Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead notched his second NASCAR Modified victory of 2025 when he passed John Beatty Jr. of Merrick with twenty laps remaining in Saturday’s 50-lap feature event at Riverhead Raceway. Beatty would have the last laugh though when he sewed-up his third consecutive NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Modified championship with his runner-up finish. Beatty joins Charlie Jarzombek (1976-1978) and Don Howe (1993-1995) as the only drivers to earn three Modified championships in succession.
Author: Bob Finan
Riverhead Raceway 2025 Modified Title To Be Decided At NASCAR Night Of Champions Saturday Night
The race for the 2025 NASCAR Modifieds championship will feature three main players for the 50-lap regular season finale Saturday at Riverhead Raceway, a mere ten points separating first through third. Additionally, three other 2025 track champions will celebrate a championship by the end of the program. Originally the 2025 champions for all seven divisions of the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series were to be feted, however the September 6th WMT rain out moved the Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds, Blunderbusts and INEX Legend Race Cars championship final to October 4th.
Red Hot Riely O’Keefe Pockets $2,750 INEX Legend Race Car Score With Riverhead Raceway Sara Sylvester 50 National Qualifier Triumph
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.
Riverhead Raceway Reveals New Demolition Derby Payout Procedure For Saturday Night & 2026
Riverhead Raceway General Manager John Ellwood announced Wednesday the track will introduce a new payout procedure Saturday during the final 4/6-Cylinder Demolition Derby, a procedure that will carry into 2026 and beyond. The 4/6-Cylinder Demo will conclude a bust night of racing that is highlighted by the Sara Sylvester INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier 50.
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$5,000 Bonus & Lap Money Program Announced For Sara Sylvester 50 INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier Saturday At Riverhead Raceway
Wednesday evening Erin Delaney announced she has arranged a $5,000 bonus and lap money program for Saturday’s Sara Sylvester INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier 50 at Riverhead Raceway making the race the richest Legend event ever at the famed quarter mile. The 50-lap winner will earn $1,500 before lap money and other bonus monies are figured in. A complete program of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing will complement the Sara Sylvester 50, including a 4/6-Cylinder Demolition Derby which will also carry a hefty first place prize money.
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Chase Grennan Continues Signature Race Prowess Scoring Clean Sweep Of Cecil Palm Tree 66 At Riverhead Raceway
One thing is becoming abundantly clear with the budding driving career of 18-year-old Chase Grennan of Glen Cove, the bright spotlight of signature NASCAR Modified events at Riverhead Raceway doesn’t intimidate him at all. In fact, he thrives on them and has been dubbed with the moniker “Big Time”. Saturday, the college freshman set fast time and led all but the first lap of the Cecil Palm Tree 66 for his third win of the season, all Crown Jewel Series events for the Ted Christopher Cup. Add his upset win in the 2024 Islip 300 and the only left for “Big Time” Chase to accomplish is to win a 50-lap weekly event.Saturday’s Cecil Palm Tree 66 Pivotal Race Towards Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified & Crown Jewel Series Championships
The annual Cecil Palm Tree 66 NASCAR Modified event is presented to honor memory of the late Eddie Partridge, a lover of the open wheel machines and the excitement they provided wherever they raced, especially Riverhead Raceway which he, his wife Connie and nephew Tom Gatz purchased in 2015. Saturday when the green flag waves over the field to begin the Cecil Palm Tree 66, the usual open wheel excitement will be ramped up with the 2025 NASCAR Modified and Crown Jewel Series Ted Christopher Cup championships hanging in the balance, just the way Eddie Partridge the Modified fan would have loved.
Owen Grennan Powers To Second Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified Victory Of 2025 Saturday
Coming into the Newsday Salutes First Responders NASCAR Modified feature Saturday at Riverhead Raceway, Owen Grennan of Glen Cove formulated a game plan upon finding out he’d start outside of the front row. Grennan, a schoolteacher by day executed his plan to perfection winning the 50-lap main event, his second of 2025 and third of his career. Prior to racing Connie Partridge & Tom Gatz in conjunction with Newsday presented a moving salute to all 1st responders during opening ceremonies, complete with a flyover by the Suffolk County Police Department.
Joey Braun Finds Victory Lane In Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified Debut Wednesday
When Joey Braun of Manorville rolled into the pit area Wednesday afternoon to make his NASCAR Modified debut with car owner Rich Gerbe, not even Joey, who exudes confidence could have predicted what was about to happen a few hours later. Executing a last lap pass coming to the checker flag, Joey Braun making his NASCAR Tour Type Modified debut at his home track put the new formed team in victory lane before a large midweek crowd. Braun’s win makes it eight different winners in ten 2025 NASCAR Modified events run to date.
Eric Hersey, Jim Laird Jr., Anthony Marsh & CJ Zukowski Score Riverhead Raceway Victories In Front Of SRO Crowd Saturday
A combination of chamber of commerce weather coupled with a School Bus Demolition Derby drew a standing room only crowd to Riverhead Raceway Saturday evening for another exciting race program. Eric Hersey of Commack led the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series winners when he topped the 25-lap Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modified feature. The large turnout was confirmed as the largest since Eddie & Connie Partridge & Tom Gatz began operating the historic venue in 2016 after purchasing it in 2015.