RPW Exclusive: A strong run with NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for Matt Swanson
RPW Exclusive Column By: Stephen Durham – RACEPROWEEKLY – THOMPSON, CT – 
What could have been for Matt Swanson.
Swanson was determined to do one-spot better from the World Series race in October of 2025 with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour . After an early race caution at lap 23, during the longest run of the day, Matt Swanson was coming with the family owned 89, making his way all the way up to 3rd, knocking on the bumper of at the time 2nd place Stephen Kopcik before the caution flew at lap 107.
When the caution flew at lap 107, the entire field came down pit-road for fresh American Racer tires and adjustments. That’s where things changed for Swanson changed, where he lost positions on pit-road and would struggle in the final 30-35 laps of the race. The end result being a 15th place finish, and a dejected Swanson.
“Ultimately… Big picture. I think we proved a lot today. We had a really fast race car, is what it comes down to it. Just… Unfortunately, still was not meant to be,” Swanson explains post-race.
For Swanson at 26-years old, he has become a consistent contender in open-wheel action across New England, whether in a tour-type modified or a super-modified. Swanson’s one goal though, each time he rolls into a track, is to win. His biggest goal though right now, is to win a NASCAC Whelen Tour Modified race.
“I’ve been trying for so long to get one of these tour wins, and, you know, I worked my ass off this winter to build this race car, and my dad and my family pretty much gave me every piece I needed to build it, build a right,” a grateful Matt Swanson explains “it was looking like it was going to be the day today, and, just an error on my part when we came in the pit, and, then just car wasn’t up to snuff after the pit stop.”
Swanson knows he is good at Thompson, as he has five top 5s at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, including two runner-up finishes, with most recently at the World Series this past October, finishing 2nd behind Ron Silk.
“At World Series last year, we got a caution early and it went green to checker from there and our race car was just phenomenal when I was driving for Gary Casella and kind of had the same, same characteristics today in this car,” Swanson explains.
Swanson though knows Sunday afternoon it hurts, but knows he’ll look back at the day and see some of the positives.
“Today, no, tomorrow, probably. Like I said, there’s there’s been a lot of people coming over to me and just telling reminding me of what we were able to do today, and that’s that means a lot, obviously, but, you know, the the competitor in me just wants to win one of these damn things so I can get it over with. But, nonetheless, they knew we were here,” Swanson explains.
Swanson remains proud though in the moment of what his team has accomplished.
“Obviously really proud of my team, really proud of all the work that all these guys put in all weekend. We worked our asses off between yesterday, today, and Friday. Some of these guys have been with me all 3 days and then, you know, some of Gary Casello’s crew came over to help me today. So can’t, can’t do it without all these partners, obviously, Robert Yates Racing Engines, gave us a fresh bullet under the hood, and, you know, we had solid steam all day and Stone’s Parts and Performance for just keeping us going,” a grateful Swanson explains.
Looking at Swanson’s career stats with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Swanson has finished 2nd twice at Thompson Speedway(Aug 2018 & Oct 2025), a total of 12 top 5’s, and 43 top 10’s over 91 races with the tour, with his best finish in the championship standings being 5th in 2019.
