CHRIS YOUNG EDGES OWEN GRENNAN BY 00.015 IN HISTORIC RIVERHEAD RACEWAY NASCAR MODIFIED FINISH
It might have only been the second 50-lap NASCAR Modified event of 2026 Saturday at Riverhead Raceway, but the open wheel warriors were in mid-season form as Chris Young of Calverton edged out Owen Grennan of Glen Cove for the victory. The eyeball test among those watching live at the track or those viewing on Flo Racing knew it was a close, too tight to call photo finish. Seconds later the margin of victory was revealed as 00.015, making the thrilling dash to the checker the closest Modified finish in track history.
For the second straight event Owen Grennan topped the qualifying charts with a lap of 11.918 earning the HighMark Building Efficiency Fast Time Award, one Hoosier Racing Tire. Mark Stewart of Riverhead was second quick with a lap of 11.960. With the top eight in qualifying handicapped for the feature, Roger Turbush and Matt Brode sat on the front row for the main event both hoping to land in victory lane with the preferred starting spots. When the green waved Turbush's run of tough luck remained intact as Roger spun entering the first turn, perhaps initiated by contact. After a quick yellow the field was reset with Brode now joined on the front row by Kyle Ellwood who broke to the lead when the race got underway with Chase Grennan slipping between Ellwood and Brode to race to second. Matt wisely rolled out of the gas to tuck into third before going three-wide into the third turn.
On lap 5 Chase Grennan was able to work his way around Ellwood for the race lead and aided by a battle for second that was to unfold between Ellwood and Chris Young, the 2024 Islip 300 winner was able to open a comfortable gap. It took Young, who started 6th quite some time to find his way to second but he did as he passed Ellwood on lap 28 for position, Owen Grennan quickly came to third shortly thereafter. Suddenly on lap 34 race leader Chase Grennan ducked to the infield with water trailing from behind his car, moving Young to the lead and his older brother Owen to second.
Instantly Owen Grennan found his way to the back bumper of Young's machine and what followed was a 15-lap game of quarter mile chess among the two talented, hungry drivers. Grennan tried to set Young up off the corners to gain a run to the inside, Chris knowing what was coming would slow his corners down to break any momentum Owen was trying to gain. Just prior to taking the white Grennan drew under Young as the tandem took the white and they raced bar-to-bar for the final lap, as they raced to the checker Grennan drew even with Young in a finish that was too close to call. When the dust settled scoring revealed the historic 00.015 margin of victory for Chris Young.
"When we came off four for the checker, Owen was ahead of me, or at least I thought so, but out Robert Yates Racing engine got us to the line first in our LFR" a charged-up Young reflected, "I knew the bumper was coming, that's just good, hard racing and Owen is a talented young driver. If that didn't get you out of your seat, I really don't know what would" Chris added. While closing out his remarks after his 6th career win Chris concluded, "Glory to God, he got us here, happy my mom is here tonight and a big thank you to Martin Sendlewski Architecture of Riverhead, Marty, you might be here at the track or watching in SC on Flo, thank you".
Owen Grennan brought the Dillner Precast Chevy home second, probably wishing the start/finish line was a tick further down the track. Mark Stewart of Riverhead was third with another slid showing in the Cromer's Market Chevy. Matt Brode of East Islip and Chris Rogers of Patchogue were fourth and fifth.
In 2025 Rielly O'Keefe of Manorville enjoyed a breakout year in INEX Legend Race Car competition, earning six wins along the way. To date in 2026 O'Keefe is now two-for-two winning the 20-lap feature event Saturday and Rielly might very well be on his way to building another amazing season. The race was a rough affair at times with minor spins and multi-car incidents slowing the proceedings. Jeff Farruggia and Rodney Dowless Jr. ran first and second over the first half of the contest before O'Keefe, who started 10th filed into second on lap 11, with Dowless now third but right in the mix. On lap 14 Farruggia went around drawing a yellow with race control deeming Dowless having a role in that incident sending him to the rear. When the field was reset for resumption of the race O'Keefe was now leading with all-time division winner Richie Davidowitz alongside for the restart. Davidowitz chased O'Keefe for two laps when the green waved, but Anthony Marsh would get by on lap 17. However, a late race caution waved shortly after Marsh advanced and on that restart Davidowitz reclaimed second. With all the jockeying unfolding for second, Rielly O'Keefe was able to focus on scoring his 11th career win in the Jim Sylvester owned, Joe Ryan Race Cars entry. Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches would prevail in the battle for second with his Freddie & Megan Kraft backed racer, Anthony Marsh of Riverhead settled for third in his JWR Small Engine Repair machine.
The Street Stocks contested their second 20-lap feature event of 2026 with Brandon Hubbard of Mastic scoring the victory. The green flew over the 17-car grid, but things would slow almost immediately when former Blunderbust champion Cody Triola slowed in turn one. The second attempt to get the race underway would prove fruitful as the race would go green for the duration. Pole sitter Brandon Hubbard got the measure of Chris Lescenski at the throw of the green, and the duo would run in that order for the entire distance while other behind them tried to advance without the aid of double file restarts. When the race concluded, Brandon Hubbard, also a former Blunderbust champion enjoyed his 4th career win in the Top Twenty Motorsports Chevy owned by the Harding family. Chris Lescenski of Riverhead was runner-up with his Spider Webb Racing Monte Carlo, third fell to opening day winner Jarrod Hayes of Calverton in the North Fork Sanitation Chevy.
Couple of seasons ago the trio of Ryan and CJ Zukowski along with lifelong friend Joe Warren Jr. dubbed themselves the "Mini Stock Mafia", Saturday the youngest member of the club Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead scored his second win of 2026 as in as many starts winning their 20-lap feature. CJ Zukowski powered to the early advantage leading Joe Warren Jr. for the first lap before younger brother Ryan made his way to second with an inside pass on lap 2. Younger brother chased older brother over 7 laps before Ryan slid under CJ exiting the second corner of the lead on lap 10. Once out-front Ryan would not look back earning his 5th career Mini Stock win with his Blazing Bee Pest Control entry. After trading some paint and swapping second a few times Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge was runner-up in the Warren Racing Cavalier, CJ Zukowski of Riverhead completed the podium in his Walls of Fame Cavalier.
Don Conradis of Patchogue held off Don Howe of Water Miller to win the first race of 2026 for the Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars. Conradis, a former INEX Legend Race Car competitor put his car out front at the throw of the green. Howe, former five-time NASCAR Modified champion at Riverhead who'll be feted with the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200 WMT race on May 30th stayed with Conradis the entire way. When the race concluded Don, who does this with his wife Karen, as they did when racing Legends was the winner in the Bob Polverari 711 tribute Modified. Howe brought the Carl Zeh Auto Repair RE Chassis built racer home second, Tom Pickerell of Huntington was third in the Kevin Bacik owned Chevy.
Phil LaManna of Smithtown notched the 40-lap Truck Enduro win after taking the lead on lap 24. Prior to LaManna's winning pass, Don Nelson Jr., Mariah Lawrence and Chris Ward all lead the race at one point or another before LaManna came calling in his EP Milling & Sweeping Chevy S-10. Chris Grover of Huntington would finish second, defending champion Kevin Feeney of East Quogue completed the podium.
The first School Bus Figure Eight race of 2026 unfolded with 2025 INEX Legend Race Car champion Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead surviving a wild three-wide battle, with 13-ton buses no less for the win. "The Z-Man" Ryan Zukowski, winner earlier in the Mini Stocks and the "Babylon Brawler" Sean Fitzpatrick of West Babylon turned the heat up with three wide racing in the closing laps with Ellwood fending them all off.
NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Chris Young 2. Owen Grennan 3. Mark Stewart 4. Matt Brode 5. Chris Rogers 6. Cory Midgett 7. Roger Turbush 8. Tom Sekulski 9. Kyle Ellwood 10, Chase Grennan 11. Michael Berner
Legend Race Cars: 1. Rielly O'Keefe 2. Richie Davidowitz 3. Anthony Marsh 4. Chris Sinatro 5. Chevy Rommeney 6. Jim Sylvester 7. Nick Hodge 8. Charles Hodge 9. Ed Stadtlander 10. Michael Metcalf 11. Jayden Glennerster 12. Joe Cooke Jr. 13. Michael Barry 14. John Noll 15. Jeffrey Farruggia Jr. 16. Alex Halinar 17. Billy King Jr. 18. Kevin Ohrnberger 19. Rob Destefano Jr. 20. Mike Renn 21. Kendall Van Houten 22. Marrisa Stewart 23. Brad Van Houten 24. Rodney Dowless 25. Steve Renn 26. Cillian Tennant
Street Stocks: 1. Brandon Hubbard 2. Chris Lescenski 3. Jarrod Hayes 4. Dennis Kurras 5. Ricky Carman 6. Chris McGuire 7. Alyssa Paprocky 8. Dave Antos 9. Kyle Halpin 10. Danny Pizzo 11. PJ McGay 12. Rich Braun 13. Cody Triola 14. Steven Harding 15. Luke Foerster 16. Mark Godnick 17. Bob Dalke
Mini Stocks: 1. Ryan Zukowski 2. Joe Warren Jr. 3. CJ Zukowski 4. Eoughan Hayward 5. Mike Mujsce Jr. 6. Hunter Cummings 7. George Astacio 8. Madison Tomazewski 9. Charkes Astacio 10. Andrew Coll 11. Donovan Klis DNS- Bianca Carbo
Vintage Modifieds: 1. Don Conradis 2. Don Howe 3. Tom Pickerell 4. John Cote 5. John Jasinski 6. Paul Dodorico 7. Sal Accardi Jr. 8. Frank Saladino 9. Jimmy Reed Jr. 10. Billy Auer 11. Pat Hughes
Truck Enduro (top ten) 1. Phil LaManna 2. Chris Grover 3. Kevin Feeney 4. Woot Lawrence 5. Mariah Lawrence 6. Brandon LaManna 7. Don Nelson Jr. 8. Chris Ward 9. Brandon Anderson 10. Jackie Germuth
School Bus Figure Eight: Winner- Kyle Ellwood