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Riverhead, NY Nov. 6th
By Bob Finan
Since the inaugural edition of the Islip 300 contested in May of 2017 at Riverhead Raceway, the tour type Modified extravaganza has provided it’s share of surprise winners over nine years. Right out of the gate Dillon Steuer of Bohemia at 15 years, one month and 12 days old turned the Modified world on it’s ear when he pocketed $7,000 for his victory in the very first Islip 300, since then seven other drivers have basked in the light of victory in the race run honoring the former Islip Speedway. The 10th annual Islip 300 is set for this Saturday November 14th, will another upstart driver steal the $12,000 spotlight?
After purchasing Riverhead Raceway in August of 2015, Eddie Partridge, a long time fixture and championship car owner in northeast Modified racing started planning a long distance, big money race for his own race track. On May 31st of 2017 Eddie & Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz presented the first Islip 300, what came next wasn’t on anybody’s bingo card.
With 37 laps left in the initial Islip 300, Dillon Steuer was able to trap Tom Rogers Jr. of Riverhead in lapped traffic and move his Northeastern Office Equipment entry to the race lead, a lead he’d not surrender the rest of the way. To cap off his upset win, Steuer performed a burnout of epic proportions. In 2018 Ryan Preece of Berlin, Ct., driving the Eddie Partridge TS Haulers Chevy scored his first of two Islip 300 victories, his second unfolding in 2020.
In 2019 youth was again front and center when Kyle Soper of Manorville driving for the legendary Wayne Anderson and his Eastport Feeds team won the Islip 300 capping off their second consecutive championship season. The 2021 edition saw another rising Modified star JB Fortin of Holtsville power his way to an Islip 300 win with the John’s Fuel Oil machine, securing the Ted Christopher Cup as the 2021 Crown Jewel Series champion with the biggest win of his career.
New England open wheel standout Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Ma. provided what many at the time felt was a surprise Islip 300 triumph, given Anthony’s limited experience at the demanding bullring with his Nocella Paving group. In 2023 the Islip 300 provided the win that many Modified fans had been waiting a long time for as Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. drove the Elite Towing Chevy to victory, a win that “Big Money” also had waited a long time for at Riverhead.
Chase Grennan of Glen Cove became the second youngest victor of the Islip 300 in 2024 at 17-years old after wheeling the Black Forest Auto entry to the winner’s circle in convincing fashion, a victory that put the second generation driver on everyone’s radar.
After winning his only previous Riverhead Raceway tour type Modified start in a 50-lap, midweek special in August of 2025, Joey Braun of Manorville and car owner Rich Gerbe went two-for-two after they scored a surprise victory in the Islip 300 last November. Braun, through sponsorship from Gerbe’s HighMark Building Efficiency had just completed his freshman season on the SMART Modified Tour with Hillbilly Racing.
Is there another upset winner in the offering Saturday November 14th when the checker flag waves in the 10th annual Islip 300? No matter who sits in victory lane, a $12,000 payday from the $43,000 in posted awards awaits the winning team.
Joining the tour type Modifieds at the Islip 300 Saturday are the Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds, INEX Legend Race Cars, Street Stocks and Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars. General admission gates open at 10:00 AM, adults $40, kids 6-12 are $20, 5 & under are free. Advance tickets are available at www.riverheadraceway.com.
Islip 300 time trial qualifying will start at 12:30 PM followed by heat races for support classes. Opening ceremonies are planned for 2:00 PM. A complete race day itinerary can be found at www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at office@riverheadracway.com, the phone number is 631-842-RACE.
