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Riverhead, NY July 30th
By Bob Finan
Photo Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
There will be plenty of story lines associated with the 6th annual Bubba 150 Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway, among them, will the first repeat winner of 2025 emerge when the race honoring the late Bob “Bubba” Patanjo concludes? Seven races into the Advance Auto Parts Racing Series and seven different drivers have graced NASCAR Modified victory lane. No matter if the first two-time winner or the eighth different victor of 2025 wins, a healthy payday awaits.
Michael Patanjo, son of “Bubba’ Patanjo announced his family will add $3,500 to the winning team’s earning, as well $1,000 for second and $500 for third. That, coupled with the track payout pushes the Bubba 150 victory north of $5,000, before taking into account any lap bonus money or other specialty bonuses. The most intriguing of which is the HighMark Building Efficiency Challenge. If the driver who captures the Righteous Window Cleaning $200 pole award accepts the HighMark challenge and drops to the rear of the field and wins the Bubba 150 they receive $3,750 in cash, and an Oval Speed Unlimited gift card worth $3,750. If the pole winner accepts but only finishes and finishes second, third, fourth or fifth, the top 5 earn a $1.000 Oval Speed GC. If the pole winner either declines the challenge or finishes outside the top ten after accepting, the top five take home a $500 Oval Speed GC.
Chris Young of Calverton opened up the 2025-win list with his opening night triumph with Mark Stewart of Riverhead taking round two. Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead would become the third winner during a Sunday, rain-date matinee June 1st, while Chase Grennan of Glen Cove scored his first regular season win after winning the Islip 300 last November. Defending, two-time track champion John Beatty Jr. of Merrick became the sixth different winner July 12th, while the most recent winner surfaced last Saturday in Owen Grennan of Glen Cove.
Beatty with his MSM Elite Motorsports team are the defending race winners of the Bubba 150, having earned in excess of $9,455 for the 2024 victory.
Heading to Saturday there is a core of drivers who’d like to become the eighth winner in eight events Saturday including Roger Turbush of Calverton, Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills, Michael Rutkoski, Mattituck, Timmy Solomito of Islip, Matt Brode of East Islip, CJ Lehmann of Lake Grove, Chris Rogers of Patchogue, JR Bertuccio of Centereach and Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches.
Other specialty bonuses added for the Bubba 150 are the Steve Park Hard Charger, $200, Natural Design Most Laps Led, $250, Ralph Beaver Hard Luck Award, $200, Ryan Preece Racing Fastest Lap of Race, $200, Ryan Preece Halfway Leader, $200, Planet Earth Recycling Last Lead Lap Car, $200, Luck of the Draw (winning driver pulls pill), $200, Dave Brigati, Outlaw Inc. Furthest Traveler (race shop to track), $300 and Daryl Baker of Baker Racing 7th Place Finisher, $1,000.
Joining the Bubba 150 are the TK Figure Eights, Super Pro Trucks, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and an 8-Cylinder Enduro. Spectator gates open at 4:00 PM, adults are $30, kids 6-12 $20, 5 & under free. Opening ceremonies are set for 6:15 PM, proceeded by qualifying.
The complete race day itinerary can be found visiting http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach the track at office@riverheadraceway.com, the phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
