Racing the Riverhead oval

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While his sights are set on returning to the premier division at Riverhead Raceway in a couple of weeks, John Beatty’s remained sharp behind the wheel and having a blast in what’s become the most popular level at the ¼-mile oval.

Beatty is running near the top of the leaderboard in the INEX (inexpensive racing) Legends division, which has 43 registered drivers, after an impressive runner-up finish last Saturday night. Competing in a vehicle owned by friend Kevin Temme and sponsored by D&D Auto Body in Valley Stream, Beatty vaulted into third place with 304 points, just 24 behind pacesetter Kyle Elwood. Only 50 points separates the top eight.

“It’s a fun division and highly competitive,” said Beatty, a 1994 graduate of Valley Stream Central High School who resides in South Merrick and serves the public as a Rockville Centre village police officer. “There are 20 guys who can win on any given night,” he added. “Luck has a lot to do with it. One race, I started 24th and finished 4th. That was a huge accomplishment because some of the best talent in the Legends is right here in Riverhead.

“There isn’t a big difference in everyone’s cars, so every week is a challenge. It’s a 1,300-pound car, and it’s fast. You also have to make sure your maintenance is right.”

Beatty began his racing career at Riverhead and various tracks on the East Coast in 2008 in the Legends division before making the jump to NASCAR Modifieds two years later. He won Rookie of the Year honors after finishing third out of 38 drivers in 2010. His first Modified win came that same year and he’s eager to get back into action in the division after last season was cut short by a fractured hand suffered during a race in Connecticut.

“I’ve got a brand new 2016 Modified and I’m happy to get back into it,” said Beatty, whose primary sponsors are Meadowbrook Collision, based in Freeport, and Metal Tek Products, based in Plainview. “We’ll do a few races at Riverhead and four out-of-state to get going this year, and next year we’ll go full-time.”

Beatty, who made family his focus over the past year, said he invests 16 hours on a typical Saturday during the racing season between commuting, racing and enjoying a post-race BBQ with crew members and friends. “I’m surrounded by great people,” he said. “It’s a long day, but it’s a lot of fun.”

A rookie on the scene
Last Saturday was Stephen Boland’s second attempt in the Legends division at Riverhead, and though he was unable to qualify for the feature event, he didn’t head home to Franklin Square too disappointed.

“It’s just great being out here,” said Boland, a 1994 graduate of Calhoun High School who grew up in North Merrick. “I’ve been around race cars my whole life,” he added. “My father [Al] used to compete at Freeport and Riverhead. Now he owns the car I’m driving and we’re looking to be out here full-time next year.”

Boland started racing TQ (Three Quarter) Midgets in Atlantic City and Pennsylvania when he was in his 20s, but he said getting home from race days at 1 o’clock in the morning became a grind. “There’s a big difference between the Midgets and Legends cars,” he said. “Legends are twice the weight but with tires half the size of TQs. Some people say riding Legends is like being on a skateboard and holding on to the back of a school bus.”

After a decent finish is his debut earlier in July, earning him 14 points and a spot in the standings, Boland’s No. 6 car, owned by his father and in search of sponsorship, finished at the back in one of last Saturday’s three qualifying heats.

“Tonight I was in a qualifier with all fast guys,” he said. “It’s OK. I’m not going to be mad and kick stuff around because I didn’t make the feature. I’m still learning the car. Compared to what I was driving, it’s like night and day.”