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Riverhead, NY May 3rd 2025
by Bob Finan
Photos: Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
The curtain went up on the 75th Anniversary celebration at Riverhead Raceway Saturday with the on-track racing during the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program in mid-season form. All seven feature events featured side-by-side battles for the race lead with a few breathtaking finishes unfolding. Chris Young of Calverton made a triumphant return to victory lane after winning the 50-lao NASCAR Tour Type Modified feature, but not before he survived a torrid battle for the victory with defending champion John Beatty Jr. of Merrick.
Race enthusiasts will recall the last time Chris Young and John Beatty Jr. were on track last October the results were not pleasant, especially for Beatty who wound up with a wrecked race car. Those in the stands Saturday, as well Flo Racing subscribers moved to the edge of their seats when the duo fought for Saturday night’s victory. Roger Turbush led the first three laps from the pole, Beatty from the outside pole chased him for the first lap before Young, who started third passed Beatty on lap 2. During a double file restart on lap 3, Young got the measure of Turbush leading the fourth and fifth circuits, however Roger roared back out front on lap 6, leading until the next double file restart presented itself.
During a lap 15 double file restart Young returned to the race lead over Turbush with Beatty all over Roger for second. On lap 16 Beatty cleared Turbush and was quickly to the rear spoiler of leader Young and you could almost hear the whispers over the road of the cars. How would Beatty treat Young racing for the lead after their recent history last fall? Was it “payback” time? Much to the delight of those witnessing, all that unfolded was some classic short track open wheel racing. Over the final segment of the race Beatty drew right to Young’s bumper and more than once gave the leader a nudge, when Chris’s car broke loose off the corner, Beatty backed off, so he didn’t clean him out.
When the race concluded it was Chris Young accomplishing what his late father Chris had done many times during his 33-win career, capturing the opening night NASCAR Modified feature. “First off I have to thank John Beatty for racing me hard, but clean, he’s a true professional. It was a hard off-season for me after the final race last year, our family and the Beatty family were close over the years dating back to our Legends racing, I hated what happened” Young admitted. “I can’t thank Earth’s Splendor, Sendlewski Architects and all out marketing partners enough, I had to stop at the fourth turn gate and wave to Dad, if he were still here, he’d be there waiting to join me in victory lane”.
John Beatty Jr. not from a lack of trying would have to settle for runner-up money in the MSM Elite Motorsports Fury, while early race leader Roger Turbush of Riverhead brought the Rheem Chevy home third. Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills and Chris Rogers of Patchogue were fourth and fifth.
When the 25-lap Late Model feature concluded, there was a new sheriff in town, literally. Just a few weeks removed from being sworn in as a Suffolk County Sheriff, Brandon Turbush of Manorville topped the opening night feature. Early on, tested tough veteran Dave Brigati paced the event with Turbush passing Gerard Giordano for second just after the first lap was in the books. Brigati seemed to be on easy street out front but then suddenly a flash of fire appeared from beneath his Coors Light racer, Dave veered to the infield where fire crews put out the flames. When the race resumed after a red flag for the fire, Turbush bolted to the lead with 8-time and defending champion Jeremy McDermott in tow. As expected, McDermott caught up to Turbush and was testing the third-generation driver setting up for an intense finish. With laps dwindling down, suddenly McDermott’s pace fell off as his left front tire went down. That left Brandon Turbush in the Gala Fresh Farms entry to hit his marks for the final laps to claim his 4th career victory. Keith Rotzi of Islip was fast all race and came home second in the Acura of Bay Shore Acura, third veteran “Radiant” Ray Minieri of Bay Shore in his Zaremba & Brown Attorneys Chevy.
Defending Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modified champion Owen Grennan of Glen Cove warded off the hard charging Michael Berner of Patchogue to secure his 23rd career triumph in their 25-lap main event. Grennan, a schoolteacher by day took full advantage of a front row starting berth to race his way to the early lead over Vinny Delaney. On lap 7 Berner passed Delaney for second quickly setting sail for leader Grennan. For the remainder of the race Berner stayed hot on the heels of the race leader, but close would be as good as it would get. At the checker flag Owen Grennan was first over the line in the Dillner Precast Chevy, “we are going to be busy this summer, this is a great start” Grennan offered. Owen and his younger brother Chase will each race with the Crate Modifieds as well the NASCAR Tour Type Modifieds in 2025. Michael Berner was runner-up in the Pro Diesel Truck Repair Chevy; Vinny Delaney of Islip Terrace completed the podium in the Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm mount.
Defending TK Figure Eight champion Scott Pedersen of Shirley won the 15-lap opening night feature over his nephew Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches. A slim field of cars was on hand with just four of the six entrants making the call for the feature. Scott, steering the Land, Air, Water Environmental Camaro led all 15-laps enroute to his 18th career win. Allan challenged him all the way to the finish for second in the Elite Towing Chevy. Kim Hyde of Riverhead was third in her Village Idiot Pub entry.
During the 2024 season opener for the Blunderbusts, Cody Triola of Bay Shore and Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace had a heated duel for the win with contact and hurt feelings abound. Fast forward to Saturday night’s 20-lap lid lifter and the script was pretty much the same, minus the contact and hurt feeling. That was just fine for all involved. Cody Triola and Jim Laird Jr. raced to the front at the throw of the green, that is where they would stay for the entire race distance with Laird trying to find a way by Triola for the win. Jim tried peeking to the inside off the corners, but Cody would back-up the corner, breaking the challenger’s momentum. When the full 20-laps were in the books, Cody Triola in the Cesspool Pros racer had earned his 16th career victory. Jim Laird Jr. made a last lap dash off turn four on the final lap but was content with second in the Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm Caprice. Joe Densieski of Riverhead was third in his Hydro Action Chevy.
The 20-lap Super Pro truck opener had action from the throw of the green right up until the checker flag waved. When the dust settled Sean Glennon of Northport had won his 11th career event, tying him for 10th all-time with Pat Smith. Defending champ Jack Handley Jr. broke to the lead at the start with all-time winner Lou Maestri right behind. Maestri made his way by Handley on lap 7 to lead the 8th through 12th lap, with Glennon working his way by Handley for second on lap 8. Sizing Maestri up for a challenge, Glennon executed a textbook outside front stretch pass of Lou to take control of the race on lap 13. Maestri was running second with Frank Dumicich Jr. on his tailgate for second on the 17th lap when the two touched and had to both back out of the gas, allowing Handley to race back to second. Over the three laps remaining Handley threw everything but the kitchen seat at Glennon, but Sean would prevail in the Glennon Construction machine. Handley, of Medford was second in his East Side Building Toyota, with Frank Dumicich Jr. of East Quogue third in the Okpetroleummarketplace.com Toyota.
Perhaps the wildest finish on the night came at the end of the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Car feature where Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead, entering the final turn third came home the winner. Early on Ellwood paced Anthony Marsh for the first four laps of the tilt with Joey Braun making his way towards the front. Braun motored by Marsh for second on lap 5 and just over a lap later passed Ellwood for the lead on lap 7. Another young lion racing towards the front was Chase Van Houten, he made his way to second on lap 8 and for the next dozen laps chased Braun to the finish. Van Houten was in step with leader Braun as the duo worked lapped traffic. On the final lap entering the final time through the third and fourth turns lapped cars suddenly bogged down in front of the leaders. Braun to avoid contact made a hard left with the momentum taking him well onto the Figure Eight course, while Van Houten tried to make a go of it on track. He had to slightly hit the brakes nearly spinning himself out, which allowed the Millennium Limited Contracting machine of Kyle Ellwood to ride the outside lane to his 26th career victory. Despite his infield excursion Joey Braun of Manorville was credited with runner-up honors in his HighMark Building Efficiency machine, Chase Van Houten of Wading River was third in his Hotworx of Easstport coupe.
NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Chris Young 2. John Beatty Jr. 3. Roger Turbush 4. Dylan Slepian 5. Chris Rogers 6. Kyle Ellwood 7. Chase Grennan 8. Michael Rutkoski 9. JR Bertuccio 10. Allan Pedersen 11. Matt Brode 12. Tom Rogers Jr. 13. Owen Grennan 14. Jack Handley Jr. 15. CJ Lehmann 16. Mark Stewart 17. Timmy Solomito 18 JB Fortin
Late Models: 1. Brandon Turbush 2. Keith Rotzi 3. Ray Minieri 4. Jeremy McDermott 5. Ed Cheslak 6. Gerard Giordano 7. Russ Jansen 8. Ryan Zukowski 9. Kevin Metzger 10. Alyssa Paprocky 11. Dave Brigati
Crate Modifieds: 1. Owen Grennan 2. Michael Berner 3. Vinny Delnaey 4. Richie Davidowitz 5. Stephen Coleman 6. AJ DeSantis 7. Eric Hersey 8. Joe Warren Jr. 9. Tom Sekulski 10. Terry Stiles 11. Max Handley 12. Andrew Farnham 13. Chase Grennan 14. Rich Gerbe
Figure Eights: 1. Scott Pedersen 2. Allan Pedersen 3. Kim Hyde 4. Bob Dalke DNS- Will Farrell, Tyler Farrell
Blunderbusts: 1. Cody Triola 2. Jim Laird Jr. 3. Joe Densieski 4. Tom Sullivan 5. Emily Hubbard 6. Bill Wegmann Jr. 7. Bill Wegmann Sr. 8. Tom Puccia 9. Ralph Corsini 10. Anthony Capobianco 11. Liam Macwhinnie
Super Pro Trucks: 1. Sean Glennon 2. Jack Handley Jr. 3. Frank Dumicich Jr. 4. Lou Maestri 5. Chares Sudano 6. Cillian Tennant 7. Frank Dumicich Sr. 8. Tony Naglieri 9. Liam Patrick 10. Erin Solomito 11. Jeffery Farruggia Jr.
Legend Race Cars: 1. Kyle Ellwood 2. Joey Braun 3. Chase Van Houten 4. Anthony Marsh 5. Christopher Coleman 6. Kevin Nowak 7. Charles Hodge 8. Will Sipala 9. Jeffery Farruggia Jr. 10. Jim Sylvester 11. Pat Moore 12. Mike Van Houten Jr. 13. Robert Henninger 14. Brandon Hubbard 15. Philip Alaimo IV 16. Alex Halinar 17. Mike Renn 18. Nick Hodge 19. Kendall Van Houten 20. Ed Stadtlander 21. Kevin Ohrnberger 22. Joe Cooke Jr. 23. Marissa Stewart 24. Jayden Glennerster 25. Chris Sinatro
