Oval Speed Bubba 150 Starts 2026 Crown Jewel Series Chase For Ted Christopher Cup At Riverhead Raceway Saturday

(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)

Saturday the Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modifieds return to action after a week off at Riverhead Raceway in a big way with the running of the 7th annual Oval Speed Bubba 150. The Bubba 150 offers over $14,000 in special award and lap money and serves as the first race of five 2026 Crown Jewel Series extra distance races for the Ted Christopher Cup. A full card of NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts will complement the 150-lap Modified special. 

Chase Grennan of Glen Cove drove to a lucrative $7,166 payday in the 2025 Oval Speed Bubba 150 last August with the race in part propelling the now 19-year-old talent to the 2025 Crown Jewel Series championship and the Ted Christopher Cup. Heading into the 2026 edition of the race Saturday celebrating the life of long time Bill Park team member Bob “Bubba” Patanjo, it’s Chase’s older brother Owen who sits atop the 2026 Buzz Chew Chevrolet NASCAR Modified championship chase. Owen, a schoolteacher by day hopes to pad his 6-point advantage over three drivers who are tied for second in the current rankings, Chris Young of Calverton, Mark Stewart of Riverhead and Chris Rogers of Patchogue. Just two points back in a tie for fifth in the current ranking are Chase Grennan and Matt Brode of East Islip. Kyle Elllwood of Riverhead, Roger Turbush of Calverton Cory Midgett of East Hampton and Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills are seventh through tenth in the point standings heading to Saturday.

Last week in a separate media release Erin Larsen-Delaney of Riverhead Raceway and Dennis Freese of Oval Speed announced at special awards program of $7.700, which was increased to $7,900 when it was disclosed post release that Jim Sylvester, INEX Legend Race Car driver and team owner posted $200 for the First Car Out f the Race. Over the weekend Larsen-Delaney disclosed two complete sets of laps had been sold at $20 per lap, with some lap specialty laps offering more. The leader of a lap during the 150 will receive $10, while $6 and $4 are paid to the second and third place cars each lap with specialty laps worth more.

The Blunderbusts are set to contest their third race of 2026 with Jim Laird of Islip Terrace sweeping the first two races, can the Laird express be stopped in the 20-lap feature Saturday. As hot as Jim Laird Jr. might be, there is another driver on the property who is nearly nuclear with Riely O’Keefe of Manorville winning four of the five INEX Legend Race Car events to date this summer. Only Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches, the 30-time and all-time leading winner in the class has shared victory lane with O’Keefe heading to Saturday’s 20-lapper.

Also in action are the Street Stocks where competition has been the theme with four different winners in as many races. Chris Lescenski of Riverhead won the mist recent Street Stock contest and hopes to become the first repeat winner at the end of 20-lap Saturday. Another red-hot driver is Ryan Zukowski in the Mini Stocks, “The Z-Man” is three-for-three in races run this year and hopes to keep his win streak going. Popular Enduro veteran Woot Lawrence of Southampton hopes to win his second 40-lap 8-Cylinder Enduro in a race that will close out the program.

Qualifying for the Oval Speed Bubba 150 is 5:30 PM, opening ceremonies are planned at 6:45 PM. General admission gates open at 5:00 PM, adults are $30, kids 6-12 $20, 5 & under are free.

To check in on all the 2026 championship standings, remainder of the schedule of events please visit http://www.riverheadraceway.com, emails reach us at [email protected]. Our phone number remains 631-842-RACE. 

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