PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR CHRIS ROGERS IN NASCAR MODIFIED VICTORY FRIDAY AT RIVERHEAD RACEWAY

Chris Rogers of Patchogue notched his first Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified feature event win of 2026 when he topped the 50-lap NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts event at Riverhead Raceway. Among the keys to Rogers third career win in the Outlaw Inc. fielded entry was patience, a rare commodity in quarter mile bullring racing. 

Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead and Chris Rogers made up the front row for the initial start, Ellwood got the edge on the inside at the throw of the green with Rogers attempting a quick crossover move off the fourth turn. The move came up short and Rogers patiently tucked into second behind Ellwood not forcing the issue, plus Chris soon felt the heat for second from Chase Grennan, on lap 11 racing off the second corner Grennan got a wheel under Rogers and would make his by for second with Chris now sitting third, again not forcing the issue with Grennan. It didn't take long for the race for the lead to intensify as Grennan quickly reeled in Ellwood pulling right up to the leader on lap 15 in the third and fourth turn. Entering the first turn starting the 16th lap Grennan tried to slip under Ellwood, making contact with the left rear bumper of the leader sending him into a spin in turn two. During the caution Grennan at the request of race control joined Ellwood at the back of the field.

When the field was reset, Chris Rogers was the new race leader with young gun Matt Brode lined up alongside for the restart. When the field hit the first turn side-by-side Brode was his from behind sending him hard into the first turn wall ending his hopes for a first career win and leaving him with a heavily damaged car. The second attempt to resume the race saw Rogers look over to his right and see championship contender Owen Grennan next to him. When the green waved Rogers wasted no time breaking out into the lead with Grennan filling his mirror over the remainder of the race. Owen used some patience of his own coming back to second after he was shuffled further back in the field early in the race.

With the checker flag waving in front of him Chris Rogers in the Coors Light silver bullet of Dave & Cindy Brigati scored the popular win. "We didn't have the best car tonight, shame what happened to Kyle, circumstances put us into the lead" Rogers admitted afterwards. "I can't thank Brian Schwarz enough, he lives and breathes this JDL Environmental race team, Warren Collins, this one is for you buddy, hope you are doing well and watching on Flo" Chris continued. In concluding his post-race remarks Chris Rogers surmised it all when he said, "there is nothing better than being in victory lane at Riverhead Raceway". 

Owen Grennan of Glen Cove moved into the championship lead with his runner-up finish in the Dillner Precast Chevy with Roger Turbush of Calverton third in his Rheem Air Conditioning Chevy. Chris Young of Calverton rallied from an earlier pit stop for fourth while Chase Grennan raced his way back to fifth at the finish.   

Brandon Turbush of Manorville scored his first Late Model victory since opening night 2025 when he topped their 25-lap feature event. Defending champion Gerard Giordano and Turbush sat on the front row for the start with Turbush edging out for the lead with a power move outside of Giordano. Brandon, now an officer with the Suffolk County Sheriff's department leading to his new moniker "The Deputy" would lead Giordano for the first 18-laps of the race when the first yellow waved for Ed Cheslak's single car incident on the front stretch. On the restart that followed Giordano was overtaken by former eight-time champion Jeremy McDermott for second while Turbush continued to show the way. On lap 20 Giordano's night went south after a spin in turn three from contact saw him make slight contact with the wall. While Giordano pitted, race control sent Dave Brigati to the rear for his role in the incident. When the race went back to green Turbush never wavered remaining out front while Keith Rotzi slid under McDermott for second on lap 21, only to lose the spot back to McDermott on lap 23. All that jockeying for second was just fine with Brandon Turbush who drove the Lolly's Hut entry to victory lane for the 5th time in his LM career. Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead won the battle for second in the Eastport Feeds Chevy, while Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches made a last lap pass to claim third in the TJ's Heros entry.

Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace returned to his winning ways in 2026 collecting his third win in five races in the 20-lap Blunderbust main event, a caution free affair. The victory is the 23rd of Laird's career, tying him with Cromarty Wall of Champions inductee Fred Rodgers IV for fourth on the all-time win list. The front row of Tom Sullivan and Jarrett Campbell ran one-two for the first circuit before Laird made his way by Campbell with an outside pass on the backstretch. Those looking on either in person or on Flo Racing figured Laird would make short work of Sullivan for the lead, but that was not the case. Sullivan, a popular figure among his competitors showed the way holding Jim off until the halfway signal when Laird slipped under Sullivan off the fourth corner for the lead to start lap 11. Once out front in the Bulovas Restorations Caprice there was no looking back for Jim Laird Jr. as he drove to the win. Matt Triola of Bay Shore was able to move to second where he'd finish in the C&L Aluminum & Glass racer, early pacesetter Tom Sullivan of Massapequa completed the podium in third with the Action Auto Wreckers mount.

Jarrod Hayes of Calverton scored his second Street Stock win of the season after he topped their 20-lap feature event. For Hayes the win was a emotional one as it was the first since his long-time engine builder Chuck Deon passed away earlier in the season. Jarrod switched his car number from his usual 08 to 03; the number Deon used as a driver honoring Chuck's memory. With passing points from heat races in play, Hayes found himself on the pole for the feature joined by Danny Pizzo, when the green flag waved Hayes was able to get the better of Pizzo to take the lead with Danny filing into second. The race was slowed on lap 2 when David White had cooling issues off the fourth turn, either losing a hose or radiator exiting the fourth corner, White wisely got the car quickly onto the infield minimizing the clean-up. When the race resumed it was Jarrod Hayes in the North Fork Sanitation Chevy leading the rest of the way to earn his 9th career Street Stock win tying him with Eric Zeh and Gerard Lawrence for third on the all-time win list. Hayes also posted on his social media Saturday it was his 49th overall career win at Riverhead across all the divisions he's raced with. It might not have been a win but Danny Pizzo of Holbrook in his sponsor wanted Chevy hung with and pressured Hayes for the duration before coming home second. All-time leading winner Dave Antos was in the mix with Pizzo for second often during the race before settling for third in the JTEC Electric Monte Carlo. 

If there was one lesson learned in the 40-lap 4/6-Cylinder Enduro that closed out the night, it was never, ever count out Mike Mujsce Jr. of Hampton Bays. If you have any doubts, just ask Eoughan Hayward of Westhampton. Hayward started from the pole and quickly zipped out to the race lead over Nicholas Harnage. Hayward set a torrid pace while drivers like Mujsce and Chris Olivari were busy trying to hustle from the back of the 21-car field. The handicap in the 4/6-Cylinder Enduro is the top five finishers from the previous race must start in the last five spots of the next race made this event fun to watch. Olivari made his way by Harnage for second on lap 15, but Chris was soon under attack for the spot from Mujsce who just after the midway mark made his way by Olivari. As the laps clicked off and lapped traffic grew heavier, Hayward's once half a track lead was erased to one car length. With just three laps to go Mujsce made his way by Hayward to lead the final two laps and win his third race in four starts in his sponsor wanted car. Chris Olivari of Coram made a last lap pass to claim runner-up money in the Middle Country Automotive machine. Eoughan Hayward of Westhampton had to be content with third in his Ace Cleaning & Restoration entry just three laps shy of his first career win.

NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Chris Rogers 2. Owen Grennan 3. Roger Turbush 4. Chris Young 5. Chase Grennan 6. Mark Stewart 7. Riely O'Keefe 8. Kyle Ellwood 9. Eric Hersey 10. Matt Brode

Late Models: 1. Brandon Turbush 2. Jeremy McDermott 3. Allan Pedersen 4. Keith Rotzi 5. Ryan Zukowski 6. Kevin Metzger 7. Gerard Giordano 8. Dave Brigati 9. Brian Doyle 10. Russ Jansen 11. Liam Patrick 12. Ed Cheslak 13. Ray Minieri

Blunderbusts: 1. Jim Laird Jr. 2. Matt Triola 3. Tom Sullivan 4. Jarrett Campbell 5. Gary Caldwell 6. John Handley 7. Steve Fried 8. Anthony Capobianco

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

4.6-Cylinder Enduro (top ten) 1. Mike Mujsce Jr. 2. Chris Olivari 3. Eoughan Hayward 4. AJ DeSantis 5. Nicholas Harnage 6. David Olivari 7. Robert Kraemer 8. Anthony Paretta 9. Mike Kowalski 10. Mike Fragola