CHASE GRENNAN WIRES RIVERHEAD RACEWAY NASCAR MODIFIED FIELD FOR 5TH CAREER WIN, FIRST IN A REGULAR DISTANCE EVENT

Entering competition Saturday at Riverhead Raceway, Chase Grennan of Glen Cove came to the track a winner of four Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified races, all four victories coming in extra distance Crown Jewel Series events including the 2024 Islip 300. When the checker flag waved over the 50-lap feature event Chase Grennan finally pocketed a 50-lap NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts regular distance race.

When hard luck driver Roger Turbush of Riverhead won the HighMark Building Efficiency fast time award in qualifying with a lap of 11.828, he and his Turbush Racing team were optimistic they were turning things around. After the top eight in time were handicapped Roger and Chase Grennan made up the front row and then came the green flag. When Roger hit the throttle to start the race his car snapped around ending his night before it ever started as he suffered steering rack damage after another competitor made contact with his front end. When the race did get underway on the second attempt to start Chase Grennan jumped to the early race lead over Kyle Ellwood. Early on Ellwood was able to keep pace with leader Grennan but he would soon be under pressure for second as the race moved along.

Dylan Slepian, running a limited slate of the race in '26 pulled alongside Ellwood for second and was making a pass for position when the yellow waved for a one car spin just past halfway. The field was reset with Grennan and Ellwood alongside each other in the front row once again with Chase again able to get away from Kyle, Meanwhile Slepian suddenly was no longer sizing Ellwood up for second, but rather in a race for third with Matt Brode. That became the best battle for position of the race as Slepian ran the inside lane, with Brode outside for numerous laps in the latter stages of the race with minimal to no contact between the two. The fight for third allowed Grennan to pull away by nearly a straightaway, with Ellwood able to inch in front of the third-place tussle as well. 

When the checker flag waved Chase Grennan in the Black Forest Auto Works Chevy could finally breathe a sigh of relief having now won a regular distance 50-lapper. "This is my first win in a 50-lapper, I'm excited about that" "Big Time" Grennan admitted post-race. "I just kept trying to drive away after the tough restarts" Grennan shared, "can't thank my parents, Black Forest, Eastport Feeds, Dillner Precast and Pettit Race Engines for all they do". 

Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead scored his best result of 2026 with a runner-up finish in the Millennium Limited Construction Chevy. Riding the outside lane, Matt Brode of East Islip was third in the Peter Clark Motorsports entry. Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills was fourth, with Owen Grennan of Glen Cove recovering from a trip to the pits after the Turbush incident came home fifth.

It was a milestone 10th career win for Michael Berner of Patchogue in the 25-lap Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds, an improbable win if you asked his team just five minutes prior to the start of the race. During his hear, Berner made contact with the wall putting his crew to work prior to the feature. Lined up for the main event the crew noticed an axle flange missing. No worries, Michael jumped to the race lead at the throw of the green in the Pro Diesel Chevy over defending champion Eric Hersey. As the race wore on, Hersey was under attack from Richie Davidowitz, who earlier won the INEX Legend Race Car event and was hoping to go two-for-two on the night. On lap 21 Hersey slipped up off the second corner for just a moment allowing Davidowitz a clear path to second. However, it was too little too late as Michael Berner drove off to well-deserved win for he and his family team to celebrate. Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches brought the Rosemar Paving Chevy home second while opening night winner AJ DeSantis of Yaphank was third in the Strong Oil Sunoco Fuels machine. 

In the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Car feature "Big Money" Richie Davidowitz, the all-time leading winner of the class scored a milestone win of his own capturing his 30th career win mere minutes before his Crate Modified effort. Jeff Farruggia set the pace early in this one chased by Brad Van Houten for a lap, with Anthony Marsh coming to second on lap 2. Marsh chased Farruggia until the 8th circuit when he was overtaken by Richie Davidowitz for second. Just behind the leading trio of Farruggia, Davidowitz and Marsh, Riely O'Keefe winner of the first three race of 2026 was on the march from his 10th start position and joined in on the fun. As the field started the 16th lap Davidowitz ducked under Farruggia entering the first turn bringing O'Keefe with him and by the time they exited the second corner Davidowitz was the new leader with O'Keefe second. Unfortunately, a lap later Farruggia had his night go south after contact from another driver, dropping him further down in the order. During the late race restart needed for that yellow Richie Davidowitz was able to keep his Freddie & Megan Kraft backed coupe out front for the big win. "This is for my father, Wally. This is the car I took my first Legend laps in, not a fancy new piece, it's his work that keeps us winning". Riely O'Keefe of Manorville was runner-up in the Gershow Recycling entry, Anthony Marsh of Riverhead was third in the Riverhead Trailer mount.

Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead is now three-for-2026 as he won his third Mini Stock event in as many starts in a 20-lap affair Saturday. Past champions Paul Wojcik and Joe Warren Jr. brought the field to green with Warren edging out front. Wojcik surrendered second on the third lap to Ryan Zukowski during a double file restart needed for a Hunter Cummings and CJ Zukowski tangle in turn one. Once to second, Ryan Zukowski who is good friends with Warren since they were kids went to work for the race lead in a battle that didn't resemble two friends racing for a win. On lap 8 "The Z-Man" Ryan Zukowski put the Bust Bees Pest Control entry out front and drove off to his 6th career victory. Joe Warren if Ridge was runner-up in the Warren Motorsports Cavalier while new father Chris Olivari of Coram was third in the Middle Country Automotive prepared Honda. 

"This one is for Dwayne Sipila" were the first words spoken by 40-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro winner Woot Lawrence of Southampton, adding "he was a great guy who we will all miss dearly". Sipila, a decades long veteran of 8-Cylinder Enduro racing passed away earlier in the week. Roger Tramm raced out to the lead early in the race and seemed as though he'd pocket the win. However, as the laps wore down and the lapped traffic grew heavier among the 27-car field Tramm soon found Woot Lawrence filling his mirror and on lap 25 Woot raced under Tramm entering the third corner to take the lead. Once Lawrence had the Gregor Well Drilling Camaro out front he never looked back in winning one for Dwayne.  

Demolition Derby veteran Shawn "Ugly Mugly" Adler of Lindenhurst won a hard hitting 4/6-Cylinder Demo over former National Demo champion Jason "Misery Machine" Savoy of Lake Panamoka. Both cars are out of the Monsters Recycling salvage yard of former World Demo champion Bobby "Killer Bee: Bennison. 

The 4/6-Cylinder Figure Eight class debuted Saturday with Mike Mujsce Jr. of Hampton Bays taking the 10-lap victory. 

NASCAR Modifieds: 1, Chase Grennan 2. Kyle Ellwood 3. Matt Brode 4. Dylan Slepian 5. Owen Grennan 6. Chris Young 7. Chris Rogers 8. Cory Midgett 9. Tom Sekulski 10. Mark Stewqart 11. Roger Turbush

Crate Modifieds: 1. Michael Berner 2. Richie Davidowitz 3. AJ DeSantis 4. Andrew Farnham 5. Vinny Delaney 6. Eric Hersey 7. Ryan Warren 8. Dennis Kurras 9. Eddie Schutze 10. Ken Massa 11. Thomas Grattan 12. Joe Densieski

Legend Race Cars: 1. Richie Davidowitz 2. Riely O'Keefe 3. Anthony Marsh 4. Jayden Glennerster 5. Brad Van Houten 6. Jim Sylvester 7. Charles Hodge III 8. Kevin Nowak 9. Will Sipala 10. Nick Hodge 11. Michael Metcalf 12. Kendall Van Houten 13. Alex Halinar 14. Cillian Tennant 15. Mike Renn 16. Michael Barry 17. Ed Stadtlander 18. Marissa Stewart 19. Joe Cooke Jr. 20. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 21. Ray Fitzgerald 22. Chris Sinatro 23. Chevy Rommeney 24. Billy King Jr. 25. Phillip Alaimo 26. Ron Destafano

Mini Stocks: 1. Ryan Zukowski 2. Joe Warren Jr. 3. Chris Olivari 4. CJ Zukowski 5. Paul Wojcik 6. Eoughan Hayward 7. Andrew Coll 8. Bianca Carbo 9. Brooklyn Devito 10, Madison Tomaszewski 11. Hunter Cummings 

8-Cylinder Enduro (top ten): 1. Woot Lawrence 2. Roger Tramm 3. Anthony Pizzo 4. Sean Fitzpatrick 5, Pat Collins Jr. 6. Don Carasiti 7. Kevin Feeney 8. Mariah Lawrence 9. Eric Germuth 10. Charles Sherry

4/6-Cylinder Figure Eight: 1. Mike Mujsce Jr. 2. Robert Kramer 3. Mike Mujsce Sr.

4/6-Cylinder Demolition Derby: Winner-Shawn Adler