Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – Ryan Preece experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows at the Richmond Raceway on Friday night.
On the high side, Preece dominated the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150, leading 98 of 156 laps and surviving multiple late-race restarts to win his third consecutive race over a three-month stretch and first at “The Action Track.”.
On the low side, Preece’s car owner Eddie Partridge passed away having suffered a medical incident after leaving the track.
Eddie, wife Connie and Tom Gatz purchased Riverhead Raceway in late 2015 and have continued to run the facility under the NASCAR banner ever since. Defying the growing development, the track continued to thrive as one of the oldest and most storied tracks in the country.
So many people in racing at all levels of racing are showing an outpouring of love and thanks for all the help and support Eddie had provided.
Eddie Partridge had a big impact on our sport and will be sorely missed on many levels. Racing was part of Eddies life for many decades from crew member to car owner to track owner and he made so many life long friends along the way.
At any NASCAR WMT race that NASCAR Cup driver Ryan Preece was entered he would be there cheering Ryan on. Ryan Preece posted on Social Media that he won his first race together in 2014 with Eddie and last race together at Richmond.
On most Saturday nights during race season Eddie would be at the back gate at Riverhead or on the pit ramp overseeing the racing, his presence on the NASCAR WMT and the track will be sorely missed.
Championship contenders Justin Bonsignore, Patrick Emerling and Ron Silk had their problems and failed to finish. Bonsignore broke a drive shaft, Emerling had motor failure and Silk crashed
Earning his best finish of the season in the runner-up spot was Jon McKennedy. Following back-to-back 16th-place finishes at Beech Ridge and Oswego, the Tommy Baldwin-led group gained a total of 18 positions on the evening after starting back in 20th.
Ronnie Williams, who started seventh, brought his No. 50 machine home third after leading three times for a total of 34 laps, the best finish of his career, with Cup Series veteran Ryan Newman and six-time series champion Doug Coby rounding out the top five finishers. Kyle Bonsignore, Austin Beers, Andy Jankowiak, Burt Myers and Woody Pitkat completed the top 10.
Both Bonsignore and Emerling were able to get back on track, but returned to the garage mere laps later, ending their nights early. They finished 24th and 25th, respectively.
With two races to go in the season, Bonsignore’s lead over Emerling in the standings is at 22 points. Up next for the Whelen Modified Tour is a trip to Riverhead Raceway on Sept. 18. Doug Coby earned both wins earlier this season, with Justin Bonsignore winning the four prior in a row.