. Feature winners were Ben Morabito (Legends), Megan Cummings (Beginner Bandoleros), Mason Goodale (Bandolero Bandits), and Thomas Grattan (Bandolero Outlaws).){kind=link}
Legends and Bandoleros raced on Saturday, May 24, at Riverhead Raceway (NY). Feature winners were Ben Morabito (Legends), Megan Cummings (Beginner Bandoleros), Mason Goodale (Bandolero Bandits), and Thomas Grattan (Bandolero Outlaws).
Race recaps from Bob Finan below, as well as the results.
Ben Morabito of Miller Place was declared the winner of the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Car feature event giving him his second career win at his home track. Morabito and Chase Van Houten waged a hard-fought battle for the win with Van Houten fending off Morabito for what appeared to be his 5th career win. Things reportedly went sideways for Van Houten after he arrived in the winner’s circle after his victory lap. There Chase was advised by NASCAR officials that due to the rain delay post-race interviews were being scrubbed. GM John Ellwood explained it was when Chase was informed of the situation, “the driver proceeded to verbally abuse NASCAR officials with vulgar laced language”, Van Houten was subsequently disqualified from the event. The wild turn of events and disqualification moved Ben Morabito in the Nowak Motorsports of Kevin Nowak to victory lane for his first Riverhead Raceway win of 2025. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead bumped up to runner-up in the Millennium Limited Contracting machine, Jeff Farruggia Jr, of Riverhead was now third in the Riverhead Beverage entry.
In just er second ever start, Megan Cummings of Ronkonkoma scored the 10-lap INEX Bandolero Beginners win Saturday. Emily Gatz broke to the race lead early and was building a comfortable margin, perhaps too comfortable. When Emily approached lapped traffic, it appeared to break her momentum allowing Megan Cummings to close in. As the field took the halfway signal Cummings steering the MC-11 prepared LuMacs Package Store Bando took the lead and a very popular win. The Gatz sisters, Emily and Alexis of Riverhead were second and third in their TS Haulers cars.
Mason Goodale of Riverhead is a well-rounded athlete, one of the sports he excels in is ice hockey. Saturday, with steering wheel in hand Mason scored a racing “hat trick” winning his third straight INEX Bandolero Bandit event to start 2025. The 15-lap event was a topsy turvy affair with Goodale passing Emmett Grattan for the lead with just five laps to go utilizing an inside pass during a restart. Once out-front Mason Goodale took charge for his 5th career win in the Riverhead Building Supply Bandit. Making the win even sweeter for Mason’s family was younger brother Wyatt Goodale coming home second in the GAF Roofing entry. Landon Solomito of Little Compton, RI came from deep in the field for third in the Acme Sanitary Services Bandit, Landon is cousins with the Goodale boys.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Ben Morabito 2. Kyle Ellwood 3. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 4. Riely O’Keefe 5. Ray Fitzgerald 6. Jim Sylvester 7. Jayden Glennerster 8. Joey Braun 9. Chris Sinatro 10. Nick Hodge 11. Phillip Alaimo IV 12. Mike Van Houten Jr. 13. Brandon Hubbard 14. Will Sipala 15. Charles Hodge 16. Michael Metcalf 17. Joe Cooke Jr. 18. Ed Stadtlander 19. Alex Halinar 20. Marissa Stewart 21. Rich Braun 22. Chevy Rommeney 23. Anthony Marsh 24. Pat Moore 25. Kendall Van Houten DQ-Chase Van Houten
Bandolero Beginners: 1. Megan Cummings 2. Emily Gatz 3. Alexis Gatz 4. Mason Dickerson 5. Scarlett Dumicich 6. Tyler Ross 7. John Licata 8. Carissa Busam
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Mason Goodale 2. Wyatt Goodale 3. Landon Solomito 4. Blake Grattan 5. Emmett Grattan 6. Leighton Van Houten 7. Daxx Halpin 8. Layla Quilliam 9. Mackenzie Ulmet 10. Christian Ryan 11. Brooke Meyer
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Thomas Grattan 2. Aria Ligon 3. Reid Halpin 4. John Alaimo 5. Madison Tomaszewski 6. Madison White 7. Tyler Oxee 8. Grace Cheslak 9. Jordan Ryan 10. Michael Barry 11. Antonio D’Alonzo
Photo credits: Krista King and Chris DiFilippo