Joey Braun won his third Riverhead Raceway (NY) feature of 2023 on Saturday, August 12. Track PR story (by Bob Finan) and results below. Photo provided by Joey Braun Racing
“Blankets” Joey Braun of Manorville won the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Car feature, his 3rd of 2023 and the 13th of his career moving him to 5th all time. The race was marred by one of the worst crashes the class has ever seen on the 15th lap, Running at the front of the field Richie Davidowitz’s car suddenly, without contact got loose off the fourth corner sending him towards the infield. However, Richie’s car then bounced off the car of Jeff Farruggia to the inside sending Richie, driver’s side first into the wall just before the starters stand. After some anxious moments Richie exited his car to be further evaluated. Also caught up in the grinding crash and done for the race were, Ray Fitzgerald, Ryan Lutz, Charles Hodge and Alex Halinar, all were okay. Prior to the crash Joey Braun took the race lead from Riely O’Keefe with a pass on lap 9. It would be after the race resumed on lap 15 after the big crash that the intensity ratcheted up as over the final five laps Braun and O’Keefe raced side by side in close quarters for the win. In the end Joey Braun in the Uncle Carmine’s Hot Peppers racer prevailed over his Manorville neighbor Riely O’Keefe in his Get Clear, Crystal Clear Window Cleaning machine. Waiting in the wings for something to happen among the top two was eventual third place finisher Jim Sylvester of Massapequa in the Joe Ryan Race Cars entry.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Joey Braun 2. Riely O’Keefe 3. Jim Sylvester 4. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 5. Jason Castaldo 6. Chris Sinatro 7. Joe Warren Jr. 8. Eric Hersey 9. Colin Volpe 10. Mike Van Houten Jr. 11. Pat Moore 12. Jayden Glennerster 13. Ray Stulz 14. Kendall Van Houten 15. Marc Godnick 16. Nick Kocis 17. Steven Harding 18. Billy King Jr. 19. Kim Daniel 20. Richie Davidowitz 21. Ryan Lutz 22. Ray Fitzgerald 23. Charles Hodge 24. Alex Halinar 25. Ed Stadtlander 26. Rich Braun