CHASE GRENNAN PREVAILS IN WILD OVAL SPEED UNLIMITED BUBBA 150 BECOMING FIRST REPEAT RIVERHEAD RACEWAY MODIFIED WINNER OF 2025

Chase Grennan of Glen Cove is quickly gaining a reputation among the NASCAR Modified ranks at Riverhead Raceway, and it's one the 18-year-old second generation driver is proud to bear. After Chase survived a wild Oval Speed Unlimited Bubba 150 Saturday earning his third career win, he again sat in victory lane after another signature race at the historic bullring. Grennan started things off by winning the Islip 300 last November, then earlier in June won the 75th Anniversary Flying Dutchman Tribute before his $7,166 triumph in the Bubba 150.   

In Righteous Auto Body Pole Award qualifying Timmy Solomito of Islip earned the $200 bonus after touring the track in 11.754 besting Mark Stewart of Riverhead who turned in a lap of 11.826. The question loomed after qualifying if Timmy would accept the HighMark Building Challenge and drop to the rear of the 16-car grid, if Timmy accepted and won the 150, he'd receive $7,500 from Rich Gerbe of HighMark, $3,750 in cash, plus a $3,750 Oval Speed gift card. Timmy gracefully declined, which shifted the HighMark bonus program to the top five finishers of the race each receiving a $500 Oval Speed gift card. 

When the event got underway Solomito edged out front over Stewart as everyone tried to settle in early. The first position change among the top two occurred during a lap 17 double file restart after Roger Turbush stalled bringing out the second caution of the race, earlier on lap 8 Allan Pedersen suffered the same issue. When the race resumed after the Turbush caution, Chase Grennan slid under Stewart to start the 18th lap, Stewart said not so fast reclaiming second for the 19th lap, but Grennan came back on lap 20 to settle in behind leader Solomito, with Stewart cooling his tires in third.

After conserving his tires for 38 laps, Stewart went back to work, sliding under Grennan for second on lap 59 exiting the fourth corner. With the bottom groove working for him Stewart zeroed in in Solomito quickly and on lap 78 made his way to the race lead, again utilizing an inside pass off the fourth corner. Once out front the fourth-generation driver broke away from Solomito, who now appeared to be in tire conservation mode. 

As the laps started to dwindle down, fireworks and drama would unfold over the last 14-laps of the event. Stewart was setting a fast race pace, but Solomito and third place Chase Grennan were closing back in, thanks in part to pending lapped traffic. Disaster struck Stewart on lap 136 as he raced to the outside of JR Bertuccio attempting to lap the former champion when contact ensued between the two up the backstretch resulting in two wrecked cars and some hard feelings.

When the race continued on lap 137, Solomito was again the leader with Grennan and Kyle Ellwood hit on his heels. On lap 138 Ellwood snuck under Grennan for second and immediately found his way to Solomito's rear bumper in hopes of making a run for the lead and win. After 4-laps of intense bumper to bumper racing, Ellwood ducked under Solomito for the lead on lap 142, with Timmy attempting the same maneuver exiting the fourth corner second later. The duo touched resulting in Ellwood spinning and Solomito sent to the rear for the restart for his role in the incident. 

With the field was lined back up, two of the youngest drivers in the Riverhead NASCAR Modified ranks found themselves side-by-side for the restart with Chase Grennan the new leader with Matt Brode, who had run perhaps his best race ever prior to the wild final segment second. When the race resumed the two young lion's handled the big race spotlight like veterans with the final seven laps clicking free of incidents.

When the checker flew Chase Grennan in the Black Forest Auto Chevy had another signature win under his belt but was quick to realize racing luck played a major role, "got handed to us" Chase admitted after receiving the Bubba 150 winners' plaque and $3,500 from the Patanjo family. "We were worn out, riding it out third and then all hell broke loose" Chase, who begins his freshman year of college in the days to come concluded, big thanks to all our sponsors, Black Forest Auto, Ray's Towing, Eastport Feeds and Dillner Precast".

Matt Brode of East Islip turned in a stellar performance for second in the Peter Clark Motorsports Chevy, receiving a $1,000 bonus from the Patanjo family, Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills was third in the Eastport Feeds Chevy collecting $500 bonus money form the Patanjo clan. Both Brode and Slepian made runs at Grennan over the final seven laps but settled for podium finishes. Championship leader John Beatty Jr, of Merrick and Roger Turbush of Calverton completed the top five, Beatty gaining two-points on Turbush in the championship chase.

For the fourth time in six races defending TK Figure Eight champion Scott Pedersen of Shirley topped their 15-lap main event. Kim Hyde led the first four circuits of the tilt before giving way to Pedersen on lap five. Once Scott had the Land, Air & Water Environmental Camaro out front there was no looking back earning his 21st career victory. Ryan Warren of Ridge with another solid outing brought the Big Sal's Race Engines powered machine home second, early leader Kim Hyde of Riverhead was third in the Village Idiot Sports Bar of Riverhead Chevy.

Unquestionably the Super Pro Trucks in 2025 have provided non-stop thrills when Sean Glennon of Northport and Jack Handley Jr, of Medford race for the win. Once again, the duo looked more like Sprint Car drivers doing slide jobs on dirt than two asphalt racers as they swapped the lead numerous times during a 20-lap feature. Handley led early from the pole Saturday, Glennon had to work his way toward the front, which he did passing Charles Sudano for second on lap 5. One lap after arriving in second, Glennon would get the measure of Handley during a 6th lap restart, cue the slide jobs. For 7-laps Glennon and Handley were sliding each other, crossing each other over while leaving the fans on the edge of their seats. Over the final seven laps Sean Glennon kept his Glennon Construction Chevy out front for his 4th win in 7 races in 2025. Jack Handley Jr. settled for second in the Hydro-Action Toyota, while Charles Sudano of Merrick came home third in the L.I. Debris truck. Sudano stayed right with the leaders the entire race, putting himself in position for the win of the lead duo got together.

Dennis Kurras of Selden had been in the mix for his first career Street Stock win before, but fate would deal him a bad hand. Saturday however in a 20-lap, non-stop event Kurras led every lap with his Stress-Free Home Buyers Chevy to finally enjoy that first ever victory. Dennis had but just one regret as he revealed post-race, "I'm upset my wife isn't here tonight". Pressuring Kurras early in what was his final start at Riverhead before moving to Virginia with his family, Jake Curran of Calverton would later find himself in a heated battle for second with Ricky Carman. Their duel for second allowed eventual winner Dennis Kurras to run away and hide out front. Curran would come out on top with his CheckerWon Manufacturing Nova for runner-up money, Ricky Carman of Ridge was content with third in his Creative Seamless Gutter Chevelle. 

Chris Olivari of Coram enjoyed his second Mini Stock win of 2025 dominating their 20-lap main event that ran caution free. Olivari, a surgical technician by day, would break away in his Peconic Bay Medical Center Orthopedics machine for career win number five. CJ Zukowski of Riverhead and Paul Wojcik of Patchogue went toe to toe for runner-up honors in the later stages of the contest. Zukowski would prevail in his Walls of Fame Cavalier, with Wojcik completing the podium with his Lexington Capital Prelude. 

After his team corrected recent issues like a cracked oil pan and transmission issues, second generation driver Chris Grover of Huntington scored his first career Truck Enduro victory in a 40-lap affair. After battling with Whitney Williams for the first two laps, Grover would get away from the pack on lap 3 after Chris Ward came to second. The truck on the move was that of Phil LaManna who got to second passing Ward on lap 6. Once to second LaManna first had to reel in Grover who had gotten away from the field, which he accomplished, passing him though would not be in the cards as Chris Grover drove to his first ever win. "We have no sponsors, my team is my father & I, he works on the track all the time" Chris revealed speaking of his dad, Fred.

The 40-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro came down to a sibling rivalry for the win with Woot Lawrence of Southampton coming home the winner after taking the lead from sister Mariah 13-laps from the end. Mariah broke out front at the throw of the green and the 2024 Truck Enduro champ had hopes of 8-Cylinder glory. Starting deep in the field Woot had work to do to race his way to second which he did on lap 20. With the aid of lapped traffic Woot was able to make an outside pass with his Gregor Well Drilling "Batmobile" to take the lead from Mariah and drive off to his third win of 2025. Mariah's race ended suddenly with just three laps remaining as she slowed with front end damage, Riger Tramm of Yaphank would race by to finish second in the United Exhaust Chevy. Sean Fitzpatrick of West Babylon was third in the All-American Auto Glass entry.  

Bubba 150: 1. Chase Grennan 2. Matt Brode 3. Dylan Slepian 4. John Beatty Jr. 5. Roger Turbush 6. Chris Young 7. Chris Rogers 8. Kyle Ellwood 9. Timmy Solomito 10. Owen Grennan 11. CJ Lehmann 12. Michael Rutkoski 13. Allan Pedersen 14. Mark Stewart 15. JR Bertuccio 16. Cory Midgett

TK Figure Eights: 1. Scott Pedersen 2. Ryan Warren 3. Kim Hyde 4. Allan Pedersen 5. Will Farrell 6. Bob Dalke

Super Pro Trucks: 1. Sean Glennon 2. Jack Handley Jr. 3. Charles Sudano 4. Lou Maestri 5. Max Handley 6. Erin Solomito 7. Dave Koenig 8. Cillian Tennant 9. Frank Dumicich Sr. 10. Tony Naglieri 11. Frank Dumicich Jr. 12. Liam Patrick

Street Stocks: 1. Dennis Kurras 2. Jake Curran 3. Ricky Carman 4. Brandon Hubbard 5. Tom Sullivan 6. Brian Brown 7. Danny Pizzo 8. Chris McGuire 9. John Harley 10. Kyle Halpin 11. Anthony Caccioppo 12. PJ McGay 13. James DiPietro 14. Bob Dalke 15. Anthony Foerster 16. Alyssa Paprocky DNS- Jarrod Hayes, Dave Antos

Mini Stocks: 1. Chris Olivari 2. CJ Zukowski 3. Paul Wojcik 4. Eoughan Heyward 5. Charles Astacio 6. George Astacio DNS-Marissa Stewart

Truck Enduro (top ten) 1. Chris Grover 2. Phil LaManna 3. Kevin Feeney 4. Mariah Lawrence 5. Brandon LaManna 6. Ryan Wertz 7. Chris Ward 8. Whitney Williams 9. James Kelly 10. Charles Sherry

8-Cylinder Enduro: (top ten) 1. Woot Lawrence 2. Roger Tramm 3. Sean Fitzpatrick 4. Don Carasiti 5. Greg Harris 6. Brian Halsey 7. Pat Collins Sr. 8. Kevin Feeney 9. Richie Carman 10. Pat Collins Jr.