Emmett Grattan of Southold turned in a stellar performance for second in the Southold IGA Bandit, Mason Goodale of Riverhead was third in the GAF Roofing racer.
Wyatt Goodale of Riverhead, in just his fifth start won the 10-lap Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Beginner event. Emily Gatz led the first lap of the event before Mackenzie Ulmet worked her way by to take the lead on lap 2. Goodale, who came to second when Ulmet passed Gatz, kept pace with the race leader as the laps clicked off. It would be a lap 7, double file restart that would be the undoing of leader Ulmet, as she not only surrendered the top spot to Goodale, but second to Daxx Halpin. Over the final three lap run Wyatt Goodale kept the Riverhead Building Supply machine out front for the popular win. Daxx Halpin of Wading River was runner-up in the Steve Park Properties/Raceforkids.com mount, Emily Gatz of Riverhead was third in the TS Haulers racer.
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Tucker Bock 2. Cillian Tennant 3. Michael Barry 4. Madison Tomaszewski 5. Madison White 6. Giavanna Agugliaro 7. Thomas Grattan 8. Grace Cheslak 9. Jordan Ryan 10. Kix Bock 11. Will Sipala
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Reid Halpin 2. Emmett Grattan 3. Mason Goodale 4. Antonio D’Alonzo 5. Layla Quilliam 6. Blake Grattan 7. Aria Ligon 8. Christian Ryan 9. Brooke Meyer 10. Tyler Oxee 11. John Alaimo
Bandolero Beginners: 1. Wyatt Goodale 2. Daxx Halpin 3. Emily Gatz 4. Mackenzie Ulmet 5. Alexis Gatz 6. Leighton Van Houten
Legend Race Cars: 1. Chase Van Houten 2. Riely O’Keefe 3. Joey Braun 4. Brad Van Houten 5. Jeff farruggia Jr. 6. Kevin Nowak 7. Kyle Ellwood 8. Anthony Marsh 9. Rodney Dowless Jr. 10. Charles Hodge 11. Jim Sylvester 12. Jayden Glennerster 13. Mike Van Huten Jr. 14. Nick Kocis 15. Phillip Alaimo 16. Will Sipala 17. Ray Fitzgerald 18. Alex Halinar 19. Ray Stulz 20. Jeff Otto Jr. 21. Michael Collier 22. Michael Metcalf 23. Nick Hodge 24. Chris Sinatro 25. Billy King 26. Kevin Ohrnberger
Photo credits: team and track photos
