At Riverhead Raceway (NY) on Saturday, September 21, feature winners were Kyle Ellwood (Legends), Mackenzie Ulmet (Beginner Bandoleros), Reid Halpin (Bandolero Bandits), and Will Sipala (Bandolero Outlaws). The race recap by Bob Finan for the track is below along with the results (Legends and Bandolero portions extracted for posting on LN).
Prior to 2024 race season, versatile wheelman Kyle Ellwood hooked up with INEX Legend Race Car owner and former racer Eric Lutz and to say the combination has clicked would be an understatement. Saturday, Ellwood in the Millennium Limited Contracting won the Sara Sylvester National Qualifier for his 5th win of the season. Jeff Farruggia Jr. won the JCR Motorsports Pole Award of $102 with a time of 13.449 i qualifying with tested tough veteran Ray Fitzgerald second quick at 13.458. Farruggia led the first lap before Joey Braun snuck by on lap two. Bruan led the second and third laps before he was overtaken by Fitzgerald on lap 4. One lap after Fitzgerald took the lead Kyle Ellwood moved to second and the race for the win was on. After 11 laps of chasing and sizing up Fitzgerald for a pass, Ellwood made his winning move on lap 17 working his way out front with “Fitzy” second. Early leader Braun remerged at the halfway point of the race getting by Ray for second, but that would be as good as it would get for the driver dubbed “Blankets”. When the checker flags waved Kyle Ellwood triumphed for the 24th time in his INEX Legends career, none of the previous 23 wins carried the emotion as winning Sara’s race did Saturday. Joey Braun of Manorville was runner-up in the HighMark Building Efficiency coupe while championship leader Riely O’Keefe of Manorvillle was third in the Crystal Clear Window Cleaning entry.
Mackenzie Ulmet of Riverhead scored her second Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Beginner victory in a 10-lap contest. Ulmet started fourth on the grid and quickly moved forward to take the lead from Leighton Van Houten on the 4th lap. Once she put the Mark Davis Builders Bando out front Ulmet, the granddaughter of former Riverhead Raceway driver Wes Zaleski drove to the popular win. Wyatt Goodale of Riverhead was second in the Riverhead Building Supply entry, while Daxx Halpin of Wading River was third in the Mike Van Houten Trucking Bando.
It might have taken defending Bock Auto INEX Bandolero Bandit champion Reid Halpin time to find victory, lane in 2024, but once he did for the most part hasn’t left. Since July 31st, his first win of the season, “Speedy Reidy” has won four of the past five Bandit events including Saturday’s 15-lap affair. Tyler Oxee paced the race for the first three laps before Halpin, who started the race from 7th came calling on lap 4 for the lead. Once out front the MC-11 prepared, Steve Park Properties driver led the rest of the way earning his 8th career win. Tyler Oxee of Pelham drove the North Fork Sanitation Bandit to a runner-up showing with Aria Ligon of Center Moriches third in the Chesterfield Associated entry.
the 15-lap Bock Auto Bandolero Outlaw event had a dramatic conclusion and when the dust settled Will Sipala of Manorville was the winner. Sipala, who drives the Riteway Automotive Center Outlaw is on a hit streak having won four of the past six races since July 27th. Tucker Bock had led nearly the entire distance of the race seeking his second win of 2024. However, racing up the backstretch side by side Bock and Sipala went for the same piece if real estate and contact was made, sending Bock hard into the inside wall. After replay review the contact was deemed incidental and Will Sipala indeed won his 6th career race. Michael Barry of Patchogue was second in the Grease Garage Motorsports Outlaw, third went to Thomas Grattan of Southold in his Sophie’s Rest machine.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Kyle Ellwood 2. Joey Braun 3. Riely O’Keefe 4. Rodney Dowless Jr. 5. Anthony Marsh 6. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 7. Tanner Jones Jr, 8. Chris Sinatro 9. Jayden Glennerster 10. Chase Van Houten 11. Charles Hodge 12. Phillip Alaimo 13. Will Sipala 14. Mike Van Houten Jr. 15. Colin Volpe 16. Jim Sylvester 17. Kevin Ohrnberger 18. Marc Godnick 19. Kevin Nowak 20. Brad Van Houten 21. Ray Fitzgerald 22. Alex Halinar 23. Pat Moore 24. Michael Collier 25. Richie Davidowitz 26. Chevy Rommeney
Bandolero Beginners: 1. Mackenzie Ulmet 2. Wyatt Goodale 3. Daxx Halpin 4. Leighton Van Houten 5. Emily Gatz 6. Scarlette Dumicich DNS- Alexis Gatz
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Reid Halpin 2. Tyler Oxee 3. Aria Ligon 4. Antonio D’Alonzo 5. Emmett Grattan 6. Christian Ryan 7. Layla Quilliam 8. Blake Grattan 9. Brooke Meyer 10. John Alaimo 11. Mason Goodale
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Will Sipala 2. Michael Barry 3. Thomas Grattan 4. Tucker Bock 5. Madison Tomaszewski 6. Kix Bock 7. Grace Cheslak 8. Madison White
 on Saturday, September 21, feature winners were Kyle Ellwood (Legends), Mackenzie Ulmet (Beginner Bandoleros), Reid Halpin (Bandolero Bandits), and Will Sipala (Bandolero Outlaws).){kind=link}