RPW Exclusive: The Champ Trail: NASCAR Modified Tour Invades Richmond, Track News & More…

Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series resumed this past Friday at the Richmond International Raceway.

Twenty-seven cars made the trip south for round no.2. Among the fastest in practice was Andrew Krause who toured the ¾ mile oval to the tune of 127.728 mph. Krauses’ family operates the Wall Stadium in New Jersey. Second fastest in practice was Justin Bonsignore at 126.338 mph.

Third fastest was Tyler Rypkema at 126.863 mph. When it came time for time trials Ron Silk got down to business as he set his car on the pole with a speed of 127.605mph. Justin Bonsignore was second fastest at 127.507mph and Austin Beers was third fastest at 127.377mph. Bobby Santos and Jake Johnson rounded out the top five.

Among the missing were Matt Hirschman, Jimmy Blewett, Ryan Preece Ron Williams and Dave Sapienza.

A very sparse crowd witnessed Friday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150. One would think an event promoted by NASCAR at a track the sanctioning body owns would have a fair to decent crowd in the grandstand. Granted, the Cup and Xfinity cars are more popular, but the racing was far better than many of those top tier events run there in the past.

Justin Bonsignore and Ron Silk slugged it out for almost the entire 150 lap distance. Silk, who won the season opening event, settled for second after running wheel to wheel with Bonsignore on the final lap. Rookie Trevor Catalano scored an impressive third with Bobby Santos and Jake Johnson rounding out the top five. Johnson was involved in a lap 13 skirmish with Austin Beers. Johnson’s right front made contact with Beers’ left front causing Beers to hit the wall a ton. The Boehler Racing crew changed the cut and flat right front in short order, keeping him on the lead lap.

Patrick Emerling was an early contender. Coming from an eleventh starting spot, the upstate New Yorker had worked his way to the second spot by lap 50 only to end up being put to the rear on lap 53 for a race procedure rules violation. Emerling wrecked with Bobby Labonte a short time later on Lap 80. Tyler Rypkema and Eric Goodale were headed for a top ten finish when they were eliminated on lap 135. Kyle Bonsignore triggered the wreck when he slammed into Rypkema, forcing him into Goodale.

Doug Coby was in the lead pack most of the event and ended up sixth. Craig Lutz finished seventh with Kyle Bonsignore, Carson Loftin and Tommy Catalano rounding out the top ten. Ryan Newman finished 11th. The 2008 Daytona 500 winner took his shot in the waning laps, restarting third and diving to the bottom in Turn 1 to briefly take the lead before drifting up the track and fading.

Joe Coss and Ben Dodge provided great lap by lap coverage for FloRacing.

The Modified Tour returns to action Sunday, April 7 as part of Thompson’s annual IceBreaker event. The race is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET and will be shown live on FloRacing.

The SMART Modified Tour continued this past Saturday at the Tri-County Speedway in North Carolina. The event was live streamed by FloRacing. Ryan Newman who has not seen the success that he had hoped for finally got the monkey off his back as he scored the SMART win at the Tri County Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Newman took the lead from Jimmy Blewett on lap 71. Blewett in the Jamie Tomaino No.99 took the lead from Will Lambros on lap 15 following a restart. At just about the same time, Burt Myers who had gotten as high as third, slowed and headed to the pits where his crew determined that his engines’ fuel pump had malfunctioned. Myers returned with a new fuel pump on lap 17 just as Blake Barney’s engine expired. Extensive clean-up time from two cautions worked in Myers’ favor.

At the half way mark Blewett continued to lead with Carson Lofton, second and Newman, third. Newman passed Lofton in lap 61 and by lap 65 was on Blewett’s bumper. Known as “The Rocketman”, Newman shot by Blewett on lap 71 to make the final run to the checker. Blewett held on for second with Tom Buzze, third. Lofton finished fourth with Luke Baldwin, fifth.

The SMART Modified Series continues to the Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC for ​THE RUMBLE IN ROUGEMONT. Full coverage by FloRacing will be provided.

Racing in New England for 2024 gets the green this coming weekend with the running of the annual Ice Breaker at the Thompson Speedway in Northeastern Connecticut. Friday, April 6 will be an all day practice session. Saturday will see the Tri-Track Monaco Modifieds go 75 laps plus features for the Pro All Star Series Late Models, 604 modifieds, Pro Trucks, Street and Mini Stocks. Sunday will feature 150 laps for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, 604 modifieds, SK Lights and Late Models. The Icebreaker weekend marks the first time that the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour are competing together on the same event card.

On a sad note, the racing community mourns the loss today of iconic Hoosier Tire Distributor, Gary Freeman. Gary and his family operate Hoosier Asphalt Oval South in Lexington, North Carolina. Under Gary’s leadership, the Freemans have been very instrumental in supporting the short track industry for many years. Prayers are requested for Gary’s wife Janet, daughter Summer, and son Jeff, and their families. Funeral arrangements will be announced soon.

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).