Whelen Modified Tour

Whelen Modified Tour
Vehicle type	Stockcar
Country or region	Northeast USA
Current name	Whelen Modified Tour
Previous names	NASCAR Winston Modified Tour, NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series
First season	1985
chassis	Troyer, Chassis Dynamics, RaceWorks, Spafco, LFR
tires	Continental
Official website	hometracks.nascar.com

The Whelen Modified Tour (WMT), formerly known as the NASCAR Winston Modified Tour and NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series , is NASCAR's oldest motorsport series . Together with the Whelen Southern Modified Tour , which was founded in 2005, it belongs to the two highest racing classes in NASCAR, in which “open-wheel” vehicles are driven. The races of the two Whelen Modified series of NASCAR are mainly carried out on smaller ovals. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drives almost exclusively in the northeast of the USA and the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour almost exclusively in the southeast of the USA. Individual races are also held on larger ovals and street courses.

history

Modified Division

The Modified Division was founded in 1947 under the name NASCAR's National Modified Championship as the first NASCAR racing series. On February 15, 1948, the first official race was held on the Daytona Beach Road Course , even before today's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series , the highest NASCAR racing class, held the first race. Red Byron won that race and eleven others that season, eventually leading to him becoming the first Modified Division champion. Many of the vehicles used at that time were, moreover, pre-war cars, and in some cases this remained so until the 1960s.

Over time, the Modified Tour became known for technical innovations. Around 1970, many of the Modifieds had large stick-block engines or manifold injection, as well as many other innovative elements that made the vehicles on the ovals more powerful. In the early 1970s, the cars began to be set up differently for dirt and asphalt races, as there was more freedom in setting up the cars. Before that, the same vehicle was used almost everywhere.

In the 1980s, racing became too expensive for some teams, mainly due to the long travel distances, the relatively low premiums and the more than 60 races per year that take place on routes such as Watkins Glen International , the Daytona International Speedway or the Bowman Gray Stadium took place. Richie Evans drove a total of 66 races in 1984, the last with the old Whelen Modified Tour system. At the end of the 1984 season it was decided to drastically shorten the racing calendar so that the whereabouts of some teams could be secured.

Whelen Modified Tour

The Modified Tour in its current form started in 1985 under the name "NASCAR Winston Modified Tour". Richie Evans was named posthumously champion after he tragically passed away in a race in October.

In 1994 it was renamed "NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series" due to a sponsorship change. In 2005 the main sponsor changed again, and the series has been called the "NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour" since then.

cars

# 45 Whelen Modified Auto

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour cars are very different from those in the Cup Series. Today's cars are built by Troyer Engineering, Chassis Dynamics, Spafco Raceworks or LFR. The tires are arranged in the same way as on normal monoposto vehicles.

A NASCAR modified car is longer and wider than a Cup Series car. It weighs at least 1,183 kilograms and has a wheelbase of 271 centimeters. The engines used are V8 stock block engines with 550 to 650 hp. For safety reasons, on larger routes like the New Hampshire Motor Speedway , the cars are fitted with air restrictors . The car models used are the Chevrolet Cavalier and Monte Carlo , the Dodge Avenger and Stealth , the Ford Mustang and Escort , the Plymouth Laser and Sundance and the Pontiac Sunbird as well as the Grand Prix .

safety

At the start of the Modified Tour, there were several tragic fatal accidents, which raised the question of whether the cars are safe enough. As a result, new chassis were developed, but there was another fatal accident in 2004, which is why further regulations were made. For example, the HANS neck protection system became mandatory. In the Cup Series it has long been a part of the mandatory equipment of every racing car.

The vehicles on the Whelen Modified Tour are now very safe, but on August 16, 2007, the inevitable happened at Thompson International Speedway that can happen anywhere and anytime in motorsport. John Blewett III collided with his brother Jimmy Blewett in the course of the race and was so badly injured on impact that he had to be taken to a nearby hospital. There he later succumbed to his injuries. Despite the already high standards, the teams and drivers of the Modified Tour are discussing further safety measures to minimize the dangers of an accident of this kind in the future.

Whelen Modified Tour Master

year	driver	Vehicle owner	Victories	number	Car brand	sponsor	chassis
2016	Doug Coby	Mike Smeriglio III	5	# 2	Chevrolet	Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Repair / A & J Romano Construction / HEX Performance	LFR
2015	Doug Coby	Mike Smeriglio III	7th	# 2	Chevrolet	Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Repair / A & J Romano Construction / HEX Performance	LFR
2014	Doug Coby	Mike Smeriglio III	1	# 2	Chevrolet / Ford	Dunleavy's Truck & Trailer Repair / A & J Romano Construction / HEX Performance	Troyer
2013	Ryan Preece	Eric Sanderson / Flamingo Motorsports	4th	# 16	ford	East West Marine / Diversified Metals	Troyer
2012	Doug Coby	Wayne Darling	5	# 52	Chevrolet	Sims Metal Management / Reynolds Auto Wrecking / Seekonk Grand Prix	Troyer
2011	Ron Silk	Ed Partridge	3	# 6	Chevrolet	TS Haulers / Calverton Tree Farm	Troyer
2010	Bobby Santos	Bob Garbarino / Mystic Missile Racing	4th	# 4	Dodge	Mystic River Marina	Troyer
2009	Donny Lia	Bob Garbarino / Mystic Missile Racing	4th	# 4	Dodge	Mystic River Marina	Troyer
2008	Ted Christopher	Eddie Whalen	4th	# 36	Chevrolet	Al-Lee installations	Troyer
2007	Donny Lia	Bob Garbarino / Mystic Missile Racing	6th	# 4	Dodge	Mystic River Marina	Troyer
2006	Mike Stefanik	Eric Sanderson / Flamingo Motorsports	1	# 16	Pontiac	Diversified Metals	Troyer
2005	Tony Hirschman Jr.	Bob and Tom Kehley	5	# 48	Chevrolet	Kamco Supply	Troyer
2004	Tony Hirschman Jr.	Bob and Tom Kehley	4th	# 48	Chevrolet	Kamco Supply	Troyer
2003	Todd Szegedy	Don Barker	4th	# 50	ford	Haynes Materials	Chassis Dynamics
2002	Mike Stefanik	Kind Barry	2	# 21	Chevrolet	Lombardi's Inside-Out	Spafco
2001	Mike Stefanik	Kind Barry	3	# 21	Chevrolet	New England Egg	Spafco
2000	Jerry Marquis	Mario Fiore	5	# 44	Pontiac	Teddy Bear Pools	Troyer
1999	Tony Hirschman Jr.	Gary Cretty	6th	# 25	Dodge	ATC	Stefanik
1998	Mike Stefanik	Peter Beal / Charlie Bacon	13	# x6	Chevrolet	Burnham Boilers	Stefanik
1997	Mike Stefanik	Peter Beal / Charlie Bacon	10	# x6	Chevrolet	Burnham Boilers	Stefanik
1996	Tony Hirschman Jr.	Lenny Boehler / BRE Racing	3	# 3	Chevrolet	BRE Racing	BRE
1995	Tony Hirschman Jr.	Lenny Boehler / BRE Racing	1	# 3	Chevrolet	BRE Racing	BRE
1994	Wayne Anderson	Lenny Boehler / BRE Racing		# 3	Chevrolet	BRE Racing	BRE
1993	Rick fuller	Curt Chase Racing	2	# 77	Pontiac	Polar Beverages	Spafco
1992	Jeff Fuller	Sheba Racing		#8th	Chevrolet	Sunoco Race Fuels	Troyer
1991	Mike Stefanik	Jack Koszela	5	# 15	Pontiac	Auto Palace / ADAP	Stefanik
1990	Jamie Tomaino	Danny Ust	1	# U2	Pontiac		Troyer
1989	Mike Stefanik	Jack Koszela	7th	# 15	Chevrolet	Koszela Speed	Stefanik
1988	Mike McLaughlin	Sherwood Racing Team	5	# 12	Chevrolet	Sherri Cup	RaceWorks
1987	Jimmy Spencer	Frank Cicci Racing	6th	# 24	Oldsmobile	Apple House Trucking / Quick Stop Beverage	Troyer
1986	Jimmy Spencer	Frank Cicci Racing	4th	# 24	Oldsmobile	Apple House Trucking / Quick Stop Beverage	Troyer
1985	Richie Evans	BRDeWitt	12	# 61	Chevrolet	DeWitt Construction	Evans

Whelen Modified Tour Rookie of the Year Award Winner (Best Newcomer)

year	driver
2016	Matthew Swanson
2015	Chase Dowling
2014	Timmy Solomito
2013	Cole Powell
2012	Keith Rocco
2011	Patrick Emerling
2010	Justin Bonsignore
2009	Eric Goodale
2008	Glen Reen
2007	Richard Savary
2006	James W. Civali
2005	Tyler Haydt
2004	Ken Barry
2003	Donny Lia
2002	Todd Szegedy
2001	Ricky Miller
2000	Michael Boehler
1999	Dave Pecko

Whelen-Modified-Tour-Most-Popular-Driver-Award-Winner (Most Popular Driver)

year	driver
2016	Melissa Fifield
2015	Melissa Fifield
2014	Melissa Fifield
2013	Mike Stefanik
2012	Ryan Preece
2011	Justin Bonsignore
2010	Ted Christopher
2009	Ted Christopher
2008	Ted Christopher
2007	Todd Szegedy
2006	Tony Hirschman Jr.
2005	Tony Hirschman Jr.
2004	Tom Baldwin
2003	Tom Baldwin
2002	Ed Flemke Jr.
2001	Mike Stefanik
2000	Rick fuller
1999	Reggie Ruggiero
1998	Mike Stefanik
1997	Mike Stefanik
1996	Steve Park
1995	Steve Park
1994	Jeff Fuller
1993	Jeff Fuller
1992	Jeff Fuller
1991	Satch Worley
1990	Satch Worley
1989	Reggie Ruggiero
1988	Reggie Ruggiero
1987	Jamie Tomaino
1986	Jamie Tomaino
1985	Mike McLaughlin

Pre-Tour-NASCAR-Modified-Most-Popular-Driver-Award-Winner

year	driver
1984	Brian Ross
1983	Richie Evans
1982	Richie Evans
1981	Richie Evans
1980	Richie Evans
1979	Richie Evans
1978	Richie Evans
1977	Harry Gant
1976	Jerry Cook
1975	Richie Evans
1974	Richie Evans
1973	Richie Evans
1972	Bugs Stevens
1971	Bugs Stevens
1970	Ray Hendrick
1969	Ray Hendrick
1968	Red Farmer
1967	Al Grinnan
1966	Runt Harris
1965	Bobby Allison

NASCAR Modified All-Time Top 10 Drivers

The following ten drivers were listed by NASCAR in an official list of the best drivers in Modified history in 2003.

1. Richie Evans - Won the Modified title nine times from 1973 to 1985.
2. Mike Stefanik - Seven Whelen Modified Tour and two NASCAR Busch East Series titles.
3. Jerry Cook - Six times NASCAR National Modified Champion in the 1970s.
4. Geoff Bodine - He is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for winning 55 races in 1978.
5. Ray Hendrick - Called "Mr. Modified ". Drove for more than two decades.
6. Tony Hirschman Jr. - Won the Whelen Modified Tour title five times.
7. Bugs Stevens - Won three consecutive championships (1967–1969).
8. Fred DeSarro - NASCAR National Modified Champion 1970
9. Jimmy Spencer - Whelen Modified Tour Champion 1986 and 1987
10. Reggie Ruggiero - Called "Best Driver Who Never Won the Championship". He experienced a total of 44 victories.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ [1]