Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returned to action this past Friday on March 31 at the Richmond Raceway.
It would have been a busy weekend for some of the modified teams. Following Richmond some teams were to head north for the Thompson Speedway IceBreaker while most of the southern teams would head for South Boston for a SMART event on Saturday.
Richmond is NASCAR sanctioned while South Boston is sanctioned by the Southern Modified Auto Racing Team. FloRacing will provide live coverage of both Richmond and South Boston events.
Based on an extremely bad weather forecast for the weekend, promoters of the 2023 Icebreaker announced shortly after noon on Wednesday that the event, scheduled for Saturday April 1 and Sunday April 2 has been postponed. The Icebreaker will now take place on Friday April 8 and Saturday April 8. No racing will take place on Easter Sunday.
It looks like fans and competitors will have to take some time off from work as features will begin Friday at 6 pm. Friday’s schedule will include features for the Open Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Late Model, Sunoco Modifieds and Pro Trucks. Saturday’s schedule will begin at 1 pm featuring the $10,000 to win Outlaw Open Modified feature and also features for the PASS Super Late Models, Sunoco Modifieds, Limited Sportsman, SK Light Modifieds and Mini Stocks.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour converged to the ¾ mile Richmond International Speedway on Friday night for Round 2 of the 2023 season. Austin Beers backed up his fast time during final practice, taking fast time to end qualifying for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150. Beers, the last car to take time, beat defending race winner Justin Bonsignore’s time by 0.024 seconds, claiming the pole with a lap at 21.237 seconds or 127.136 mph around the Virginia oval. Bonsignore turned a lap at 21.261 seconds and would start beside Beers on the front row. Patrick Emerling was third with a lap at 21.309 seconds. Bryan Narducci continued to impress in his NWMT debut, placing fourth with a 21.311 second lap. Narducci made his first laps in Ole Blu and showed that he can certainly have speed at Richmond, staying among the top five throughout practice before running against the clock. Tommy Catalano rounded out the top five with a 21.406 second lap. There were 29 cars on hand.
Starting 28th on the 29- car field was Matt Hirschman. Hirschman’s car developed a severe oil leak just prior to qualifying. It would be a challenge, but his confidence remained high as he went to post. Just as the cars were lined up the skies opened up and the 6:30pm start was put on hold. The rain persisted causing the event to be rescheduled for late Saturday afternoon following the previously scheduled NASCAR Xfinity series event. Any fan or competitor who had plans to head for the SMART Modified event at South Boston would have to make a decision as to where to go.
The skies cleared on Saturday and the event took the green at 4:30pm under sunny 75 degree weather. Prior to the start Jon McKennedy was put to the rear for a technical issue and Ryan Newman withdrew. Austin Beers took the lead in turn one with Justin Bonsignore and Patrick Emerling in tow. Craig Lutz was the first out as his car’s rear end blew shortly after taking the green.
A mid race pit stop placed Beers to mid pack but that was only a slight set back as he worked his way back to the front re-took the lead on lap 108 for the eventual win. J.B.Fortin finished second after some last lap bumping and grinding that upset Max McLaughlin and Justin Bonsignore who finished third and fourth. Patrick Emerling rounded out the top five. Sixth thru tenth included Bobby Labonte, Ron Silk, a great run by Bryan Narducci, Jon McKennedy and Eric Goodale.
Among those most gratified was winning crew chief Ron Yuhas Jr. From his humble beginnings in his father’s race shop in Groton, Ct to a career ending wreck at Loudon, Yuhas bounced back to become a successful crew chief. Job well done! Also a big shout-out to Bryan Narducci for his great performance in the legendary Ole Blu of the Boehler family.
Many drivers had issues throughout the race like Tommy Catalano with a blown engine, Matt Hirschman lost power steering mid race and Ed McCarthy blew the rear end. Although numbered 60, Hirschman’s car was not his own, it was one he drove at Riverhead last year. The car was never competitive. He finished 18th, the last car on the lead lap.
The NASCAR WMT is now off for a month. The next race will be Duel at the Dog 200 at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH on Saturday May 6th.
The SMART Modified Tour headed to South Boston Va. on Saturday night. The speedway paid tribute to one of the best to ever wheel a modified, Ray Hendrick, in the Flying VA Classic at the South Boston Speedway! Hendrick, who was a many time Modified champion at South Boston would have been 92 had he lived. Bobby Labonte and Matt Hirschman who raced at Richmond made the trip to South Boston in plenty of time and were placed at the tail end of the starting grid.
Brian Loftin started 16th in the 27-car field, pitted for a fresh right rear tire on lap 30 during the event’s stage break, and began his march to the front. It took only four laps after the pit stop for Loftin to work his way into the top five. By lap 54, he was up to third place, and at lap 65 he was up to second place.
He surged in front of Caleb Heady on lap 69 right after a restart following a caution period and never looked back. Heady faded as Tom Buzze moved into the runner-up spot and held off Tom Buzze and Burt Myers. Jonathan Cash finished fourth and Joey Coulter rounded out the top five.
Hirschman, who was in his own car, worked his way from the rear and was in position for a possible win and was running in the second spot on lap 87 when something broke causing him to slow and drop out. He was credited with 15th position. Labonte was also on the move before being collected when Bobby Messemer spun after suffering a blow-out. An announced crowd of 10,000 were on hand.
There were five lead changes among six drivers with Loftin leading the final circuits. Gerstner led 29 laps. Heady led 24 laps, Ward led the first eight laps of the race, Cash led four laps, and Myers led three laps. The race was slowed by six caution periods.
It has previously been announced that the speedway is for sale. In a prepared statement, “The Mattioli family has had the honor and privilege of caring for South Boston Speedway for nearly 25 years. During that time, SoBo has transformed into one of the most prestigious, competitive and beautiful short tracks in America.” “The family is determined to only sell the speedway to another great steward, who vows to keep the rich history and tradition of first-class short track racing alive in Halifax County. During this time of exploration, the speedway operations will remain unchanged with a continued commitment to the teams and fans of showcasing the best short track racing in the county.”
In some good news, the installation of the soft walls at Stafford is complete. All that remains is a coat of paint. It is hoped that other tracks follow Stafford’s lead on this matter. Installation of a new grandstand in the turn four area is almost complete. A Big Shout-Out to the Arute family for their efforts in making the Stafford Motor Speedway a better place for both fans and competitors.
PR director Scott Running advises that with the registration of the #9nj Martino Race Engines car of Red Bank, NJ native Tom Martino, Jr., the number of entries received for the 51st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® has reached 40 cars for the second consecutive season. The Wall Stadium regular joins an impressive list of early entrants for the Sizzler® with additional entrants expected in the month leading up to the April 30th “Greatest Race in the History of Spring”.
The madness is returning to FloRacing in 2023. For the second year in a row, FloRacing will broadcast every Saturday night of action from North Carolina’s legendary Bowman Gray Stadium, affectionately known by its fans as “The Madhouse.” Located inside a football stadium, the 1/4-mile Bowman Gray Stadium oval hosts racing every Saturday night for the headlining Modified division, the Sportsman division, Street Stocks, and Stadium Stocks. The season will begin on Saturday, April 22 with the running of the Hayes Jewelers 200, a 200-lap race for the Modifieds. The Hayes Jewelers 200 is the longest and most prestigious race of the season for the Modifieds. In 2022 it was won by 2014 track champion, Danny Bohn of Freehold, New Jersey.
The 2022 season was another historic year for Tim Brown at Bowman Gray Stadium. He entered the year with the most championships of any driver in the history of the Stadium and added to that by winning his 12th overall championship and second in a row. Brown won his 12th championship without winning a single race all season long, a feat that had never been done before at Bowman Gray Stadium.
All NASCAR Roots events on FloRacing are included in the FloRacing annual subscription.
Earl Krause of the Area Auto Racing News reported that before a wheel can turn at Wall Stadium Speedway this year, a non-racing problem has the start of the 73rd season at the high-banked third-mile paved oval on hold. The delay is due to an unexpected environmental testing requirement given to the owners of the property. Since 2011, the Krause family has leased the facility and successfully promoted racing there. “I’m a frustrated promoter that’s ready to open Wall Stadium for racing but can’t right now,” said track general manager Emily Krause. She was told by the Stadium property owners that until all of the testing at the track property is done there could be no activity on the grounds so as to not interfere with the project. That includes events for the Garden State Quarter-Midget Club which has its ‘Little Wall’ 1/20th mile paved oval on site. It is not yet known how or when the testing will take place at Wall Stadium, or to what degree it will affect its previously planned schedule.
“I am afraid the circumstances may force us to delay our opening a few weeks. That’s why I can’t release a schedule yet, even though I’ve had it ready for more than a month,” said Krause. “I don’t want to say we’re going to open on a specific date, then have to pull it back. We’re staying positive and gathering as much useful information as possible.” The reason for the environmental testing relates to the sale of land adjacent to Wall Stadium and the building of warehouses. The property surrounding Wall Stadium on two sides (beyond the backstretch and alongside turns one and two) had been sold late last year.
With the cooperation of the Arute family a book has been published with pictures and biographies of the 50 Greatest Drivers at Stafford.
The Stafford Motor Speedway had become the epicenter of NASCAR Modified racing in the northeast by the late 1980’s. From its dirt beginnings to its lightning-fast asphalt, Stafford had become the toughest and most gratifying track to score a victory. The Arute family which has owned and guided the destiny of the facility commissioned their thousands of loyal fans to name their favorite drivers. In alphabetical order so as not to offend anyone:
Tom Baldwin, Gene Bergin, Brett Bodine, Geoff Bodine, Ken Bouchard, Ron Bouchard, Mario “Fats” Caruso, Rene Charland, Ted Christopher, Leo Cleary, Tim Connolly, Jerry Cook, Corky Cookman, Pete Corey, Fred DeSarro, Richie Evans, Mike Ewanitsko, Ed Flemke, Sr., Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller, Ernie Gahan, Bill Greco, Bo Gunning, Ray Hendrick, George “Moose” Hewitt, Tony Hirschman, George Janoski, Charlie Jarzombek, George Kent, Buddy Krebs, Randy LaJoie, Jan Leaty, Jerry Marquis, Mike McLaughlin, Ray Miller, Steve Park, Bob Polverari, Bob Potter, Brian Ross, John “Reggie” Ruggiero, Greg Sacks, Ollie Silva, “Wild” Bill Slater, Jimmy Spencer, Mike Stefanik, Carl “Bugsy” Stevens, George Summers, Jamie “The Jet” Tomaino, Maynard Troyer and Satch Worley.
Books are priced at $17.95 each and be purchased at the track at the Novelty Booth or at the Stafford Motor Speedway on line store. Books are also available at Amazon.com and at Coastal181 (877-907-8181).