Cole Powell Returns at NHMS
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Cole Powell of Mount Brydges, Ontario will make his first appearance at one of his favorite tracks this weekend. Powell will enter the Whelen All-Star Shootout on July 11 and the Sunoco 100 on July 12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Bristol, the September New Hampshire race and possibly the World Series at Thompson will be on his limited schedule.
Powell will continue to race his Late Model in the 100 lap races at Delaware Speedway, five minutes from home. “I have a big family and friends that like to come watch, which is cool,” Powell said.
Powell wants to get a win soon. “(I) was really close last Friday, finishing runner-up, coming from the back of the field twice after getting a flat,” Powell said. “… A top three in the mods would be awesome considering all the hard work my dad and I have been doing on the cars.”
Powell may also enter a CRA Super Late Model race in the United States, but is not sure what track.
Powell finished sixteenth in the standings last season. Powell is returning with the same crew as last year; he feels that the team will run better during his sophomore season.
“Lots of changes to the car that we’re happy with,” Powell said. “Now that we have a full year under our belt, we understand the mods a lot better now since they are so different from the fender body cars I grew up with. … I guess we’ll find out if the changes worked at New Hampshire.”
The reigning Sunoco Rookie of the Year is eager to get laps on his #73 Copp’s BuildAll / Tricar Developments Modified. Powell’s only starts this season came at Daytona in February and Caraway in March,
“We had some motor problems during testing Monday so we’re only taking one car,” Powell said. “… Might use the shootout as a good test.”
“I think it’s going to be a blast,” Powell elaborated in an earlier conversation. “I have a feeling the final handful of laps are going to be crazy and I’d bet money people are going to see a few cautions because that race would be pretty special to win.”
Powell has not started any Modified races since his Aunt Kathy was diagnosed with Glioblastoma. She passed away in May.
“Lots of support by tons of people, which we’re very thankful for,” Powell said. “It’s amazing how many messages we all got from all our racing friends and family.”
“It is truly my time to take a back seat and support my family,” Powell said in an April news release. “Of course this is not a great way to start the season off … but family comes first.”
Powell made his ARCA Racing Series debut in February. “New Hampshire is now a close second just because it’s always been my dream to race at Daytona.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com