Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – As of this coming Friday, December 31, seven weeks remain before the start of the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Modified tour season at the New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Fl on Saturday, February 12.
From New Smyrna the WMT will wind its way north for a total of 16 events and will end the season at the Martinsville Speedway on Thursday, October 27.
The World Series for the tour type modifieds at New Smyrna will begin on Monday, Feb 14 and wind up on Fri, Feb 18 with the Richie Evans Memorial 100. Included in the series is the John Blewett III Memorial 76 lapper on Wed, Feb 16. The Super Late Model Orange Blossom 100 closes out the World Series on Saturday night, Feb18.
Among the early modified entries for New Smyrna are as of 12/22/2021: Chris Ridsdale. Rochester NY, J.R Bertuccio. Centerreach NY, Jimmy Blewett. Howell NJ, Chris Finocchario. Macedon NY, Ron Silk. Norwalk CT, Anthony Bello. Newtown CT, Eddie McCarthy. Brick NJ, Kyle Sysco. Toms River NJ, Joe Bertuccio III. Statesville NC, Chris Hatton. Deltona FL, Brian Robie. Sunapee NH, Paul Charette. Woodstock CT, Jeff Malave. Manchester CT, David Sapienza. Riverhead NY, Ricky Moxley. Palm City, Marcello Rufrano. Northhaven CT, Ronnie Williams. Tolland CT, Tommy Catalano. Ontario NY, 54C David Catalano. Ontario NY Amy Catalano. Ontario NY, Tyler Catalano. Ontario NY, Bud McIntyre. New Smyrna Beach FL, Chris Dewalt. Easton PA and Stephen Kopcik. Newtown CT.
Most of these entries are expected to partake in the Whelen Modified Tour event as well.
NASCAR is making it known to Whelen Modified Tour teams what they will be racing for in 2022. With the advent of the Flo Racing streaming TV deal. Area Auto Racing reported that the top 20 finishers of every WMT event will share in a purse increase of $10,000 including a $1,500 boost to the race winner. The top 15 car owners coming into each event will have bonus monies added. All inclusive, each event will pay a minimum of $11,800 to win. The added event purse money will jack up the $841,900 paid out for 14 events to more than $1.1 million for 16 events in 2022. In addition, the season ending point fund is expected to exceed $200,000 in 2022.
Anyone who subscribed to Flo Racing last year for the events at the Stafford Speedway can attest to the quality of the video and audio coverage. It’s the best deal in auto racing!
American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Pro All Stars Series (PASS) officials have announced the division line-up for the 2nd Annual Northeast Classic at Loudon’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) on Saturday, April 16, the day before Easter. Seven of the top series and open competition classes in the region will do battle on the “Magic Mile”.
For 2022, the Tour-type Modified Open has been replaced with a 50-lap feature for the Modified Racing Series (MRS). It will be the fourth time that MRS has visited NHMS and the first trip since 2019. The previous events were won by Woody Pitkat, Ron Silk, and Ronnie Williams.
The ACT Late Model Tour and PASS Super Late Models again headline the card with a pair of 50-lap shootouts. For ACT, it is the opening event of their 2022 campaign. The PASS feature is part of both the National Championship and North Series schedules.
Ray Miller raced at Stafford both on dirt and asphalt. He ran the entire asphalt modified years and amassed 14 wins all while working full time at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford. Bugsy Stevens also raced on dirt and asphalt and is the all time Modified winner with 72 victories to his credit.
Read all about it in the all-new book, The Modified Years At Stafford, by the Grace of God and 600 hp, which is gaining interest and has become a must have in race fans and competitors library. The book documents Modified Racing at the Stafford Motor Speedway from 1967 to 1986. Race by Race, Year by Year, it’s all there. Read all about it! Books are now available on Amazon.com and Coastal 181 (877-907-8181 toll free) and are available thru Stafford’s web site in their store. Order yours now. Makes a great gift!
Have a very Happy New Year.