NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Current season |
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) (previously the NASCAR Winston Modified Tour and NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series from 1985 until 2005)
History
Modified Division (1947–1984)
The NASCAR Modified Division was formed as part of NASCAR's creation in December 1947. NASCAR held a modified race as its first sanctioned event, on February 15, 1948, on the beach course at Daytona Beach, Florida. Red Byron won the event and 11 more races that year, and won the first NASCAR Modified Championship.[2] (The Strictly Stock Division, which evolved into today's premier Cup Series, did not race until 1949.) Post-
The predecessor to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was NASCAR's National Modified Championship, which was determined by total points from weekly NASCAR-sanctioned races as well as a schedule of national championship races. Parts of the northeastern and southeastern US were hotbeds of modified racing in the 1950s and 1960s; some racers competed five nights per week or more.[4] Often the same car was raced on both dirt and paved tracks, changing only tires and perhaps springs and shock absorbers.[3] In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the technology of dirt and pavement modifieds diverged to make them separate types of race car. NASCAR was no longer sanctioning dirt tracks which held modified races, so the NASCAR modified rules became the standard for asphalt Modifieds. (Starting in the early 1970s, northeastern US dirt modified racetracks began to join the DIRT organization founded by Glenn Donnelly.) Most unsanctioned tracks used similar modified rules to NASCAR's, or specified the same cars with cost-limiting rules such as smaller engines or narrow tires.
In the 1980s, it became prohibitively expensive for modified teams to tow long distances to sixty or more races per year, including
Whelen Modified Tour (1985–present)
The modern-day NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was first held in 1985 with 29 races, named the "NASCAR Winston Modified Tour".[4] It switched sponsorship to the Featherlite Trailers brand in 1994, and was renamed the "NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series".
Two major changes to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour came in 2005.
In 2005, Whelen Engineering took over sponsorship of the series, which was renamed the "NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour".
Beginning in 2005 NASCAR sanctioned a new modified division in the southeastern United States known as the
1985
2017
Following the
2018
The NASCAR
2019
For 2019, the tour went back to
Beginning with 2019, all NASCAR modified events will be live on Fanschoice.tv.[13]
2020
The 2020 season was one of constant change, as the planned season was temporarily put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many races were postponed or cancelled, while others were added to help fill the schedule. Justin Bonsignore, on the strength of 3 wins, won the championship. Jennerstown returned to the Tour for the first time in 2006, hosting two races, while New Hampshire's White Mountain Motorsports Park hosted back-to-back races that were the WMT's first ever visit to the beautiful bullring in White Mountains.
6 time champion Doug Coby saw his Mike Smeriglio III Racing team close as Smeriglio chose to retire after a very successful career. Coby would form his own team in partnership with Steve Pickens, scoring one win at WMMP.[14] Jon Mckennedy showed great speed on his way to second in points driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing, while Craig Lutz had a breakout year scoring wins at Jennerstown and Thompson.
2021
2021 saw the WMT return to two popular southern venues in
Cup series regular Ryan Preece would have a solid year, scoring wins at New Hampshire, Stafford, and Richmond. Tragically his car owner Eddie Partridge would pass away in the hours after the win at Richmond. The loss was huge for the modified racing community, as Partridge was one of the strongest supporters of modifieds over the years, fielding cars in many series, as well as saving the Riverhead Raceway.[17]
Doug Coby made a bold move to miss the first race at Oswego to run in the inaugural Superstar Racing Experience race at Stafford - a move that proved fruitful as he would go on to beat the star studded field in front of a live national TV audience.[18] The win parlayed Coby to his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck series start, scoring a 12th place finish at Bristol driving the GMS Racing 24 truck.[19]
A large story line was the absence of any races at the fabled Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. After being on the WMT schedule every year since the tours inception in 1985, the managing partners of the speedway decided to hold open tour type modified races instead.[20] This did not prove popular amongst fans and teams alike, however TSMP returned to the WMT schedule for the 2022 season.
The cars
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour cars are substantially different from their
Safety
Richie Evans' 1985 death at Martinsville, along with other asphalt modified fatalities such as
After a severed wheel caused a fatality at an
Public stature
The series has been a
No full-time Cup Series driver competed regularly in Whelen Modified Tour events until 2010, when
Flosports has live coverage of all races, with some tape-delayed on CNBC.
In 2023, the Modified Tour has support races with the New Smyrna Speedway meeting that is part of Daytona 500 ancillary events, and is part of Cup Series at Richmond Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Martinsville Speedway. They also race a standalone fall meeting at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Typically, a name driver is recruited to participate in the race to pique the interest of casual fans. For example, Cup Series driver Carl Edwards and defending Cup champion Tony Stewart raced in the July 2006 race. In the past, they have raced at Bristol Motor Speedway and been part of INDYCAR races at Richmond and New Hampshire.
Notable drivers
Certain drivers are notable specifically for their NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour careers.
All-time top 10 drivers
The following drivers were named to the NASCAR Modified all-time top 10 list in 2003:[23]
- Richie Evans – Evans won nine modified titles between 1973 and 1985, a championship total that was unmatched in all of NASCAR until Stefanik's championship in 2006; 52 wins in 84 NASCAR and unsanctioned events in 1979[4]
- Mike Stefanik – seven WMT and two Busch Northchampionships
- Jerry Cook – six NASCAR National Modified Championships in the 1970s, helped direct the series' changes as series director in 1985
- Ray Hendrick – raced "anything, anywhere" from the 1950s to 1970s
- Geoff Bodine – in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning 55 modified races in 1978
- Tony Hirschman, Jr. – has won five WMT championships
- Bugs Stevens – won three consecutive NASCAR National Modified Championships, in 1967–69
- Fred DeSarro – 1970 NASCAR National Modified champion
- Jimmy Spencer – 1986 and 1987 WMT champion
- Reggie Ruggiero – the "best driver to never win a championship", his 44 victories rank him second to Stefanik since the modern era began in 1985
Wade Cole
Wade Cole (March 9, 1953 – March 15, 2020) was a fixture in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Between 1985 and 2019, Cole competed in 371 NWMT races,[24] achieving 7 top ten finishes.[25] He earned a career best eighth place finish twice, once in 1993 and again in 2008.[26] His 371 starts place him eighth all time since the series inception in 1985.[27] Cole died in a home accident on March 15, 2020.[28] In 2020 a race on the tour was renamed for him.[29]
Results
Champions
Click here for a list of all champions including 1948–84 National Modified champions.
Year | Driver | Team owner | Wins | Number | Make | Sponsor | Chassis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | Richie Evans | B.R.DeWitt | 12 | 61 | Chevrolet | DeWitt Construction | Evans |
1986 | Jimmy Spencer (1)
|
Frank Cicci Racing | 4 | 24 | Oldsmobile | Apple House Trucking / Quick Stop Beverage | Troyer |
1987 | Jimmy Spencer (2) | Frank Cicci Racing | 6 | 24 | Oldsmobile | Apple House Trucking / Quick Stop Beverage | Troyer |
1988 | Mike McLaughlin
|
Sherwood Racing Team | 5 | 12 | Chevrolet | Sherri-Cup | RaceWorks |
1989 | Mike Stefanik (1) | Jack Koszela | 7 | 15 | Chevrolet | Koszela Speed | Stefanik |
1990 | Jamie Tomaino | Danny Ust | 1 | U2 | Pontiac | Danny's Market | Troyer |
1991 | Mike Stefanik (2) | Jack Koszela | 5 | 15 | Pontiac | Auto Palace / ADAP | Stefanik |
1992 | Jeff Fuller
|
Sheba Racing | 6 | 8 | Chevrolet | Sunoco Race Fuels | Troyer |
1993 | Rick Fuller | Curt Chase Racing | 2 | 77 | Pontiac | Polar Beverages | Spafco |
1994 | Wayne Anderson | Lenny Boehler/BRE Racing | 1 | 3 | Chevrolet | BRE Racing | BRE |
1995 | Tony Hirschman, Jr. (1) | Lenny Boehler/BRE Racing | 1 | 3 | Chevrolet | BRE Racing | BRE |
1996 | Tony Hirschman, Jr. (2) | Lenny Boehler/BRE Racing | 3 | 3 | Chevrolet | BRE Racing | BRE |
1997 | Mike Stefanik (3) | Peter Beal/Charlie Bacon | 10 | x6 | Chevrolet | Burnham Boilers | Stefanik |
1998 | Mike Stefanik (4) | Peter Beal/Charlie Bacon | 13 | x6 | Chevrolet | Burnham Boilers | Stefanik |
1999 | Tony Hirschman, Jr. (3) | Gary Cretty | 6 | 25 | Dodge | ATC | Stefanik |
2000 | Jerry Marquis | Mario Fiore | 5 | 44 | Pontiac | Teddy Bear Pools | Troyer |
2001 | Mike Stefanik (5) | Art Barry | 3 | 21 | Chevrolet | New England Egg | Spafco |
2002 | Mike Stefanik (6) | Art Barry | 2 | 21 | Chevrolet | Lombardi's Inside-Out | Spafco |
2003 | Todd Szegedy | Don Barker | 4 | 50 | Ford | Haynes Materials | Chassis Dynamics |
2004 | Tony Hirschman, Jr. (4) | Bob and Tom Kehley | 4 | 48 | Chevrolet | Kamco Supply | Troyer |
2005 | Tony Hirschman, Jr. (5) | Bob and Tom Kehley | 5 | 48 | Chevrolet | Kamco Supply | Troyer |
2006 | Mike Stefanik (7) | Eric Sanderson/Flamingo Motorsports | 1 | 16 | Pontiac | Diversified Metals | Troyer |
2007 | Donny Lia (1) | Bob Garbarino/Mystic Missile Racing | 6 | v4 | Dodge | Mystic River Marina | Troyer |
2008 | Ted Christopher | Eddie Whalen | 4 | 36 | Chevrolet | Al-Lee Installations | Troyer |
2009 | Donny Lia (2) | Bob Garbarino/Mystic Missile Racing | 4 | v4 | Dodge | Mystic River Marina | Troyer |
2010 | Bobby Santos III | Bob Garbarino/Mystic Missile Racing | 4 | v4 | Dodge | Mystic River Marina | Troyer |
2011 | Ron Silk (1) | Ed Partridge | 3 | 6 | Chevrolet | T.S. Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm | Troyer |
2012 | Doug Coby (1) | Wayne Darling | 5 | 52 | Chevrolet | Sims Metal Management/Reynolds Auto Wrecking/Seekonk Grand Prix | Troyer |
2013 | Ryan Preece | Eric Sanderson/Flamingo Motorsports | 4 | 16 | Ford | East West Marine/Diversified Metals | Troyer |
2014 | Doug Coby (2) | Mike Smeriglio III | 1 | 2 | Chevrolet/Ford | Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Repair/A&J Romano Construction/HEX Performance | Troyer |
2015 | Doug Coby (3) | Mike Smeriglio III | 7 | 2 | Chevrolet | Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Repair/A&J Romano Construction/HEX Performance | LFR |
2016 | Doug Coby (4) | Mike Smeriglio III | 5 | 2 | Chevrolet | Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Repair/A&J Romano Construction | LFR |
2017 | Doug Coby (5) | Mike Smeriglio III | 1 | 2 | Chevrolet | Mayhew Tools | LFR |
2018 | Justin Bonsignore | Ken Massa Motorsports | 8 | 51 | Chevrolet | Phoenix Communications | LFR |
2019 | Doug Coby (6) | Mike Smeriglio III | 4 | 2 | Chevrolet | Mayhew Tools | LFR |
2020 | Justin Bonsignore (2) | Ken Massa Motorsports | 3 | 51 | Chevrolet | Phoenix Communications | Fury |
2021 | Justin Bonsignore (3) | Ken Massa Motorsports | 2 | 51 | Chevrolet | Phoenix Communications | Fury |
2022 | Jon McKennedy | Lepine Motorsports | 1 | 79 | Chevrolet | Middlesex Interiors | LFR |
2023 | Ron Silk (2) | Haydt Yannone Racing | 5 | 16 | Chevrolet | Blue Mountain Machine and Future Homes | Fury |
Rookie of the Year
Year | Driver |
---|---|
1999 | Dave Pecko |
2000 | Michael Boehler |
2001 | Ricky Miller |
2002 | Todd Szegedy |
2003 | Donny Lia |
2004 | Ken Barry |
2005 | Tyler Haydt |
2006 | James W. Civali |
2007 | Richard Savary |
2008 | Glen Reen |
2009 | Eric Goodale |
2010 | Justin Bonsignore |
2011 | Patrick Emerling |
2012 | Keith Rocco |
2013 | Cole Powell |
2014 | Timmy Solomito |
2015 | Chase Dowling |
2016 | Matthew Swanson |
2017 | Calvin Carroll |
2018 | Tommy Catalano |
2019 | Sam Rameau |
2020 | Tyler Rypkema |
2021 | Not Awarded |
2022 | Austin Beers |
2023 | Jake Johnson |
Most Popular Driver Award
NASCAR stopped awarding the Most Popular Driver Award in the Modified Tour from the 2017 season.
Year | Driver |
---|---|
1985 | Mike McLaughlin |
1986 | Jamie Tomaino |
1987 | Jamie Tomaino |
1988 | Reggie Ruggiero |
1989 | Reggie Ruggiero |
1990 | Satch Worley |
1991 | Satch Worley |
1992 | Jeff Fuller |
1993 | Jeff Fuller |
1994 | Jeff Fuller |
1995 | Steve Park
|
1996 | Steve Park |
1997 | Mike Stefanik |
1998 | Mike Stefanik |
1999 | Reggie Ruggiero |
2000 | Rick Fuller |
2001 | Mike Stefanik |
2002 | Ed Flemke Jr. |
2003 | Tom Baldwin |
2004 | Tom Baldwin |
2005 | Tony Hirschman Jr. |
2006 | Tony Hirschman Jr. |
2007 | Todd Szegedy |
2008 | Ted Christopher |
2009 | Ted Christopher |
2010 | Ted Christopher |
2011 | Justin Bonsignore |
2012 | Ryan Preece |
2013 | Mike Stefanik |
2014 | Melissa Fifield |
2015 | Melissa Fifield |
2016 | Melissa Fifield |
Pre-tour Most Popular Driver Award
Year | Driver |
---|---|
1965 | Bobby Allison |
1966 | Runt Harris |
1967 | Al Grinnan |
1968 | Red Farmer |
1969 | Ray Hendrick |
1970 | Ray Hendrick |
1971 | Bugs Stevens |
1972 | Bugs Stevens |
1973 | Richie Evans |
1974 | Richie Evans |
1975 | Richie Evans |
1976 | Jerry Cook |
1977 | Harry Gant |
1978 | Richie Evans |
1979 | Richie Evans |
1980 | Richie Evans |
1981 | Richie Evans |
1982 | Richie Evans |
1983 | Richie Evans |
1984 | Brian Ross |
Notes and references
- ^ Jeremy, Davidson. "NASCAR Featherlight Modified Series - Turning 20". Automotive.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
- ^ "Welcome to LLOAR Robert Red Byron". Archived from the original on 2006-11-05. Retrieved 2006-05-18.
- ^ a b "Through the Years at Shangri-La: The Final Chapter". Monnat, Michael E. Gater Racing News, August 26, 2005.
- ^ ISBN 0-9709854-6-0
- ^ "Come Together: Whelen Modified Tour And Whelen Southern Mod Tour To Merge For 2017". racedayct.com. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "NASCAR Modified legend Ted Christopher killed in plane crash". www.motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ Tracks, NASCAR Home (2017-09-19). "#NASCAR have this decal at @NHMS in remembrance of Ted Christopher this weekend". Twitter. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "Pitkat to Drive No. 82 Modified in TC's Honor at NHMS | Speed 51 | 100% Short Track Racing". Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "Stafford to Retire Ted Christopher's Number 13 | Speed 51 | 100% Short Track Racing". Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ Bianchi, Jordan (2017-03-08). "Las Vegas to get 2nd NASCAR Cup Series race in 2018". SBNation.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "September Brings Inaugural Full Throttle Fall Weekend To NHMS". RaceDayCT.com. August 2018.
- ^ "South Boston Added To 2019 Whelen Modified Tour Schedule – NASCAR Home Tracks". hometracks.nascar.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "FansChoice.TV To Live Stream Entire Regional Series Schedule – NASCAR Home Tracks". hometracks.nascar.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-01. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
- ^ "Doug Coby Racing Partners with Pic's Motorsports on Whelen Modified Tour". 20 June 2020.
- ^ "NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour announces 2021 schedule - NBC Sports". 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Season-stats".
- ^ "Legendary car owner, friend and champion: Ed Partridge leaves behind iconic resume, lifelong memories". 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Superstar Racing Experience Elevates Doug Coby to the Mainstream". 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Doug Coby to Compete for GMS Racing at Bristol".
- ^ "Thompson Speedway Promoters Not Looking to Add Whelen Modified Tour Events for 2021". 20 November 2020.
- ^ 2006 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Media Guide. NASCAR, Daytona Beach, Florida, USA.
- ISSN 0734-7340), Vol. 35, No. 5 (May 2000), pp. 62–63.
- ^ "NASCAR.com - NASCAR unveils modified all-time Top 10 - September 14, 2003". 2013-01-02. Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ "Driver Wade Cole's NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races - Racing-Reference.info". www.racing-reference.info. Archived from the original on 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ "Driver Wade Cole's NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour top 10s - Racing-Reference.info". www.racing-reference.info. Archived from the original on 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ Staff, SPEED SPORT (2020-03-16). "NASCAR Modified Veteran Wade Cole Dies At 67". SPEED SPORT. Archived from the original on 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ "Racin' With Jason: Wade Cole remembered as 'racer's racer'". Greenfield Recorder. March 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ Courchesne, Shawn (2020-03-16). "NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Driver Wade Cole Killed In Accident". RaceDayCT.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ Courchesne, Shawn (July 20, 2020). "NASCAR Adds Monadnock To Whelen Modified Tour Schedule In August". RaceDayCT.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
See also
- NASCAR
- Whelen Southern Modified Tour
- NASCAR Regional Racing
External links
- NASCAR official website
- NASCAR's WMT page
- Mod Series Scene website
- 2008 Whelen Modified Tour Schedule
- YankeeRacer.com
- History of Title sponsors
- Fan site from 2002 Archived 2006-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
- Archive.org image of www.petesracingsite.com – a fan site
- Red Byron (first champ) bio on Living Legends of Auto Racing website
- RacedayCT