Riverhead Raceway opens its 75th Anniversary season this weekend

Riverhead Raceway, the last surviving oval track on Long Island, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Riverhead Raceway is the last remaining oval track on Long Island. It is part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series circuit and the only NASCAR stock car track in the New York metropolitan area.

Track construction began in 1949. The raceway opened as a dirt track in 1951 and operated as a dirt track through 1954. The quarter-mile oval track was first paved in 1955.

Ed and Clara Hawkins of Coram owned the track in the 1960s and in the 1970s leased it to a few different operators. “Tom Galan was perhaps the most successful,” Riverhead Raceway announcer Bob Finan said. Finan became involved in the sport in 1971.

Barbara and Jim Cromarty, who then leased and operated Islip Speedway, leased the track from Hawkins in 1978 and ran Friday nights, running Islip on Saturdays. 

In 1984, the Islip track was sold and shut down. At about the same time, the Riverhead track went up for sale and the Cromartys bought it.

That was also about the time the landmark Indian came to Riverhead, Barbara Cromarty said in a September 2012 interview. It was one of 12 giant Indians among the numerous larger-than-life plastic sculptures at the Danbury State Fair. When the fair shut down and the fairgrounds were sold — the site is home to a shopping mall today — the statues were auctioned off.

The Indian has become a local landmark and even made an appearance in the hit HBO series, “The Sopranos.” When a “for sale” sign went up at the track for the filming of the television show, Cromarty said, their phone was ringing off the hook with calls from people frantic that the track was being sold.

“We’re not going anywhere,” she said.

The iconic statue was toppled by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 and broke in two. It was repaired and back at its post by the end of that year, ready to greet racing fans for the 2013 season.

Riverhead Raceway was honored as Business of the Year by the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce in 2012.

The Cromartys sold the raceway to Eddie and Connie Partridge in 2015. The Partridges, along with their partner/nephew Tom Gatz, began operating the facility in 2016.

After Eddie Partridge’s sudden passing in Virginia in September 2021 — shortly after his #6 modified driven by Ryan Preece won a big event at Richmond Raceway —Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz continued to operate the track. They carry the business on today.

Riverhead Raceway remains a staple of family entertainment for racing enthusiasts not only in Riverhead but across all of Long Island.

75th anniversary season opening weekend

The raceway’s 75th anniversary season opener takes place Saturday with the NASCAR “Pack the Track Night” for the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series. 

Here’s what’s on tap this weekend, according to a Riverhead Raceway press release:

The NASCAR Modifieds will headline the “Pack the Track” lid lifter running a 50-lap feature event. John Beatty Jr. of Merrick and his car owner Mark S. Mina will be aiming for their third consecutive championship in 2025. The Late Models (25), Eagle Chevrolet Crate Modifieds (25), TK Figure Eights (15), Blunderbusts (20), Super Pro Trucks (20) and INEX Legend Race Cars (20) will all compliment the NASCAR Modifieds Saturday. 

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. Saturday, with qualifying to commence at 4:40 p.m. or at the conclusion of the opening night drivers meeting. 

The season-long 75th Anniversary celebration continues Sunday afternoon with the annual May Meltdown program.  The NASCAR Street Stocks will take center stage of the matinee that gets underway with qualifying at 12:30 p.m.

The growing ranks of Street Stock competitors led by 2024 champion Max Handley of Medford will compete under a full NASCAR sanction for the 2025 campaign. Also running under full NASCAR sanction for the new season are the Mini Stocks and their defending champion Joe Warren Jr. of Ridge.

The INEX Bandolero stars of tomorrow are in action in 15-lap feature events for both the Bandit & Outlaw classes. 

Mariah Lawrence of Southampton returns to defend her 2024 Truck Enduro championship, as do the two other Enduro 2024 champions, Kevin Feeney of East Quogue and John Palmeri of Lindenhurst.

Spectator gates open at 12 noon Sunday for the May Meltdown.

General admission is $30 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, 5 & under are free. Pit passes are $45 with a NASCAR license, $65 without.

The complete 2025 75th Anniversary calendar of events can be viewed at  the Riverhead Raceway website.