The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will compete at Riverhead Raceway three times in 2022. (Dick Ayers Photo)
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead Raceway. (Dick Ayers Photo)
Northeast

Riverhead Honors Rookie Of The Year Winners

January 2, 2023

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Riverhead Raceway named their 2022 rookie of the year drivers for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series in advance of the upcoming Champions Award Banquet that is set for January 6.

Seven drivers will receive rookie of the year plaques during the ceremony that will honor the 14 track champions led by NASCAR Modified champion Kyle Soper. 

Chris Rogers is the NASCAR Modified Rookie of the Year. Rogers, a five-time winner in the Crate Modified class was tabbed by Dave Brigati’s Outlaw Inc. to drive a second Coors Light entry in 2022. The pairing yielded an 8th place tally in the overall championship rankings. Car owner Dave Brigati placed fourth in the final standings for the team led by veteran crew chief Brian Schwarz.

To say Jimmy Rennick Jr. had an adventurous freshman season in the late models would be an understatement. After winning his first late model feature in just his second start on July 9, Rennick put himself in position entering the final race of the season to win the track championship. An early race crash for the Metropolitan Recycling Chevy thwarted those hopes with the title going to Shawn Patrick. Rennick’s runner-up in the championship earned him the rookie of the year honors. 

Second generation racer Max Handley was named the Crate Modified Rookie of the Year. During the season Handley scored two Crate Modified victories. Handley finished 10th in the final standings. 

Ryan Warren battled engine issues all season long in his Sayville South Bay Auto Repair Cadillac owned by Kathy Kraft, but perseverance would payoff with a fifth place showing in the final point standings and has been named Figure Eight Rookie of the Year. 

Like Warren in the Figure Eights, Super Pro Truck freshman driver Rob Corwin endured engine woes during the season, but he and his team pressed on to win the rookie of the year honors after finishing ninth in the championship chase.

Third generation wheelman Chase Van Houten had a stellar season, winning his first career feature and finishing 10th in the championship.Â