 Photo: Phil Cavali/SMART Modified Tour Story by Kyle Souza
Modified racing may have already started for 2023 with the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway earlier in February, but the official start towards a championship in the Southeast begins this week. The SMART Modified Tour opens their 14-race schedule at Florence Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 4 -- the first of three races during the month of March to get the season underway. With their entry list posted early on Monday morning, the top talent in the south -- and even some from the North -- are planning to compete in the 99-lap opening race. NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte returns to the SMART Modified Tour again this season, driving the No. 18VA. He's joined by Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) winner and former NASCAR Cup Series regular Ryan Newman, who teams with Hermie Sadler again this season to wheel the No. 39 in select events. Newman will also run selected NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events in the car. Coming off a clean sweep of the five races at New Smyrna Speedway during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, Matt Hirschman heads south looking to double-down at Florence. Hirschman opened the SMART Modified Tour season in Victory Lane in 2022 at the track -- and is no stranger to winning success across all Modified tracks and divisions. Caleb Heady, driving the famed 7NY for Tommy Baldwin Racing, begins his SMART Modified Tour title defense at Florence. Heady picked up one victory last season, but was the master of consistency on the competitive tour, winning the title. He's coming off a week at New Smyrna filled with a learning experience and will be excited to get back to work at Florence on the SMART Modified Tour, looking for another year of glory. Heady's goals are to win another title -- but more checkered flags along the way would be a major positive. Ten-time Bowman Gray Stadium champion Burt Myers and his brother Jason Myers, along with 12-time Bowman Gray champion Tim Brown are all expected at Florence. Known as some of the dominant factors at Bowman Gray and many tracks across the Southeast, watch for these three drivers to flex their muscles. The entry list also continues southern modified talent like Brandon Ward, Brian Loftin, Carson Loftin, Bobby Measmer Jr., Jeremy Gerstner, Gary Putnam, Jonathan Brown and more. Spencer Davis, a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver who has returned to his racing roots with the Modifieds, is also registered. A full entry list (25 cars) is published at the bottom of this story. Racing begins with pole qualifying on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., followed by the drop of the green flag in the Low Country 99 around 5 p.m. The race will air live on FloRacing.TV, along with all of the SMART Modified Tour races in 2023. For more information on the SMART Modified Tour, visit SMARTModTour.com. Entry List: 01 -- Brian Weber 02 -- Joey Coulter 07N -- Riley Neal 07VA -- Dennis Holdren 1 -- Burt Myers 2 -- Brandon Ward 4 -- Jason Myers 7NY -- Caleb Heady 14 -- Bobby Measmer Jr. 15 -- Brian Loftin 17 -- Michael Ritch 18VA -- Bobby Labonte 21 -- Jimmy Wallace 21NC -- Dwight Sauls 22 -- James Tutterow 23 -- Carson Loftin 24 -- Jonathan Brown 25 -- Tim Brown 29 - Spencer Davis 39 -- Ryan Newman 45 -- Gary Young Jr 55 -- Jeremy Gerstner 60 -- Matt Hirschman 77 -- Gary Putnam 79 -- Zach Brewer
0 Comments
 Photo: Tom Morris Coby Looking For 5th Win in Spring Sizzler Driving 7NY With Mayhew Tools Sponsorship
Story By Kyle Souza MILFORD, Conn. – Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) and Doug Coby Racing jointly announced today that Coby will compete in the 51st annual NAPA Spring Sizzler in April driving the Mayhew Tools 7NY. The historic event, which takes place on April 29-30 at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, is $20,000 to win and had over 40 cars in the pit area attempting to qualify last season. With Mayhew Tools on board as sponsor for the special event, the team will be a threat for the gold. Coby and Baldwin are competing full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2023, with Coby chasing his seventh drivers title, and Baldwin chasing a second straight owner’s championship. The addition of such a prestigious event like the Spring Sizzler to the schedule for the potent combination will give them an opportunity to score the historic prize in a historic car number. Although Coby has four Sizzler wins, all of them came in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competition. The 51st annual NAPA Spring Sizzler will follow a Open Modified format for the second straight year, with two, 40-lap, $3,500 to win NAPA Auto Parts Duel races on Saturday, April 29, and the 100-lap, $20,000 to win feature on Sunday, April 30. All of the racing will air live on FloRacing.TV. Coby and Baldwin are both excited to chase the prize against stout competition. “If I were to win with Tommy it would be my fifth Sizzler win with my fourth different crew chief so that would be cool,” Coby said. “Stafford is my home track and any more success I have there just adds to it. The Spring Sizzler is a big race – it’s really one of the last remaining races with an amazing amount of history. To go there and win in the Open Modifieds, with all of the different packages people bring, the qualifying format, etc… It would be special. We’re going to bring a bullet. It’s a big race to win and a lot of money on the line. As Mayhew Tools and I have progressed in our relationship, we continue to try to find ways to increase their brand recognition and this will be a major event for the Mayhew Tools, Tommy Baldwin Racing 7NY.” “Doug is surely no stranger to visiting Victory Lane at Stafford,” Tommy Baldwin Jr. said. “With his many years of laps and experience, he gives us a great shot of getting the job done. The Spring Sizzler is a historic race with a long history. We will be ready to go with our best against what is going to be a really tight field of cars.” For more information on the NAPA Spring Sizzler, fans are encouraged to visit StaffordMotorSpeedway.com. The track is already selling tickets for the weekend – one that also includes the American-Canadian Tour on April 29 for 75 laps, and all of Stafford’s weekly divisions, including the SK Modifieds® – one of the most prestigious divisions in the country. For more information on Doug Coby Racing, visit DougCobyRacing.com and follow the team on Facebook. For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, visit TommyBaldwinRacing.com and follow the team on social media. ABOUT MAYHEW TOOLS Founded in 1856, Mayhew Tools is the oldest punch and chisel manufacturer in the United States, growing their extensive professional grade, American made product line to include pry bars, pneumatics, cable ties, and more. In 2020, the company extended their product line to include a complete line of dual drive and socket bits and sets. Serving the Industrial, Automotive, Hardware, and Construction industries, Mayhew’s premium hand tools are sold globally through an extensive distributor network. For more information, contact Mayhew Tools at 800.872.0037 or visit Mayhew.com. ABOUT DOUG COBY Racing for more than 25 years, Doug Coby is a six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and one of the top short-track drivers to come from the state of Connecticut. Coby is a two-time champion at Stafford Motor Speedway, where he built his resume competing in the Late Models, Pro Stocks and SK Modifieds. Coby won his first tour championship in 2012, and followed it up by scoring four straight titles between 2014-2017, and another in 2019. In 2020, Coby opened his own team — Doug Coby Racing — scoring his first win as owner/driver. In 2021, Coby won the inaugural Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) event at Stafford Motor Speedway, besting top drivers from across a variety of racing disciplines, including Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott and Helio Castroneves. He also made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2021 with GMS Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway. In 2022, Coby won three races with Tommy Baldwin Racing as part of a part-time effort on the Whelen Modified Tour. In 2023, he will pilot the No. 7NY for Tommy Baldwin Racing full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to chase a seventh title.  Story by Kyle Souza
Rising Star To Drive For DLP Motorsports on March 4 During NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Season Opener MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Fresh off a successful week at New Smyrna Speedway’s World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, rising star Luke Baldwin is going Late Model racing for the first time next month. Baldwin will pilot a Pro Late Model for DLP Motorsports at Hickory Motor Speedway with sponsorship from Shoreside Support during the season-opener for the historic North Carolina facility on Saturday, March 4, with twin 40-lap races on the docket. Baldwin, who went to New Smyrna with no 602 Modified starts to his credit, left Florida with two victories in four events and a championship in the division earlier this month. The step to Late Models will be yet another move up the ladder for Baldwin at a young age. Known as “The Birthplace of NASCAR Stars”, Hickory Motor Speedway originally opened as a half-mile dirt track and was paved in 1967. Today, the track operates under the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series as a .363-mile asphalt oval. Shoreside Support, owned by Luke's brother Tommy Baldwin III, is the global leader in mega yacht provisioning. Shoreside Support provides the world's largest mega yachts with gourmet food products, supplies & equipment with the mission of making the lives of yacht captains, chefs and crew as efficient as possible anywhere they cruise. For more information, visit www.shoresidesupport.com. "I'm proud of Luke's progress behind the wheel, but I am more impressed with the way he carried himself throughout the week at New Smyrna,” Tommy Baldwin III said. “I think he's got some great potential, and Shoreside Support is really excited to be a part of this.” Luke knows the challenge will be tough – but is excited to get behind the wheel and gain experience at such a historic track. “Definitely super excited for this opportunity to work with everyone involved,” Luke Baldwin said. “Driving a Pro Late Model was something I have always wanted to do, but I wouldn’t have ever imagined it would happen this soon. If you were to have told me two weeks ago this would happen, I would have called you crazy. Starting at a place like Hickory is awesome – a historic venue close to home is cool. The aged surface will be tough, but I believe I’m ready for anything you put in front of me.” DLP Motorsports team owner David L. Pletcher, also known as “Buggie” in the garage, has fielded cars for rising stars like Stephen Nasse and current NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Josh Berry before, and knows how to get the job done. He’s excited to work with Luke – especially after what he saw during the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna. “First time I met him was during Speedweeks down there in Florida,” Pletcher said. “He’s friends with another driver in our team. Luke is a likable kid and I watched him race out there respectfully and clean. He did a great job and was impressive at New Smyrna. He seems like someone who really wants to do this and wants to succeed, and it’s important for me to help those young kids that are trying to get started.” “We like what we see with Luke and we want to help him with his development as a race car driver,” Lorin Rainer with Chevrolet Development, said. For more information on Luke Baldwin Racing, visit the driver page on Facebook. For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, visit TommyBaldwinRacing.com and follow the team on social media.  Photo: Tom Morris Story by Kyle Souza
NEW SMYRNA, Fla. – Justin Bonsignore and the Kenneth Massa Motorsports team opened the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season on a high note Saturday night in Florida. The driver of the Phoenix Communications No. 51 started from the fifth spot after qualifying washed out due to rain, and crossed the line after 200 laps in second-place. Bonsignore dashed through the field inside the final 35 laps on a restart, taking the lead momentarily from Ron Silk, twice. Bonsignore spun around while running second, managed to work his way back to the front, and took the lead again in the final six laps. Over the final laps, Silk and Bonsignore raced hard for the top spot – with Silk taking the lead for the final time late and never looking back. Bonsignore’s second-place finish was the best to start to a season for him since 2020 – and was his 104th career finish inside the top-five in series history – all with Kenneth Massa Motorsports. “I just couldn’t quite get away from him when I took the lead,” Bonsignore said post-race. “I tried to cross him over, but I just didn’t work. Overall, it was a good start to the year – we weren’t great all night, but the guys made some good calls on the final pit stop, and we were able to drive to the front. Hopefully we hit on something here with the new tires for this year and we can build off it going forward.” Next up for Justin Bonsignore and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be the return to Richmond Raceway on Friday, March 31, for the second race of the season. For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his page on Facebook for the latest updates, including from the track.  Photo: Tom Morris Story by Kyle Souza
NEW SMYRNA, Fla. – Doug Coby led the most laps in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season-opener at New Smyrna Speedway, and finished the 200-lap event in fifth spot on Saturday night, February 11. Coby started from the Mayhew Tools pole after qualifying was washed out, leading the field to green in the Tommy Baldwin Racing 7NY after the field was set by 2022 owner’s points. Coby jumped to the lead quickly at the beginning and led laps, then after a few cycles of pit stops, found himself in the lead just after halfway and led a string of circuits during a long green-flag run. A caution in the final 50 laps, and a ton of hard racing for the lead and top-five spots, cycled Coby in and out of the podium. He would settle for fifth – even after being collected in a crash in the final laps and rebounding from it. Overall, it was a good start to the season for the Mayhew Tools team. “I would have loved to have won the race but we had a fantastic car out there,” Coby said. “We were just a tiny bit short on stagger on the last run. We are experienced together already as a group and I know the team knows I can manage the race, and I love that they can trust me to do what I need to do.” The next event on the calendar for Doug Coby and the Tommy Baldwin Racing 7NY team will be at Richmond Raceway on Friday, March 31. For more information on Doug Coby Racing, visit DougCobyRacing.com and check out the team on Facebook for the latest updates from the track. ABOUT MAYHEW TOOLS Founded in 1856, Mayhew Tools is the oldest punch and chisel manufacturer in the United States, growing their extensive professional grade, American made product line to include pry bars, pneumatics, cable ties, and more. In 2020, the company extended their product line to include a complete line of dual drive and socket bits and sets. Serving the Industrial, Automotive, Hardware, and Construction industries, Mayhew’s premium hand tools are sold globally through an extensive distributor network. For more information, contact Mayhew Tools at 800.872.0037 or visit Mayhew.com. ABOUT DOUG COBY Racing for more than 25 years, Doug Coby is a six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and one of the top short-track drivers to come from the state of Connecticut. Coby is a two-time champion at Stafford Motor Speedway, where he built his resume competing in the Late Models, Pro Stocks and SK Modifieds. Coby won his first tour championship in 2012, and followed it up by scoring four straight titles between 2014-2017, and another in 2019. In 2020, Coby opened his own team — Doug Coby Racing — scoring his first win as owner/driver. In 2021, Coby won the inaugural Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) event at Stafford Motor Speedway, besting top drivers from across a variety of racing disciplines, including Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott and Helio Castroneves. He also made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2021 with GMS Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway. In 2022, Coby won three races with Tommy Baldwin Racing as part of a part-time effort on the Whelen Modified Tour. In 2023, he will pilot the No. 7NY for Tommy Baldwin Racing full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to chase a seventh title.  Story by Kyle Souza
SEEKONK, Mass. – Seekonk Speedway is happy to announce today that Blue Collar Customs, based in Abington, Massachusetts, is joining the Speedway sponsorship program for the new season. Blue Collar Customs will sponsor the Figure 8 Races during the season, where drivers race across the third-mile – and the infield – in one of the more thrilling events for fans to enjoy. They will also become the presenting sponsor of First Responders Night on Saturday, September 9 – a special night at the track each year, as fans recognize local First Responders and remember the 9/11 events from 2001. First Responders night is a NASCAR Saturday special that will serve as round one of the Sunoco Drive For The Cup Playoffs in 2023. As part of another year of Seekonk competition, the Figure 8 Races will take place at all of the major Thrill Show events – Memorial Day (May 27), MEGA Disposal Independence Day Thrill Show (July 8), Mid Summer Thrill Show (August 5), Labor Day (September 2) and the Pumpkin Smash Thrill Show (October 14). Blue Collar Customs is the most passionate vehicle upfitter in the South Shore of Massachusetts, serving a variety of industries and needs. From bolt-on truck accessories to a set of backup lights or a full emergency vehicle upfit, they strive to be your partner before, during and after the sale! They offer their services to first responders, municipal & commercial fleets, as well as private businesses. For more information, visit them online at BlueCollarCustomsMA.com or give them a call at 781-421-6381. "The Blue Collar Customs team could not be more excited about joining the Seekonk Speedway Sponsor List for the 2023 season,” Kyle Fonseca, Principal of Blue Collar Customs, said. “As an active participant in the Thrill Show events for the last 5+ years, sponsoring the Figure 8 races seemed like a no-brainer. It allows us to further our partnership with the Speedway while giving all the competitors that we've met over the years a little something extra to look forward to. We were honored when given the opportunity to be a presenting sponsor for First Responder night to honor those customers of ours that dedicate their lives to keeping us safe. Bring on the 2023 season!" Tickets for all 2023 Seekonk Speedway events are now available online at SeekonkSpeedway.com. For more information on Seekonk Speedway, visit SeekonkSpeedway.com and follow the track on social media for the latest updates and news.  Photo: NASCAR CHELMSFORD, Mass. -- Final preparations underway for a new season, the reality of being the reigning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion has finally sunk-in for Jon McKennedy. After a 16-race schedule filled with ups and downs in 2022, McKennedy came out on top of a tight championship battle with names like Ron Silk, Justin Bonsignore and Eric Goodale, taking the No. 79 to title glory for the first time in just his second full-time season on the Whelen Modified Tour. It was the first year as a team together -- with Tim and Cheryl Lepine as the owners. The Middlesex Interiors group battled hard, and even though they only won once during the season, they had enough consistency to seal the deal. This year, McKennedy's overarching goal is to win another title -- but he wants to get some checkered flags along the way. "Honestly I just want to go out and apply what we learned last year and run even better in 2023," McKennedy said. "We want to go win a few more races. Last year was our first year together as a team, with a new car owner and a lot of new crew guys -- it was just all new. It was definitely up and down but to come out of it with the title, it was great." The 2023 season will mark a slightly different challenge, with 19 races planned. The amount of travel and pure time working on the cars will have to increase slightly for teams who plan to race for the title. And McKennedy is ready to defend his crown. With help from Middlesex Interiors, LFR Chassis, Christopher's Towing, Wilwood Brakes, McKennedy Masonry, Robert Yates Racing Engines, Valvoline and John Young Landscaping, McKennedy is ready to fire the engine in Florida next week at New Smyrna Speedway. "We have a good notebook to use," McKennedy said. "We're expecting to be better this year with our second full-time year on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. We just want to go out there and win some more races and see where the championship falls later on in the season. McKennedy and the remainder of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour teams will begin their season at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday, February 11. For more information on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, visit NASCAR.com/roots. |
Kyle SouzaSouza Media writes for several tracks, sanctioning bodies and race teams in the motorsports field, while also presenting original content by staff. Archives
February 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed