Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The SMART Modified Series takes center stage this weekend as the South Boston Speedway in Virginia will showcase the Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds which now has one of the richest purses in Modified racing.
In addition to the $20,000 first place prize, it was announced that the second-place finisher will score $10,000. If you are one of the 36 starters for the event, you will be guaranteed to take home at least $1,200. Third place will be at least $4,000, fourth will be $3,500 and fifth will be $3,400. Only 30 points separate the top ten after two events.
Leading the field is second generation driver Carson Loftin who holds a 15-point lead oner Ryan Newman. Loftin is two for two so far this year, scoring wins at Florence SC and at the Caraway Speedway in North Carolina. Newman has two top fives to his credit. Danny Bohn sits in third spot, some 19 points back. Bohn also has two top fives.
After many years of strife its good to see that the Blewetts and the Tomainos have kissed and made up. Jimmy Blewett, driving the Jamie Tomaino No.99 has one top five to date and is 21 points out of the lead. Rounding out the top five is third generation driver Luke Baldwin. Baldwin has two top tens to his credit and is 23 points out of the lead. Sixth thru tenth include Matt Hirschman, Joey Coulter, Burt Myers, Jason Myers and Will Lambros.
The schedule of the event weekend has also been released. A tech day for teams will occur on Friday, March 22. Registration will open at 10am. There will be no practice for SMART Modifieds on Friday. Race day, on Saturday, March 23, will see registration open at 7am, qualifying at approximately Noon and the Dominion Energy Last Chance Race for SMART Modifieds to begin shortly after 2pm ET.
It should make for a great day of modified racing with added entries included Woody Pitkat in the Dunleavy No. 88 and Doug Coby in the Tom Baldwin 7ny. Last season’s Bowman Gray Stadium Modified Division champion Brandon Ward sees the Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds race, the headline race of the March 23 URW Community Federal Credit Union Race Day event at South Boston Speedway, as one of the season’s biggest and best Modified races. In addition to Ward, Joey Coulter, Luke Baldwin and Caleb Heady are expected in the field.
“It’s going to be one of the biggest premier events for Modified racing period,” Ward said of the 125-lap race that will pay a minimum of $20,000 to win.
Discounted tickets for the Pace-O-Matic King of the Modifieds are available through the South Boston Speedway website. General admission tickets are available now for $17. That price will be $20 on race day, Saturday, March 23. Children 12 and under are free for this event. The Sentara Health Late Models and the VSP HEAT Hornets will also be in action.
All races can also be seen on FloRacing, the official streaming broadcast partner of the SMART Modified Tour powered by Pace-O-Matic.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series resumes Friday,March 29 at the Richmond International Raceway, The green flag drops at 6:30pm. The event will be live streamed by FloRacing.
Ron Silk is the current point leader. Justin Bonsignore is in the runner-up spot with Doug Coby, third. Patrick Emerling and rookie Trevor Catalano round out the top five. Sixth thru tenth include Austin Beers, Tyler Rypkema, Andrew Krause, Jake Johnson and Matt Hirschman.
The SK Light division at Stafford Speedway continues to be a proving ground for up and coming competitors. Third generation driver Austin Goff will kick off his first full year of competition in 2024. Goff is the son of Aaron Goff and the grandson of Jay Goff, who have both previously piloted the same green and black #07 A+ Fire Protection car that Austin will be behind the wheel of this season. The entire family is excited for Austin to get his rookie campaign started.
While the 2024 season will be Austin’s first full season of SK Light competition, he ran several races at the end of the 2023 season to get his feet wet and gain some experience in the division. Despite having never before driven a full size racecar or a manual transmission car, Goff made 2 starts and finished 20th and 17th. Austin will be relying heavily on those two starts plus plenty of advice from his father and grandfather as he prepares to take to the track.
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).
