KYLE ELLWOOD SCORES SECOND RIVERHEAD RACEWAY NASCAR MODIFIED TRIUMPH, JOHN BEATTY JR. THREE-PEATS AS MODIFIED CHAMPION

Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead notched his second NASCAR Modified victory of 2025 when he passed John Beatty Jr. of Merrick with twenty laps remaining in Saturday's 50-lap feature event. Beatty would have the last laugh though when he sewed-up his third consecutive NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Modified championship with his runner-up finish. Beatty joins Charlie Jarzombek (1976-1978) and Don Howe (1993-1995) as the only drivers to earn three Modified championships in succession. 

Championship contenders John Beatty Jr. and Dylan Slepian, separated by 4-points entering the final event made up the front row with Beatty racing to the lead at the drop of the green with Slepian and Kyle Ellwood giving chase. The lead trio ran in a string until a lap 22 caution flag for a Chris Rogers solo spin set-up a double file restart with Ellwood slipping under Slepian for second. Once Ellwood got to second a couple additional caution flag flew, first on lap 24 for a Max Handley spin and then lap 26 for a turn four incident that ended Chris Young's night. 

When the race resumed to start the 27th lap, Ellwood got some good drive off the corners allowing him to stay alongside leader Beatty, the duo racing in close quarters door to door. Racing off the fourth turn on lap 29 Ellwood gained a good run and was able to get by Beatty the old fashion way on the outside. Once out front the Millennium Limited Contracting Chevy with Kyle Ellwood never looked back in route to his 10th career victory. "It's fun racing with guys like John & Dylan, they race you hard but clean, while I was riding third, I asked myself if I wanted to get involved with their championship fight, I finally said heck yeah, we're here to win races".  

John Beatty Jr. of Merrick was runner-up in his MSM Elite Motorsports entry, admitting afterwards racing for championships alters his driving style, "it's an honor to win our third championship in a row, really happy for our owner Mark S. Mina, my guys and especially my father, he really wanted a three-peat" Beatty revealed and then added, "but racing for the championship changes the way you drive, I like to win races but some nights you have to big picture race". 

CJ Lehmann of Lake Grove brought the Reichert Group IGA Markets Chevy home third, while Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills clinched second in the final standings with his fourth-place tally in the Eastport Feeds entry. Chris Roger of Patchogue was fifth in the Coors Light Chevy, rallying back from his earlier spin.

Minutes prior to his NASCAR Modified podium run, CJ Lehmann became the first driver in the 75-year history of Riverhead Raceway to win in his sixth different division when he topped the 25-lap Late Model main event. Veteran Ray Minieri, the 2025 Wall Stadium Limited LM champion raced to the early lead over Lehmann when the race got underway. Lehmann applied the pressure and on lap 6 racing down the backstretch dipped under Minieri for the race lead. Just two laps later Minieri, trying to cross Lehmann back over off the second corner got into CJ, breaking off a piece of his front bumper causing a debris caution on lap 8. With Minieri pitting and returning, Lehmann had a new challenger when the race resumed in Dave Brigati who went right to work for the lead. On lap 13 Brigati slid under Lehmann entering the first corner, as they raced towards the second turn exit Brigati suddenly spun drawing the yellow flag. When the race resumed Lehmann remained out front, this time over Gerard Giordano who was in the process of locking up the 2025 Late Model championship. Over the second half the race CJ Lehmann in the Paprocky Motorsports, Middle Country Automotive Chevy led the rest of the way to score the historic victory. Gerard Giordano of Freeport earned his first career Riverhead Raceway championship with his second-place finish in the K1 Logistics machine, Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead was third in the Bust Bee Pest Control Chevy.

Former two-time Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modified champion Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches won his fourth feature event of 2025 taking their 25-lap feature event. Championship contender Michael Berner zipped out front at the throw of the green, with Davidowitz giving chase. Berner's night was pretty much going to plan as his nearest foe for the championship Eric Hersey ran fourth behind AJ DeSantis who was third. With Davidowitz turning up the heat on Berner for the lead, DeSantis drew into the fight for the lead as well. Davidowitz ducked under Berner for the lead down the front chute on lap 13. DeSantis seeing the opening tried to slip by too. On lap 15 Bereber and DeSantis locked wheels off the second corner with Berner hitting the wall hard. Also caught up in the mess was Hersey, who had nowhere to go ending his race while running fourth. When the dust settled Davidowitz would pick-up where he left off as the race leader over DeSantis and a rejuvenated Vinny Delaney, who came to the race 14-point out of the title fight, but was the last contender left in the race. When the race concluded Richie Davidowitz scored his 9th career Crate Mod win in the Rosemar Industries Chevy, Vinny Delaney of Islip Terrace was third in the Sea Crystal Pools machine. The 2025 Crate Modified championship will be decided next Saturday October 4th with Berner still +4 over Hersey, +6 over Delaney.

Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches won his fourth TK Figure Eight 15-lap feature event of 2025 Saturday while his uncle Scott, despite a DNF clinched his fifth championship, four of those over the past five years. Kim Hyde led the first lap over Will Farrell, but her race took a turn for the worse on the second circuit when she spun on her own entering the right-hand turn. When the race resumed Allan Pedersen executed a perfect restart to take the lead over Uncle Scott, but sparks started to fly from under Scott's right front wheel, forcing him to retire moving Will Farrell back to second. Over the final laps of the tilt Allan Pedersen kept the Top Notch Performance Camaro out front allowing him to secure his 10th career victory. Will Farrell of Mastic was runner-up in the Hill Street Boxing coupe, while his son, third generation driver Tyler Farrell of Mastic was third in the Boomburger of Westhampton Chevy, a career best for the rookie. 

Jim Laurd Jr. of Islip Terrace scored a milestone win of his own Saturday after he won the 20-lap Blunderbust feature event for the 20th victory of his career, his 4th win of '25. Tom Puccia and Joe Densieski broke to the early race advantage, but things got tight between them as they attempted to complete the second lap with Densieski spinning in the fourth turn, Puccia reported to the rear upon request from race control during the caution. That turn of events left third generation driver Kyle Curtis as the new leader with Anthony Capobianco alongside for the restart. However, when the green waved it would be Jim Laird Jr. racing his way from third into the race lead on the second lap and once out front with Stakey's Pumpkin Farm Caprice there was no stopping Jim from another trip to victory lane. Cody Triola of Bay Shore rebounded from a trip to the pits during the Densieski caution to finish second in the Cesspool Pros entry, Joe Densieski of Riverhead with some fancy footwork of his own coming all the way back to finish third in the Hydro Action Caprice. Densieski leads Triola by twenty points heading to Saturday's 20-lapper prior to the Eddie Partridge 256 WMT race. Laird sits third, -28 to Densieski. 

Sean Glennon of Northport scored his sixth Super Pro Truck win of 2025 when he won the 20-lap finale Saturday night, unfortunately for Sean a DNF in the previous race saw his stellar season fall short to Jack Handley Jr. who took the 2025 championship. It's the fifth title for Handley over the past six seasons, for truck owner Andre Vega it's his seventh championship over the past eight years having won two with Mark Stewart previously. Frank Dumicich Jr. led the way over Glennon for the first lap before former champion Dave Koenig slipped into second on lap 2. Glennon reclaimed second on lap 5 and headed off to challenge race leader Dumicich who he caught and passed exiting the fourth corner on lap 11. Dumicich quickly tried to cross Glennon back over for the lead but caught a yuke tire on the infield ending his night on lap 12. That turn of event moved Handley to second, but by the time Jack got there Sean Glennon in his Glennon Construction Chevy was long gone claiming his 16th career victory. Sean's father Patrick won the Joe DiGangi Mechanic of the Race $300 bonus and trophy from Lou & Tracy Maestri and JP Gallagher. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was runner-up in the East Side Builders Toyota, all-time leading winner Lou Maestri of Deer Park third with his Goodfellas Auto Repair truck. 

Brandon Martinez of Bristol, Rhode Island came and conquered Riverhead Raceway when he won the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Car feature. Chevy Rommeney seeking his first career Legend win broke out front at the throw of the green with Jeff Farruggia, Kyle Ellwood and Riely O'Keefe all taking turns in second. It would be O'Keefe passing Rommeney for the lead on lap 7 with Chevy trying to gain a run on Riely in turn three to take back the lead, unfortunately contact was made while working lapped traffic, O'Keefe spun and Rommeney moved to the rear of the field at the request of race control. The field was reset with championship leader Kyle Ellwood and Brandon Martinez, who calls the Waterford Speedbowl and Seekonk Speedway home making up the front row for the restart. When the contest resumed Martinez got the measure of Ellwood to take the lead, a lead he'd not surrender for the remainder of the race in his LJM Contracting coupe. Ellwood was runner-up in the Panaroma Signs entry, Richie Davidowitz third with his Freddie & Megan Kraft backed coupe. Ellwood has a hefty, but not insurmountable lead over O'Keefe and Anthony Marsh, +50 going into Saturday night's finale. For either challenger to win the title, Ellwood would have to earn just two points in the 26-car field while one of the two challengers wins the 20-lap race Saturday. 

NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Kyle Ellwood 2. John Beatty Jr. 3. CJ Lehmann 4. Dylan Slepian 5. Chris Rogers 6. Matt Brode 7. Chase Grennan 8. Mark Stewart 9. Owen Grennan 10. JR Bertuccio 11. Kyle Soper 12. Max Handley 13. Timmy Solomito 14. Chris Young 15. Howie Brode DQ-Roger Turbush

Late Models: 1. CJ Lehmann 2. Gerard Giordano 3. Ryan Zukowski 4. Keith Rotzi 5. Ed Cheslak 6. Kevin Metzger 7. Ray Minieri 8. Dave Brigati 9. Russ Jansen

Crate Modifieds: 1. Richie Davidowitz 2. AJ DeSantis 3. Vinny Delaney 4. Andrew Farnham 5. Tom Sekulski 6. Thomas Grattan 7. Michael Berner 8. Eric Hersey

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

Blunderbusts: 1. Jim Laird Jr. 2. Cody Triola 3. Joe Densieski 4. Tom Sullivan 5. Kyle Curtis 6. Tom Puccia 7. Anthony Capobianco 8. William Steed 9. Joshua Creel 10. Patrick Brand 11. Emily Hubbard 12. Brad Bess DNS- Bill Wegmann Sr., Liam Macwhinnie

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

Legend Race Cars: 1. Brandon Martinez 2. Kyle Ellwood 3. Richie Davidowitz 4. Anthony Marsh 5. Riely O'Keefe 6. Ray Fitzgerald 7. Will Sipala 8. Jim Sylvester 9. Chevy Rommeney 10. Jayden Glennerster 11. Pat Moore 12. Charles Hodge 13. Nick Hodge 14. Marissa Stewart 15. Joe Cooke Jr. 16. Mike Van Houten Jr. 17. Phillip Alaimo 18. Mike Renn 19. Alex Halinar 20. Robert Henninger 21. Ed Stadtlander 22. Billy King Jr. 23. Chris Sinatro 24. Jeff Farruggia 25. Michael Metcalf DNS- Kendall Van Houten