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.
Doug Coby wins the Whelen Modified Tour Championship at the Thompson Speedway World series (Credit:NASCAR Home Tracks photo)
By Lou Modestino
It was the worst finish of the season for Doug Coby. But in the end, it didn’t matter, as the Milford, Connecticut driver lifted the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour trophy for the second time in three seasons on Sunday. Continue reading
Ryan Preece broke into victory lane for the first time this year at Stafford’s Fall Final in the NASCAR WMT event.. (Credit: NASCAR.com photo)
By Lou Modestino
Ryan Preece broke through Sunday after a season-long absence from Victory Lane, and collected his 10th career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory by holding off Ted Christopher at Stafford Motor Speedway.
Millis, MA standout Modified driver Tommy Barrett, Jr. showed the rest of the Valenti Modified Racing Series drivers the way around the Stafford Motor Speedway. (Credit: Howie Hodge photo)
By Lou Modestino
19-year old Tommy Barrett, of Millis, MA, used a daring three-wide pass on a lap-57 restart, to go on and win the Valenti Modified Racing Series sanctioned 80-lap race on Friday night at the Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT. Continue reading
Tommy Barrett, Jr. of Millis, fresh off his Modified Victory at Bristol, hopes to be on a roll going into Friday night’s Valenti Modified Series race at Stafford. Credit:NASCAR Home Tracks photo)
By Lou Modestino
The Valenti Modified Racing Series opens Labor Day weekend at the Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT, Friday, August 29, with another 80-lap feature race on tap, the final appearance by the series there this season. 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
Ted Christopher finally ended his win less streak Valenti Modified Racing Series streak at Waterford’s Wings and Wheels event. (Credit: Yankee Racer photo.)
By Lou Modestino
Veteran driver Ted Christopher of Plainville, Connecticut put an end to a two-year winless streak when he won the Valenti Modified Racing Series 100-lap ‘Wings & Wheels’ race at Waterford (CT) Speedbowl, Saturday, August 9. He was at the wheel of the Brady Bunch entry out of Stoughton. Christopher’s last series win was July 29, 2012. Continue reading
Woody Pitkat finally won his first NASCAR When Modified Tour race at his home track-Stafford Motor Speedway. (Credit: NASCAR Home Tracks photo)
By Lou Modestino
After winning 71 times at Stafford Motor Speedway in weekly competition, there was never any doubt that Woody Pitkat knew his way around his home track. Now Pitkat can add a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win to his résumé.
Justin Bonsignore has just a one point edge over Rowan Pennink going into the Valenti Modified Series Wings and Wheels race at Waterford. (Credit:: Justin Bonsignore photo)
By Lou Modestino
With a new driver sitting atop the point standings and a roster full of competitors eager to get back to racing, the Valenti Modified Racing Series returns to action this Saturday night, August 9, when the series visits the famed Waterford Speedbowl in Connecticut for the 7th annual Wings and Wheels race program. The series has been idle since July 18. 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.