NASCAR Whelen Tour Modifieds are the most popular race cars on Thompson Speedway’s 5/8 mile oval. There are 37 entries for this weekend’s Icebreaker. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo.)
For the tradition-rich NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, each off season has historically brought little turnover among the ranks. Although ride swapping can occur with frequency, many of the drivers and teams remain the same from year to year. Things are a little different in 2015, however.
Kingston’s Randy Cabral will be one of the favorites to win the inaugural NEMA Lites feature at Thompson Speedway’s Icebreaker. Because any Thompson checker is a treasure. (Credit: NEMA photo)
The Northeastern Midget Association has long considered Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) the ultimate “separate the men from the boys” facility. While any Thompson checkered is a treasure, winning the first ever NEMA Lites feature at this year’s ICEBREAKER event will be a goal high on the list of many attendees.
Acton’s Matt Swanson moves from the Modified Tour Type cars to the Sk Lighht Modifieds at Stafford Motor Speedway. Credit: Matt Swanson photo.)[/caption]
By Lou Modestino
In the short 9 -year life span of Stafford’s SK Light Modified division, the track championship has been won three times by a rookie driver. The 2015 season could see a fourth rookie champion in 10 years. Acton native Matt Swanson will look to join Michael Gervais, Jr., Matt Galko, and Jeremy Sorel as rookie champions when he makes his Stafford SK Light debut at the April 24-26 NAPA Spring Sizzler. Swanson is making the move to Stafford after winning the Modified track championship at Star Speedway as a 14-year old this past season. Continue reading
Doug Coby has a 28 point edge over Ted Christopher going into this weekend’s World Series NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 150 final at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (Credit:NASCAR Home Tracks photo)
By Lou Modestino
The 2014 racing season at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (TSMP) comes to a close on October 17-19 with one of the nation’s finest short track events: the 52nd running of the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing, presented by Xtramart. Continue reading
Woody Pitkat proved his worth by winning at NHMS for his second career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)
By Lou Modestino
Woody Pitkat held off Todd Szegedy on a green-white-checkered finish to earn his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in Saturday’s F.W. Webb 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Continue reading
Rookie Tommy Barrett, Jr. of Millis was the surprise winner in the Bush Beans Whelen Modified Tour race at Bristol. (Credit:racechasersonline photo.)
By Lou Modestino
Rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. out-muscled veterans Bobby Santos and Justin Bonsignore with a dozen laps to go and drove on to his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in Wednesday’s Bush’s Beans 150 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Continue reading
Young Tommy Barrett, Jr. of Millis managed to take home the 10 G’s for winning the hard fought 100 lap Modified Open at Seekonk Speedway. (Credit: Tom Barrett photo)
By Lou Modestino
Open Wheel Wednesday at the Seekonk Speedway had one of the largest crowds in a long time turn out for the $10,000 to win Modified Open. Continue reading
Justin Bonsignore timed his pass right to win the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock Speedway. (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)
By Lou Modestino
Justin Bonsignore made the late pass pay off as he drove to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in the O’Reilly 200 at Monadnock Speedway Saturday night.
Bonsignore powered underneath Ryan Preece on Lap 175 en route to the win. Preece had started second and led all but one lap to that point.
It was the fifth career win for the Holtsville, New York, driver and second straight at Monadnock. It was also his second of 2014, as he opened the season with a win at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in April.
The race went caution-free, leaving just six cars on the lead lap at the checkered flag. Preece settled for second, followed by Eric Goodale, rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. and points leader Doug Coby.
Bonsignore won the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day, but Preece jumped to the lead on Lap 2 and held it until Bonsignore made his move.
Matt Hirschman finished sixth, followed by Patrick Emerling, Ted Christopher, Ron Silk and Ron Yuhas Jr.
With the win, Bonsignore moved to within four points of Coby in the championship points standings. Bobby Santos, who finished 11th, dropped to third in points — eight behind Coby. Christopher is fourth, another five points back, while Preece moved up a spot to fifth.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races next in the Call Before You Dig 8-1-1 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday, Aug. 8.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-O’Reilly Auto Parts 200 Results
Saturday
At Monadnock Speedway
Winchester, N.H.
Lap length: 0.25 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 200 laps, 66.323 mph.
2. (2) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 200.
3. (3) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200.
4. (5) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 200.
5. (10) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 200.
6. (7) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA, Chevrolet, 200.
7. (15) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 199.
8. (11) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 199.
9. (8) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 199.
10. (6) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 198.
11. (14) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 198.
12. (16) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 197.
13. (4) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 196.
14. (19) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 195.
15. (22) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 187.
16. (21) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 186.
17. (12) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH, Chevrolet, 181, power steering.
18. (13) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Dodge, 114, handling.
19. (17) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 110, engine.
20. (9) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 73, rear end.
21. (18) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 73, leaking fluid.
22. (20) Jimmy Zacharias, Candor, N.Y., Chevrolet, 68, electrical.
23. (23) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 11, handling.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 45 minutes 14 seconds
Margin of Victory: 3.939 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: J.Bonsignore (71.468 mph, 12.593 seconds)
Caution Flags: 0 for 0 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Bonsignore 1; R. Preece 2-174; J. Bonsignore 175-200.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 285; 2. J. Bonsignore, 281; 3. B. Santos, 277; 4. T. Christopher,272; 5. R. Preece, 252; 6. R. Silk, 244; 7. E. Goodale, 234; 8. T. Solomito, 233; 9. M. Hirschman, 229; 10. W. Pitkat, 227.
Doug Coby is always one of the top drivers when he races a Modified at Stafford Motor Speedway (Credit: NASCAR Home Track photo)
By Lou Modestino
Stafford Motor Speedway will host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for the third of four visits during the 2014 season on August 8 for the Call Before You Dig 811 150. When the NWMT teams take to the track, two of the favorites have to be Bobby Santos, III and Doug Coby. Continue reading
Bobby Santos, III of Franklin scored his biggest NASCAR Modified win at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH when he won the hotly contested Sunoco 100. Credit: NASCAR HomeTracks photo)
By Lou Modestino
Bobby Santos entered the Sunoco 100 looking for a little extra magic to change his fortunes at the “Magic Mile.” He waited until the final lap, but he got it. Continue reading