NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Hit Big Stage With Inaugural Musket 250 At NHMS

Story By: JASON CHRISTLEY / NASCAR – LOUDON,NH – It’s here.  One of the most anticipated short-track weekends in New England is on deck, as New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts its first “Full Throttle Weekend.”

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers will take center stage in the inaugural Musket 250. The longest race in Whelen Modified Tour history will include live pit stops and put some of the best modified drivers and teams in the country up against their toughest test yet for a $25,000 first-place prize.

Canadian’s national championship for stock car racing, the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, will make its first trip to the United States with the inaugural Visit New Hampshire 100. The race will precede the Fall Brawl at Ontario’s Jukasa Motor Speedway to close out the season the following weekend, and a pair of Quebec notables – LP Dumoulin and Alex Tagliani – are separated by just five points.

And the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East returns to the stage that is known for defining its champions. Tyler Ankrum won at the ‘Magic Mile’ in July, and will look not only for a season sweep with a win in the Apple Barrel 125, but he could also clinch the series championship with a race remaining. He would be the sixth driver in the last 12 years to win at NHMS en route to the title.

NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

It doesn’t get much bigger than this for the Whelen Modified Tour.

Considered one of the biggest stages they race on since the inaugural event in 1990, New Hampshire upped the ante this year. Not only is it the longest distance in the history of the tour at 264.5, there’s more than a $25,000 prize at stake. Throw in live pit stops and the constant shuffling and reshuffling of the running order in the draft, and the Musket 250 is shaping up as a can’t miss event.

Justin Bonsignore looks to continue on his championship path by putting himself in position to clinch his first title before the finale even takes the green. If Bonsignore has another strong day, and Chase Dowling stumbles, there is one scenario that could see Bonsignore clinch the title at the checkered flag of the Musket 250. With seven wins in 13 races, Bonsignore would love to add the longest race in Whelen Modified Tour history to his winning resume. He completed the season sweep of Riverhead Raceway in New York last time the series was on the track.

Ryan Preece will sit behind the wheel of the No. 77 for Gary Putnam, a ride that Monster Energy Cup Series star Ryan Newman piloted to a third-place finish in July after leading 16 laps from the pole. Preece, who has never been to Victory Lane in a points race at NHMS, does have one victory in the Whelen All-Star Shootout in 2017.

Bobby Santos III, who will return to competition driving for Tinio Racing, looks to complete the season sweep for the second straight year. Santos has won the last three Whelen Modified Tour events at New Hampshire, and has done it by leading a total of just 15 laps.

The 250-lap distance will also bring pit crews and crew chiefs to the forefront with strategy set to play a major role in who captures the checkered flag.

RACE FACTS

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the inaugural Musket 250 is 36 starters, including provisional positions. The first 30 drivers will secure starting positions based on the qualifying session for the Musket 250. The remaining six spots will be awarded through the provisional process.

Two consecutive qualifying laps will be used to determine the starting positions. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time.

The Musket 250 will be 250 laps (264.50 miles).

The Musket 250 will be run in two segments. There will be a five (5) minute break at or near the conclusion of lap 100. Once the yellow flag is displayed at the start/finish line for the break, the caution vehicle will pick up the field. Once the field is under control, the caution vehicle will lead the field on to pit road. No work is to be performed at the break until advised by NASCAR Officials. All participants in the event will be allowed to make changes that would normally occur during a routine pit stop. A maximum of five (5) uniformed crew members in the car servicing area. The time will start when the last car stops on pit road and the NASCAR Official advises work can begin. Teams are allowed to change four (4) tires and add fuel. Fuel cannot be added at the same time that tires are being changed. Teams must use a dry break system while adding fuel during the race on pit road. At the end of the break, cars will line up with lead lap cars to the front.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is twenty (20) tires per team. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. The tire change rule is twelve (12) tires, any position.

NASCAR PINTY’S SERIES AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

If L.P. Dumoulin wants to seal his second career NASCAR Pinty’s Series championship over the final two races, he will need to navigate the series’ first trip to the U.S. with a strong finish in the Visit New Hampshire 100. Fresh-off a 10th place finish last time out, Dumoulin enters NHMS just five points up in the championship standings over Quebec rival Alex Tagliani.

Tagliani, who is chasing Dumoulin into the Visit New Hampshire 100, does have some experience at the 1.058-mile oval on his resume – although it’s not likely to be applicable to his Saturday setup. Tagliani competed at New Hampshire in 2011 as part of the Verizon Indycar Series, where he started 16th and finished 19th. Much like the guy he’s chasing, if Tagliani wants to enter the finale in prime position to win the title, he’s going to have to figure it out quickly as well.

Similarly, former Sunoco Rookie of the Year Cole Powell has four starts at New Hampshire on the Whelen Modified Tour. Powell, who sits 24 points back and four ahead of fourth-place DJ Kennington, has a best finish of 11th in 2013.

RACE FACTS

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the inaugural Visit New Hampshire 100 is 20 starters, including provisional positions. The first 17 drivers will secure starting positions based on the qualifying session for the Visit New Hampshire 100. The remaining three spots will be awarded through the provisional process.

Two consecutive qualifying laps will be used to determine the starting positions. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time.

The Visit New Hampshire 100 will be 100 laps (105.8 miles).

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Eight (8) tires for practice, four (4) tires for qualifying and to begin the race for a total of twelve (12) tires.

NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

If anyone is going to win the Apple Barrel 125, they are likely going to have to go through DGR-Crosley first. The team has entered four cars for Saturday’s event, including championship leader Tyler Ankrum.

Ankrum, who could mathematically seal his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship on Saturday at New Hampshire, enters the Apple Barrel 125 with a 51-point advantage in the championship standings. He is heading back to the ‘Magic Mile’ looking to complete the season sweep after leading all 70 laps from the pole in July.

His teammate, Tyler Dippel, is not going to go away quietly. Dippel finished fourth in the caution-free affair at NHMS in July, but has yet to visit Victory Lane this season. He will need Ankrum to stumble — but even if he can’t win the title — look for Dippel to be a contender in the Apple Barrel 125 as he looks to score his third career win.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series West regular and current NASCAR Next member Derek Kraus is also making the trip to New Hampshire withthe DGR-Crosley stable. Kraus will drive the No. 1, while Riley Herbst, another NASCAR Next member, will drive the No. 98.

Outside of the operation, both Bassett brothers, Brandon McReynolds and Spencer Davis are just a few of the drivers who will look to etch their name in history on Full Throttle Weekend.

RACE FACTS

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the Apple Barrel 125 is 28 starters, including provisional positions. The first 24 drivers will secure starting positions based on the qualifying session for the Apple Barrel 125. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process.

Each group qualifying session will be five (5) minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed of each vehicle will determine starting positions 1st through 22nd. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on a vehicle after the vehicle enters the track to begin the qualifying session. Vehicles may not return to the track or make any further qualifying laps unless directed to do so by a NASCAR Official or in the event of a caution. If a vehicle returns to pit road, the vehicle’s qualifying attempt is complete.

The Apple Barrel 125 will be 125 laps (132.25 miles).

The Apple Barrel 125 will be run in three (3) segments. There will be a five (5) minute break at or near the conclusion of lap 40 and lap 80. Once the yellow flag is displayed at the start/finish line for the break, the caution vehicle will pick up the field. Once the field is under control, the caution vehicle will lead the field on to pit road to your assigned pit stall. No work is to be performed at the break until advised by NASCAR Officials. All participants in the event will be allowed to make changes that would normally occur during a routine pit stop. A maximum of four (4) uniformed crew members in the car servicing area. The time will start when the last car stops on pit road and the NASCAR Official advises work can begin. Fuel may only be added during a break.

At the conclusion of the break, lead lap vehicles that elected to pit will line up in the order they were running at the beginning of the break — behind the lead lap vehicles that elected not to pit in order of running.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Four (4) tires for practice, four (4) tires for qualifying and to begin the race, and an additional four (4) tires for use during the race for a total of twelve (12) tires.