Jacob Staten Takes on Riverhead Raceway in INEX Legends National Qualifier

A new track. A new car. A new challenge—and another strong performance for Jacob Staten.

Saturday August 29, 2026, Jacob Staten traveled to New York to take on one of the biggest challenges of his 2026 season: the Sara Sylvester INEX Legends National Qualifier at Riverhead Raceway.

But this wasn't Jacob's race car.

After being invited to compete by Riley O'Keefe, Jacob climbed behind the wheel of Riley's Legends car and made the trip north to one of the most unique and challenging tracks on the Legends schedule.

It was also Jacob's first time ever racing at Riverhead Raceway.

Quick to Find Speed

With limited time to learn both the track and the car, Jacob wasted no time getting comfortable.

Two practice sessions were held earlier in the day, giving Jacob his first opportunity to figure out the 0.4-mile bullring and make adjustments to the car.

In the first practice, Jacob turned a 13.434-second lap, putting him 4th quickest in the session.

He improved again in the second practice, running a 13.350, good enough for 3rd quickest.

For a driver seeing the track for the first time and driving a car he had never raced before, the speed was an encouraging sign.

After practice, Jacob and the team made adjustments based on what he had learned about the car and the track. But as the day progressed, the conditions at Riverhead began to change.

Qualifying Seventh

When qualifying arrived, the sun was going down and the track was no longer the same track Jacob had experienced during the afternoon practices.

The changing conditions made finding the right setup even more challenging.

Jacob ultimately qualified 7th with a lap of 13.565 seconds, putting him in a strong starting position for the 50-lap feature.

With 27 Legends cars taking the green flag, Jacob knew he had plenty of work ahead of him.

Moving Forward in the Feature

Once the race began, Jacob immediately went to work.

Starting seventh, he quickly moved through the field and was up to 4th place within the first five laps.

The next several laps featured an intense battle as Jacob fought for position, repeatedly trading spots with the cars around him. He continued to work his way forward and eventually found himself battling at the front of the field.

A restart gave Jacob another opportunity, and he capitalized.

He moved into 2nd place, where he remained for several laps as he tried to track down the leader.

Unfortunately, the car simply didn't have enough left to make the final charge for the win. Jacob continued to run competitively at the front before eventually being shuffled back to 4th, crossing the finish line with a 5th-place finish.

A Weekend That Showed What Jacob Can Do

The finishing position only tells part of the story.

Jacob arrived at Riverhead Raceway having never driven the track before, climbed into a car that wasn't his, learned a new setup and a new racing surface in just two practice sessions, and immediately posted top-four practice times.

Then, in a 27-car field, he drove from 7th to 4th in the opening five laps, fought his way into 2nd, and spent several laps racing at the front.

It was another weekend that demonstrated Jacob's ability to adapt quickly, find speed, compete with unfamiliar equipment, and race confidently against some of the best Legends drivers in the country.

Most importantly, it was an opportunity Jacob was grateful to have.

A huge thank you to Riley O'Keefe for the invitation and the opportunity to drive his car at Riverhead Raceway. Getting the chance to experience a new track, compete in a National Qualifier, and race with a talented field was an experience Jacob won't soon forget.