MARK STEWART RACES TO RIVERHEAD RACEWAY 76TH YEAR CELEBRATION FLYING DUTCHMAN TRIBUTE NASCAR MODIFIED VICTORY FRIDAY

Just over a month removed from his career defining victory in the Miller Lite Salutes Don Howe 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified event in late May, fourth generation driver Mark Stewart of Riverhead notched another signature event win when he topped the Flying Dutchman Tribute 76 Friday night at Riverhead Raceway. The race run honoring the iconic Fred Harbach was the first leg of the five race 2026 Crown Jewel Series for the Ted Christopher Cup that concludes with the 10th annual Islip 300 in November.

With a replica of Fred Harbach's 1937 Ford Coupe X-89 pacing the field, Kyle Ellwood who won the HighMark Building Efficiency Fast Time award with a time of 11.766 in qualifying was joined on the front row by second quick in time Mark Stewart who went an 11.772. It would be Ellwood breaking out front over Stewart as the race got underway while Justin Brown, Matt Brode and Chris Rogers tussled for third. On lap 7 a Roger Turbush spin off the second corner put the race under caution with race control sending Chase Grennan to the rear for his role in the incident. Lined up alongside each other once again Stewart tried a quick crossover maneuver on Ellwood when the race which Kyle rebuffed for a couple of laps. However, on lap 9 Stewart got a run on Ellwood going into the third turn giving the leader a tap in turn four that allowed Mark to slip under to take the lead to start the 10th lap.

Just one lap after taking the lead, the yellow would wave on lap 11 for two separate incidents involving Roger Turbush and Jack Handley Jr. setting up another double file restart. This time Stewart was to the inside, Ellwood to his right with Kyle eyeing a crossover move of his own.  On the restart Stewart was able to hold serve and remain the event leader as the race entered a sustained green flag run. Stewart was able to gap Ellwood, Owen Grennan who made his way to third was quite a distance back of Ellwood. The battle for fourth between Matt Brode and Chris Young, who drove up to fifth after starting 11th was the most intense on track mid race. 

Withe Stewart seemingly having things in hand the one thing "The Real Deal" didn't want to see was a late race caution, well he didn't get his wish. On lap 45 returning Justin Brown had his car come from under him spinning in the first turn drawing a late race caution. For the fourth time Stewart and Ellwood lined up together on the front row, with Owen Grennan, Brode and Young all in striking distance. When the race went back to green Stewart remained out front with Grennan now turning up the pressure on Ellwood for second which Owen wrestled away from Kyle with an inside pass off the fourth turn on lap 50.

With ten laps remaining Grennan, the championship leader coming into the 76 glued himself to the rear bumper of Stewart as the duo played a high-speed game of cat and mouse. Grennan got into Stewart pretty good exiting the second corner on one occasion, to the extent of Mark getting really loose, but Grennan backed off to allow the leader to straighten out. Undaunted Grennan gave Stewart a few more love taps over the closing laps but in the end, Mark Stewart would drive to his third career victory in the Cromer's Market Chevy.

"It's an honor to win the Flying Dutchman race with the Harbach family and crew here" Stewart reflected afterwards. "Can't thank my uncle Bub, Aunt Heather for all they do for us" Mark added. When asked about his winning pass and then holding off late race challenges Stewart was honest in his post-race assessment, "sorry to Kyle, I got into him there, I'm sure we'll chat about it later. Then Owen and I had a good battle, he got into me a few times, nothing too bad, we race well together. With the speed bumps back it's just so hard to pass now". 

Owen Grennan of Glen Cove was runner-up in the Dillner Precast Chevy, while Kyle Ellwood completed the podium with third in the Millennium Limited Contracting entry. Alex Kitzen and his wife Joanne Harbach-Kitzen provided the top three Flying Dutchman Tribute finishers with old style wood and metal trophies for their efforts. Matt Brode of East Islip would ward off Chris Young of Calverton for fourth with young completing the top five.

The 20-lap Super Pro Truck event featured a battle among siblings for the win with Erin Solomito of East Quogue prevailing over her brother Frank Dumicich Jr. Erin was joined in the front row for the start of what turned out to be a caution free affair by all-time leading winner Lou Maestri. When the green lights came on Erin moved out front while Maestri was quickly under attack for second from Dumicich who took sole possession of the spot. After testing his sister for three laps Frank moved to the race lead and proceeded to open a comfortable lead over Erin, while Maestri fought for third with Mark Stewart. Just after the halfway signal the leader's truck lost some pace around lap 13 allowing his sister to close in, and in a hurry. Trying as hard as he could to hang onto an ill handling machine due to what later would be revealed as a broken track bar, Frank was half a lap away from doing so before Erin Solomito ducked under him entering the third turn to take the lead and win away in the final turn. For Erin, steering The Hydrant RAM truck it was her first win of 2026, the 7th over her career tying her with Jimmy Rennick Jr. for 16th all-time. Frank Dumicich Jr. of East Quogue held on for second with his Okpetroluemmarketplace.com Toyota, while Mark Stewart crossed the line third in the East End Builders Toyota.  

Franks Saladino of Farmingville won the 15-lap Eddie Partridge Vintage All Star event in his Richie Evans tribute coupe, a car that is also street legal. Saladino took the lead with a masterful start on the throw of the green and never looked back driving to a convincing win. Richard Auer ran second early before he was passed by John Jasinski, who once to second had to go to work to try and reel in leader Saladino. Jasinski was making his way towards the rear bumper of Saladino when his car, a Gary Cretty Vega replica snapped lose in turn three and four. Unfortunately, Sal Accardi Jr. who was a close third clipped Jasinski going by during the lap 13 incident. Over the final two laps of the race Richard Auer of Huntington would run and finish second, while Sal Accardi Jr. of Deer Park, broken right front suspension not withstanding placed third in the A-Plus Auto Salvage Pontiac.

It had been a while since former Truck Enduro champion Don Nleson Jr. of Ricky Point had graced victory lane, but that all changed Friday when he drove from a 12th place starting berth to victory. Kayla Kelly paced the first lap of the 40-lap contest before passed by former multi-time champion Mariah Lawrence in her General Lee. Mariah would lead until the 11th circuit when she was passed by Jarrett Campbell in traffic. Campbell had a long stint at the front of the field leading up until lap 29 when Don Nelson Jr. came calling. Once Don put the Nelson Brothers Racing Chevy out front it would remain there until the checker flag. Jarrett Campbell of Yaphank was runner-up in the Lake Masonry Supply Chevy while defending champion Kevin Feeney of East Quogue made a charge from deep in the field to finish third with his Ham Racing mount. 

NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Mark Stewart 2. Owen Grennan 3. Kyle Ellwood 4. Matt Brode 5. Chris Young 6. Dylan Slepian 7. Chase Grennan 8. Justin Brown 9. Chris Rogers 10. Roger Turbush 11. Eric Hersey 12. Jack Handley Jr.

Super Pro Trucks: 1. Erin Solomito 2. Frank Dumicich Jr. 3. Mark Stewart 4. Lou Maestri 5. Charkes Sudano 6. Liam Patrick 7. Tony Naglieri 8. Rob McCormick 9. Frank Dumicich Sr.

Vintage All Stars: 1. Frank Saladino 2. Richard Auer 3. Sal Accardi Jr. 4. John Jasinski 5. Pat Hughes

Truck Enduro (top ten): 1. Don Nelson Jr. 2. Jarrett Campbell 3. Kevin Feeney 4. Woot Lawrence 5. Brandon LaManna 6. Mariah Lawrence 7. Phil LaManna 8. Aiden Farrell 9. Charles Sherry 10. Kayla Kelly