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