DAVE BRIGATI SCORES SECOND RIVERHEAD RACEWAY LATE MODEL WIN OF SEASON, RIELY O'KEEFE REPEATS IN SARA SYLVESTER INEX LEGEND RACE CAR 50 SATURDAY

Over his illustrious driving career popular veteran Dave Brigati of Calverton knows full well that winning is sometimes is about being in the right place, at the right time. Saturday was one of those instances as "The Fancy Farmer" drove to his second 25-lap Late Model win during the NASCAR Local Series powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts program after finding himself in the right place, at the right time. Red hot Riely O'Keefe of Manorville scored a clean sweep in the annual Sara Sylvester INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier 50, winning the pole and leading all 50-circuits for his 7th win of the season. 

Multi-time champion Jeremy McDermott and defending champion Gerard Giordano lined up on the front row for the start of the Late Model tilt and it took all of a mile for the two rivals to start racing hard. After completing the fourth lap, Giordano got into McDermott as they raced down the backstretch with Jeremy getting out of shape entering the third corner. McDermott would dip to the infield to avoid spinning, Giordano broke momentum himself entering the third and fourth turn with both drivers saving their cars their cars.  Enter Dave Brigati who started the race from 7th, as Dave rolls into the third turn he kept his foot on the gas and by the time the field starts the 5th lap, Brigati is the new race leader using his years of experience and of course being in the right place, at the right time. McDermott also showed off his driving prowess as he blended back onto the track in second with Brandon Turbush now third.

On lap 9 Kevin Metzger and Ed Cheslak got together in turn four drawing a yellow flag and setting-up a double file restart. When the race resumed Turbush was able to slip under McDermott for second in an effort to win his second race of 2026 and in the later stages of the race started to pressure Brigati for the win. Dave, who raced with Brandon's father Rusty back in the Charger days was able to keep the Coors Light silver bullet out front for his 12th career Late Model win, tying him with "Mighty" Mike Mortimer for 12th all-time. "None of this happens without me having the best crew out here" Brigati boasted post-race, "for 29-years Brian Schwarz has been my crew chief, hardest working guy here, it is why we are here right now".

Brandon Turbush of Manorville was runner-up in the Lolly's Hut entry, Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead third with his Eastport Feeds Chevy. Gerard Giordano of Freeport and Keith Rotzi of Islip were fourth and fifth in the final rundown.

Riely O'Keefe came to Saturday's Sara Sylvester INEX Legend Race Car National Qualifier as the defending race winner, and defend the race win he would. Right out of the gate in qualifying O'Keefe won the Unique Golf/Turbush Racing Pole Award of $150 by setting a new track record with a lap of 13.319 eclipsing the old mark of 13.350 set by Jason Castaldo on September 11th, 2021. When offered the HighMark Building Efficiency Challenge to drop to the rear of the 27-car field with a $2,000 bonus awaiting Riely if he could win from the back, O'Keefe quickly declined. 

With twin green flags waving in the air O'Keefe and Anthony Marsh who was second quick with a lap of 13.426 quickly moved into the lead and second respectfully. With a full moon lurking in the skies above the 50-lap affair was influenced by numerous yellow flags, which in turn set up plenty of double file restarts for O'Keefe to contend with. It didn't phase O'Keefe how many restarts the race threw his way as he hit his marks on every restart while Marsh followed in his tire tracks. During a lap 23 restart Marsh would lose second to Jacob Staten, who was driving Riely O'Keefe's family car for the night. However, Marsh would race his way back by Staten for second on lap 38, only to lose the position three laps later to all-time leading winner Rochie Davidowitz who moved by Marsh on lap 41. Again undaunted, Marsh was able to work his way back by Davidowitz for second on lap 44.

With all the challenges Marsh faced for second during the second half of the race, Riely O'Keefe was afforded plenty of breathing room that only got complicated when he approached lapped traffic, which he attacked aggressively. As the tandem checker flags waved, Riely O'Keefe for the seventh time in nine races in 2026, and for the thirteenth time since July 12th, 2025 was a INEX Legend Race Car winner at Riverhead Raceway in the Joe Ryan Race Cars coupe.

In victory lane, Riely's car owner and Sara Sylvester's brother Jim presented O'Keefe with the winner plaque from Natural Design Co. for the second straight year. After setting the award down by the car O'Keefe reflected, "this means the world to me, couldn't do it without Jim and Joe Ryan Race Cars, car is lights out every race" When quizzed as to not accepting the HighMark challenge Riely shared, "I had a feeling it was going to get tough back there, but those first 11-laps were rough, kind of why I stayed up front". Starting up front and leading all the laps would still payoff for O'Keefe who pocketed $750 in lap money at $15 per lap led, $150 for the Unique Golf/Turbush Racing Pole Award, $250 Oval Speed gift card from HighMark and $500 Riverhead Raceway purse money. Additionally, the team earned the $100 Mike O'Keefe Fastest Lap of the Race bonus, $100 Riely O'Braun Most Laps Led award plus a $50 Trainsmoke Motorsports Halfway Leader award the Sylvester/O'Keefe combo earned $1,900 for their special win. 

Anthony Marsh of Riverhead would earn a hard-fought runner-up finish in his Joe Ryan Race Cars built, Riverhead Trailer sponsored machine. Richie Davidowiotz of East Moriches was third with his Freddie & Megan Kraft entry. Jeff Farruggia Jr. of Riverhead with his KMK Construction coupe and Jacob Staten of Mooresville, NC in O'Keefe's Old Farms Racing car were fourth and fifth.

Charles Sudano of Merrick drove to his second win of 2026 when he won the 20-lap Super Pro Truck feature event.  From the throw of the green the race for the lead would be intense with all-time leading winner Lou Maestri inching out front over Mark Stewart and Sudano. On lap 2 Sudano, the opening night winner in May worked his way by Stewart for second while Stewart then battled with Frank Dumcicih Jr. for third. Dumicich moved to third on lap 5 and quickly inserted himself into the fight for the lead which at times involved as many as five trucks. Sudano was able to make his way by Maestri for the lead on lap 9, with Dumicich coming to second through the same opening. One lap later Lou and Erin Solomito tangled in turn four drawing a yellow setting their efforts for the win back. Dumicich was looking high and low for a way by Sudano but before long had Mark Stewart and his sister Erin Solomito to contend with. This turn of events allowed Charles Sudano some operating room as he drove his LI Debris truck to his second career victory. However, the race for second only got hotter as the white flag waved with Dumicich trying to hold off two trucks at once for second. As they hit the stripe it would be Mark Stewart of Riverhead the runner-up in the East Side Builders Toyota, with Dumicich's sister Erin Solomito of East Quogue stealing third away in The Hydrant RAM.  Frank was fourth. 

Jarrod Hayes of Calverton notched a career milestone win in the 20-lap Street Stock feature winning his 10th career win, the third of the 2026 campaign.  After outside pole sitter Rob Bader and Danny Pizzo tangled off turn two on the original start, the race would get going on the second attempt at a start with Chris Lescenski pacing all-time leading winner Dave Antos. On lap 5 Hayes made his way by Antos for second, setting his sights on his co-worker with the Town of Riverhead DPW and race leader Lescenski. Just second after receiving the halfway signal. Hayes ducked under Lescenski exiting the second corner to put his North Fork Sanitation Chevy out front. One lap later a caution flag waved for a minor spin setting up a double file restart which would see Brandon Hubbard slipping under Lescenski for second to start the 12th lap. Over the final eight circuits Hayes and Hubbard who came into the race 1-2 in the championship chase battled for the race win. With the laps dwindling down Hubbard got into Hayes pretty good on one occasion, but Brandon rolled out of the gas allowing Jarrod to gather back up. With the checker flag waving Jarrod moved into sole possession of third on the all-time Street Stock win list at 10-wins, two back of Brian Brown for second on that list with 12. Brandon Hubbard of Mastic was second with the Top Twenty Motorsports Chevy, Dave Antos of Lindenhurst completed the podium with his JTEC Electric Monte Carlo. 

Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge snapped the four-race win streak of his buddy Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead when he won the 20-lap Mini Stock main event. Eoughan Hayward jumped to the early lead before he was passed by Joe Warren Jr. to the inside entering the third corner. Chris Olivari followed through the opening Warren created to come to second while Zukowski was on the march from further back in the pack. Just after halfway Zukwoski made his presence known passing Olivari for second with an inside move to start lap 11, quickly moving to leader warren's back bumper cover. Over the closing 9-lpas Ryan made some bids on Joe, with one in turn four seeing the challenger almost sinning out. That was all the room Joe Warren, the all-time leading Mini Stock winner needed to drive his Viper Trucking Cavalier to his 18th career win. While doing some celebration donuts, Warren broke an axle on his car and was towed to victory lane. Ryan Zukowski was second in the Blazing Bee Pest Control entry while Chris Olivari of Coram brought the Middle Country Automotive machine home for third place money. 

In the 76-year history of Riverhead Raceway many dominating wins have been recorded across the landscape of divisions. Perhaps no one victory will stand as dominant as the one Phil LaManna of Smithtown recorded in the 40-lap Truck Enduro Saturday. Starting fourth in his EP Milling & Sweeping Chevy S-10, the soft spoken LaManna took the lead on the first lap and proceeded to lay the smack down on the field. When the 40th lap was recorded Phil LaManna lapped all but the second-place truck of Mariah Lawrence of Southampton in her Total Dental Care entry. Defending Truck Enduro champion Kevin Feeney of East Quogue was third with his Ham Racing Chevy. 

Ryan Warren of Ridge and AJ DeSantis of Yaphank combined to win the 10-lap Figure Eight Train Race.

Jimmy White Jr. of Southampton survived all comers to win the School Bus Demolition Derby with his Blazing Bee Pest Control bus. Both the "Babylon Brawler" Sean Fitzpatrick of West Babylon and "The Z-Man" Ryan Zukowski saw their buses go over onto the side; both drivers were uninjured. 

Late Models: 1. Dave Brigati 2. Brandon Turbush 3. Jeremy McDermott 4. Keith Rotzi 5. Ryan Zukowski 6. Brian Doyle 7. Russ Jansen 8. Alyssa Paprocky 9. Allan Pedersen 10. Billman Griffing 11. Ed Cheslak 12. Ed Cheslak 13. Kevin Metzger 14. CJ Lehmann DNS-Ray Minieri

Legend Race Cars: 1. Riely O'Keefe 2. Anthony Marsh 3. Richie Davidowitz 4. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 5. Jacob Staten 6. Ray Fitzgerald 7. Will Sipala 8. Phillip Alaimo 9. Jim Sylvester 10. Aklex Halinar 11. Charles Hodge 12. John Noll 13. Mike Renn 14. Marissa Stewart 15. Chance Lutz 16. Joe Cooke Jr. 17. Kevin Ohrnberger 18. Michael Metcalf 19. Rob Destefano Jr. 20. Nick Hodge 21. Michael Barry 22. Chris Sinatro 23. Ed Stadtlander 24. Cillian Tennant 25. Steve Renn 26. Kendall Van Houten 27. Billy King Jr.

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

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

Mini Stocks: 1. Joe Warren Jr. 2. Ryan Zukowski 3. Chris Olivari 4. Paul Wojcik 5. Eoughan Hayward 6. Hunter Cummings 7. Madison Tomazewski 8. CJ Zukowski 9. Charles Astacio 10. Bianca Carbo 11. Brooklyn Devito 12. Andrew Coll 13. George Astacio DNS-Mike Mujsce Jr.

Truck Enduro (top ten): 1. Phil LaManna 2. Mariah Lawrence 3. Kevin Feeney 4. Brandon LaManna 5. Don Nelson Jr. 6. Jarrett Campbell 7. Woot Lawrence 8. Brandon Anderson 9. Vinny Pease 10. Eric Germuth  

Figure Eight Train Race: Winners- Ryan Warren & AJ DeSantis

School Bus Demolition Derby: Winner- Jimmy White Jr.