On any given Saturday night, if you’re near Exit 73 off the LIE and hear the sound of roaring engines and crunching metal, don’t panic—it’s just another night at Riverhead Raceway. This quarter-mile bullring is one of Long Island’s most chaotic and beloved institutions, mixing NASCAR glory with demolition derby madness and even a dash of Hollywood.
Let’s take a lap around the wild history, legendary moments, and off-the-wall events that make Riverhead Raceway a true Long Island treasure.
Origins & Track Facts
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Built in 1949, opened in 1951 as a dirt track
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Paved in 1955—it’s been a quarter-mile asphalt oval ever since
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Located just a mile east of Exit 73 on the LIE
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It’s the only auto racing venue left on Long Island, surviving after others like Westhampton Raceway shut down
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Features 12° banking in the turns and 6° on the straights—tight and fast
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Has a Figure 8 course, used for events like school bus racing
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The track celebrated its 75th anniversary season in 2025
Community & Ownership
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Owned and operated by Jim and Barbara Cromarty from 1977 until 2015. Their story was featured in the 2018 Sundance doc The Last Race
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Sold to Eddie & Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz in 2015. Eddie Partridge passed away in 2021, but the racing continues in his memory
Racing Legacy
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A staple in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour since 1985
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First Modified Tour race winner: Jimmy Spencer, July 10, 1985
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Holds seven weekly racing divisions, including:
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Modified
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Riverhead Modified Crate
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Figure Eight
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Late Model
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Blunderbust
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Super Pro Truck
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Legends
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Known champions include:
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Charlie Jarzombek (5 championships)
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Don Howe, Wayne Anderson, Tom Rogers Jr. (tied his record)
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Mike Ewanitsko and Justin Bonsignore hold the record for most Modified Tour wins at Riverhead: 11 each
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Other Modified Tour legends who’ve won at Riverhead include:
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Reggie Ruggiero
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Tom Baldwin Sr.
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Mike Stefanik
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Ted Christopher
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Donny Lia
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Ryan Preece
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Doug Coby
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TV & Pop Culture Fame
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Filming location for The Sopranos—Season 5, Episode 7 “In Camelot”
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Used as the stand-in for “Chikamauga Raceway”
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Tony Soprano visits the track with Fran Felstein, who reveals her history with Tony’s father and a lost racing investment
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Footage includes Legend Cars, which were a regular division at Riverhead
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Featured in the acclaimed 2018 documentary The Last Race by Michael Dweck
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Premiered at Sundance Film Festival
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Scored 93% on Rotten Tomatoes
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Highlighted the community of aging racers and fans fighting to keep grassroots racing alive
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Beyond NASCAR: Wild & Wacky Events
Riverhead Raceway isn’t just about professional stock car racing. It’s also a Long Island institution of chaotic, family-friendly mayhem:
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Demolition Derbies
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Enduro Races
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School Bus Figure 8 Races
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Monster Truck Shows
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One-on-One Spectator Drags
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Go-Karts (ran up until 2016)
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INEX Legends National Qualifiers
“Chief Running Fair” – The Track’s Statue Mascot
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A large Native American statue once greeted fans at the entrance
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Destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, but rebuilt and restored by Christmas of that year
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Still stands today as a symbol of the track’s resilience and quirky charm
Signature Races
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Islip 300 – Began in 2016 and named for the now-closed Islip Speedway
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Open to four different “Tour Type” modified specs
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Has become one of Riverhead’s most prestigious events
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Racing on the Edge of Real Estate
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The land Riverhead Raceway sits on is valued at over $10 million
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Every other Long Island track was shuttered and paved over for shopping centers, subdivisions, and big-box stores
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Riverhead remains the last holdout—a living relic and still-thriving venue
Whether you’re a hardcore Modified Tour fan or just in it for the school bus collisions, Riverhead Raceway is pure Long Island. It’s loud, gritty, stubborn, and full of surprises—just like the island itself.
Photo: Google Maps.
