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Riverhead, NY May 26th
By Bob Finan
While the entry list for the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200 WMT event has not been released officially, track management has confirmed that seven drivers who compete weekly in the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modifieds are readying to take on the WMT regulars Saturday. Complementing the 200 will be the Super Pro Trucks, INEX Legend Race Cars, Street Stocks and Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars.
Chris & Heather Turbush who field two cars for weekly racing at Riverhead will do the same for the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200, with both their drivers scoring past podium WMT finishes. Roger Turbush of Riverhead enjoyed his best WMT effort when he drove the Cromer’s Market Chevy to a third-place tally in the Riverhead 200 on September 18th, 2021, right behind race winner Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park and runner-up Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville. Roger hopes to move up the podium a step or perhaps two Saturday. Most recently the fourth-generation racer from the fabled Turbush family, Mark Stewart of Riverhead chased winner Justin Bonsignore to the Eddie Partrdige 256 finish before settling for second in the Keith Grimes Excavating entry.
By far the local driver who has enjoyed the most success on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tout is Islip native Timmy Solomito, a nine-time winner with the WMT. Three of the nine wins have come at the track right in Timmy’s backyard where he just recently won his 28th career weekly Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified feature on opening night May 2nd. “The Natural” who is racing a very limited slate in 2026 hopes to put the USNE Power machine back into WMT victory lane, if successful it would be Timmy’s first WMT win at Riverhead since he swept both 2017 WMT visits.
Rising NASCAR Modified talent Matt Brode of East Islip set the standard in qualifying for the 2025 Eddie Partridge 256 last October, a performance he hopes to better by scoring an upset win in the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200. After driving to a 9th place tally with his Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy in the 256, Matt hopes to collect his first ever NASCAR Modified win on the big stage Saturday.
On Memorial Day, the Outlaw Inc. team disclosed on their social media platform that Chris Rogers of Patchogue would enter Saturday’s 200 in the Dave Brigati owned, Coors Light Chevy. Rogers, with veteran crew chief Brian Schwarz calling the shots won the 2024 Ted Christopher Cup at Riverhead after topping the Crown Jewel Series championship. Rogers, who came to the Outlaw Inc. team after a successful Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modified career will also bear watching Saturday.
Another family affair entering the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200 are Glen Cove brothers Owen and Chase Grennan. Owen, the tracks all-time leading winner while racing the Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds will strap into the family-owned Eastport Feeds machine, while younger brother Chase, winner of the 2024 Islip 300 at 17-years old has disclosed he’ll drive the Joe Bertuccio owned, Gershow Motorsports Chevy Saturday. Bertuccio won three NASCAR Modified championships with Don Howe in consecutive season from 1993 through 1995.
If any of the local drivers are to upset the WMT apple cart Saturday, they’ll have to contend with the likes of WMT championship leader Stephen Kopcik of Newton, Ct., a winner in two of the first four races of 2026. Chasing Kopcik heading to Riverhead are defending WMT champion Austin Beers of Northampton, Pa., Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, NY, most recent winner at Seekonk Speedway, Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Ma., Justin Bonsignore, Tyler Rypkema of Owego, NY, Craig Lutz of Miller Place, Eric Goodale of Riverhead, Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. and Tommy Catalano of Ontario, NY.
Full Entry List for the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200
The first of two WMT practice sessions hits the track from 3:20 PM through 4:05 PM and then after a ten-minute break, final practice goes from 4:15 PM until 4:45 PM. Qualifying is set for 6:15 PM, while the WMT autograph session is set for 7:00 PM through 7:30 PM in the turn three midway of Riverhead Raceway. The Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200 is scheduled for 8:00 PM and is available on Flo Racing.
The Riverhead Raceway classes will have a continuous practice from 2:00 PM through 3:15 PM, with their qualifying starting at 5:00 PM. The 15-lap Eddie Partridge Vintage All -Star feature event, with none other than former 5-time Riverhead Raceway Modified champion Don Howe of Water Mill competing is set to go green after opening ceremonies.
General admission windows will open earlier Saturday at 3:00 PM so fans can enjoy the two WMT practice sessions. Adults are $40, kids 6-12 $20 with 5 & under free.
For a complete race day itinerary, our 2026 schedule of events or current championship standings please visit http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com, out phone number remains 631-842-RACE
