Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – As of this coming Friday, January 7, five 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, FloRacing will live stream all events.
The Greatest Race in the History of Spring got a little greater last week as the Stafford Motor Speedway announced that all laps for the 2022 Spring Sizzler are SOLD OUT. In the 50th Spring Sizzler lap money will pay $150 to the leader of each lap.
The entry list continues to build. Non Stafford regulars who have added their names to the entry list include Andy Jankowiak, Patrick Emerling,Tommy Barrett Jr,Anthony Sesely, Eric Goodale and Chris Pasteryak.
The Tri-Track Modified Series received a big shot in the arm last week in the form of Monaco Ford. With dealerships in Glastonbury and Niantic, Monaco Ford has signed on as the title sponsor for the seven-event series in 2022 with events at six different tracks in four states.
The 2020 Tri-Track Open Modified Series season opens on April 30 at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. The division makes its first visit to Thunder Road International Speedbowl in Barre, VT on May 29. The series will also have events at Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway (June 29, Oct. 22), Star Speedway in Epping, N.H. (July 23), the New London-Waterford Speedbowl (Aug. 6) and Stafford Speedway (Sept. 24)
Steady Eddie Flemke, a Modified legend in his own time, won the first ever race on asphalt at Stafford in 1967 and the first ever race at Stafford that was promoted by Jack Arute in 1970. Flemke won on 23 occasions before retiring. His last victory at Stafford was in the Labor Day 200 at Stafford in 1977.
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!