JARROD HAYES PREVAILS IN STREET STOCKS, RYAN ZUKOWSKI TOPS MINI STOCK DURING MAY MELTDOWN SUNDAY AT RIVERHEAD RACEWAY

A crisp, sunny Sunday greeted the May Meltdown program at Riverhead Raceway to complete the 2026 opening weekend of racing. Jarrod Hayes of Calverton prevailed in a 20-lap Street Stock feature, while Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead topped the 20-lap Mini Stock feature. An emotional moment occurred later in the afternoon when Brody Trent was the honorary starter for the 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Enduro, Brody is the grandson of the late Kathi Trent valued Event Staff member and extremely popular figure at the track before her sudden passing over the winter.

When the Street Stocks lined up track side for their 20-lap tilt, veteran drivers who are also Town of Riverhead DOT employees Jarrod Hayes and Chris Lescenski sat on the front row. When the green waved Hayes got the jump on Lescenski to take the lead, a lead Hayes would never relinquish. Jarrod, a former winner and championship contender in Blunderbust and Late Model competition would have to survive three restarts during the contest before he could claim his 8th career win in the North Fork Sanitation Chevy. Hayes now ranks 5th on the all-time win list with Sunday's victory. Despite losing second to Dennis Kurras for two laps during a mid race restart, Chris Lescenski of Riverhead was runner-up in the Driftwood Landscape Inc. Chevy while 2025 championship runner-up Brandon Hubbard of Mastic raced from deep in the field for a third-place finish in the Top Twenty Motorsports entry. 

The Mini Stock 20-lap main event lined up with Ryan Zukowski and Paul Wojick making up the front row with Zukowski racing to the lead when the green lights came on. Wojick seemed to have an issue getting his Honda up top speed allowing defending champion CJ Zukowski to move to second behind his younger brother. The two siblings were soon joined by the returning Joe Warren Jr., back full time with the Mini's for 2026 after a stint in the Crate Mods and a good friend to the Zukowski family. Over the final five laps of the race CJ Zukowski and Joe Warren Jr., swapped second crossing each other over, which was just fine with the "Z-Man" Ryan Zukowski who drive his Blazing Bee Pest Control racers to victory. CJ Zukwoski of Riverhead was runner-up in the Walls of Fane Cavalier, Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge third in the Schmidt's Country Market Cavalier. 

The 15-lap INEX Bandolero Outlaw event was indeed eventful with Tyler Oxee of Carmel, NY driving to his 4th career win. Arai Ligon paced the race for the first four circuits before her car suddenly snapped around in a solo spin in the middle of the first and second turn. On the restart John Alaimo, who was chasing Ligon at the time of her misfortune was the new race leader with defending champ Thomas Grattan second. Unfortunately for Grattan his race ended with a trip into the wall in turn three on lap 6, Thomas was okay. When the race resumed Alaimo had a new foe applying the pressure in Tyler Oxee, who started deep in the field. Like has father, all-time leading Late Model winner Roger, Tyler waited for an opening and on lap 11 found one ducking under Alaimo in the first turn to take the lead. Once in command Oxee led the final mile to score the win in his North Fork Sanitation Outlaw. John Alaimo of Miller Place was second in the Turf King entry; Jordan Ryan of Manorville completed the podium with his Moriches Bay Diner Outlaw. 

Less than 24 hours after his uncle Timmy won the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified feature on opening weekend, third generation racer Landon Solomito of Little Compton, RI notched his 5th career INEX Bandolero Bandit victory. Brooke Mayer broke to the early race lead from the outside pole, with Solomito quickly slipping under Mason Goodale, the outside pole sitter for second. Landon, after chasing Meyer for two laps made his move for the lead when he ducked under Meyer off the fourth corner to take the top spot to start the third lap. Once out-front Landon Solomito hit his marks and drive his Natural Design Co, Bandit to the winner's circle with the victory moving him to 6th on the all-time win list. Brooke Meyer of Riverhead steered the Meyer Construction machine home second, Mason Goodale of Riverhead was third in the Riverhead Building Supply entry. 

Another third-generation driver basking in the glow of victory lane was Scarlett Dumicich of East Quogue after winning her second career INEX Bandolero Beginner feature in a 10-lap event. When the race got underway Alexis Gatz raced out front early, while Dumicich, who started third quickly came to second. While many newcomers prefer to pass to the inside for position, Scarlett chose another route when she jumped to the outside to pass Gatz for the lead on lap 3. Once Scarlett had the Rapid Recovery machine out front she never looked back and drove off to the win. Alexis Gatz of Riverhead was second in the TS Haulers racer, with Bradley Borsett driving in his first career race coming home third in the MC-11 Performance entry. 

Brandon LaManna of Smithtown topped the 40-lap Truck Enduro but before he could claim his second career win, he had to hold off one of the toughest foes, not to mention winningest drivers in the class, his father Phil. Chris Ward set the pace early before Brandon LaManna raced around him for the lead with an inside pass exiting the fourth corner on lap 4 and started to build a comfortable advantage. Meanwhile Phil LaManna was working his way through the field after starting further back in the competitive field and it would take him until the 22nd lap to come to second. Over the final segment of the race Brandon had his father breathing down his neck, but Brandon would hold on while Phil, also of Smithtown was runner-up making it an EP Milling & Sweeping 1-2 finish. Chris Grover of Huntington was in the mix all race and would complete the podium in third. 

Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma started on the pole via luck of the draw entering the track for the 40-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro and led all the way to score the win in his Outcast Racing Caprice. Pizzo and another perennial winner Greg Harris made up the front row with Anthony gaining the advantage at the throw of the green Harris chased Pizzo for 10-laps before defending champion Kevin Feeney came calling making his way to second on lap 11. Feeney threw all he could at Pizzo, but in the end Anthony who has not raced full time since 2018 after taking a job with the Long Island Railroad would withstand the lapped traffic and hard pressing Feeney for the win. Post race Pizzo noted, perhaps to the dismay of his rivals he will be full time in 2026. Kevin Feeney of East Quogue was runner-up in the Ham Racing mount, Greg Harris of Riverhead third with his SGS Stone Works Chevy. 

Mike Mujsce Jr. of Hampton Bays won the 40-lap 4/6-Cylinder Enduro and afterwards made a touching dedication in My Guy Auto Supply NAPA victory lane. "I have to dedicate this win to Kathi Trent" Mujsce said after his win, "she meant so much to me, my family and all of us here. Great to see her grandson Brody flag the race, nice job buddy". Mike Kowalski, who helps Mujsce on his cars jumped to the early lead and would pace the race over Mujsce for the first six laps. On lap 7, Mike, who started third took the lead and would drive to the win, a win earned in the race shop as he revealed post-race. "We destroyed this car at Anderson Speedway down south, took a lot to get it ready, have to thank my fiancé Robyn for her understanding". Veteran Chris Olivari of Coram raced his Middle Country Automotive entry to a second lace tally, third went to defending champion John Palmeri of Lindenhurst in his J&J Towing machine.  

Taylor Schewire of Hampton Bays won the 30-lap Ladies 4/6-Cylinder Enduro event in her Westhampton Auto Salvage racer. Chasing Taylor to the finish were Emily Hubbard of Mastic and Jackie Germuth of Hicksville. 

Street Stocks: 1. Jarrod Hayes 2. Chris Lescenski 3. Brandon Hubbard 4. Dennis Kurras 5. Chris McGuire 6. Alyssa Paprocky 7. Cody Triola 8. Ricky Carman 9. Rob Bader 10. Danny Pizzo 11. Kyle Halpin 12. Bob Dalke 13. Luke Foerster 14. Marc Godnick 15. Dave Antos 16. PJ McGay 17. Rich Braun

Mini Stocks: 1. Ryan Zukowski 2. CJ Zukowski 3. Joe Warren Jr. 4. Eoughan Hayward 5. Chris Olivari 6. Hunter Cummings 7. Paul Wojcik 8. Madison Tomazewski 9. George Astacio 10. Bianca Carbo 11. Charles Astacio 12. Andrew Coll

Bandolero Outlaws: 1. Tyler Oxee 2. John Alaimo 3. Jordan Ryan 4. Tyler Ross 5. Madison White 6. Thomas Grattan 7. Michael Barry 8. Christian Ryan 9. Antonio D'Alonzo 10. Grace Cheslak 11. Mason Dickerson 12. Aria Ligon 13. Megan Cummings

Bandolero Bandits: 1. Landon Solomito 2. Brooke Meyer 3. Mason Goodale 4. Mackenzie Ulmet 5. Wyatt Goodale 6. Brody Solomito 7. Leighton Van Houten 8. Emily Gatz 

Bandolero Beginners: 1. Scarlett Dumicich 2. Alexis Gatz 3. Bradley Borsett 4. Carissa Busam 5. Ellah Capobianco

Truck Enduro (top ten) 1. Brandon LaManna 2. Phil LaManna 3. Chris Grover 4. Kevin Feeney 5. Bobby Pease Sr. 6. Don Nelson Jr. 7. Mariah Lawrence 8. Brandon Anderson 9. Jackie Germuth 10. Vinny Pease

8-Cylinder Enduro (top ten) 1. Anthony Pizzo 2. Kevin Feeney 3. Greg Harris 4. Richie Carman 5. Justin Squires 6. Ricky Carman 7. Woot Lawrence 8. Mariah Lawrence 9. Pat Collins Jr. 10. Dominic Ranieri 

4/6-Cylinder Enduro (top ten) 1. Mike Mujsce Jr. 2. Chris Olivari 3. John Palmeri 4. Zach Tyler 5. Robert Kramer 6. David Olivari 7. Nicholas Harnage 8. Joey Palmeri Jr. 9. Anthony Paretta 10. Robin Schewire 

Ladies Enduro (top five) 1. Taylor Schewire 2. Emily Hubbard 3. Jackie Germuth 4. Wendy Rommeney 5. Nicole Squires