NASCAR WMT HEADING TO RIVERHEAD RACEWAY SATURDAY FOR MY GUY AUTO SUPPLY NAPA OF RIVERHEAD EDDIE PARTRIDGE 206
For the 79th time since 1985, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is headed eastbound towards Riverhead Raceway Saturday for the penultimate race in the chase for the 2026 WMT championship. Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz will host the My Guy Auto Supply NAPA of Riverhead Eddie Partridge 206 Saturday with the entry list finding another blend of WMT regulars and Riverhead Raceway weekly competitors led by local favorite Mark Stewart of Riverhead, winner of the Miller Lite salutes Don Howe 200 WMT event in late May.
Defending NASCAR WMT champion Austin Beers of Northampton enjoyed his first career Riverhead triumph last October in the Eddie Partridge 256, a win many felt served as the springboard towards the 2025 WMT title. Heading into Saturday Beers will have some work to do in order to repeat as WMT champion, trailing Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, NY by 18-points heading to Long Island. Aside from Beers and Emerling the WMT regular's hopeful for the My Guy Auto Supply NAPA of Riverhead Eddie Partridge 206 victory include, Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Ma., Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., Stephen Kopcik of Newton, Ct., Tyler Rypkema of Owego NY, Eric Goodale of Riverhead, Teddy Hodgdon of Danbury, Ct., Mike Christopher Jr. of Wolcott, Ct., Andrew Molleur of Shelton, Ct., Paulie Hartwig of Galloway, NJ and Ken Heagy of Riverhead.
Saturday's Eddie Partridge 206 will serve as a milestone event for former four-time WMT champion Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville who will make his 250th career WMT start fittingly at his home track. Bonsignore, also the 2011 Riverhead Raceway Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified champion leads all drivers in WMT wins at Riverhead with 12 victories at the demanding bullring.
Aside from "The Real Deal" Mark Stewart gunning for the Riverhead Raceway WMT sweep Saturday, several other teams that compete either on a full time or part-time basis at the quarter mile will seek WMT glory Saturday. Chris Rogers of Patchogue, Chase Grennan of Glen Cove, Timmy Solomito of Islip, Roger Turbush of Calverton, Matt Brode of East Islip and Joey Braun of Manorville are expected local entrants. Aside from Stewart, the only other driver among the locals with a win on the WMT is Timmy Solomito, winner of the 2026 Riverhead opener back in May.
On the other side of the pit wall, HighMark Building Efficiency will again present the Jason Shephard Crew Chief of the Race $250 award to the winning crew chief of the Eddie Partridge 206. Back in May, Rich Gerbe of HighMark presented Chris Turbush, car owner and crew chief for Mark Stewart with the $250 Glenn Dixon Crew Chief of the Race award.
Complementing the WMT Saturday are the Late Models, INEX Legend Race Cars, Street Stocks and Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars.
Two WMT practice sessions are scheduled, the first from 3:30 PM until 4:05 PM, with final practice set for 4:15 PM through 4:45 PM. Single car, two lap qualifying is slated for 6:15 PM, while the NASCAR WMT Autograph session starts at 7:00 PM in the third turn midway of Riverhead Raceway. The My Guy Auto Supply NAPA of Riverhead Eddie Partridge 206 will take the green at 8:30 PM.
General admission gates open at 3:00PM, adults are $40. kids 6-12 are $20, 5 & under are free Tickets can be obtained in advance by visiting www.riverheadraceway.com.
Campers are welcome at no charge; there are no hook-ups and campers are limited to the area adjacent to the pit area in the rear parking lot,
For a complete race day itinerary please visit www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at [email protected], our phone number is 631-842-RACE.
