CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND READY TO ROAR AT RIVERHEAD RACEWAY, BALDWIN, EVANS & JARZOMBEK 77 HEADLINES SATURDAY RACING
After being delayed a week by weather, Riverhead Raceway officials are ready to get the 2026 Championship weekend in the books this Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th to conclude the regular season of racing. Saturday evening the annual Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 for the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modifieds will headline seven feature events for the NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts. Sunday afternoon the Street Stocks an Truck Enduros will run in extra distance races through sponsorship from the Hot Rod Shop of Venice, Florida.
Saturday will mark the fifth attempt at running the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77 with the race now serving as the final race towards the 2026 track championship. Owen Grennan of Glen Cove comes to the 77 Saturday with an 18-point lead over Mark Stewart of Riverhead with Chris Young of Calverton 32 points back in third. Over in the Late Models the ace for the 2026 title is as close as one can get with Dave Brigati of Calverton and Jeremy McDermott of Riverhead ties at the top entering the final 25-lapper Saturday. Brigati holds the tiebreaker two wins to McDermott's one, Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches is 14-markers back in third. The Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds also see a tie at the top entering their final points race, a 25-lapper Saturday. AJ DeSantis of Yaphank and Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches are knotted at the top with Michael Berner of Patchogue very much in the mix from third, four points back. The three rivals enter the finale tied for the first tiebreaker with each having won twice this season.
Allan Pedersen finds himself in two championship battles as he leads the TK Figure Eight standings heading towards their 15-lap final Saturday. Gary Fritz Jr. of Mastic and Will Farrell of Mastic are tied for second 8-poits back of Pedersen who has clinched the tiebreaker with four wins in 2026. Over in the Blunderbusts, Jim Laird Jr. of Islip Terrace will carry a fairly comfortable 20-point lead into the 20-lap final over Matt Triola of Bay Shore. Tom Sullivan of Massapequa ranks third where he will likely finish.
The race for the 2026 Super Pro Truck title will be up in the air heading into the 20-lap finale with Frank Dumicich Jr. of East Quogue holding a slim 4-point advantage over Mark Stewart of Riverhead with Frank's sister Erin Solomito of East Quogue in the conversation in third 8-poinys behind her brother. Charles Sudano of Merrick remains in the hunt from fourth, 14-points back. The only title clinched entering Saturday is the 2026 INEX Legend Race Car championship where Riely O'Keefe of Manorville has secured his first career championship.
The Street Stocks headline the Sunday October 4th program and will race 30-laps with sponsorship from John Cozza's Hot Rod Shop of Venice, Florida. Jarrod Hayes of Calverton is comfortably out front in the race for the championship with a 24-point cushion over Brandon Hubbard of Mastic. Chris Lescenski of Riverhead sits third, where he will likely finish in the final rankings. Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead has already clinched the 2026 Mini Stock championship heading into Sunday's 20-lapper but his brother, 2025 champion CJ Zukowski of Riverhead and Eoughan Farewell-Hayward of Westhampton will race it out for second. CJ has 8-points over Eoughan for the runner-up spot.
The INEX Bandoleros will be a big part of Championship Sunday with three main events scheduled. John Alaimo of Miller Place leads the Outlaw standings by 8 over Michael Barry of Patchogue, with Tyler Oxee of Carmel third 16 markers behind Alaimo. In the Bandits Mason Goodale of Riverhead will take an 8-point lead over Mackenzie Ulmet of Mattituck into their final race, Mason's younger brother Wyatt sits third, 22 behind. Heading into the final Beginners race Scarlett Dumicich of East Quogue has all but sewn up the crown with a 30-point lead over Carissa Busam of Shirley. James White III of Southampton will place third in the final standings.
With 59-laps on tap for the Truck Enduro teams presented by John Cozza's Hot Rod Shop of Venice, Florida the race for the 2026 championship is intense. Phil LaManna of Smithtown leads defending champion Kevin Feeney by just two points. Brandon LaManna of Smithtown sits third 14-point behind his father. The race for the 2026 8-Cylinder Enduro championship is intense as well with Anthony Pizzo of Lake Ronkonkoma leading Woot Lawrence of Southampton by four points. Defending champion Kevin Feeney sits third 16-points behind Pizzo.
Chris Olivari of Coram takes a 28-point cushion over Mike Mujsce Jr, of Hampton Bays into the finale for the 4/6-Cylinder Enduro ranks, Nicholas Harnage of Dix Hills, who has clinched the 2026 Rookie of the Year in the class is tied for third with Robert Kraemer of Bohemia with the duo 60-points back of Olivari. A special 8-Cylinder Women's Enduro will be part of the Sunday fun.
Qualifying will start Saturday October 3rd at 4:45 PM with opening ceremonies at approximately 6:00 PM, a JuiceBox Racers will kick off feature racing. Sunday qualifying heats start at 1:00 PM, opening ceremonies will follow at approximately 1:15 PM or at the conclusion of qualifying. A Kids Big Wheel race and the JuiceBox Racers will kick off Sunday main event racing.
Admission for both Saturday and Sunday is $30 for adults, $20 for kids 6-12 with 5 & under free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at [email protected], the phone number is 631-842-RACE.
