by John Manzi, for the NAADA

Monticello, NY — Even though Alan Schwartz won the first leg of the North American Amateur Drivers two-track trotting series at Monticello Raceway on March 31 he will be noticeably absent when the second division goes to post at Yonkers Raceway on Thursday, April 7.

“I’d like to race in the Yonkers leg but I have a previous engagement,” Schwartz related.

Despite Schwartz’s absence there are still seven other very talented amateur drivers set to compete in the trot which is slated to go to post at 6 p.m., prior to the betting card.

Among the contestants is last year’s Amateur Driver of the Year and 17-year-old current high school student, Joey Bongiorno, who’ll handle Yankee Coburn from the seven hole. Last week at Monticello, Bongiorno’s trotter got hung-up in traffic while shipping to the Mighty M and he didn’t get to drive in the race. Bongiorno is hoping there will be no repeat of last week’s problems.

His competition will consist of six seasoned amateur veterans including the likes of Bob Krivelin, Dave Offenberg, Laurie MacNamara, Bob Hechkoff, Eric Taddeo and NAADA president Joe Faraldo.

Even though they receive no money for their driving efforts the amateurs’ main concern is padding their point totals so they earn enough to be eligible to the $12,000 final in early May. Only the top eight in points will be eligible to compete in the final which will be at Yonkers Raceway.

Currently, Schwartz leads with 11 points followed by Krivelin’s six; MacNamara’s four; Fielding with three; Taddeo with two; and Faraldo with one.

After Thursday’s contest the series moves back to Monticello Raceway for another leg on Wednesday, April 20.