Berkley Auto Racing and Berndt Racing Join Forces for 2011 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Schedule
Berkley, MA — Car Owner Bob Katon Jr. is pleased to announce that Eric Berndt will pilot the teams # 46 Chevrolets for the 2011 racing season. After having run a limited schedule since 2004, this will be the 31 year old Berndt’s first full year on the tour. In 40 career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts, he has 1 Coors Light Pole Award (Stafford Aug. 2009), 1 Top-5, and 5 Top-10 finishes. In 2010, he ran 8 races scoring a career best 4th place finish at the Monadnock Speedway. Eric was the 2003 Thompson Speedway Sunoco Modified Track Champion and has won over 30 career Modified features combined at the Stafford, Thompson, and Waterford Speedways. “My guys and I are excited about the opportunity that Bob has presented to us to run the entire tour schedule and race at some tracks that we have never been to. We can’t wait for the season to begin at Thompson,” stated Berndt. In addition to the tour schedule Eric plans on running the full Stafford Motor Speedway SK Modified division schedule in the familiar family owned # 54.
Katon, who is entering his 8th season as a car owner on the tour, offered “after talking and meeting with Eric, I knew that this would be a great opportunity for everyone involved. My guys have been busy preparing the cars during the off-season and are looking forward to working with Eric and his guys. The tentative plans call for Eric to be in our car for 10 races and the remaining 6 races in a car prepared at the Berndt Racing shop.”
For this joint effort, Berndt Racing’s Ricky Rotondo and Berkley Auto Racing’s Don Adams will be working closely as Crew Chief and Car Chief. Both teams will utilize Troyer Chassis’ with Jim Mikkel’s Performance Technology supplying the power for Katon’s cars’ and Bob Bruneau Engine Research supplying the power for Berndt’s. Support for the 2011 season will come from longtime corporate partners Cape Cod Aggregates Corp., North End Auto Parts, Inc., J & R Pre-Cast, and Viveiros Insurance. Along with additional support from New England Racing Fuels supplying Sunoco Race Fuel, Pro Systems Brakes, Pro Shocks, the Joie of Seating, Dur-A-Flex Race Car Bodies, and Ayers Racing Images.
Eric and his wife Lianna reside in Cromwell, CT with their children Brooke and Parker. He is employed at the family business North End Auto Parts, Inc. in Meriden, CT. The 2011 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season begins the weekend of April 9 and 10 at the Thompson Speedway with the “Icebreaker 150”.
Sources: Jim Lumi/Berkley Auto Racing PR