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Legends and Bandoleros raced Saturday, May 10, at Riverhead Raceway (NY). Winners were Joey Braun (Legends), Tyler Ross (Beginner Bandoleros), Mason Goodale (Bandolero Bandits), and Aria Ligon (Bandolero Outlaws). Race story by Bob Finan below (Legends and Bandolero portion only).
Over the first two weeks of the 2025 campaign some of the more intense racing has come via the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Car events. Saturday, Joey Braun of Manorville would come out on top for his 18th career win after a hard-fought battle with Chase Van Houten of Wading River. Jim Sylvester, considered by many the elder statesman of the class moved out front early chased by talented young lions Ben Morabito, Joey Braun and Chase Van Houten. Braun moved by Morabito for second on lap 2, moments later a caution waved on the 3rd circuit setting up a double file restart between Sylvester and Braun. That restart was the turning point of the event as Braun, a rookie on the SMART Modified Tour took the race lead. Chase Van Houten, running third scored a BOGO moved when he passed Braun and Sylvester to become the new race leader on lap 9. Undaunted and maybe unimpressed by the Van Houten move was Braun, as he rallied back in his HighMark Building Efficiency machine to take the lead back on lap 12. Over the remaining two miles the duo ran one-two in close proximity with Braun coming out on top. Chase Van Houten in the Hotworx of Eastport entry was runner-up, while defending champion Riely O’Keefe of Manorville was third. O’Keefe, steering the RGE Site Work & Excavation mount was in the catbird seat in the event Braun and Van Houten got together.
As the case in 2024, there will be INEX Bandolero Beginner events in 2025 with the first 10-lap event falling to Tyler Ross of Westbury. Ross had a busy day in route to his first career win after a practice crash found the Grand Slam Collectibles team thrashing on the car to make the starting grid. Once on track and the race started Ross would jump out to the early lead, a lead he’d never give back. John Licata chased Tyler for the first 7 laps before he was passed to the inside by Emily Gatz with just over two laps left. With the two to go signal in the air, Gatz of Riverhead would have to settle for second in the TS Haulers machine. Licata was third.
Second generation talent Mason Goodale of Riverhead is two-for-2025 as he won the 15-lap INEX Bandolero Bandit feature. Mason’s younger brother Wyatt drove to the lead at the throw of the green and led the first two laps. Unfortunately, as the field came off the fourth corner, Wyatt, perhaps hearing the steps of his big brother spun from the lead in the fourth corner. Once Mason, wheeling the Riverhead Building Supply Bandit was out front he never looked back in earning his 4th career triumph. Emmett Grattan of Southold scored second place honors in the Southold PBA entry with Brook Meyer of Riverhead a solid third in the Meyer Construction racer.
Aria Ligon of Center Moriches led wire-to-wire to capture the 15-lap INEX Bandolero Outlaw feature, her third career victory, first as an Outlaw. Early on Ligon and Grace Cheslak showed the guys how it’s done until John Alaimo moved by Cheslak for second on lap 5. Following Alaimo through the pack was opening day winner Thomas Grattan who worked his way by for second on lap 7. However, Alaimo reclaimed second one lap later from Grattan as their duel intensified. On lap 12 the fight for second got too close as Alaimo and Grattan came together drawing a caution. That turn of events moved Michael Barry to second behind Ligon for a three-lap dash. Aria Ligon hit her marks perfectly when the race resumed to take the popular win in the Chesterfield Associates Outlaw. Michael Barry of Patchogue was runner-up in the Grease Garage Motorsports mount while Jordan Ryan of Manorville impressed with a third-place tally with his State Farm-Steve Pescetti Outlaw.
Legends: 1. Joey Braun 2. Chase Van Houten 3. Riely O’Keefe 4. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 5. Chris Sinatro 6. Will Siplala 7. Anthony Marsh 8. Charles Hodge 9. Kyle Ellwood 10. Eric Hersey 11. Colin Volpe 12. Ben Morabito 13. Phillip Alaimo 14. Jayden Glennerster 15. Alex Halinar 16. Pat Moore 17. Brandon Hubbard 18. Chevy Rommeney 19. Jim Sylvester 20. Mike Van Houten Jr. 21. Nick Hodge 22. Joe Cooke Jr. 23. Ed Stadtlander 24. Kevin Ohrnberger 25. Kendall Van Houten 26. Marissa Stewart
Bandolero Beginners: 1. Tyler Ross 2. Emily Gatz 3. John Licata 4. Scarlette Dumicich 5. Alexis Gatz 6. Megan Cummings 7. Mason Dickerson 8. Carrisa Busam
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Mason Goodale 2. Emmett Grattan 3. Brooke Meyer 4. Blake Grattan 5. Mackenzie Ulmet 6. Leighton Van Houten 7. Layla Quilliam 8. Wyatt Goodale 9. Daxx Halpin
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Aria Ligon 2. Michael Barry 3. Jordan Ryan 4. Grace Cheslak 5. Antonio D’Alonzo 6. Thomas Grattan 7. John Alaimo 8. Madison White 9. Madison Tomaszewski 10. Reid Halpin 11. Tyler Oxee