Story By: SHANNON STEPHENS / NHMS – LOUDON, NH – Early on Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, qualifying sessions for Saturday’s SciAps 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race and the Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) race were canceled due to Friday afternoon’s inclement weather.
Both starting grids will be determined by the respective series’ points standings.
Cole Custer and Chandler Smith will hold down the top two spots for the SciAps 200. Custer is still looking for his first victory of the year, which would lock down a spot in this year’s NXS playoffs.
“I always look forward to coming to New Hampshire,” Custer said. “You just hope that you have everything underneath you to go and compete for a win. I think at the end of the day we should have a shot at this weekend. Our guys are doing a great job. We just have to break through. I feel like we’re top five or so every single weekend and it’s very strange to be leading the points but also a little bit frustrated that you haven’t won yet. I think it’s coming. We just have to keep knocking on the door.”
NCS stars Christopher Bell and Alex Bowman are pulling double duty this weekend and will also be in the field for the SciAps 200. Bell has won all three of his previous NHMS NXS starts.
Green flag for the SciAps 200 NXS race is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
NCS regular Ryan Preece, a Berlin, Conn. native, posted the top NWMT practice speed at his home track earlier Friday with a lap of 132.103 mph (28.832 seconds), while Matt Swanson (131.25 mph) had the top consecutive-lap average.
Ron Silk is the NWMT points leader, with defending race champion Justin Bonsignore 16 points behind in second.
The Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race is scheduled to take the green flag at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Mohegan Sun 100 Moved to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 22
Due to impending inclement weather, officials have announced that tomorrow’s Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) has been moved up to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 22.
Other Saturday schedule changes include:
7 a.m. – NWMT Garage Opens
7-8 a.m. – Track Walk
8 a.m. – Parking Lots Open
8 a.m. – Ticket Booths Open
9 a.m. – Ticket Gates Open
9 a.m. – Suites Open
9 a.m. – Food Court Opens
9 a.m. – Rock Point Opens
10 a.m. – Fan Zone Opens
10 a.m. – The Groove Opens
The Morning Show is canceled
The NWMT Autograph Session is canceled
The remainder of the Doubleheader Saturday schedule remains unchanged with NASCAR Cup Series practice starting at 12:35 p.m. and qualifying following at 1:20 p.m. along with the SciAps 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
