RPW Exclusive: Austin Beers Ready to Defend NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Title in 2026
RPW EXCLUSIVE Column By: Stephen Durham / RPW – BOSTON, MA – 
2025 was a year unlike any other for Austin Beers. After becoming the youngest champion in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour history, Beers is now preparing for the challenge of defending his title in 2026. Like any championship season, it didn’t come easily, with the title coming down to the final race at Martinsville, where Beers edged multi-time tour champion Justin Bonsignore.
Now in February, the champ says it took a while for it to set in that he was the NASCAR Whelen Modified champion. That moment became even more real when he saw his name displayed at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
“It took until I removed the tape off my name at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and realized it’s going to be in the Hall of Fame forever,” he explained. “That was pretty special. Getting honored at the banquet and seeing everyone at Allentown and Atlantic City congratulating me—it really meant a lot. I’m just proud to be the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion.”
For many racers, chasing a career in auto-racing takes sacrifices, individually and for individual families, committing to season-long schedules with multiple tours.
“It takes a lot of sacrifice from my family—the time, the travel, the shop hours. You’re away for so long,” he said. “We ran about 50 races over the past two seasons, and for asphalt racing nowadays, that’s a lot. But it’s like a kid shooting free throws— the more you practice, the better you get. That’s been our mindset to stay competitive.”
The offseason has brought major changes to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, including the appointment of Gary Putnam as the new series director.
“Gary Putnam is very well respected, not just in modifieds but across the sport,” Beers said. “I think it’s a good change. He’s going to bring new life to the tour, and I’m excited about that.”
Another notable change is the switch from Hoosier to American Racer tires beginning in 2026. While Beers didn’t participate in tire testing, he’s familiar with the brand.
“I’ve run on American Racers before, so I have an idea of what to expect,” he said. “Everyone’s on the same tire, so it’s not a huge deal. We’ll just go to the racetrack and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
The 2026 season kicks off February 7 at New Smyrna Speedway, featuring a schedule that looks slightly different from 2025. Beers earned two wins last season—at Lancaster Speedway and Riverhead Raceway—though Lancaster is no longer on the tour schedule. One new addition has him particularly excited.
“I’m really looking forward to going to Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine,” Beers said. “It’s another bowl-shaped track, similar to what I grew up racing at Mahoning. The tour returning to Stafford is also really cool.”
Beers is especially eager to return to Stafford Motor Speedway and Monadnock Speedway, where he feels a breakthrough is coming.
“I ran the last tour race at Stafford in 2021, but that was only my fourth start,” he said. “Now I’ve got all those laps there, so going back is exciting. Monadnock is another one—we’ve had fast cars, just haven’t been able to seal the deal yet. That’s a track I really want to win at this year.”
With the championship secured, Beers is focused on maintaining consistency while increasing his win total.
“Winning the championship is the main goal, but we’d like to win more races,” he said. “If we can get four or five wins, that would be great. With the tire change and different pit stop rules, strategy will be different, but it’s the same for everyone. Staying consistent and out of trouble is huge.”
Following his championship, Beers earned an opportunity with Ram Racing and Kaulig Racing, competing in Race for the Seat for a chance to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026.
“It was an awesome experience,” he said. “We filmed it right after Martinsville. I can’t talk about the results, but it’s definitely something people will want to watch.”
Beers also plans to compete in additional series in 2026, including the Monaco Modifieds and the Race of Champions, while slightly reducing his overall race count.
“We’re getting ready for New Smyrna with the Jensen team during Speedweeks, along with running the 64 on Saturday,” he said. “We might cut back a bit—maybe 40 races instead of 50—just to get a few more breaks.”
As he reflects on his journey, Beers remains grateful to those who made it possible.
“I have to thank Mike and Maggie Murphy for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime,” he said. “Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to run the Whelen Modified Tour full-time. I can’t thank my family and everyone who supports me enough.”
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season begins February 7 at New Smyrna Speedway and will be streamed live on FloRacing.
