LARGE CROWD WATCHES JOHN BEATTY JR. PAD RIVERHEAD RACEWAY NASCAR MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD WITH SATURDAY VICTORY

Two-time and defending Riverhead Raceway NASCAR Modified champion John Beatty Jr. of Merrick scored his first victory of the 2025 Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Saturday before a packed house at Riverhead Raceway. Beatty, who came to Saturday's race with a 28-point cushion in the championship chase furthered that advantage with his 14th career win, becoming the fifth winner in as many NASCAR Modified races at Riverhead this season.  

Roger Turbush sat to the right of pole sitter John Beatty Jr. for the start of the 50-lap feature and the 30-time Super Pro Truck winner broke to the early lead with Beatty filing into second after the duo raced side by side for a few laps. The first 15-laps of the contest ran off caution free before a minor incident involving three cars on the backstretch slowed the race, setting up a double file restart. When the time came for Turbush to choose inside/outside for the restart, Roger picked the outside, moving Beatty inside. When the green light flashed back on Beatty was able to fire off better than he did on the initial start, taking the lead from Turbush to start the 16th circuit.

Roger was able to stay in the tire tracks of the race leader but as the race moved along Owen Grennan made his presence known pulling up to the rear spoiler of Turbush, which was just fine with leader Beatty who gained some breathing room. Over the final 10-lap segment of the contest, most recent winner Chase Grennan and Chris Rogers, who started in the final row of the 16-car field joined the lead trio forming a five-car train at the front.

When the dust settled the MSM Elite Motorsports Fury with John Beatty Jr. at the wheel scored another popular victory. "It's wonderful to win in front of this great crowd that turned out tonight" Beatty proclaimed post-race. When asked by Stephen Halpin, who was conducting his final victory lane interview after a 33-year announcing career at Riverhead about his early race duel with Turbush the winner heaped praise on his rival, "Roger is a great guy to race against" Beatty offered, then turning the tables on Halpin, "but enough about me, let's celebrate you and your career", with the two agreeing to share an adult beverage by the Mark Mina owned car afterwards.

Roger Turbush of Calverton steered the Cromer's Market Chevy to second place honors warding off a hard pressing Owen Grennan of Glen Cove who finished third in the Eastport Feeds entry.  Chase Grennan of Glen Cove and Chris Rogers of Patchogue completed the top five.

In the Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modified 25-lap event AJ DeSantis of Yaphank would lead wire to wire for his first win of 2025, the third victory of his career. DeSantis, who started his racing career under the watchful eye of his grandfather, the late Tom Tillotson drove a flawless race grabbing the lead at the throw of the green. Early on AJ and Michael Berner tested each other front the front row but as the race took shape DeSantis took sole possession of the top spot. Relying on lessons taught him by his grandfather in those formative years with the Eastern Kart Racing Association, AJ hit his marks in the Strong Oil/JagerLounge Chevy to score the well-deserved win. Michael Berner of Patchogue survived some late challenges to bring the Pro Diesel Chevy home second, Andrew Farnham of Baldwin, the driver providing those challenges to Berner finished third in the LA Technology Group machine. 

Defending INEX Legend Race Car champion Riely O'Keefe of Manorville became the fifth different winner of 2025 in as many races winning their 20-lap main event. At the outset Jayden Glennerster broke to the early advantage and for nearly the first half of the race looked to be in line for his first career win. Veteran Anthony Marsh chased Glennerster for the first 7-laps before another young talent Chevy Rommeney snuck by Marsh for second on lap 8. During a double file restart Rommeney was passed by O'Keefe who was steering the Jim Sylvester owned Joe Ryan Race Cars back-up. The momentum the O'Keefe built passing Rommeney continued a lap later when he dipped under Glennerster for the race lead exiting the fourth turn as the field took the halfway signal. With O'Keefe leading, attention turned to a new duel for second between early leader Glennerster and a re surging Chevy Rommeney. A lap 13 double file restart would push Rommeney underneath Glennerster on lap 13, leaving the second-generation driver seven laps to make a run for the lead. However, when the checker flag waved Riely O'Keefe earned his 4th career win in the Black Sheep Bagels entry, instantly inserting himself in the 2025 championship tussle. Chevy Rommeney of Bohemia turned in a stellar runner-up finish in the MC-11 coupe, while Jayden Glennerster of Riverhead brought the Riverhead Toyota mount home third. 

With a race long charge from deep in the field to a last lap pass for the lead and win, John Alaimo of Miller Place captured the 15-lap INEX Bandolero Outlaws feature. Madison Tomaszewski made a bold move at the throw of the green racing her way from a third starting berth to the race lead on the first lap, before the first turn. Madison saw several challengers' step-up during the race, Jordan Ryan, Aria Ligon, Thomas Grattan and John Alaimo all took turns rode on Tomaszewski's coattails. It would be Alaimo in his Turf King Outlaw who would no be denied making a deep run entering turn three on the final lap, passing Tomaszewski off the final turn for his first win of 2025. Madison Tomaszewski of Laurel was a close second in the R&K Precision Outlaw, with Jordan Ryan of Manorville an impressive third with his State Farm-Steve Pescetti backed racer. 

Once again Landon Solomito of Little Compton, RI enjoyed a two-win weekend with his Acme Sanitary Services INEX Bandolero Bandit team. As he did the weekend of June 20th and 21st, Landon won the Fast Friday Bandit event at Seekonk Speedway before heading to south to Riverhead Raceway to collect his second straight win Saturday. Wyatt Goodale paced the race over the first 7 laps before being passed by Landon Solomito entering the first turn on lap 8. Once out front the third-generation driver drove to the winner's circle completing another successful race weekend. Emmett Grattan of Southold moved to second just prior to halfway and was closing on the eventual winner before settling for second in his IGA Market of Southold Bandit, early leader Wyatt Goodale of Riverhead completed the podium in third with the Riverhead Building Supply entry. 

Emily Gatz of Riverhead proudly returned the TS Haulers colors to victory lane when she won her first career 10-lap INEX Bandolero Beginners feature. Mason Dickerson showed the way for the first lap of the contest before Emily Gatz powered her way by on the second lap. Once out-front Emily broke away from the pack never looking back, afterwards noting, "I am just so happy to win with my Uncle Eddie's colors". Opening day winner Tyler Ross of Westbury was runner-up in his Grand Slam Collectibles machine while Brody Solomito of Little Compton, RI in his first ever start came from 7th starting spot to finish third in the Natural Design entry. 

Perhaps the best race of the night unfolded in the 40-lap 4/6-Cylinder Enduro with John Palmeri of Lindenhurst making a successful late race charge in his J&J Towing mount for the win. CJ Zukowski of Riverhead looked like a sure winner before Palmeri moved to second with ten laps remaining. As the lead duo tip-toed through lapped traffic Palmeri seized the moment in the closing laps for the win. Zukowski was runner-up, early race leader Zach Tyler of Cutchogue crossed the line third in the Miller & Caggiano Attorneys-at-Law machine. 

NASCAR Modifieds: 1. John Beatty Jr. 2. Roger Turbush 3. Owen Grennan 4. Chase Grennan 5. Chris Rogers 6. CJ Lehmann 7. Michael Rutkoski 8. Timmy Solomito 9. Tom Rogers Jr. 10. Dylan Slepian 11. Matt Brode 12. Mark Stewart 13. Chris Young 14. Brian Brown 15. Kyle Ellwood 16. JR Bertuccio DNS-Dave Brigati

Crate Modifieds: 1. AJ DeSantis 2. Michael Berner 3. Andrew Farnham 4. Eric Hersey 5. Richie Davidowitz 6. Joe Warren Jr. 7. Tom Sekulski 8. Vinny Delaney 9. Sean Glennon

Legend Race Cars: 1. Riely O'Keefe 2. Chevy Rommeney 3. Jayden Glennerster 4. Ray Fitzgerald 5. Anthony Marsh 6. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 7. TJ Moon 8. Phillip Alaimo 9. Nick Hodge 10. Mike Van Houten Jr. 11. Ben Morabito 12. Colin Volpe 13. Alex Halinar 14. Pat Moore 15. Chris Sinatro 16. Robert Henninger 17. Charkes Hodge 18. Jim Sylvester 19. Michael Metcalf 20. Ed Stadtlander 21. Joe Cooke Jr. 22. Marissa Stewart 23. Kendall Van Houten 24. Kyle Ellwood 25. Chase Van Houten 26. Frank Dumicich Jr. 

Bandolero Beginners: 1. Emily Gatz 2. Tyler Ross 3. Brody Solomito 4. Mason Dickerson 5. Alexis Gatz 6. Carissa Busam 7. Megan Cummings

Bandolero Bandits: 1. Landon Solomito 2. Emmett Grattan 3. Wyatt Goodale 4. Blake Grattan 6. Layla Quilliam 7. Christian Ryan 8. Leighton Van Houten 9. Daxx Halpin 10. Brooke Meyer 11. Mackenzie Ulmet 12. Mason Goodale

Bandolero Outlaws: 1. John Alaimo 2. Madison Tomaszewski 3. Jordan Ryan 4. Madison White 5. Michael Barry 6. Grace Cheslak 7. Aria Ligon 8. Thomas Grattan 9. Tyler Oxee 10. Antonio D'Alonzo 

4/6-Cylinder Enduro (top ten): 1. John Palmeri 2. CJ Zukowski 3. Zach Tyler 4. Ryan T Warren 5. Mike Mujsce Jr. 6. Mike Fragola 7. Mike Kowalski 8. David Olivari 9. Charles Sherry 10. Eoughan Heyward.