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Riverhead, NY Aug. 26th
By Bob Finan
Another busy doubleheader weekend of racing is lined up for Riverhead Raceway this Friday August 28th and Saturday August 29th as track management hopes for favorable weather to get the 2026 season back on track. The original 2026 schedule released over the winter did not have a Friday race date planned for this weekend, but one was added a month ago due to all the wet weather this summer.
Headlining the added Friday are the TK Figure Eights who will compete in the 4th annual Two for TK Twin 9 features. The races celebrating the life and racing career of Figure Eight icon Tom Kraft was originally slated to run July 18th before weather moved in. Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches and his uncle Scott Pedersen of Shirley shared the 2025 victories in the Two for TK Twin 9’s.
Complementing the two TK Figure Eight events Friday are the Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds, INEX Bandoleros plus an 8-Cylinder and 4/6-Cylinder Enduro to close out the program. Riverhead Raceway management and the Long Island Enduro Racing competitors announced late last week that the 8-Cylinder Enduro would be titled the Dwayne Sipila 66 Memorial in memory of one of the pioneers of Enduro racing Dwayne Sipila.
Fast forward to Saturday night and the annual Sara Sylvester Memorial 50 National Qualifier for the INEX Legend Race Cars takes center stage. Sara Sylvetser, younger sister to Legend Race Car veteran Jim Sylvester would arrange lap and bonus money for the annual INEX legend Race Car National Qualifier at Riverhead, she became so good, as well popular while doing so, she shared her money raising talents with other divisions for their bigger races. Since her untimely passing, Erin Larsen-Delaney has continued the tradition started by Sara Sylvester for this race as well the Two for TK Twin 9’s and Oval Speed Bubba 150.
Also seeing action Saturday night are the Late Models, Super Pro Trucks, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks of the NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts. Also on track will be a Truck Enduro and a Figure Eight Train Race.
Once all the racing is completed, the third and final School Bus Demolition Derby of 2026 hits the track. With the 2026 school year just around the corner on Long Island, the kids can enjoy the 13-ton Scholl Buses being destroyed by the likes of “Frank “The Tank” Dumicich Jr., “The Babylon Brawler” Sean Fitzpatrick, “The Z-Man” Ryan Zukowski, “Kannonball” Rob Kettenbeil, Joey “Bam Bam” Warren Jr., plus many more!
Friday night the general admission windows open at 6:30 PM, qualifying is set for 7:30 PM with opening ceremonies at 8:00 PM. $30 for adults, kids 6-12 $20 with 5 & under free.
General admission windows open Saturday at 5:00 PM, qualifying is set for 5:15 PM with opening ceremonies at 6:30 PM. Adults are $40, kids 6-12 $40, 5 & under are free.
To purchase advance tickets for these or any other events at Riverhead Raceway please visit www.riverheadraceway.com and follow the link. Emails reach us at office@riverheadraceway.com, the phone number is 631-842-RACE.
