Whelen Modified Tour Looks to Crown Fifth Different Winner in Last Five Oswego Races This Saturday
ATTLEBORO, Mass. — The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is back on the track this Saturday, June 12, set for a stop at Oswego Speedway in New York. Even though the race marks the fifth in the championship points schedule for the tour this season, it will be the second of three promoted by Josh Vanada and the JDV Productions team.
Entering the race, all eyes are on the entry list, as fans look to pick who might become the fifth different winner in five Whelen Modified Tour races at Oswego. After a more than 25-year hiatus in tour competition at the track, Doug Coby won the big return for the series in 2016, dominating the race, leading 121 laps en route to victory.
A year later, NASCAR Cup Series regular Ryan Preece stole the show, leading 33 laps to win, while in 2018, Matt Hirschman led 139 laps and went to Victory Lane. In the last event held at the track, in 2019, two-time series champion Justin Bonsignore — who is the most recent tour winner at Jennerstown Speedway on May 29 — scored the victory. On the track, Bonsignore was at the point for 81 of the laps.
There seems to be a common trend: champions become winners at Oswego, and they often find themselves dominating the race. Coby is a six-time Whelen Modified Tour champion, while Preece won the crown in 2013, en route to making it to the highest level of NASCAR. Bonsignore won his first title in 2018, and followed it up with another in 2020. And finally, Hirschman, who only runs select Whelen Modified Tour races — is no stranger to victory lane and titles up and down the east coast in Tour-Type Modified events.
Oswego produces some exciting racing action throughout the field, but when it comes time for the checkered flag, the champions come out. All four of the recent race winners also started inside the top-five for the feature race, meaning Mayhew Tools pole qualifying will be important on Saturday.
Entering this event, Patrick Emerling, who won the race at Stafford Motor Speedway on April 30, leads Bonsignore by one point in the series standings, with Doug Coby third, four points back,. Eric Goodale, who won the event at Martinsville Speedway to open the season, is fourth, 15 points out. Goodale has produced two top-five finishes in the first four races and is hoping to add his name to the list of winners at the ‘Steel Palace’ on Saturday evening.
He knows qualifying and track position will be important.
“It’s competitive and close, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to pass because the top-10 cars are so close,” Goodale said. “To get track position, qualify up front… it’s important to keep it to a minimum on how many cars you have to pass. But it’s also important to have a good team and a good pit stop to set you up late.”
After winning Martinsville, and collecting the historic Grandfather Clock, Goodale is also looking forward to trying to tackle Oswego — another historic track on the circuit.
“I like Oswego,” Goodale said. “It’s a fun place. We’re here to win races. That’s our goal every time we show up to the track.”
The schedule for Saturday’s race day for the Whelen Modified Tour includes practice from 3-4 p.m., Mayhew Tools pole qualifying at 6 p.m., and the drop of the green flag in the Steel Palace 150 at 7:30 p.m. The Oswego Speedway Supermodifieds will also join the racing card.
Advance tickets are currently on sale for $40 each at JDVProductions.com. In the ticket section of the JDV Productions website, fans also have the opportunity to purchase a special seat in the VIP Suite, located on the Frontstretch, for just $100.
For more information on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, visit NASCAR.com. For more information on Oswego Speedway, visit OswegoSpeedway.com. For more information on JDV Productions, visit JDVProductions.com.
Sources: Souza Media/Kyle Souza
NASCAR photo
A NASCAR official before the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Toyota Mod Classic Presented by McDonald’s on Aug. 31, 2019 at Oswego Speedway in Oswego, New York.