FRIDAY NIGHT NASCAR RACING & SATURDAY DAY OF DESTRUCTION MAYHEM SET FOR RIVERHEAD RACEWAY WEEKEND DOUBLEHEADER
Another action-packed weekend of racing excitement and family entertainment events are lined up for the weekend, Friday July 31st and Saturday August 1st at Riverhead Raceway. A full program of NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts starring the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modifieds will kick things off Friday with opening ceremonies set for 8:00 PM and will be followed by the inaugural Day of Destruction spectacular featuring a School Bus Demolition Derby at 6:30 PM Saturday.
After another successful Oval Speed Bubba 150 six days prior, the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modifieds return to a 50-lap feature event Friday with the 2026 championship chase starting to come into focus. After leading the most laps in the 150 Saturday before finishing second Mark Stewart of Riverhead has inched out to a 2-point lead over Owen Grennan of Glen Cove, 266-264. Stewart has banked one regular season victory in the July 3rd Flying Dutchman Tribute 76 a month after his WMT triumph, while Grennan hopes to make his first trip to victory lane Saturday. The tussle for third in the current NASCAR Modified ranking is tight between three talented drivers with Matt Brode of East Islip two markers up on Chris Young of Calverton 246-244, while Chase Grennan is four back in fifth with 242. Young and Chase Grennan have each won once, while Brode will be gunning for his first career win Friday.
The Late Models return Friday after a long hiatus due to wet weather for a 25-lap feature, just their third race of 2026. Tested tough veteran Dave Brigati of Calverton tops the championship chase by 8 over Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches while defending champion Gerard Giordano of Freeport and former eight-time champion Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead are knotted for third with 84 each. After a wild 20-lap Blunderbust feature event last Friday, Matt Triola of Bay Shore and Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace enter this Friday's 20-lap contest tied for the championship lead. Originally after Friday's race where Triola was declared the winner and Laird was announced as disqualified for aggressive driving, race control and track management reviewed the last lap incident diligently Monday between the two rivals and amended Laird's penalty to finishing second behind Triola. Veteran Tom Sullivan of Massapequa sits third in the current standings some 58-points back of Triola and Laird who've both won twice over the four races run to date.
Street Stocks roar right back into action Friday evening with a 20-lap tilt on tap after Brandon Hubbard of Mastic took their most recent event victory last Friday. The win outs Hubbard two points back of championship leader Jarrod Hayes of Calverton, 236-234. Hayes and Hubbard are among the five different drivers to win a Street Stock event this season in the five races contested. Chris Lescenski of Riverhead, another 2026 SS winner is lurking in third, 8-points back of Hayes. The 4/6-Cylinder Enduro cars and stars will go to battle with Chris Olivari of Coram leading John Palmeri of Lindenhurst, the defending champion in the class by 10. Impressive newcomer Nicholas Harnage of Dix Hills sits third.
Saturday evening the Day of Destruction program will feature some new, wild and exciting events never seen before in the 76-year history of Riverhead Raceway presented joined by a couple of returning favorites. The first ever Trailer Race and Flag Pole race will make their Long Island debut as part of the Day of Destruction fun. For the first time in decades, the One-on-One Spectator Drags return to the quarter mile oval, where anything can and usually does happen as street legal cars compete in a round robin, single elimination tournament. Also, back after a long absence will be a Smash-to-Pass Race an event where you can't advance your position with making contact with the car you are attempting to overtake.
The all new 4/6-Cylinder Figure Eight class will be part of the motorized shenanigans Saturday night with two-time winner Mike Mujsce of Hampton Bays going for win number three. Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge the only other winner this year, Eoghan Hayward of Westhampton and veteran George Astacio of Mastic will be gunning for the win.
As the old adage save the best for last goes, that is the exact formula in play for the Day of Destruction Saturday with the first School Bus Demolition Derby of the year unfolding. There is nothing quite like the sights, sounds and yes even the aromas when these 13-ton School Buses wreck each other in an all-out war. Frank "The Tank" Dumicich Jr. of East Quogue, "The Z-Man" Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead, "The Babylon Brawler" Sean Fitzpatrick of West Babylon, "Short Round" Chris Lescenski of Riverhead Joe "Bam Bam" Warren Jr. of Ridge, "Blazin" Bee" Jimmy White Jr. of Southampton and "Kannonball" Rob Kettenbeil of Riverhead will be out to wreak havoc and each other.
Friday evening pit windows will open at 5:00 PM, pit gates at 5:30PM. General admission opens at 6:30 PM with opening ceremonies at approximately 8:00 PM, adults are $30, kids 6-12 $20 with 5 & under free. Saturday evening general admission gates open at 5:00 PM, opening ceremonies are at 6:30 PM, adults $40, kids 6-12 $40, 5 & under free.
For further race day itinerary details, 2026 championship standings or our remaining schedule of events please visit http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at [email protected] while the phone number is 631-842-RACE.