Daytona Beach, FL — NASCAR has announced the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule, which is highlighted by 14 events in five states with two venues added.
Staples on the schedule since the Whelen Modified Tour’s inception, Connecticut ovals Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson International Speedway will once again play host to seven combined events in 2010. The half mile at Stafford will entertain the Tour four times and Thompson three, including the season-opener on April 11 and the finale on Oct. 17.
Also returning to the schedule will be the traditional events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 26 and Sept. 18 in Loudon, N.H. The Whelen Modified Tour, which has a history of producing exciting finishes at the “Magic Mile,” held its 50th all-time event at The Granite State oval this past fall.
Continue reading ‘2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Schedule Announced’
Daytona Beach, FL — NASCAR announced today that Thomas Trcka, crew chief of the No. 10 team that competes in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, has been penalized as a result of rules violations committed Saturday, Aug. 1 at Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, N.Y.
The No. 10 team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4l (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20D-2.3 (added car weight not permitted inside Driver’s compartment: Unattached weight inside Driver’s compartment) of the 2009 NASCAR Touring rule book. The violations were discovered during pre-qualifying inspection on Aug. 1.
Trcka has been fined $500, suspended from NASCAR until the fine is paid, and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2009.
Continue reading ‘Crew Chief of No. 10 NWMT Team Penalized for Rules Violations at Riverhead Raceway’
Led 137 of 150 laps
Riverhead, NY — Ryan Preece dominated the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour action Saturday at Riverhead Raceway and earned his second career win in the Riverhead 175.
Preece (No. 3 Mizzy Construction/Reynold’s Auto Wrecking Chevrolet), who earned the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light during afternoon qualifying, led 137 of the 150 laps in Saturday night’s main for his first win of the season, and his first at Riverhead.
Preece, who had previously won at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in 2008, held off Ted Christopher (No. 36 Al-Lee Installation Chevrolet), Howie Brode (No. 96 Freightliner Chevrolet) and Dave Brigati (No. 98 Integra Shocks Chevrolet) on a number of restarts on the quarter-mile track for the win.
Brigati came home second followed by Brode, Justin Bonsignore (No. 51 Freightliner Chevrolet) and Glen Reen (No. 17 Reen Orthodontics/Pep Boys Chevrolet). It was a new career-best finish for Reen.
[Photo Gallery] by Adam Fohlin
Continue reading ‘Preece Dominates At Riverhead’
Riverhead, NY — Ryan Preece led the way in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour time trials at Riverhead Raceway. He won the Coors Light Pole Award with a lap time of 12.001 seconds for an average lap speed of 74.944 mph.
Defending series champion, and three-time pole winner in 2009, Ted Christopher posted the second fastest time at 12.088 seconds (74.454 mph). He was followed by Howie Brode, who timed in at 12.092 seconds (74.429 mph).
Chuck Steuer logged the fourth-fastest time at 12.097 seconds (74.399 mph). The top five was rounded out by Bill Park with a time of 12.126 seconds (74.221 mph).
Continue reading ‘QUALIFYING: Preece Sets Pace’
Top times turned in by local drivers
Riverhead, NY — Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour practice session had a distinct hometown flavor as five competitors from Riverhead Raceway’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified division made up the seven fastest cars.
Chuck Steuer, who has three career Coors Light Pole Awards while competing in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Riverhead, paced the 32 car field in the one-hour practice session with a fast lap of 12.059 seconds (74.633 mph). Frank Vigarolio Jr. was second fastest at 12.109 (74.325).
Continue reading ‘PRACTICE: Riverhead Raceway Regulars Lead The Way’
Daytona Beach,FL — For the 25th season in a row the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will visit Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway for the Riverhead 175 on Saturday, Aug. 1.
At Riverhead Raceway:
History
- Built in 1949.
- Held its first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race on July 10, 1985 during the NWMT’s inaugural season.
- Has held 47 NWMT races all-time, fourth-most among all venues.
- Is one of two tracks to play host to the NWMT in each of its 25 seasons of competition along with Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.
Continue reading ‘Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Riverhead 175′
Riverhead 175 to be contested this Saturday
In 25 seasons, just two venues have been on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule each and every year. On Saturday, Aug. 1, one of those historic tracks will once again welcome the Tour back to town.
Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway will play host to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2009. While NASCAR Modified racing existed at Riverhead long before 1985, the track and the Tour have forged a history of their own together. Saturday’s Riverhead 175 will be the 48th all-time race at the Long Island landmark.
Riverhead is not only one of the staples on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule, but also one of the more unique stops. The quarter-mile bullring is the shortest track among the eight that the Tour will visit, and provides many challenges for those that race there, including a Tour driver that got his start in racing at the track, Donny Lia.
Continue reading ‘Whelen Modifieds Return To Long Island Bullring’
Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H., kicks off its 2009 NASCAR Whelen All-American season on Friday, helping lead the final 16 NASCAR Home Tracks to open in May.
Lee opens for its 22nd season of operation by John “Red” MacDonald and his wife Judy. The .375-mile paved oval hosts six divisions weekly. They include Late Models, Late Model Sportsman, Small Block Supermodifieds, Roadrunners, Hobby Stocks, and the Ironman Division.
The MacDonalds have been making some moves recently with the fans in mind.
“Last year, we rolled back our general admission from $12 to $10; That helped our fans and it helped us keep them,” Red MacDonald said.
Continue reading ‘Lee USA Speedway Leads 16 Tracks Openings In May’
Earns Third Career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Win
Riverhead, NY — Jimmy Blewett registered his third career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory Saturday night when he took the checkered flag in the Miller Lite 140 at Riverhead Raceway.
Blewett, of Howell, N.J., was strong throughout the evening as he led three times for 80 laps, including the final 46. After qualifying fourth-fastest, Blewett took the win in the second of two 25-lap heat races that preceded the 140-lap main. He was then able to parlay his qualifying success into front-running in the feature.
Continue reading ‘Blewett Reaches Victory Lane at Riverhead’
Daytona Beach, FL – The 47th running of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2 with the Miller Lite 140.
At Riverhead Raceway:
- The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has held races at Riverhead each year since the series was formed in 1985.
- Riverhead played host to at least two, and as many as three, NWMT races from 1985-2002.
- Among the early entries for the Miller Lite 140, seven have reached Victory Lane at Riverhead before … Mike Stefanik (6 wins), Ted Christopher (4), Donny Lia (4), Rick Fuller (2), Dan Jivanelli (2), Wayne Anderson (1) and Ed Flemke Jr. (1).
- At .25-miles, Riverhead is the smallest track of the eight that the NWMT will race at in 2008.
Continue reading ‘Analyzing the Miller Lite 140 at Riverhead Raceway’
NASCAR Will Also Recognize Three New Jersey Champs
Daytona Beach, FL — As part of a season-long celebration of 60 years of Modified champions, 1994 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titlist Wayne Anderson will be honored at the Miller Lite 140 on Aug. 2 at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway.
NASCAR will honor each of its 31 all-time Modified champions throughout the season. Anderson, who hails from Yaphank, N.Y., on Long Island, will be recognized for his 1994 title and career accomplishments at Riverhead, his home track. Anderson, who last competed full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 1995, has been a regular in Riverhead’s Modified division of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. He will participate in this year’s Miller Lite 140.
Continue reading ‘Past Modified Champion Anderson to be Honored at Riverhead Raceway’
