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Riverhead, NY May 1st
By Bob Finan
Recently Riverhead Raceway alerted NASCAR Modified teams that their qualifying procedure for weekly 50-lap events would revert back to time trials for the 2026 season, a move that several teams favor. Leading into the NASCAR Pack the Track Night Saturday it was announced Thursday that the HighMark Building Efficiency Fast Time Award has been established. Riverhead GM John Ellwood along with Rich Gerbe of HighMark revealed the driver topping the charts at the conclusion of qualifying earns a free Hoosier Racing Tire.
After finalizing the HighMark Building Efficiency Fast Time Award program with the track, Rich Gerbe revealed his thought process on getting involved, “super-excited to be sponsoring the award” Gerbe began. “I really appreciate all the thought and energy that Connie, Tom and John have put into the track this year. Racing on Long Island is definitely going through a transition and its clear management are working hard to adapt to the times”. Putting on his race fan hat Gerbe would conclude, “the weekly time trial program for the Modifieds will be fun to watch each week. I’m proud to be a contingency sponsor and being able to make winning the pole worth more than just bragging rights”. Just 24 hours earlier Riverhead Raceway announced purse increases for all divisions, with the NASCAR Modified winners share upped to $1,800, if a driver can clean sweep the night be setting fast time the HighMark Building Efficiency Fast Time Award earning the Hoosier tire, the victory is worth $2,000 plus.
On the race procedure side of the spectrum, GM John Ellwood explained how the NASCAR Modified time trial qualifying would be handled in 2026. “The top eight cars from time trials will be handicapped weekly on points earned over the previous three events. The more points a driver has earned, he starts deeper among the eight, the rest of the field file in based on time”, Ellwood explained. “The top five from qualifying will go to tech to be checked weekly” he added.
“A big thank you to Rich Gerbe and HighMark Building Efficiency for again coming through” Ellwood furthered, “Rich has always supported us with special awards, as he has in the past with the Bubba 150, and crew chief of the WMT race awards. A true racer who believes in the talent at Riverhead Raceway and what we do here”.
