Riverhead Raceway co-owner Eddie Partridge, who died on Sept. 10 at age 68, took his final laps around his track during a memorial ceremony Saturday.
Partridge’s casket was driven around the track by a TS Haulers truck, while his family, friends, racers, racing fans and track employees looked on, honoring one of the most influential people in stock car racing on Long Island.
The track at the raceway was modified in Partridge’s honor. A mural on the side of the track says “In Our Hearts Forever Eddie”, while pots of flowers were set up in the pits in the formation of a 6, the number of the modified Partridge owned.
Partridge died last Friday night as he was heading home from Richmond Raceway in Virginia, where his No. 6 modified, driven by Ryan Preece, won the Richmond is for Racing Lovers 150.
“Eddie’s passion for racing was felt not just throughout the modified community, but also throughout grassroots racing as a whole,” NASCAR said in a statement, following Partridge’s death. “He fielded teams for some of the best drivers in the sport, and truly loved seeing his cars run up front.”
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Alek Lewis
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