Coming into the Newsday Salutes First Responders NASCAR Modified feature Saturday at Riverhead Raceway, Owen Grennan of Glen Cove formulated a game plan upon finding out he’d start outside of the front row. Grennan, a schoolteacher by day executed his plan to perfection winning the 50-lap main event, his second of 2025 and third of his career. Prior to racing Connie Partridge & Tom Gatz in conjunction with Newsday presented a moving salute to all First responders during opening ceremonies, complete with a flyover by the Suffolk County Police Department.
Kyle Ellwood and Owen Grennan made up the front row of the NASCAR Modified starting grid with Ellwood quickly bolting out front. Grennan, sticking to his pre-race game plan quickly ducked in behind Ellwood for the first segment of the race. Owen, who returns to teaching this week after the summer break was content riding behind Kyle, saving his tires for later in the race. Then the old saying sooner than later came into play on lap 18 when the caution waved for an incident involving Tom Rogers Jr. slowing with front end damage drawing the only yellow flag of the race.
Lined up alongside Ellwood for the resumption of the race, Grennan saw the opportunity to speed up his game plan when the green reappeared and was able to gain a run on Ellwood as the two raced nerf bar to nerf bar, each giving the other plenty of room to work with as Grennan took the lead officially on lap 19. Over the remainder of the contest Ellwood stayed right with Grennan hoping to catch him by surprise with an inside pass off the corners. After the halfway signal was given, Chase Grennan joined the party racing his way to third making, altering Ellwood’s plans slightly.
After the lap 18 stoppage, the race would finish with a 32-lap green flag run which was just fine with Owen Grennan and his Eastport Feeds team as he was first under the checker flag without any further double file restarts. After exiting his car Grennan waved the flag and pumped his first extra hard after his misfortunes during the Wednesday night event, “can’t thank my guys enough, we had work to do in a short amount of time to be on top of our game tonight” Grennan shared. “Early on I just wanted to stay with Kyle but not burn my stuff up, once I had that chance on the outside I went for it” Grennan offered, “hats off to Kyle Ellwood, he raced me the way we should all race each other, gave me plenty of room, he’s one of the best here”.
Kyle Ellwood of Riverhead was second in the Millennium Limited Contracting Chevy after holding the race winners younger brother Chase Grennan of Glen Cove in his Black Forest Auto entry who completed the podium. Mark Stewart of Riverhead was fourth, Timmy Solomito of Islip fifth in the final rundown.
Late Model winner Dave Brigati on Aug. 30, 2025. RiverheadLOCAL/Richie Grodski courtesy of Riverhead Raceway
The 40-lap Late Model feature may have been a rough and tumble affair for everyone except the eventual race winner Dave Brigati of Calverton. “The Fancy Farmer” was able to avoid the numerous missteps that unfolded during the extra distance tilt to earn a milestone 10th career LM win tying him for 17th on the track win list with Jim Malone Jr., Ed Densieski and Greg Kleila. Brandon Turbush raced out front early with Ryan Zukowski, CJ Lehmann and Brigati among his challengers prior to halfway. Brigati chased Turbush for 20-laps after moving to second on lap 13. Just after a restart on the 33rd lap, Ed Cheslak made a bold move to come to second on lap 34. Two laps later Turbush and Cheslak would bounce off each other exiting the fourth corner with the tangle lasting until they reached the first turn. The incident moved Dave Brigati to the race lead from third with CJ Lehmann now second. When the race resumed Brigati, steering the Coors Light entry was smart to pull away as things remained contentious behind him over the final four circuits. Keith Rotzi of Islip was runner-up in the Rudi’s Bar & Grill Chevy; championship leader Gerard Giordano of Freeport was third with his Venture Auto Body racer.
Vinnie Delaney Crate Modified Winner Aug. 30, 2025. RiverheadLOCAL/Richie Grodski courtesy of Riverhead Raceway
Vinny Delaney of Islip Terrace ended a three-year winless spell when he topped the 25-lap Eagle Chevrolet feature earning his 6th career victory in the process. Delaney and Sean Glennon brought the field to green with Delaney gaining the early advantage. AJ DeSantis entered the conversation when he worked his way under Glennon exiting the fourth corner to start the 3rd lap, AJ then settling in behind Delaney. DeSantis would show his nose to the race leader from time to time, but he soon has challengers of his own. Richie Davidowitz, Michael Berner and Eric Hersey were all within striking distance. Late race cautions would ramp up the intensity among the top five, on one such occasion DeSantis tried to hang to the outside of Delaney, allowing Davidowitz to duck under for second on lap 20, but DeSantis wasn’t going to go away quietly hanging to the right of Davidowitz, which was just fine with leader Delaney. When the race concluded and the dust settled a relieved Vinny Delaney withstood all challengers to park the Stakey’s Pumpkin Farm Chevy in victory lane. Richie Davidowitz of East Moriches survived the frantic last lap pushing and shoving match for second in the Rosemar Paving machine, Eric Hersey of Commack came home third with his Peterson Irrigation Chevy.
Figure Eights winner Ryan Warren on Aug. 30, 2025. RiverheadLOCAL/Richie Grodski courtesy of Riverhead Raceway
The TK Figure Eights had a rough outing as their schedules 15-lap feature was trimmed to 10-laps due to time constraints. When the caution waved for a two-car incident on lap 10, the race was deemed official with Ryan Warren of Ridge earning his second career win. Despite the race falling five laps short it was no walk in the ark for Ryan Warren who raced to the lead at the throw of the green over Will Farrell. Defending champion Scott Pedersen out for another win made his way to second on lap 2, joined quickly in third by his nephew Allan. Entering Saturday, either Scott (4) or Allan (3) had won in the seven events run in 2025, so Warren knew he had to run the race of his career if he were to become the first 2025 winner not named Pedersen. Armed with motivation to win one for his mentor TK Tommy Kraft, Warren was able to keep both Scott & Allan Pedersen at bay over numerous restarts to take the emotional win in the Advanced Waterworks machine, “this means so much to me to win for TK, Kathy and Tommy mean so much to my career, without them I don’t have one in Figure Eights”. Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches was second in the Elite Towing Camaro, Scott Pedersen of Shirley third with the Land, Air, Water Environmental Chevy.
Super Pro Truck winner Sean Glennon on Aug. 30, 2025. RiverheadLOCAL/Richie Grodski courtesy of Riverhead Raceway
Anytime the Super Pro Trucks take to the track in 2025, more often than not the race boils down to an intense battle between Sean Glennon of Northport and Jack Handley Jr. of Medford, the defending champion. Saturday’s 30-lapper was no exception as the two rivals again took each other to slide job city, swapping the lead numerous times over the final half of the race before Glennon prevailed for his fifth win of the season. Early on Frank Dumicich Jr. paced Lou Maestri over the first four trips around the oval, Sean Glennon moved to second on lap 5 while Handley was still making his way towards the front. Glennon pursued Dumicich for eight laps before jumping to the outside to take the lead on lap 13. Before Sean could get comfortable his nemesis Handley came to second during a double file restart on lap 17 and the slide jobs, swapping paint and intense racing was about to commence, again. Each driver took turns leading before the checker flag dropped and when t did Sean Glennon in the Glennon Construction Chevy came out on top. The win is the 15th of Sean’s career, tying him for 7th all time with Frank Dumicich Jr., who crossed the line third in the Okpetroluemmarketplace.com Toyota. Jack Handley Jr. of Medford was third with the Andre Vega owned Cohen’s Fashion Optical of Riverhead Toyota.
Street Stock winner Brian Brown on Aug. 30, 2025. RiverheadLOCAL/Richie Grodski courtesy of Riverhead Raceway
In what was clearly the smoothest race of the night Brian Brown of Calverton notched his second win of the 2025 campaign winning a non-stop 20-lap Street Stock event. Brown and Tom Sullivan made up the front row with Brown jumping out front while Sullivan faded to third as Danny Pizzo slid under him at the drop of the green. Brown, who won the May Meltdown season opener the first weekend of May was very content with a caution free race driving the Eastport Feeds Chevelle to his 12th career win, second on the all-time win list. Danny Pizzo of Holbrook, back after missing a race due to a surgical procedure brought his sponsor wanted Chevy home second, Jarrod Hayes of Calverton completed the podium in third with the North Fork Sanitation entry.
Annual First Responders 40-lap winner Fred Grover.RiverheadLOCAL/Richie Grodski courtesy of Riverhead Raceway
In the annual First Responders 40-lap race, retired NYPD officer Fred Grover of Huntington would drive to victory in the popular race. Grover was chased by Suffolk County Corrections Officer Kevin Feeney of Quogue with Pat Collins Sr. & Pat Collins Jr. of the Southampton Volunteer Fire Department third and fourth in their PC Truck & Equipment machines. Danny Southard of Centereach completed the top five.
Aug. 30 full results
NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Owen Grennan 2. Kyle Ellwood 3. Chase Grennan 4. Mark Stewart 5. Timmy Solomito 6. John Beatty Jr. 7. Roger Turbush 8. Dylan Slepian 9. CJ Lehmann 10. JR Bertuccio 11. Chris Young 12. Howie Brode 13. Ken Darch DQ-, Tom Rogers Jr., Chris Rogers
Late Models: 1. Dave Brigati 2. Keith Rotzi 3. Gerard Giordano 4. CJ Lehmann 5. Ryan Zukowski 6. Russ Jansen 7. Brandon Turbush 8. Ed Cheslak 9. Kevin Metzger 10. Ray Minieri
Crate Modifieds: 1. Vinny Delaney 2. Richie Davidowitz 3. Eric Hersey 4. Michael Berner 5. Andrew Farnham 6. Sean Glennon 7. Thomas Grattan DQ- Tom Sekulski, AJ DeSantis
Figure Eights: 1. Ryan Warren 2. Allan Pedersen 3. Scott Pedersen 4. Will Farrell 5. David White 6. Tyler Farrell 7. Kim Hyde 8. Bobby Dalke
Super Pro Trucks: 1. Sean Glennon 2. Jack Handley Jr. 3. Frank Dumicich Jr. 4. Dave Koenig 6. Tony Naglieri 6. Frank Dumicich Sr. 7. Erin Solomito 8. Charles Sudano 9. Lou Maestri 10. Liam Patrick
Street Stocks: 1. Brian Brown 2. Danny Pizzo 3. Jarrod Hayes 4. Dave Antos 5. Alyssa Paprocky 6. Brandon Turbush 7. Ricky Carman 8. Kyle Halpin 9. Dennis Kurras 10. PJ McGay 11. Rich Braun 12. Bobby Dalke 13. Luke Foerster 14. Scott Pedersen 15. Chris McGuire DNS- John Harley DQ- Tom Sullivan
First Responders Race: 1. Fred Grover 2. Kevin Feeney 3. Pat Collins Sr. 4. Pat Collins Jr. 5. Danny Southard 6. Joe Carroll 7. Donovan Kilas 8. Robert Corwin 9, Matt Galeazzi 10, Willie Burns
Coming up Sept. 6
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns for another exciting 256-lap event on Saturday, Sept. 6. Gates open at 3 p.m. Racing starts at 6. Admission: $40 (adults) $20 (Children 6-12). Children 5 and under free.
More information at RiverheadRaceway.com
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After a stupendous career that spanned nearly two decades from the early 2000s, the seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson retired from full-time racing in 2020. He finished 18th in his final season, ending it with a top-5 finish at the Phoenix Raceway.
Johnson’s life was defined by motorsport. He, reportedly, started racing motorbikes in 1980, when he was just four years old. Understandably, calling it quits was hard for him.
After his final race as a full-time Cup Series competitor in 2020, Johnson spoke to the press about how difficult it had been to arrive at this decision.
“For me, the hardest point was about this time last year [2019] when thoughts were heavy on my mind. And I was going to make the decision and made the decision to myself and my family, then had to go to Rick’s house and talk that through with Mr. Hendrick. So that point in time was probably the most emotional and most difficult,” Johnson had told the press.
Once the decision was made and his final season had begun, Johnson was all about reflecting on his career with pride and savoring every moment. All those memories rolled into one on that final day in Phoenix, leaving him both excited and euphoric.
“It was nice to be competitive out there and run the top 5, finish in the top 5, but my bucket is full. NASCAR has been so wonderful for me. This journey has been more than I could have ever dreamed of, expected, or hoped for,”added Johnson, who was 45 at the time.
Johnson’s final seasons in the sport weren’t as dominant as his earlier ones, and he was aware of it. But he was still happy racing because he had the opportunity to work with some highly capable individuals.
His final championship victory was in 2016. In 2017, Johnson finished 10th in the driver standings, and in 2018, he was 14th. In 2019 and 2020, he finished in 18th place. The iconic Chad Knaus had been his crew chief through all those seasons.
Johnson concluded the 2020 post-race interview with a heartwarming statement. “All those emotions and all that pride rolled up into just a huge smile today walking out on the grid,” he said.
The NASCAR icon went on to become a co-owner of Legacy Motor Club in 2023, and still makes occasional appearances on the grid. Notably, he finished in third place in the 2025 Daytona 500, driving the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE.
Leaving the Cup Series field must have been one of the most heart-wrenching decisions he had to make in his life. But he has found a way to stay associated with the sport in a massive way.
Calling RACER No. 337 “The Greatest Issue” might seem like a tough brief to deliver on. But inside, our new issue lives up to the billing, telling stories of greatness from motorsports past and present.
Fo us, one aspect of greatness is versatility – not just taking part in multiple types of racing, but excelling in them. When discussing the most versatile drivers in motorsports history, there are several candidates for second- and third-best, but the greatest is surely indisputable. Despite his career not starting until he was 19-years old, or perhaps because of this, Mario Andretti accelerated his learning curve by driving anything and everything, his ultimate aim being Formula 1. When he got there, he was ready – and famously took pole for his first grand prix, in 1968 – before continuing to drive anything and everything!
Not only did Andretti drive a wide variety of cars, he also won with them, and was often the difference-maker. Ferrari would not have won the 1970 edition of the Twelve Hours of Sebring without Mario’s speed, verve and determination, and several years and experiences later, he combined those same qualities with a hard-earned technical savvy to relight the fire under a distracted Colin Chapman in Formula 1. The Lotus 77 of 1976 started off as a wayward hound of a car, but largely thanks to Andretti’s feedback, it became domesticated and at the season finale in Japan, he took pole and victory. The following year in the Lotus 78, he became a Formula 1 World Championship contender, and with the Lotus 78 and 79, he sealed the deal in 1978. It’s hard to imagine any of Andretti’s contemporaries providing the same combination of driving talent and engineering know-how to inspire a team’s renaissance.
Of course, Mario being Mario, during his spell at Lotus, he was filling up the weekends between grands prix to race part-time for Penske in Indy cars and competing in the IROC championship (winning the title in 1979). As you can appreciate, it wasn’t the work of a moment to narrow down which of Andretti’s cars we wanted our resident artist, Paul Laguette, to portray on the front cover of this issue, but we feel we’ve covered some memorable bases…
Of course, motorsports is more specialized now by necessity – heck, Formula 1 has 24 rounds per year and runs from early March to early December. Which is why this latest RACER, containing our celebrations of the best drivers and teams of 2025, couldn’t go to press until we knew who was the F1 champion. To this end, as well as paying tribute to Lando Norris, we’ve also commemorated McLaren’s previous 12 F1 world drivers’ championship triumphs.
And bringing versatility into the present, we’ve highlighted a few modern-day drivers who have embraced several motorsport disciplines. One such is Kyle Larson, but in this issue of RACER, our interview with him focuses on his remarkable clinching of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship. It’s quite appropriate that he features in an issue celebrating greatness: with this second title in five years, we have no doubt that Larson is on his way to joining the NASCAR pantheon.
Continuing the theme of greatness, we’ve also tried to narrow down which are the all-time best Indy cars, but it’s a task made tricky by the evolution of the championship and its calendar. The Chaparral 2K was a sensational ground-effect car that absolutely belongs on the list of contenders, but even its designer John Barnard would admit it might have struggled at Langhorne or Pikes Peak. Our effort to decide on the greatest Indy cars depends very much on context.
Discussions about the greatest ever road course are less contentious: the Nürburgring-Nordschleife was a daunting challenge from the day it opened in 1927, and remains so today, because in truth, its evolution hasn’t kept pace with that of the race car, nor could it possibly meet the most demanding safety standards of top-rank series. But that reputation for danger is undoubtedly part of its allure… for onlookers, at least. Jackie Stewart once recounted, “The number of times I thanked God when I finished a lap there… I can’t remember doing one more balls-out lap at the ’Ring than I needed to. It gave you amazing satisfaction, no doubt about it, but anyone who says he loved it is either a liar or he wasn’t going fast enough.”
When a legend who won three grands prix there – one of them by four minutes – describes the challenge of the Nürburgring in such an awe-filled manner, there’s little doubt that it’s the greatest track.
There’s a lot more to enjoy in this RACER, too, including a celebration of another IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD PRO title for Corvette Racing, a double helping of off-road racing, courtesy of Baja 1000 debutant Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Ford’s all-American Dakar racer Mitch Guthrie, an interview with World Superbike legend Jonathan Rea, road impressions of BMW’s M4 CS, and much more.
CLICK HERE to purchase the new issue of RACER. Get 6 print issues of RACER Magazine, unlimited digital access to the RACER archive, and 24/7 motorsports streaming on the RACER+ App for one year at only $8.33/month, two years at $7.71/month, or three years at $7.22/month. CLICK HERE and subscribe now for the ultimate motorsports fan experience.
Carvana (NYSE: CNVA), an industry pioneer for buying and selling used cars online, today unveiled the Daytona paint scheme for seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB owner Jimmie Johnson. The reveal kicks off the new racing season and the fifth year of Carvana and Johnson’s collaboration.
The custom design features interlocking halos that form a gradient across the body, a visual nod to movement, connection, and speed. A prominent rear halo anchors the design, while yellow streaks from the wheels evoke light in motion. The scheme also incorporates Johnson’s iconic neon accent, long associated with his career triumphs and LEGACY. It’s a subtle signature that signals his return to the track where he’s twice claimed victory.
“Carvana has been an incredible partner, and every season we’ve found new ways to celebrate what makes racing so special,” said Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “This year’s scheme is sharp, it’s fresh, and I can’t wait for fans to see it on the track in Daytona.”
Since joining forces in 2021, Carvana and Johnson have pushed the boundaries of creative storytelling both on and off the track, from fan-favorite designs to celebrity collaborations that have brought new energy into the sport. The 2026 season promises to build on that LEGACY.
“We’ve shared an incredible journey with Jimmie and we’re excited for what’s ahead in our fifth year of partnership this season,” said Ryan Keeton, Carvana co-founder and Chief Brand Officer. “Jimmie’s drive, energy, and authenticity always inspire us, and we can’t wait to see him take to the track at Daytona with this brand new design, marking another exciting chapter in our story together.”
Fans can follow Johnson’s 2026 campaign beginning with the DAYTONA 500 on February 15, 2026. He is also confirmed to compete in the San Diego NASCAR Street Race, taking place June 19–21 at Naval Base Coronado.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will compete in the 2026 Daytona 500, Legacy Motor Club announced Thursday (Dec. 18).
Photo by Dominic Aragon/TRE
Johnson will attempt the race in the No. 84 Toyota sponsored by Carvana.
2026 will mark Johnson’s fourth consecutive attempt at The Great American Race in the No. 84, and 23rd attempt overall. The 50-year-old NASCAR Hall-of-Famer won the race in 2006 and 2013.
Johnson finished third in the race last year.
With the announcement, Johnson has confirmed two Cup Series races in 2026, with his other being the street course event at the Naval Base Coronado in San Diego in June.
The 2026 Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 15.
Dominic Aragon is currently the editor-in-chief for The Racing Experts.
From Grants, New Mexico, USA, Aragon started watching NASCAR in 2004 and has been covering the sport since 2009. Aragon is a 2012 graduate of Grants High School and a May 2016 graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in Mass Communications & Journalism. Aragon has worked in local and national media, as a musician, and an educator. He is co-author of the 2024 book “All of It: Daytona 500 Champion Tells the Rest of the Story” with racer Geoff Bodine.
Aragon, his wife Feliz, and son Christopher currently reside in Grants, New Mexico, USA.
You can reach Dominic at daragon@theracingexperts.net.
William Byron is looking to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2026. After making the Championship 4 event at Phoenix Raceway in 2025, Byron wrecked with three laps to go while running in second place. The Hendrick Motorsports driver hopes to rebound from the defeat; however, one of his sponsors won’t be as involved.
Liberty University has cut down its sponsorship for Byron’s No. 24 team ahead of the 2026 season, the university announced. Liberty will sponsor Byron in three races during the 2026 NASCAR season, which is down from six races in 2025 and 12 races in 2024.
The driver of the No. 24 car will have Liberty as a sponsor at Watkins Glen International, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the second event at Martinsville Speedway. It is unclear if Liberty will drop Byron entirely in 2027, but for now, the races are continuing to decrease with the No. 24 team.
CHICAGO — Instituto del Progreso Latino received a $20,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and NASCAR Chicago Street Race. The organizations are teaming up to provide education, training and workforce opportunities to Chicagoland residents and their families.
“Our grant to Instituto is driven by our continued commitment to the communities we serve,” said BCBSIL President Brian Snell. “Helping to provide resources for sustainable careers helps those individuals build physical and financial security, which improves their overall well-being.”
As part of its efforts to improve health equity statewide, BCBSIL provides support to community organizations dedicated to upskilling, developing career paths and providing resources like education and training to help people build stable careers. The Instituto grant supports its nursing program, which will create sustainable careers for its participants and help replenish the health care workforce.
“We are profoundly grateful to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and NASCAR for this gift to Instituto,” said Karina Ayala-Bermejo, president and CEO of Instituto del Progreso Latino. “This investment directly supports our efforts and Instituto’s college nursing programs, expanding opportunities for students to enter the health care workforce and serve our communities. With support from NASCAR and Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we can fasttrack the preparation of new nurses and keep our community’s health care workforce moving forward at full speed.”
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving nine million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn
About Instituto del Progreso Latino Instituto del Progreso Latino is a leading Chicago nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of Latino and immigrant families through education, workforce development, and community empowerment. Its programs create opportunities for individuals of all ages to succeed in school, careers, and civic life.
About NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
