AJ DeSantis Soars In Eagle Chevrolet 50 At Riverhead Raceway

(Press Release from Riverhead Raceway)

When AJ DeSantis of Yaphank woke up Friday morning, he probably did so with thoughts of having a good night at Riverhead Raceway in the Eagle Chevrolet 50 Crate Modified event tied for the championship lead. DeSantis exceeded all his expectations when he set a new Crate Modified track record in qualifying before leading wire to wire to record his second win of the 2026 NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts and left the track as the sole championship leader. 

With a lap of 12.207 AJ DeSantis with his Tiana Shores Lawn & Tree Service Chevy broke the track record of 12.211 set by Dave Brigati of Calverton back on May 18th, 2019. The new mark also gave DeSantis the pole for the 50-lapper and the grandson of the late Tom Tillotson wasted no time moving to the lead at the throw of the green. Outside pole sitter and second quick from qualifying Andrew Farnham ran second to DeSantis for the first lap before Kyle Ellwood who started third slipped under Farnham for the spot. Early on Ellwood seemed to be able to keep pace with DeSantis, but as the laps clicked off quickly without interruption Kyle’s car seemed to lose pace allowing Farnham to move back into the picture. On lap 30 Farnham was able to duck his nose under Ellwood exiting the fourth corner for second and Andrew was left with the task of trying to erase a two second advantage enjoyed by the leader.

While Farnham was able to close trim some of DeSantis’s advantage in the closing laps when the checker flag waved it was AJ DeSantis earning his sixth career victory tying hi with Vinny Delaney for 8th on the all-time win list. “I know my grandpa is smiling” AJ said right after exiting his car in My Guy Auto Supply NAPA victory lane. “I have to thank Chris Busick and CJ Lehmann, a while back they taught me how to do this deal, how to work on them and all” DeSantis offered. “Big thanks to my sponsors Tiana Shores Lawn & Tree, Strong Oil and of course Jagger Lounge, they are here tonight”.

Andrew Farnham of Baldwin would close to within 1.196 of winner DeSantis before settling for second in the LA Technology Group Chevy, Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead was third in the Goodfellas Auto Glass entry. Michael Berner of Patchogue crossed the line fourth, Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches was fifth.

The 20-lap Blunderbust feature event at times resembled a popular Friday night TV wrestling show and when the final bell rang Matt Triola of Bay Shore was declared the winner, his second straight victory. A lap was barely completed with Jarrett Campbell leading Tom Sullivan before a yellow waved for a Jim Laird Jr. and Brandon Hubbard incident off turn two, Hubbard was done while Laird was able to continue. When the race resumed Campbell and Sullivan stayed out front until the 4th lap when Matt Triola slipped by Sullivan, two laps later Triola powered his way by Campbell for the lead with an inside pass exiting turn four. Following Triola’s lead, Laird was right on Matt’s bumper, and another Triola/Laird heated battle was in the making. Laird would pepper leader Triola through the corners over seven laps, on lap 13 the contact between the lead duo shot them up the hill in the third and fourth turns allowing Campbell to retake the lead. Campbell had a mirror full of the two raging bulls, Triola and Laird, and on lap 18 they both slipped under Jarrett to reclaim the top two positions. Triola took the white flag as the leader, but Laird gave Matt a shove entering the third turn moving him up the hill and Jim to driver by for the apparent win. Race control deemed Laird’s pass too aggressive and declared Matt Triola, who crossed the line second the winner with his LI Debris racer. Tom Sullivan of Massapequa was runner-up with his Island Trees Automotive entry; Jarrett Campbell of Yaphank was third with his Lake Masonry racer.

Riely O’Keefe of Manorville continued his winning ways in the 20-lap INEX Legend Race Car feature, but it was far from an easy task for O’Keefe who has now won five of the seven features contested in 2026. Alex Halinar and Phillip Alaimo brought the 26-car field to green with Hodge moving out front while Halinar raced with Phillip Alaimo for second which Alaimo claimed on lap 2. On lap 5 Alaimo made a bid for the lead on Hodge payoff as the two former INEX Bandolero drivers and friends raced at the front of the field, both seeking their first career Legend victory. Hodge undaunted at losing the lead to Alaimo would step back out front on lap 13 ducking under his buddy off the fourth corner. It would be right around that moment when the Jaws movie music theme could be cued, as Riely O’Keefe who started the race 11th made his way to third. After reeling in the two teenage drivers, O’Keefe passed Alaimo for second on lap 18 and one lap later coming to the white flag Riely was able drop under Hodge to take the lead entering the first turn. Over the final 3/4 of a lap Riely O’Keefe stayed out front in the Joe Ryan Race Cars machine to claim his 11th win at Riverhead since July 12th of 2025, 14th of his career moving him into sole possession of 6th all-time. Nick Hodge of Lake Grove was runner-up in the Sea Pro Marine Dock Builders mount while Phillip Alaimo of Miller Place completed the podium third with his Turf Kings entry. 

Brandon Hubbard of Mastic erased the bad taste of a lap 1 exit in the Blunderbust feature with a victory in the 20-lap Street Stock feature, his first of 2026. Chris McGuire set the tone at the throw of the green breaking out front over all-time leading winner Dave Antos. Hubbatd would work his way by Antos on a lap 2 double file restart and set sail for leader McGuire. After four laps of perusing the leader Hubbard raced his way around McGuire for the race lead on lap 6, McGuire tucked into second while Antos and Jarrod Hayes tussled for third. A caution on lap 12 set up another double file restart, one Hubbard would again master in his Top Twenty Motorsports Chevy. It would be Hayes making his move during the resumption of the race making his way to second.  However, Brandon Hubbard, a former champion of the Blunderbusts would not be beaten in this race earning his 5th career win tying him with Max Handley for 6th on the all-time win list. Jarrod Hayes of Calverton, fresh off an Alaskan vacation was runner-up in the North Fork Sanitation Monte Carlo while Dave Antos of Lindenhurst placed third in the EP Milling & Sweeping Monte Carlo.

Another driver salvaging his race night after a bad outcome in an earlier event was second generation driver Ricky Carman of Ridge who topped the night ending 40-lap, 8-Cylinder Enduro. Dominic Ranieri, a driver who was among the all-time leading 8-Cylinder Enduro winners during the heyday of such events broke to the early lead in the same car he won all those races with. Ricky Carman, looking to atone for a DNF in the Street Stock event raced his way towards the front, passing Ranieri for the lead on lap 9 with an inside pass exiting the fourth corner. Once Ricky had the Long Island Muscle Car Garage Nova Chevy out front, he never looked back scoring his first win of the year. Woot Lawrence of Southampton was second in the Gregor Well Drilling machine, defending champion Kevin Feeney of East Quogue came home third in the Ham Racing entry.

Crate Modifieds: 1. AJ DeSantis 2. Andrew Farnham 3. Kyle Ellwood 4. Michael Berner 5. Richie Davidowitz 6. Vinny Delaney 7. Thomas Grattan 8. Kim Hyde

Blunderbusts: 1. Matt Triola 2. Tom Sullivan 3. Jarrett Campbell 4. Jackie Handley 5. Brandon Hubbard DNS- Anthony Capobianco DQ- Jim Laird Jr.

Legend Race Cars: 1. Riely O’Keefe 2. Nick Hodge 3. Phillip Alaimo 4. Richie Davidowitz 5. Chris Sinatro 6. Brad Van Houten 7. Chevy Rommeney 8. Ray Fitzgerald 9. Jim Sylvester 10. Anthony Marsh 11. Will Sipala 12. Jeff Farruggia Jr. 13. Alex Halinar 14. Charles Hodge 15. Marissa Stewart 16. Michael Barry 17. Joe Cooke Jr. 18. Cillian Tennant 19. Michael Metcalf 20. Ed Stadtlander 21. Chance Lutz 22. Rob Destefano Jr. 23. Steve Renn 24. Billy King Jr. 25. Kendall Van Houten 26. Colin McNamara DNS-Mike Renn

Street Stocks: 1. Brandon hubbard 2. Jarrod Hayes 3. Dave Antos 4. Dennis Kurras 5. Danny Pizzo 6. Chris Lescenski 7. Cody Triola 8. Rob Bader 9. Kyle Halpin 10. Alyssa Paprocky 11. Bob Dalke 12. Rich Braun 13. Luke Foerster 14. Steve Harding 15. Chris McGuire 16. David White 17. Ricky Carman 18. Mark Godnick

8-Cylinder Enduro (top ten): 1. Ricky Carman 2. Woot Lawrence 3. Kevin Feeney 4. Anthony Pizzo 5. Jess Martines Jr. 6. Richie Carman 7. Dominic Ranieri 8. Roger Tramm 9. Joe Boccia 10. Steve Jones    

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