KYLE ELLWOOD STEERS NEW MODIFIED COMBINATION TO RIVERHEAD RACEWAY VICTORY SUNDAY

During the winter months Kyle Ellwood's INEX Legend Race Car owners Eric Lutz and his son Chance decided to add a NASCAR Modified to their 2025 Riverhead Raceway plans with Ellwood at the wheel. Sunday, in just their third start the new combination scored the 50-lap NASCAR Modified victory, the ninth of Kyle's career. A Saturday rain out implemented the new rain date policy announced by management during their schedule release.

Kyle Ellwood and CJ Lehmann filled out the front row for the matinee with Ellwood breaking out front at the throw of the green flag, Lehmann quickly tucked into second. On lap 6 Owen Grennan was the innocent victim of a three-wide scenario exiting the second corner drawing the caution and ending Owen's race with heavy damage. Ellwood chose the inside for the restart throwing Lehmann out to his right, when the race resumed CJ tried to find some bite to the outside but could not make a run at Ellwood who continued to lead.

The race settled in for a long run of green flag racing and Ellwood was more than willing to build on his lead during the stretch, with Lehmann comfortably sitting second. The script was flipped however on lap 39 when Chase Grennan spun off the fourth corner drawing the yellow and erasing Ellwood's advantage, as well Lehmann's cushion in second. The final double file restart lined up with the original front row in place, joined by 54-time winner Tom Rogers Jr. who raced his way to third and John Beatty Jr. and Michael Rutkoski in the mix as well. When the race resumed Ellwood hit it just right to stay out front, Lehmann attempted another run to the outside, but Rogers was underneath CJ in an attempt to grab second.  As they raced off the fourth corner Lehmann and Rogers went wide opening the lower groove, defending champion John Beatty Jr. filled the vacancy moving to second. Lehmann was able to gather his car in to run third, Rogers was the odd man out dropping several positions. 

The dust would settle with the race running green until it's conclusion with Kyle Ellwood scoring the win in the Millennium Limited Contracting Chevy, afterwards the second-generation talent got emotional speaking about his owners. "I know how much this wins means to Eric & Renee and Chance Lutz" Kyle revealed, his voice cracking, " I'm so happy and fortunate to be the guy to give them the win". Ellwood also pulled the curtain back on some changes the team made, "over the first two races we tried some stuff, it really didn't pan out, so we made a bunch of changes. I don't care how many restarts we had today, this was a rocket ship".

John Beatty Jr. of Merrick was runner-up in the MSM Elite Motorsports Fury, CJ Lehmann of Lake Grove had a season best third place showing in the Reichert Group IGA Market Chevy. Michael Rutkoski of Mattituck and Roger Turbush of Calverton were fourth and fifth.

The Super Pro Truck 30-lap main event was a full contact affair dotted by several caution flags and plenty of bent sheet metal. In the end though it came down to another torrid battle between defending champion Jack Handley Jr. of Medford and Sean Glennon of Northport, who over the first two races slugged it out with Glennon prevailing for the win. This time Jack Handley Jr. wasn't going to be denied earning a milestone 25th career win tying him with Mark Stewart for third all-time. Handley zipped to the lead early chased over the first 13-circuits by Erin Solomito with the race actually running non-stop early. However, on lap 14 a Frank Dumicich Sr. spin drawing the first of what would be numerous caution flags lending credence to the "cautions breed cautions" adage. When the race went back green Glennon from third slipped by Solomito for second. Sean's pursuit of Handley was interrupted when he was overtaken for second by Frank Dumicich Jr. on lap 16, but just over a lap later Glennon reclaimed the position. A series of double file restarts saw Glennon try to find grip outside of leader Handley, but each time Jack was able to slip away. When the race concluded Jack Handley Jr. had actually gotten away some in his East Side Builders Toyota for the win. Sean Glennon despite some nose damage from an early race jingle came home second, his two-race win streak ended in his Glennon Construction Chevy. Frank Dumicich Jr. of East Quogue completed the podium in the Okpetroleummarketplace.com entry.

Another veteran driver who landed with a new team in 2025 is former Blunderbust champion Brandon Hubbard of Mastic, teaming up with Top Twenty Motorsports for a Street Stock and INEX Legend Race Car effort. The new pairing paid dividends Sunday when Hubbard led all 20-laps of the Street Stock feature for his first win in the class. Sounds easy, right? Not so fast, all-time leading winner and former multi-champion Dave Antos draped himself al over Hubbard for the entire distance of the non-stop tilt. Antos, who missed all of 2024 after shoulder surgery raced from his third starting spot at the start to challenge Hubbard. On lap 17 exiting the second turn, Antos gained a big run on Hubbard getting into Brandon enough to upset the leader's car. Instead of driving through for the lead, Dave rolled off the throttle allowing the leader to correct. That would be as close as Dave would get for the final two and a half laps with Hubbard scoring the victory. "I have to thank Steve & Dandy Harding my owners on both cars for having the faith in me" Brandon said post-race, "Dave and I race a bunch together in the old Grand Enduros, I knew he'd treat me right, as I would treat him right, it was fun". Dave Antos of Lindenhurst was second in the EP Milling & Sweeping Monte Carlo, Alyssa Paprocky of Rocky Point third in the Middle Country Automotive Chevy. 

If there was a race winner who had an easy time of it, that would have to be 20-lap Mini Stock winner CJ Zukowski of Riverhead. Zukowski led wire-to-wire earning a milestone 10th career victory, moving him to sole possession of second all-time. Sophomore driver Tyler Farrell chased CJ for three laps before fourth generation racer Marissa Stewart got by on lap 4. "Rissy" was having a good run for herself until a lap 9 jingle with Paul Wojcik broke her momentum, Wojcik got the worst of it with a flat tire pulling to the infield. That turn of events propelled Chris Olivari to second at the halfway point, but by that time the leader was long gone. In the end CJ Zukowski pulled into victory lane with his Suffolk Tree Works Cavalier, Chris Olivari of Coram was runner-up in the Middle Country Automotive racer. Marissa Stewart of Riverhead was persevered for third in her Stewart's Garage Doors Cavalier.

Sal Accardi Jr. of Deer Park led all 15-lap of the Eddie Partridge Vintage All Stars to win their opening race of 2025. Wheeling the actual Tom Baldwin 7NY that feature a Pontiac J-200 when "Tiger" Tom wheeled it, Sal held off Don Howe for the win. Howe of Water Mill drives the actual Cavalier he drove for late car owner Carl Zeh to many wins & titles at Islip Speedway and Riverhead Raceway. Tom Pickerell of Huntington was third in the Kevin Bacik owned Tony Hirschman tribute car. 

The first two 8-Cylinder Enduro races of 2025 found veteran driver and former champion Woot Lawrence of Southampton scratching his head due to mechanical gremlins. Woot would rid himself of those gremlins winning the 50lap feature event in his Gregor Well Drilling Camaro. Lawrence muscled his way to the lead on lap 3 after he accidentally tapped early leader Donny Oliver. Lawrence would lead the remainder of the race. Greg Harris of Riverhead, who again started practically in the parking lot raced his way to finish second in the SGS Stone Works Chevy. Pat Collins Jr. of Southampton had another solid showing with third in the PC Truck & Equipment entry. 

The program ending Demolition Derby was won by Jason Savoy of Lake Panamoka in his Monster Recycling machine. Savoy, a former world and national champion outlasted Sean Adler of Lindenhurst, he too in a Monsters Recycling car. 

NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Kyle Ellwood 2. John Beatty Jr. 3. CJ Lehmann 4. Michael Rutkoski 5. Roger Turbush 6. Chase Grennan 7. Mark Stewart 8. Dylan Slepian 9. Tom Rogers Jr. 10. JR Bertuccio 11. Matt Brode 12. Brian Brown 13. Owen Grennan 14. Chris Young

Super Pro Trucks: 1. Jack Handley Jr. 2. Sean Glennon 3. Frank Dumicich Jr. 4. Charles Sudano 5. Erin Solomito 6. Frank Dumicich Sr. 7. Lou Maestri 8. Eddie Schutze 9. Dave Koenig 10. Liam Patrick 11. Tony Naglieri 12. Cillian Tennant 13. Joe Densieski 

Street Stocks: 1. Brandon Hubbard 2. Dave Antos 3. Alyssa Paprocky 4. Brian Brown 5. Jarrod Hayes 6. Jake Curran 7. Ricky Carman 8. Dennis Kurras 9. John Harley 10. James DiPietro 11. Anthony Caccioppo 12. Chris McGuire 13. Danny Pizzo 14. Kyle Halpin 15. PJ McGay 16. Henry Cuesta 17. Bob Dalke 18. Luke Foerster 18. Tom Sullivan

Mini Stocks: 1. CJ Zukowski 2. Chris Olivari 3. Marissa Stewart 4. Tyler Farrell 5. Eoughan Heyward 6. Charles Astacio 7. Paul Wojcik

Vintage All Stars: 1. Sal Accardi Jr. 2. Don Howe 3. Tom Pickerell 4. John Jasinski 5. Mark Miller 6. Jimmy Red 7. Frank Saladino 8. Pat Hughes

8-Cylinder Enduro (top ten) 1. Woot Lawrence 2. Greg Harris 3. Pat Collins Jr. 4. Ricky Carman 5. Mariah Lawrence 6. Don Carasiti 7. Pat Collins 8. Sean Fitzpatrick 9. Justin Squires 10. Richie Carman 

Demolition Derby: Winner- Jason Savoy