Increased security ordered at Calverton drag races after screwdriver stabbing incident Saturday

Riverhead Town is requiring increased security at the Calverton Enterprise Park drag racing events after one attendee stabbed another with a screwdriver on Saturday, the event’s promoter said.

The new security measures, which include the presence of a Riverhead Police officer at each event, have led Race Track, Not Street promoter Peter Scalzo to cancel several event dates and raise admission prices by $5 to cover the additional cost, he said in a phone interview Tuesday.

According to Scalzo, the victim of the stabbing had been feuding on Facebook prior to the event with the friend of the person who stabbed them with a screwdriver. The victim “really wasn’t hurt” and even raced later that night, Scalzo said. The victim declined to press charges, he added. Both individuals have since been banned from the events.

Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost declined to comment Tuesday, citing an ongoing investigation. In a press release Wednesday, Riverhead Police said, “The individuals involved in the altercation have been uncooperative and no arrests have been made at this time.” 

The police are continuing to investigate the incident as an assault. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information related to the case is asked to contact the Riverhead Police Department at (631) 727-4500; all calls will be kept confidential, police said.

The town, which owns the runway at the Calverton Enterprise Park where the drag racing events take place, is requiring Scalzo to have a Riverhead Police officer on-site during events at a cost of $850 per day, Scalzo said. The town is also requiring Scalzo to hire three additional security guards, specifically to roam around the event, he said. 

“I want to express that the town is 1,000% right. We’re on their property. Whatever they say goes,” Scalzo said. “And we want to have it safe. We want families to be able to come here and know [it’s safe] to bring [their] kids.”

To offset the added expense, Scalzo has raised admission by $5 and canceled five Sunday events. Online tickets purchased for the canceled dates can be used for another date or refunded, he said in a Facebook post. An updated schedule is available on the Race Track, Not Street website.

Supervisor Tim Hubbard said in a text message Tuesday that Saturday’s incident was only partly responsible for the new security requirements. Town police have been discussing additional safety measures with the promoter for some time due to growing crowds, he said.

“[B]ecause of the large number of attendees, the police and private security both feel additional public safety is needed at the event,” Hubbard said.

Attendance has increased in part because the town recently allowed the use of a traction compound, which helps drag racers launch and accelerate faster, Scalzo said. Saturday’s event drew about 1,400 people, he added.

Scalzo said he wants to continue organizing drag racing events at EPCAL. This is the fifth consecutive year drag racing events have been held on the town-owned runway, once part of the Naval weapons manufacturing and testing facility there operated by Northrop-Grumman until the 1990s. Since launching in 2021, the Race Track, Not Street events have expanded to include drifting and go-kart racing on select dates.

Editor’s Note: This article was amended to clarify information Scalzo provided after initial publication about who was allegedly stabbed during Saturday’s altercation.