RPW Exclusive: Ready For More Modified Racing, Gio Ruggiero Gets His Shot & More…
Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – With Speedweek in Daytona and Race Week in New Smyrna now complete, the racing action has begun to move north.
NASCAR’s big three were in Atlanta this past weekend while this coming Saturday, March 1, the southern-based SMART Modified Tour opens it’s season at Florence Motor Speedway in Florence, SC.
In five short weeks the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series resumes at the Thompson Speedway on Sunday, March 30 while the season opener for the Tri-Track Modified Series will be held on Saturday, March 29 at Thompson.
FloRacing will provide live coverage of the Whelen Modified Tour and the SMART Tour.
The Tri Track Series which has become as popular as the Whelen Mods is missing the boat for not signing up with Flo.
Joe Lewandowski, a long time short track promoter and employee of NASCAR has formed National Short Track Promotions which will benefit asphalt 602 Modified drivers and their teams beginning this year.
Lewandowski said drivers from nine Asphalt 602 (SK Light type) Speedways, those that run 602 type cars on a regular basis will become eligible to take part in a benefits package similar to a point fund by paying $75 to join the National Short Track Promotions. The tracks are Stafford, Thompson and the New London-Wterford Speedbowl in Connecticut, Evergreen and Mahoning in Pennsylvania, Riverhead, Evans Mills and Spencer in New York State and Wall Stadium in New Jersey.
The 602 Modified drivers will earn points for top ten finishes in each of their races from May 22 to Sept 22. Among the payoffs at the end of the year will be payouts totaling $20,120 to the top 50 drivers from Eagle Chevrolet in Riverhead on Long Island. If a driver races multiple times in a seven day period only his best race finish will be counted.
Gio Ruggiero, who cut his racing teeth at the Seekonk Speedway, entered Daytona International Speedway without one thing that most of his Truck Series contemporaries had: experience. The Seekonk, Massachusetts native signed on to replace Taylor Gray in TRICON Garage’s No. 17 entry and contend for Rookie of the Year honors in the series.
Of the 36 drivers to successfully qualify for the season-opening event, only Ruggiero and Nathan Byrd had no National Series superspeedway experience. Ruggiero was also the only driver in the field making his Truck Series debut. In addition to that, in Ruggiero’s limited experience in the ARCA Menards Series, drafting tracks were not a part of it, with the largest oval under his belt being Kansas Speedway.
As luck would have it, though, rain caused practice to be canceled, leaving his first lap in a truck to be in the qualifying session the following day: race day. As Ruggiero went out to set a time, he had a tire slowly going flat, causing him to post a slow time and start 34th out of 36 trucks. Despite all the adversity thrown his way, none of it fazed Ruggiero at all. His first experience in the draft turned out to be the first lap of his Truck Series debut, but his race performance was that of a seasoned veteran as Ruggiero scored stage points in the first segment, led 11 laps, the third most of any driver, and brought home what was originally a third place finish after leading late in the race. With the disqualification to race winner Parker Kligerman, Ruggiero was elevated to the runner-up spot, just behind his TRICON Garage teammate Corey Heim.
“It feels good”, Ruggiero exclaimed. “Was looking for more there. But it’s Daytona and everybody is trying to win. I had a blast tonight. These TRICON Garage [Toyota] Tundras are so fast. The whole team performed really well. Everything is pretty new for me doing live pit stops and all but I’m looking forward to the season and looking forward to Atlanta”.
Whether Kligerman’s DQ appeal is successful or not, Ruggiero still accrued enough points to leave Daytona with the Rookie of the Year standings lead. With a rookie class that includes reigning ARCA Menards Series champion Andres Perez de Lara, Frankie Muniz, late model standout Dawson Sutton, ARCA veteran Toni Breidinger, and Connor Mosack, the 18 year-old will have his work cut out for him to maintain that lead throughout the year. Of the rookies in this season’s class, Ruggiero is the only one without a Truck Series start prior to this season.
Gio finished 17th at Atlanta.
Former Whelen Modified Tour Series Champion and Riverhead Raceway Champion Wayne Anderson has posted the following appeal to help out his former sponsor who is in dire need of financial help: “This is a request from the Anderson Racing Team to all the men and women who participated in the racing program at Riverhead Race way. My former sponsor and a sponsor for many of the teams that race at Riverhead is in a fight for life of Eastport Feeds and Cresant Duck Company which is facing losing their business because of the Avion bird flu. There is going to be a fund raising opportunity to help Mr Corwin to keep his family business. The local chiefs on Long Island are having a fund raising opportunity next week on February 28, 2025 to help Mr Corwin and family to stay in business. I’ve raced at Riverhead Race way since I was old enough to drive a race car, I’ve never asked for any of the racing community for help, but Mr Corwin goes far above and beyond helping racers and people who support their passion at the race track and now I’m asking for any help buy collecting a donation for the Family Business. Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend this great cause but I’m willing to go to any measure to collect a donation for Eastport Feeds and Cresant Duck Farm, if you are able to call me before next Friday and I’ll come to you or meet you somewhere to accept your donation. My phone number is 631 300 5784. Any part of a donation is extremely important. Thanking you in advance for anything you are able to do.”.
Coastal 181, Reading For Racers has released their 2024-2025 Catalog of great books. Among the newer titles is “Lazzaro, the man and his machine”. Lou Lazzaro became one of the Northeast’ most revered drivers of all time. He was equally as good on dirt as he was on asphalt. For many years he raced and won, sometimes three to five times a week at his home tracks, the Albany Saratoga Speedway in Malta, NY, Fonda Speedway in Fonda, NY and at the Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, New York. Lazzaro was a regular track representative for the All Star League that raced on dirt and asphalt tracks during the late 60’s. The most remarkable thing was that he did it all with the same car. One of his biggest fans believe it or not was Richie Evans. Other great reading in the Coastal 181 catalog include “Ray Everham-Trophies and Scars”, “Bugsy”, “Richie”, “Eddie Flemke” and “The Soul of a Modified” Lenny Boehlers Ole Blue. Call Coastal181 at 877-907-8181.
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).
