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

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
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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.

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.

Story by Souza Media's Kyle Souza

NEW SMYRNA, Fla. -- With just over two short weeks remaining until the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway, fans from across the country are making their final travel preparations to head south. The annual World Series has another stout schedule planned for 2023 -- with a practice day on February 9 -- followed by nine consecutive nights of short-track racing from February 10-18. 

One of the headlining divisions for the week again this year, alongside the Super Late Models and Pro Late Models, is the Tour-Type Modifieds. The division will return for five straight nights of action from February 13-17 -- including multiple major events -- like the John Blewett Memorial 76 and the Richie Evans Memorial 100. New for 2023, the minimum distance for Tour-Type Modified races will be 50 laps, up 15 circuits from other years. 

However, before the Tour Mods hit the track for racing action, the opening act might be the best way to get the week rocking. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to New Smyrna for the second year in a row on Saturday, February 11, for the New Smyrna Visitors Bureau 200. The season-opener for another year of Whelen Modified Tour action is expected to draw close to 30 cars or more to try and compete in the 200-lap event.

Last year, it was Matt Hirschman, a multiple-time Tour Mod champion at the World Series, who picked up the victory. But he has a strong field of drivers going to try and knock him down. Reigning Whelen Modified Tour champion Jon McKennedy, three-time champion Justin Bonsignore, Ron Silk, Patrick Emerling, defending Sunoco Rookie of the year Austin Beers, Jimmy Blewett, Kyle Bonsignore, Eric Goodale and many others are hopeful to open the season on top.

Once the Tour moves out of town, all eyes will turn towards the World Series action for the Tour Modifieds, beginning with a 50-lap race on Monday, February 13. Tuesday will follow with another 50-lap event, followed by the Blewett Memorial 76 on Wednesday, February 15. Thursday includes one more 50-lap race before Friday's Richie Evans 100, which will help crown the champion of the World Series for 2023. 

The updated Tour Modified entry list for the week includes defending champion Jimmy Blewett, who will return to action with Tommy Baldwin Racing for another year. Baldwin is also fielding a car for Caleb Heady, who won the SMART Modified Tour title with the team in 2022. Names like Emerling, Silk, Spencer Davis, Ronnie Williams, Teddy Hodgdon, Tommy Catalano, Eric Goodale, Anthony Nocella, Anthony Bello and others are entered to compete. A full list entry list as of January 22 is posted at the bottom of this story.

Tickets for events, including the Whelen Modified Tour 200 (which was jam-packed in 2022, we would suggest buying ahead in case of sellout) are available online now by clicking here. New Smyrna also has a World Series central placed on their website where fans can find the updated entry lists, rules, daily event schedules and much more. You can find World Series central by clicking here.

TOUR MODIFIED NEW SMYRNA SCHEDULE '23 WORLD SERIES:
Saturday, February 11 -- NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 200
Monday, February 13 -- Tour Modified 50
Tuesday, February 14 -- Tour Modified 50
Wednesday, February 15 -- John Blewett Memorial 76-lapper
Thursday, February 16 -- Tour Modified 50
Friday, February 17 -- Richie Evans Modified 100-lapper

Below Entry List Is For Monday-Friday Tour Modified Racing as of January 22:
2 JR Bertuccio. Centerreach NY
2X Gershow Racing Driver TBA
7nc Caleb Heady. Louisville KY
7ny Jimmy Blewett. Howell NJ
7 Rich Parker. Forked River NJ
8 Cam McDermott. Canterbury CT
11X Dillon Steuer. Bohemia NY
11 Norman Newman. Kincardine ON
14 Patrick Emerling. Orchard Park NY
16 Ron Silk. Norwalk CT
20 Eddie McCarthy. Brick NJ
20nj Dylan Serratelli. Brick NJ
21 Joe Bertuccio III. Statesville NC
25 Brian Robie. Sunapee NH
29 Spencer Davis. Dawsonville GA
32 Tyler Rypkema. Owego NY
36 David Sapienza. Riverhead NY
38 Ricky Moxley. Palm City
45 Brett Meservey. Brewster MA
50 Ronnie Williams. Vernon CT
54 Tommy Catalano. Ontario NY
54 Tyler Catalano. Ontario NY
55 Teddy Hodgdon. Danbury CT
56 Amy Catalano. Ontario NY
58 Eric Goodale. Riverhead NY
71 Kyle Ellwood / Michael Rutkoski. Riverhead NY
73 Paul Hartwig Jr. Galloway NJ
73H Paul Hartwig SR. Galloway NJ
92 Anthony Nocella. Berlin MA
08 Nicholas Halkowicz. Shelton CT
09 Christopher Hatton. Ormond Beach, FL
179 Anthony Bello. Newton CT

​Press Release by Stafford Speedway about Haydt-Yannone Racing (Souza Media client)

When Stafford Speedway kicks off its 2023 season with the 51st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler®, Ron Silk is sure to be counted among the pre-race favorites.  Silk and the #16 Blue Mountain Machine / Future Homes team finished third in last year’s Sizzler® and won the season ending NAPA Fall Final in September.  With an average finish of 4.3 in three Stafford starts last season, Silk and his team are eager to return to the Connecticut half-mile facility.

“The team and I are certainly looking forward to coming back to Stafford,” said Silk.  “We thought the Sizzler® was an awesome event last year with a lot of cars, a lot of people in the stands, and a really good payday.  We ran well in the Sizzler® and finished third but we needed just a little more to be able to keep up with Matt [Hirschman] and Ryan [Preece].  We made some improvements over the two remaining races we ran at Stafford and it was really good to get a win at the Fall Final last year.  It’s a new year and a new race, but it’s always nice to come back to a track after your last visit there was a victory.  We’ll try to take all the positives we can from the Fall Final to the Sizzler® but you’re still going to have to have a fast car and make the right decisions, so we still have a little bit of work ahead of us.”

“We’re all pumped for the Sizzler®,” said Silk’s co-car owner Joe Yannone.  “Ronnie is comfortable at Stafford and the team always has a great time when we race there.  We feel like our car has everything it takes to make it happen at Stafford so we’re all looking forward to the Sizzler®.  The Sizzler® will be one of our highlight races for the 2023 season for sure and we’re definitely confident and looking forward to April.”

Last year’s 50th running of “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring” brought about several changes to the format.  Rather than time trials, teams had to qualify for the race by finishing in a qualified position in one of two 40-lap NAPA Duel races.  Drivers who didn’t qualify through a NAPA Duel went into a 15-lap last chance qualifier to earn the final starting positions in the 100 lap NAPA Spring Sizzler®. The new format saw 41 cars attempt to qualify for the 33 car starting field and brought about an atmosphere around the race that was appreciated by all competitors.

“I was really impressed with the atmosphere,” said Silk.  “It felt like being at the track 15 or 20 years ago when I was younger with a buzz around the track and the race.  Honesty as a racer, I’m kind of a fan of time trials, but for the fans it’s more exciting to have heat races, especially when the race is spread out over two days like the Sizzler®.  I really like the idea of a 40-lap heat race rather than a 10-lap heat because if you get a poor starting draw, you at least have some time to do something about it.  Last year we were fortunate enough to win our duel race, which was a great payday in itself for a 40-lap race, and I think that’s one of the main reasons why there was so much excitement around the race last season.  With everything that happened last season, the race should only be bigger and better this season.”

Last year’s NAPA Spring Sizzler® paid a guaranteed $15,000 to win plus any contingency money earned and it paid $1,250 to start the race from total posted awards of over $130,000.  For the 2023 NAPA Spring Sizzler®, the purse has increased to pay the winner a guaranteed $20,000 with $1,500 to start the race from total posted awards of over $140,000.

“Stafford has done a fantastic job with the purse,” said Silk.  “I was looking at the purse the other day, and although it would be a very tough feat to pull off, if a driver could win their duel race and lead all 100 laps to win the race, the payout would be around $38,500, which would really be something remarkable.”

“The Sizzler is always exciting with the amount of competitors who come to Stafford and the track is always packed with fans,” said Yannone.  “Stafford does a great job with the purse and that really helps draw attention to the modifieds.”

Silk made his NAPA Spring Sizzler® debut in 2004 and he has since made 15 starts with a best finish of third, which he has done three times, including last season.  Silk would like to add the Sizzler® to his career win list while his owner says that a Sizzler victory would be a bucket list item for himself and the team.

“The Sizzler is certainly a prestigious race and it’s one of the bigger races that I haven’t won yet, so it would certainly mean a lot to me to win a race like that against that field of competition with a great atmosphere surrounding the race,” said Silk.  “It would be really good for the team to get some momentum early in the season and it would be a nice payday on top of that.  Thanks to my car owners Tyler Haydt and Joe Yannone, Future Homes, Blue Mountain Machine, and all the crew guys who give up their free time to go racing with us.  We all enjoy doing it but it’s still a big commitment and we couldn’t do this without their help.”

“If we were able to win the Sizzler®, it would definitely be something for our bucket list and we would all be ecstatic,” said Yannone.  “Ronnie is the guy to do it and our crew chief Phil Moran along with Tyler Haydt, myself, and everyone on the crew, we all have the utmost confidence that we can make it happen and it would be totally awesome to win the Sizzler®.”

The 51st Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® kicks off on Saturday, April 29, and will consist of two 40-lap NAPA Duel qualifying races for the Open Modified division. The 40-lap races will each pay $3,500 to win and will set the field for Sunday’s NAPA Spring Sizzler®. The American Canadian Tour (ACT) Late Models will also make their return to Stafford Speedway on April 29th with a 75-lap feature with over 40 cars expected for the race.  Limited Late Model, Street Stock, and Vintage All-Star divisions will complete Saturday’s racing program.

Order 51st NAPA Spring Sizzler® Tickets

Sunday, April 30th will play host to the $20,000 to win 51st NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler®.  Filling out Sunday’s racing card will be qualifying and feature racing for the SK Modified®, SK Light Modified, and Late Model divisions along with last chance qualifiers for the Spring Sizzler®.
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For more information, visit staffordspeedway.com, follow Stafford Speedway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or contact the track office at 860-684-2783.