Red hot defending INEX Legend Race Car champion Riely O’Keefe of Manorville continued his hot streak Saturday winning his fifth event in since mid-July at Riverhead Raceway, but this one was very special, as well as lucrative. Not only did Riely lead all 50-laps of the Sara Sylvester INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier 50, O’Keefe accomplished the fete in a car owned by Sara’s brother Jim Sylvester, with whom he’s won five races since July 12th. Saturday’s race was the richest ever for the Legends at Riverhead with O’Keefe earning $2,750 for his efforts.
Right from Natural Design Co. pole qualifying Riely O’Keefe emerged as the driver to beat entering the Sara Sylvester 50 laying down a lap of 13.435 to win the $100 pole award, Jeff Farruggia Jr. of Riverhead was second quick at 13.447. The two former go-kart rivals brought the field to green with O’Keefe edging out front, with Farruggia trying to stay alongside in the outside lane. However, Anthony Marsh who started third slid under Farruggia for second on lap 2. The first caution waved on lap 5 when Frank Dumicich Jr. looped off turn four winding up sideways on the track, Kendall Van Houten, with nowhere to go made contact and both their nights were over. The field lined up with O’Keefe and Marsh in the front row, with Kyle Ellwood now third and when the race resumed Ellwood, the championship leader slid by Marsh for second.
Once to second Ellwood was not able to focus on catching O’Keefe as much as he had to be concerned with pressure from Ben Morabito who made his way to third and was hunting Ellwood for second. That was just fine with leader O’Keefe who was ringing the cash register to the tune of $12 per lap, but more importantly was able to get away during green flag runs. Morabito would make his way under Ellwood for second on lap 14 quickly shifting his focus on catching O’Keefe.
For the duration of the race a few yellow flags waved for minor incidents, with Morabito able to line up alongside O’Keefe for the restart. Not wanting to get hung out to dry on the high side Ben would see if he could make a run for the lead on Riely, but as soon as he sensed he could not gain a run ticked in behind the eventual winner. Right behind them Ellwood and Marsh had a duel of their own brewing for third, with Marsh eventually squeezing by.
When the checker flag waved to end the prestigious race, Riely O’Keefe completed a clean sweep of the event in his Joe Ryan Race Cars entry. In a twist of irony, the win is the 8th of Riely’s career tying him with his car owner Jim Sylvester for 9th on the all-time list. After receiving the winner plaque from Natural Design Co. O’Keefe was quick to hand out credit for his big day, “I wouldn’t have been on the pole of not for a pep talk from one of my idols growing up, Timmy Solomito. He gave me a few tips on what I and we could do to improve our qualifying. After that leading all 50-laps is pretty impressive if I do say so myself”. Joined by a beaming Jim Sylvester the happy winner added, “can’t thank Jimmy enough, plus Planet Earth Recycling, Hotworx of Eastport, Gershow Recycling, Oval Speed, Crystal Clear Window Cleaning, Action Auto Wreckers, RGE Site Development and of course my parents, they gave me all I ever needed”
Ben Morabito of Miller Place was runner-up in the Nowak Motorsports machine; Anthony Marsh of Riverhead came home third in the Riverhead Trailer entry. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead and Jeff Farruggia completed the top five.
Another driver who would lead wire to wire was 35-lap Late Model winner Gerard Giordano of Freeport who sped to his second win of 2025. Armed with pole and a slim championship lead entering the race, Giordano wasted no time bolting out to the lead at the throw of the green. CJ Lehmann quickly moved to second, but Giordano was able to get away from him early on. Then suddenly Lehmann turned up the wick and on lap 10 started to close in in Giordano. The race was halted on lap 17 when Kevin Metzger and Rob Tribuzio came together in the third turn. Hoping to be able to gain a run on the restart Lehmann could not find the drive off he needed on the restart and Giordano continued to sit at the front of the field. When the race ended Gerard Giordano and his K-1 Logistics team not only enjoyed their 4th career win but also extended their championship lead with one race remaining. CJ Lehmann of Lake Grove was runner-up in the Polar Bear Air Chevy; Dave Brigati of Calverton completed the podium in third with his JDL Environmental Chevy after a late race battle with Ray Minieri of Bay Shore
Scott Pedersen of Shirley notched his 5th win of the 2025 campaign when he won the 15-lap TK Figure Eight event. Early on it was a Farrell family affair as rookie Tyler Farrell led the first lap before his father Will “The Thrill” Farrell took the lead on lap 2. Disaster struck the elder Farrell on lap 4 when his coupe broke into a spin off the fourth turn drawing a yellow, Will continued despite contact a infield tire. When the field was realigned Scott Pedersen was the new race lead with Kim Hyde sitting second and they’d run the rest of the way on that order. For Scott Pedersen in the Bobby’s One Stop Custom Exhaust & Automotive Camaro the win would be the 22nd of his championship career, tying him with George Sprague of Patchogue for 7th on the all-time win list. Kim Hyde of Riverhead is closing in on her first career win settled for second in the Village Idiot Pub f Riverhead entry, Will Farrell of Mastic would roar back for third in the Boomburger of Westhampton coupe.
Paul Wojcik of Patchogue collected his fourth victory of the Mini Stock season winning their 20-lap main event in convincing fashion. At the throw of the green for a race that would run caution free Wojcik broke our front early over Eoughan Heyward. Quickly Heyward felt the wrath of CJ Zukowski who moved by for second on lap 3, but the leader was already far out front. To make matters worse for CJ, his younger brother Ryan started applying the pressure for second. The siblings would exchange second and third a few times prior to the halfway mark which allowed Paul Wojcik to pull away for the victory in the Lexington Capital Holdings Honda. The win is the 11th of Wojcik’s career tying him for second on the all-time win list with race runner up CJ Zukowski of Riverhead in the Walls of Fame Cavalier. Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead was third in the Busy Bee Pest Control machine.
Mariah Lawrence of Southampton came into Saturday’s 40-lap Truck Enduro winless in 2025, something the defending champion is not accustomed to. Starting third on the grid was all Mariah would need to change her winless status to winner after she split the front row trucks at the throw of the green entering the first turn to emerge as the leader. Once out front the Total Care Dentistry General Lee led all the way with a relived Mariah Lawrence at the keyboards. Kevin Feeney of Quogue was second, gaining much ground in the fight for the 2025 championship when points leader Phil LaManna fell out of the race early. Brandon LaManna of Smithtown held up the family honor with a third in the EP Milling & Sweeping Chevy.
Mike Mujsce Jr. of Hampton Bays collected his second straight 4/6-Cylinder Enduro win in a 40-lap contest this time coming from deep in the field for the win. Mujsce, who struggled early in the season chasing mechanical gremlins took the lead on lap 18 from his teammate Ryan T Warren who led from the start. After halfway John Palmeri made his way to second and appeared to be closing in on Mujsce. Unfortunately for Palmeri a lap 33 red flag his car overheated and was done for the race. When the green came out for the final 7-laps Mike Mujsce Jr. in his sponsor wanted entry was the victor, Frank Raynor of North Sea was second in the Raynor Landscaping mount, Ryan T Warren of Mastic was third in the East West Pest Control racer.
Withea new payout formula in place, the 4/6-Cylinder Demolition Derby saw over 20-cars take part in a hard-hitting affair. When the dust settled the battle for the $1,500 win came down to two tested tough veterans, John Palmeri of Lindenhurst and ageless “Pistol” Pete Mikos of Ronkonkoma. While Palmeri’s JP Auto car seemed to be in the worst condition, Mikos’s car would bite the dust first. After exiting his winning chariot, Palmeri admitted he was very sore after the extreme hits he took along the way.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Riely O’Keefe 2. Ben Morabito 3. Anthony Marsh 4. Kyle Ellwood 5. Jeff Farruggia 6. Chris Sinatro 7. Ray Fitzgerald 8. Jayden Glennerster 9. Charles Hodge 10. Jim Sylvester 11. Mike Van Houten Jr. 12. Robert Henninger 13. Alex Halinar 14. Phillip Alaimo 15. Michael Metcalf 16. John Alaimo 17. Marissa Stewart 18. Nick Hodge 19. Rodney Dowless Jr. 20. Joe Cooke Jr. 21. Eric Hersey 22. Richie Davidowitz 23. Ed Stadtlander 24. Frank Dumicich Jr. 26. Kendall Van Houten
Late Models: 1. Gerard Giordano 2. CJ Lehmann 3. Dave Brigati 4. Ray Minieri 5. Keith Rotzi 6. Ryan Zukowski 7. Russ Jansen 8. Kevin Metzger 9. Ed Cheslak DQ- Brandon Turbush
Figure Eights: 1. Scott Pedersen 2. Kim Hyde 3. Will Farrell 4. Allan Pedersen 5. Tyler Farrell 6. Bob Dalke DQ- Ryan Warren
Mini Stocks: 1. Paul Wojcik 2. CJ Zukowski 3. Ryan Zukowski 4. Chris Olivari 5. Eoughan Heyward 6. Hunter Cummings 7. George Astacio 8. Julianna Voegel 9. Charles Astacio DNS-Joe Warren
Truck Enduro (top ten) 1. Mariah Lawrence 2. Kevin Feeney 3. Brandon LaManna 4. Eric Germuth 5. Brandon Anderson 6. Jackie Germuth 7. Ryan Wertz 8. Jim Kelly 9. Nikki Giordano 10. Charles Sherry
4/6-Cylinder Enduro (top ten) 1. Mike Mujsce Jr. 2. Frank Raynor 3. Ryan T Warren 4. Mike Mujsce Sr. 5. Mike Fragola 6. David Olivari 7. Aidan Farrell 8. Robin Schewire 9. Anthony Paretta 10. William Van Dyke
4/6-Cylinder Demolition Derby: Winner- John Palmeri