Legends were back at Riverhead Raceway (NY) on Saturday, August 17. Joey “Blankets” Braun was able to drive his way to his first 2024 victory at the New York track. Read the race recap and results below, as provided by the track.
If you would have told “Blankets” Joey Braun before the season started, he would not get his first INEX Legend Race Car win until August, he probably would have taken you off his Christmas card list. Low and behold when the 20-lap feature event ended Braun of Manorville collected his first win of 2024. Ryan Lutz and Brain made up the front row of the 26-car starting grid, both drivers were in a dead heat to lead lap 1. On the second cycle Lutz held a slight lead, but things would quickly go south for the second-generation driver. On lap 3 Braun got a good run off the fourth corner and Lutz to the inside tried to rally back entering the first turn. Before they got to the turn, contact was made and Lutz spun to the infield. When the race resumed Braun remained the leader with veteran Ray Fitzgerald now second. Fitzgerald instead of concerning himself with chasing down the leader, soon found himself in defense mode as Kyle Ellwood was all over him. On lap 13 Ellwood, who finished 4th in a Tour Type Modified race the night before at the Stafford Motor Speedway got by for second. By the time Ellwood got to second Joey Braun was too far out front taking the win in his HighMark Building Efficiency coupe, the 16th of his young career. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead was runner-up in the Millennium Limited Contracting machine, Ray Fitzgerald of Manorville completed the podium in the EP Milling & Sweeping entry.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Joey Braun 2. Kyle Ellwood 3. Ray Fitzgerald 4. Chase Van Houten 5. Kevin Nowak 6. Ben Morabito 7. Anthony Marsh 8. Brad Van Houten 9. Jayden Glennerster 10. Jeff Farruggia 11. Riely O’Keefe 12. Ryan Barbieri 13. Mike Van Houten Jr. 14. Rodney Dowless Jr. 15. Chris Sinatro 16. Alex Halinar 17. Ray Stulz 18. Charles Hodge 19. Phillip Alaimo 20. Will Sipala 21. Nick Kocis 22. Nick Hodge 23. Kevin Ohrnberger 24. Ed Stadtlander 25. Chevy Rommeney 26. Ryan Lutz
Photo credit: team posted photo