On Friday afternoon, June 5 the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Series moves back to the states with two divisions carded at Freehold Raceway after a three-track excursion in Canada
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As we are now getting deeper into the season many of the upcoming events will be regional. Nearly all of the previous contests were wild card events, which means that the participating drivers earn points in both divisions. Now as regional affairs drivers will earn points in their respective divisions and at seasons end the drivers with the most regional points will earn berths in the Regional Finals with hopes to navigate on to the Delvin Miller Memorial Driving Gold, Silver and Bronze Cup Championships, which this year will be held at The Meadows on Monday, December 7.
The two races at Freehold Raceway are for members of the eastern region. Both events have six-horse fields, one on the card and one off.
The first Billings split-- the non-wagering affair-- features “Joltin’ Joe” Pennacchio, whose 26 points currently ranks him fourth on the east region leaderboard just two points behind the leaders, neither of whom will be participating that afternoon.
A businessman and CEO of his company, Pennacchio will handle San Siro Lane, who has already supplied him with a Billings victory at Monticello Raceway on May 11. They’ll leave from the five-hole and have to contend with the number four horse, Jay A Novak and driver Terry “the Dairy Queen” Donnelly, whom together were a Billings winner at Pocono Downs on May 2 .
Donnelly, an owner of a Dairy Queen in northern New Jersey, is ninth on the leaderboard with 21 points.
The betting contest will go as race number two on the afternoon card and will feature, Marlboro, New Jersey resident and business executive, Dave “Yes It’s True” Offenberg whose 25 points ranks him fifth best in the east region. Offenberg will handle Double Strength and start from Post 4.
His main competition figures to be Rob “Rapid Rail” Krivelin, whose 14 year warhorse Unitas, from post position three is always a threat to add to his 100 career wins; and Eric “the Driving NYC Fireman” Taddeo who’ll handle his own Highmaker from the pole position.
Taddeo and Krivelin, each with 22 points are tied for sixth in the east.
After the Freehold contests the eastern region drivers in Billings Series move on to Yonkers Raceway on Monday, June 8. That same night the Midwestern competitors will battle at Hazel Park Raceway in greater Detroit, Michigan.
(Monticello Raceway)