0
0
Riverhead, NY Apr. 24th
By Bob Finan
Photo: Photo: Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews
Perennial Riverhead Raceway Blunderbust championship contender Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace has announced a new marketing partner in Bulovas Restorations Inc. will be joining his team for the 2026 season at Riverhead Raceway. The new pairing will debut on May 2nd when the Blunderbusts run a 20-lap feature event as part of the NASCAR Pack the Track night Saturday May 2nd. kicking off the 76th season of racing at the historic venue.
Coming to the 2026 campaign Jim Laird Jr. is tied for fifth on the all-time win list at the track, but the one thing that has escaped him and his family run team is that elusive championship, something Laird hopes to change by the end of September. “I’m pleased to announce we have partnered up with Bulovas Restorations of Ronkonkoma as a primary sponsor on the 10x for 2026” Laird revealed during his social media disclosure. “Rory Bulovas and his team are the leading water, fire and smoke restoration and mold remediation service on Long Island” Laird continued, “their disaster recovery professionals are always on standby, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year”.
Looking ahead to the new season Laird also shared his Chevy Caprice has undergone a total reboot with an eye towards the 2026 championship chase, “I spent a lot of time in the shop this winter, went through the car soup to nuts, even hung a new body on it. First time I did that all on my own” Laird chuckled. As excited as Jim is adding Bulovas Restorations Inc. to his team, he’s equally as pumped up and proud of all his returning marketing partners for the new race year. ” Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm, Suffolk Tree Works Wading River Nursery, Unique Golf and Hamptons Car Storage are all back, they all are such an integral part of our team, we can’t thank them enough”.
Aside from his own racing this spring and summer, Laird will be kept busier in the race then perhaps his day job as a foreman in moving & storage. “Our son Anthony Capobianco will be back racing against me in the Blunderbusts” Laird furthered. Capobianco was named the 2025 Rookie of the Year for the class and will be welcoming back Gene’s 112 and Wing Away Kitchen as marketing partners for his sophomore campaign.
Adding to the already busy family racing operation is the exciting addition of Ellah Capobianco to the INEX Bandolero Beginner ranks this season. Ellah will debut her Highside Bodies & Fabrication by Crago Ray Brush Painting and Robert’s Express Fuel Oil entry and it will be one bustling race shop preparing to go racing weekly. While he knows most the physical work preparing the cars fall on him Laird was quick to point out, “yeah, I might be doing most the grunt work, but the real sacrifice is made by my wife Melissa Louise. Think about it, sitting there watching your husband, son and daughter race, sometimes all on the same night. Now that’s stress, but she handles it well, better than I could”.
Joining the Blunderbust for the Saturday night May 2nd opener for the NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts are the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modifieds, Late Models, Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds, TK Figure Eights, Super Pro Trucks and INEX Legend Race Cars. Opening ceremonies are set for 6:30 PM, proceeded by qualifying. General admission gates swing open at 5:00 PM, adults are $30, kids 6-12 $20, 5 & under are free.
The complete, new look schedule of events is available at http://www.riverheadracewqay.com, emails reach the track at office@riverheadraceway.com. The phone number remains 631-842-RACE.
