RPW Exclusive: NASCAR Mods At Seekonk, Series Changes Penalty For Stephen Kopcik & More…

Column Compiled By: PHIL SMITH / RPW – WESTERLY, RI – On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, NASCAR announced the following penalties were issued coming out of the event at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Stephen Kopcik was suspended for one race and fined $1,500. He was suspended from NASCAR until the fine is paid and is on probation until December 31, 2025. The rule infraction is as follows: 12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines C. #4 Intentionally wrecking another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Tyler Rypkema has been fined $500 and suspended from NASCAR until the fine is paid. He is on probation until December 31, 2025. The rule infraction is as follows: 12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines 1. Heat of the moment actions or reactions, either on or off the race track.

E.1. Actions by a NASCAR Member that NASCAR finds to be detrimental to stock car racing or NASCAR.

9-4.2.1 On-Track Incident Procedure A 3 After being directed to exit the vehicle, the driver must immediately proceed to either the ambulance, other vehicle or as otherwise directed by safety personnel or a NASCAR Official. 5 At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach another moving vehicle.

The one thing that is really amazing that these infractions are never enforced when they happen at the Bowman Gray Stadium on almost a weekly basis???

The NASCAR National Motorsports Appeals Panel on May 27 heard and considered an appeal of a behavioral penalty issued on May 21, 2025, to No. 21 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Stephen Kopcik.

Upon hearing the testimony, the decisions of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel are:

• That the Appellant violated the Rule(s) set forth in the Penalty Notice.
  That the Panel amends the punishment to the following:
• $2500 fine. Suspended from NASCAR until the fine is paid.
  Probation until December 31, 2025

In reaching the above decision, the panel provided the following explanation: “The panel believes that although there were several factors that contributed to the wreck, ultimately, the contact by the 21 car against the 3 car was intentional.”

The Appeals Panel members for this hearing:

• Mr. Chuck Deery
• Mr. Hunter Nickell
• Ms. Cathy Rice

The Appellant has the right to appeal the decision of the National Motorsports Appeals Panel to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer in accordance with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Rule Book.

What a load of crap, the stink of that decision left a foul smell from Daytona Beach all the way to East Freetown, Mass. Len Boehler must be rolling in his grave! Chuck Deery, Hunter Nickell and Cathy Rice evidently had their heads up their butts when they made their decision. Putting a fine in place means nothing. The worse thing that can happen to a racer is to tell them they can’t race. Lesa France Kennedy and Jim France need to do some cleansing in their choice of totally incompetent officials and put people in positions who know what they are doing.and not just standing around patting each other on the back.

More and more it looks like the Stafford Speedway made the right decision to tell NASCAR to take a hike

The Seekonk Speedway and NASCAR, after seeing the Saturday forecast, postponed the Whelen Modified Tour Series event from Saturday evening to late Sunday afternoon. The New London-Waterford Speedbowl cancelled all together and the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island was postponed until Sunday. All three tracks made the right decision because between three and four pm it was raining at all three tracks.

The Stafford Motor Speedway defied the weather forecast and despite a nip in the air, it didn’t rain. The Speedway hosted AZ Roofing Kids Night on Friday, May 30th, the first of three kids nights scheduled for the 2025 season. Keith Rocco was a SK Modified® winner for a second consecutive race, while Wayne Coury, Jr. won the Late Model feature, Chris Matthews won the SK Light feature, RJ Surdell won the Limited Late Model feature, and Bert Ouellette was a winner for the second time in 2025 in the Street Stock feature. There were two kids big wheel races with Memphis Genereux and Evan DaRos the winners.

Rocco started tenth in the 24-car starting field. Wasting little time, Rocco charged his way to the front and by lap 15 had moved into second spot behind Troy Talman. Following a restart Rocco took the lead with Marcello Rufrano, hot on his rear bumper. The biggest surprise of the night was the run turned in by Alexander. Pearl who was hot to trot in third spot. Pearl, a graduate from the SK Lights, was making his second start in the SK Mods. During warm-ups his motor soured. His crew borrowed another motor from fellow competitor David Arute and was able to make the start of the main in the scratch position. Good heads-up driving got him into the top three as the laps wound down. Pearl slipped to fifth following the final restart on lap 37 as Marcello Rufrano and Anthony Flannery were able to slip by.

With 84 career feature wins, Keith Rocco is one of the winningest drivers in Stafford Speedway history, trailing only Ted Christopher with 131 wins. Woody Pitkat who has 83 wins, and Tom Fearn who has82 wins, trail Rocco and Christopher.

The skies finally cleared but there was a definite bite in the air on Sunday as Seekonk and Riverhead got their postponed events in the record books. Seekonk drew 23 cars for their NASCAR Whelen Modified Touring Series event. Matt Hirschman dominated the event. After starting third after a redraw of the top 8, Hirschman passed early leader Justin Bonsignore. From then on the Pennsylvania racer ran pretty much unchallenged.

A tip of the hat to Stephen Kopcik who ran the entire distance without incident. Kopcik started nineth in the field and by lap 60 was closing in on the front running pack. While others were slipping and sliding on worn tires Kopcik’s car had the perfect set-up as it would go high or low when ever he wanted to change lanes. A caution was displayed for Tyler Rypkema who lost the air cleaner off ole blu on lap143. Tire temperatures dropped which caused the front runners to loosen up. The final green dropped with two to go. Justin Bonsignore, running second, saw an opening and stabbed the gas. His car shot across the track, got airborne and hit Patrick Emerling who in turn hit Jon McKennedy, driving him into the backstretch wall. With the checkered flag displayed the event was deemed over with Matt Hirschman, the winner. Stephen Kopcik drove thru the carnage and came home second. Austin Beers ended up third with Jake Johnson and Kyle Bonsignore somehow finishing fifth. Sixth thru tenth included Trevor Catalano, Kyle Ebersol, Tyler Barry, Chase Dowling and Eric Goodale.

Following the Seekonk event Austin Beers emerged the point leader as the series heads to the Riverhead Raceway on Long Island on Saturday, June 14. Sitting in the second spot, six points back, is Stephen Kopcik. Justin Bonsignore is third, seven points out of the lead. Rounding out the top five are Craig Lutz and Luke Baldwin. Sixth thru tenth are Trevor Catalano, Patrick Emerling, Matt Hirschman, Tommy Catalano and third generation driver, Tyler Barry. Barry is the son of driver and race car fabricator Kenny Barry and grandson of legendary car owner Art Barry.

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).