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Riverhead, NY May 24th
By Bob Finan
Not even a passing shower forcing a brief rain delay could dampen the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing at Riverhead Raceway Saturday evening where Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead scored a milestone 35th career Late Model victory. Eric Hersey of Commack topped the Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds for his 4th career triumph, it was the first win of 2025 for both veteran drivers.
When the Late Models rolled out for their 25-lap main event, Jeremy McDermott would start from the pole, many figured that would lead to a wire-to-wire win for the defending champion and 34-time winner. When starter Jim Kelly waved the green McDermott led the first circuit with Dave Brigati making some first lap moves to tuck in behind Jeremy from his third starting slot. Brigati, who led the opening night feature comfortable before a fire put him on the infield rode the early wave of momentum to the race lead on lap 2. McDermott took the pass in stride riding behind “The Fancy Farmer” for seven laps before making a pass of Brigati to start the 10th lap, taking back the lead. Gerard Giordano was also able to get by Brigati one lap later on the 11th cycle for second, but once the Eastport Feeds Chevy of Jeremy McDermott was back out front, the eight-time champion was not giving back the top spot to anyone. Gerard Giordano of Freeport was second in the Excelsior Lodge racer; Dave Brigati of Calverton completed the podium in his Coors Light Chevy.
The 25-lap Crate Modified contest got off to an auspicious start as Andrew Farnham caught the wall on the backstretch while the field was raced the second lap drawing a yellow with AJ DeSantis leading Eric Hersey. When the race resumed with a double file restart Richie Davidowitz was able to slip under Hersey for second, but Hersey was having none of it reclaiming the position one lap later. DeSantis showed the way for the first 10-laps of the contest before Hersey made a successful bid for the top spot on lap 11 bringing Davidowitz to second with him. Over the final 15-laps Davidowitz was glued to the rear bumper of Hersey looking high and low, hoping to execute a crossover but to no avail. When the checker flew it was Eric Hersey aboard the Peterson Irrigation Chevy collecting the victory. Unfortunately, after crossing the line second Richie Davidowitz’s Rat Pack Racing entry was disqualified post-race by tech officials for unapproved rocker arms, the engine confiscated for further evaluation. AJ DeSantis of Shirley was runner-up in his Strong Oil Chevy, Vinny Delaney of Islip Terrace was in the Sea Crystal Pools entry.
After a frustrating mechanical failure during the most recent Blunderbust event, Jim Laird Jr, of Islip Terrace needed to have a good race Saturday. He did indeed rebound in the best of ways winning the 30-lap feature event for his first win of 2025 and the 17th of his career. However, in typical Laird fashion a 45-minute rain delay with 25 of 30-laps in the books made Jim wait to enjoy the win. After Joe Densieski led the first from the front row, Laird who started alongside Joe edged his way to the race lead with Densieski filing into second on lap 2. The next position change came on lap 7 when Cody Triola, seeking his third win in a row to start the new season muscled his way under Densieski for second. The rain delay with five laps remaining set up a double file restart, one challenger Triola was very much looking forward to. When track drying was completed and the event resumed Jim Laird Jr. kept the Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm Caprice prepared by Chirs Busick out front for the popular win. Jim, and Cody Triola of Bay Shore, who was second in the Cesspool Pros entry are both now tied with Scott Maliszewski and Mark Tooker for 5th on the all-time win list. Joe Densieski of Riverhead came home a solid third in the Hydro Action Caprice.
Ben Morabito of Miller Place was declared the winner of the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Car feature event giving him his second career win at his home track. Morabito and Chase Van Houten waged a hard-fought battle for the win with Van Houten fending off Morabito for what appeared to be his 5th career win. Things reportedly went sideways for Van Houten after he arrived in the winner’s circle after his victory lap. There Chase was advised by NASCAR officials that due to the rain delay post-race interviews were being scrubbed. GM John Ellwood explained it was when Chase was informed of the situation, “the driver proceeded to verbally abuse NASCAR officials with vulgar laced language”, Van Houten was subsequently disqualified from the event. The wild turn of events and disqualification moved Ben Morabito in the NoMo Motorsports of Kevin Nowak to victory lane for his first Riverhead Raceway win of 2025. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead bumped up to runner-up in the Millennium Limited Contracting machine, Jeff Farruggia Jr, of Riverhead was now third in the Riverhead Beverage entry.
In just er second ever start, Megan Cummings of Ronkonkoma scored the 10-lap INEX Bandolero Beginners win Saturday. Emily Gatz broke to the race lead early and was building a comfortable margin, perhaps too comfortable. When Emily approached lapped traffic, it appeared to break her momentum allowing Megan Cummings to close in. As the field took the halfway signal Cummings steering the MC-11 prepared LuMacs Package Store Bando took the lead and a very popular win. The Gatz sisters, Emily and Alexis of Riverhead were second and third in their TS Haulers cars.
Mason Goodale of Riverhead is a well-rounded athlete, one of the sports he excels in is ice hockey. Saturday, with steering wheel in hand Mason scored a racing “hat trick” winning his third straight INEX Bandolero Bandit event to start 2025. The 15-lap event was a topsy turvy affair with Goodale passing Emmett Grattan for the lead with just five laps to go utilizing an inside pass during a restart. Once out-front Mason Goodale took charge for his 5th career win in the Riverhead Building Supply Bandit. Making the win even sweeter for Mason’s family was younger brother Wyatt Goodale coming home second in the GAF Roofing entry. Landon Solomito of Little Compton, RI came from deep in the field for third in the Acme Sanitary Services Bandit, Landon is cousins with the Goodale boys.
Action was also plentiful at the front of the 15-lap INEX Bandolero Outlaw event with Thomas Grattan of Southold earning his second win of the year. Antonio D’Alonzo led the first lap before both Michael Barry and John Alaimo worked their way under D’Alonzo. Alaimo quickly went to work on Barry for the lead, but the duel got too close on lap 3. Barry went around off the bumper of Alaimo, with a fast-closing D’Alonzo plowing into Barry’s stopped racer. Both were done for the night, Alaimo sent to the rear. On the following restart, Thomas Grattan led Reid Halpin and Aria Ligon over the 4th and 5th circuits with Ligon passing Halpin for second on lap 6. Before he could lay claim to his second career win, Thomas Grattan in the Reeve Farm Stand Outlaw had to fend off runner-up Aria Ligon of Center Moriches in the Chesterfield Associates machine. Two-time Bandit champion Reid Halpin of Wading River was third in the MC-11 Outlaw, his best of 2025.
The 40-lap Truck Enduro turned out to be a family affair with Brandon LaManna of Smithtown leading his father, and multi-time winner Phil to victory. Brandon Anderson broke to the early lead, showing the way for the first two laps before Brandon LaManna came calling. The second-generation driver took the lead and ran away and hid looking like his first career win would be easy. However, Phil LaManna came from deep in the pack to second and erased a sizeable lead his son built to make the closing laps very interesting. over the final two-laps Brandon got himself hemmed-up with a lapped truck but he was able to keep Dad, Phil at bay for a one-two sweep for the EP Milling & Sweeping team. Mariah Lawrence of Southampton completed the podium in the Total Dental Care of Mattituck truck.
Late Models: 1. Jeremy McDermott 2. Gerard Giordano 3. Dave Brigati 4. Brandon Turbush 5. Keith Rotzi 6. Ray Minieri 7. Ed Cheslak 8. Kevin Metzger 9. Ryan Zukowski 10. Alyssa Paprocky 11. Russ Jansen
Crate Modifieds: 1. Eric Hersey 2. AJ DeSantis 3. Vinny Delaney 4. Joe Warren Jr 5. Michael Berner 6. Terry Stiles 7. Tom Sekulski 8. Rich Gerbe 9. Andrew Farnham DQ-Richie Davidowitz
Blunderbusts: 1. Jim Laird Jr. 2. Cody Triola 3. Joe Densieski 4. Tom Sullivan 5. Liam Macwhinnie 6. Emily Hubbard 7. Anthony Copobianco 8. Tom Puccia 9. Ralph Corsini
Legend Race Cars: 1. Ben Morabito 2. Kyle Ellwood 3. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 4. Riely O’Keefe 5. Ray Fitzgerald 6. Jim Sylvester 7. Jayden Glennerster 8. Joey Braun 9. Chris Sinatro 10. Nick Hodge 11. Phillip Alaimo IV 12. Mike Van Houten Jr. 13. Brandon Hubbard 14. Will Sipala 15. Charles Hodge 16. Michael Metcalf 17. Joe Cooke Jr. 18. Ed Stadtlander 19. Alex Halinar 20. Marissa Stewart 21. Rich Braun 22. Chevy Rommeney 23. Anthony Marsh 24. Pat Moore 25. Kendall Van Houten DQ-Chase Van Houten
Bandolero Beginners: 1. Megan Cummings 2. Emily Gatz 3. Alexis Gatz 4. Mason Dickerson 5. Scarlett Dumicich 6. Tyler Ross 7. John Licata 8. Carissa Busam
Bandolero Bandits: 1. Mason Goodale 2. Wyatt Goodale 3. Landon Solomito 4. Blake Grattan 5. Emmett Grattan 6. Leighton Van Houten 7. Daxx Halpin 8. Layla Quilliam 9. Mackenzie Ulmet 10. Christian Ryan 11. Brooke Meyer
Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Thomas Grattan 2. Aria Ligon 3. Reid Halpin 4. John Alaimo 5. Madison Tomaszewski 6. Madison White 7. Tyler Oxee 8. Grace Cheslak 9. Jordan Ryan 10. Michael Barry 11. Antonio D’Alonzo
Truck Enduro (top ten): 1. Brandon LaManna 2. Phil LaManna 3. Mariah Lawrence 4. Bobby Pease Jr. 5. Brandon Anderson 6. Bobby Pease Sr. 7. Kevin Feeney 8. Whitney Williams 9. Eric Germuth 10. Ryan Wertz
