RPW Exclusive: The Champ Trail: Monaco Mods At Waterford, NASCAR Mod Tour ’23 Sked Released & More…

Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The New London Waterford Speedbowl was the scene of the Tri-Track Modified Series and the American Canadian Tour last weekend.

Originally scheduled for Saturday the event was postponed until Sunday because of a bad forecast. The Haunted Hundred card included the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series Constantine Paving & Sealing 100, a 100-lap American Canadian Tour feature, a 50-lap SK Light Modified feature and a 50-lap Open Street Stock event.

Matt Hirschman went into the Tri-Track event leading the point standings with a 10 point advantage over Woody Pitkat. Matt Swanson sits in third spot with Ronnie Williams and Richard Savory rounding out the top five. Sixth thru tenth included Chris Pasteryak, Bryan Narducci, Kyle Bonsignore, Jake Johnson and Les Hinckley. The Tri-Track winds up their season on Saturday, Oct 28 at the Stafford Motor Speedway.

The Speedbowl pit area was jammed 129 cars including 49 ACT Late Models, 41 Monaco Modifieds, 21 SK Lights and 18 Street Stocks. A somewhat light grandstand and a very healthy back gate witnessed the event. The first of the main events took the green as the sun was going down at 5:55pm. The temp was 58 degrees.

It took a little over one hour to run the 100 lap ACT feature. DJ Shaw took the win and the championship. Alexandre Tardif and Nick Cusack rounded out the top three.

Next up was the SK Light 50 Evan Bourgeois staged a spirited battle with Meghen Fuller for top honors. John O’Sullivan finished third.

With the precision of a surgeon’s hands Matt Hirschman shot by Jake Johnson in turn 2 following a restart on lap 32. Never looking back, Hirschman fought off the charges of Stephen Kopcik as he scored a convincing win in what was the beginning of a busy week for the Pennsylvania driver. In victory lane he stated that he and his team would be heading to Martinsville Va for the season ending Whelen Modified Tour Series event on Thursday night then back to Connecticut for the Stafford Motor Speedway Fall Final season ending Tri-Track Modified Series event on Saturday.

Hirschman started sixth. As a man with a mission, he slipped into fourth spot by lap 3. By lap 25 he was third as Jake Johnson had taken over the lead. Following a restart on lap 26 Hirschman shot by Cory DiMatteo for the second spot. Stephen Kopcik finished second with Ron Williams, third. Williams started 12th. Johnson finished fourth with Anthony Noscella, fifth. Sixth thru tenth included Matt Swanson, Keith Rocco, Max Zachem, George Bessette Jr and Chris Pasteryak.

The 100 lapper started at 8:09pm and ended at 9:36. Numerous cautions slowed the event. The first caution came on lap 26 when Les Hinkley stopped in turn four. The second caution flew on lap32 when Bryan Narducci got tagged by Eric Berndt on the front chute. Narducci ended up in a cippy hole in the turn one area, hopelessly stuck in the mud, needing a tow. The next caution came on lap 34 when DiMatteo stopped in turn four. Narducci brought out another yellow when he spun in turn two on lap 55. A big wreck on lap 56 with seven cars brought out the red. Among those collected were David Arute, Tommy Barrett, Eric Berndt and Matt Swanson. Narducci was involved in another crash on lap 60. After spinning on the backstretch Narducci sat stalled as Matt Kimball flew over and ended up on the fence. The final yellow came on lap 84 for a tangle between DiMatteo and Robie in turn four.

By the time victory lane ceremonies were done the grandstands had emptied and less than fifty fans remained to watch the street stocks. Ryan Lineham won the 50-lap Street Stock Open feature. Corey Fanning finished second.

According to a news release from NASCAR, the Whelen Modified Tour plans to carry on a new schedule tradition by opening mere miles from the birthplace of NASCAR and finishing at one of its most historic tracks as the 16 race dates on the 2024 schedule was announced on Friday, October 20, 2023. For the third consecutive year, the Tour will open at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida as part of the track’s “World Series of Asphalt Stock Cars Racing” during NASCAR’s Speedweeks, racing under the lights on Saturday, February 10. The 66th running of the DAYTONA 500 at nearby Daytona International Speedway then takes place a week later to conclude the opening week of NASCAR action.

Martinsville Speedway will again host the season finale in 2024. The race on the Virginia short track moves to a weekend date on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Richmond Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway return to the schedule as companion events alongside NASCAR national series race weekend. Richmond will remain the second race of the season on Friday, March 29, while New Hampshire holds a mid-summer Saturday, June 22, date.

North Wilkesboro Speedway joined the Tour’s schedule for the 2023 season and returns for the second straight year in 2024 on Saturday, Oct. 5. Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (Connecticut) will host a trio of marquee events during the 2024 season, starting off with a Sunday, April 7, event during the 50th Icebreaker Weekend. The Tour will return for a Wednesday night mid-summer classic on Aug. 14, before a third and final visit on Sunday, Oct. 13, during the World Series of Speedway Racing.

Another stalwart on the schedule, Riverhead Raceway, will host a pair of key races for the Whelen Modified Tour, starting with a Saturday, May 18, race in the spring. They will then host a Saturday, September 14, even that will continue to pay tribute to late track owner and team owner Eddie Partridge. Riverhead stands as track that has been the longest continuous host of the Whelen Modified Tour since coming on board in 1985. Although scheduled to hold a race in 2020, the pandemic prevented the race from taking place.

Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, New Hampshire, will continue to build upon their schedule of races under JDV Productions, as they are slated for three dates in 2024 – Saturday, May 4; Saturday, July 20; and Saturday, Sept. 21. Also included is the Lancaster Motorplex (New York) – formerly known as New York International Raceway Park – that returns to the schedule for the third time, and second straight, with a Saturday, August 3, race, Seekonk Speedway (Massachusetts) returns to the 2024 schedule with a Saturday, June 1, event and Oswego Speedway (New York) rounds out the schedule with a Saturday, Aug. 31, race.

“We have seen over the past two seasons how exciting it has been for our fans and competitors to open at New Smyrna and finish at Martinsville,” said Jimmy Wilson, Senior Director, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. “The mix of tracks on the schedule pays tribute to the Tour’s roots and sets up a competitive season from start to finish, demonstrated by how once again this year our fans are going to see the Whelen Modified Tour title decided at the finale.” “There are so many great tracks in the Northeast that provide exceptional racing and close proximity to home for our teams,” added Wilson. “These tracks, and their fans, are truly at the heart of what is great about Modified racing in the Northeast.”

On a sad note engine builder Ron Hutter has passed away. Hutter built some of the most potent engines ever seen in the Whelen Modified Tour Series. Among his many customers was Richie Evans who used Hutter built engines extensively. Ron Hutter was a well-known name in the racing industry. He had been associated with the industry for over 30 years and had won 10 national championships 1. Ron Hutter was born in Chardon, Ohio, and his sons, Matt and Trevor, later founded Hutter Performance in Chardon, Ohio, in 2003. Hutter Performance is a performance shop that specializes in Chevrolet, Corvette, Camaro/Firebird, GTO, GM Trucks/SUV, Mustang, Pontiac G8 & Trailblazer SS engines.

The all new book, The Modified Years At Stafford, by the Grace of God and 600 hp, is gaining interest and has become a must have in race fans and competitors library. 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!

With the cooperation of the Arute family another 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).