Anderson Stays with Solomitos for 2015
Will Continue Tour Competition With Shawn Solomito
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team owner Wayne Anderson will transition from one brother to another as Shawn Solomito will take over behind the wheel of the No. 75 Chevrolet for the 2015 season.
Anderson, the 1994 Whelen Modified Tour titlist, rejoined the tour full-time as an owner last year with driver Timmy Solomito, who captured the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award. The younger Solomito moved to Flamingo Racing this offseason, which left Anderson with a vacancy.
Anderson decided to stick with a familiar situation moving forward. Like Anderson, the Solomito family hails from Long Island (Islip) and calls Riverhead Raceway their home track. Shawn is an accomplished short-track racer in his own right, and was available, so it was an easy transition for Anderson.
“I knew the family, and I knew they were diehard racers,” Anderson said of the Solomitos. “They’re great people, and they want to go racing.”
Exit Timmy, and enter Shawn.
“He’s been racing quite a few years and has a good head on his shoulders,” Anderson said of Shawn, who was part of Anderson’s crew a year ago.
Solomito has nine career Whelen Modified Tour starts since 2011, seven of which were with his family’s team. He has recorded an average finish of 18th with a best run of fourth at Riverhead in 2013. The 25-year-old earned a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship and New York state title at the vaunted Long Island quarter-mile in 2012.
With Butch Capuano on board as the crew chief, Anderson and Solomito currently plan to contend for the Riverhead modified division title as well as compete on the Whelen Modified Tour. The two tour races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway are the only schedule conflicts that may force a decision on which way to go.
“I’m definitely excited,” Solomito said of his first opportunity to run the tour full-time. “I was with [the team] with Timmy all last year when he drove for Wayne so I know the good equipment that he supplies for us.
“I’m ready to get out there and showcase what I think I’m capable of doing. It’s a matter of seat time and learning the tracks and how those guys race. The series is competitive and I’m sure it’s going to be a challenge this year, but I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Solomito’s first Whelen Modified Tour start in the No. 75 Eastport Feeds/Axel Anderson Inc. Chevrolet will be the 2015 season-opening Icebreaker 150 on April 12 at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
Sources: Jason Cunningham, NASCAR WMT PR