Just weeks after celebrating his third consecutive Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified championship John Beatty Jr. of Merrick disclosed on social media that he along with car owner Mark S. Mina had their entire operation available for purchase. The whispers and rumors began to swell, what’s the story? Are they changing chassis types? Are they splitting? Monday afternoon John Beatty Jr. made it official when he announced he would retire from driving after he and the MSM Elite Motorsports teams historic three straight championships. Beatty’s retirement leaves the chase for the 2026 Riverhead NASCAR Modified title wide open.
Author: Bob Finan
Riverhead Raceway To Host First Of Two Practice Days Saturday, Free Grandstand Admission For Fans
The roar of race engines with the aroma of Sunoco Race Fuel will fill the air surrounding Riverhead Raceway Saturday afternoon April 18th as the track hosts the first on track activity leading up to the 2026 race season. As tradition dictates, grandstand admission for the Saturday test & tune will be free for race starved fans as well for the second practice day set for Saturday April 25th. Cars are scheduled to take to the historic quarter mile at 11:00 AM with rotating practice running into early evening.
Riverhead Raceway Announces April 4th & April 11th Safety Tech Inspection Dates
The first official order of business leading up to the 76th season of racing at Riverhead Raceway unfolds Saturday April 4th, and again Saturday April 11th when the track hosts two Safety Tech Inspection days. The 2026 NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts gets the opening weekend party started with seven divisions of racing on NASCAR Pack the Track Night Saturday May 2nd, with the annual May Meltdown is set to round out opening weekend Sunday May 3rd featuring Enduro and INEX Bandolero racing.
S.A.F.E.R. Figure Eight & Long Island Enduro Racing Groups Combining For March 28th Awards Ceremony
Two grassroots racing organizations will collaborate to celebrate their 2025 champions on Saturday March 28th when the Suffolk Association of Figure Eight Racing and the Long Island Enduro Racing groups present their annual awards ceremony in a combined effort. Tom Ferrara and Kim Hyde of S.A.F.E.R and Long Island Enduro Racing honchos Eric Germuth and Mairah Lawrence got together during the 2025 season to combine the two award ceremonies after each having hosted separate affairs over recent years.
John Beatty Jr. Honored For Third Straight Riverhead Raceway Modified Title Friday At Sold-Out Awards Ceremony
Riverhead Raceway race teams, staff and their family members filled the banquet room at Giorgio’s of Baiting Hollow to honor the 2025 Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Weekly Series and INEX champions Friday evening. The affair hosted by track owners Connie Partridge, Tom Gatz and GM John Ellwood honored the twelve drivers who earned 2025 championships at the popular quarter mile facility, along with the top five from each division and the 2025 Rookie of the Year winners were feted.
THE OG LONG ISLAND DAYTONA 500 PARTY SET FOR THE ALL STAR OF RIVERHEAD SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15TH
The 68th Daytona 500 kicks off another NASCAR Cup season Sunday February 15th, 2026, and for the 34th consecutive year race fans will gather for the annual Long Island Daytona 500 party at The All Star of Riverhead. The OG of all Daytona 500 parties will again offer race fans a bounty of drink and food specials from The All Star menu as well plenty of race pools, raffles and giveaways all afternoon.
Riverhead Raceway Announces 2026 Schedule For 76th Season, Introducing Friday/Saturday Weekend Dates In July & August
Entering their eleventh season as owners and promoters of Riverhead Raceway, Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz recently announced via the track’s social media platform the 2026 schedule of events for the 76th season of racing at the popular Route 58 quarter mile oval. The ambitious and fun filled schedule of events kicks off with the traditional opening weekend Saturday evening May 2nd featuring NASCAR Pack the Track Night with the May Meltdown Enduro program Sunday afternoon May 3rd. During the reveal, Partridge & Gatz announced plans for Friday and Saturday night programming during July & August, marking the first time Friday night racing has been presented since 1984.
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Three Time NASCAR Modified Champion John Beatty Jr. To Lead Riverhead Raceway 2025 Parade Of Champions At Awards Celebration
On any level of racing winning consecutive championships is a difficult task, earning three in a row while not impossible is as impressive as it is rare. During the 75th Anniversary season at Riverhead Raceway in 2025, John Beatty Jr. of Merrick accomplished something that had not been done in thirty years, and just twice over 75-years when he earned his third straight NASCAR Modified championship. Beatty will be feted along with eleven other Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series divisional champions at the Riverhead Raceway awards celebration Friday January 23rd at Giorgio’s Premier Caterers of Baiting Hollow.
Joey Bruan Makes Late Race Charge To Capture $12,000 Islip 300 Victory At Riverhead Raceway
Joey Braun of Manorville put a $12,000 bow on his freshman season as a tour type Modified driver Saturday evening by winning the 9th annual Islip 300 at Riverhead Raceway Saturday evening. Braun broke onto the tour type Modified scene on the SMART tour this year, with he and sponsor Rich Gerbe through his HighMark Building Efficiency securing the Hillbilly Racing ride. Gerbe became a car owner over the summer with he and Braun winning their only other Riverhead start on Wednesday August 27th during a 50-lapper.Islip 300 To Decide 2025 Ted Christopher Cup Crown Jewel Series Champion At Riverhead Raceway Saturday
There is still one more championship to be decided at Riverhead Raceway for 2025, and that title will be decided at the biggest race of the season during the $12,000 to win 9th annual Islip 300 Saturday. When the dust settles at the conclusion of the 300, the 2025 Ted Christopher Cup Crown Jewel Series champion will emerge with several drivers still in the hunt. The Crown Jewel Series is a championship within a championship annually at Riverhead Raceway consisting of five extra distance, signature events. The championship cup for the series is named honoring the iconic, late Ted Christopher who tragically lost his life in route to Long Island for a WMT event in September of 2017.