The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Heads to Martinsville Speedway for an Historic Event to be Held Under the Lights : Raceway Media

The Whelen Modified Tour and the Whelen Southern Modified Tour will square off in a major battle that hasn’t been held in the Commonwealth of Virginia since the last Cardinal 500 was run in 1984.

In 1985 the NASCAR Modified Division was formed from the competitors who competed along the east coast to battle for the NASCAR National Modified Championship. The drivers back then would travel to race two to three times a week. Richie Evans, the greatest modified driver of all times, won the National Championship nine times (1973, 1978-1984 Modified National Champion, and in 1985 when he posthumously awarded the Featherlite Modified Series Championship. Evans succumbed to injuries suffered in an accident during practice at Martinsville, VA on Oct. 24, 1985).

I’m sure Evans would have been thrilled to race under the lights at Martinsville – especially on a Saturday night. Evans’ life and racing are documented in Bones Bourcier’s book titled, “The Richie Evans Story: The Fast Life and Times of NASCAR’s Greatest Modified Driver.” The book is a must read for any modified fan or racer. Jamie Tomaino, who raced with Evans, will be on hand to sign autographs on Friday night after practice and qualifying for the Whelen Made in America 300 on September 2nd at 10:30 p.m. at the Speedway. Maybe he’ll be eating fried bologna burgers too – a Martinsville delicacy!

While attending the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, Connecticut, last weekend, I asked a few drivers what going back to Martinsville meant to them.

Tomaino, who hails from Howell, NJ, is a former champion on what is now the Whelen Modified Tour. He said he had run many times with Richie at Martinsville, and he related stories that would make you laugh. The Dutch Inn was synonymous with the wild guys who ran modifieds during the 70’s. Jamie told me plenty, but you have to ask him yourself about the Dutch Inn and the hi-jinks he and Richie were involved in, including the town ordinance about dancing in the 70’s!

Tomaino, who won at Martinsville in 1983, said, “The grandfather clock is the biggest trophy I have ever won.” (He won the Miller Time 500.) The Grandfather clock will also be on the line for the 300. The winner brings it home along with a sizable check. “I would almost give up the money to win another grandfather clock!” I asked Jamie if he thought the uniting of the two tours for a race on Labor Day Weekend would be beneficial to modified racing. He replied, “I would have to go back to the 80’s when we ran against the best of the southern drivers. The fans loved the rivalry and we as drivers had some likes and dislikes on both side. We were here to race and have a good time!”

I asked Rookie of the Year candidate, Tyler Haydt of Kunkletown, PA, if he was excited about going to Martinsville. A big smile came to his face, and he replied, “It should be cool -- I’ve never been there before. It’s great that Whelen and Martinsville are setting the stage for a great modified race where we may find a few new fans.” Haydt drives the #28 King Racing Ramar-Hall Chevrolet. This will be Haydt’s first trip to Martinsville. “I just hope to do well and not have to run in the last chance qualifier on Saturday.” Tyler brought the #28 home in fifth place in the Big Y 150 at Waterford. I was his best Tour finish to date, and it was the #28 team’s career-best finish. Haydt is currently 15th in the point standings.

Don King, Haydt’s car owner, has been to Martinsville with the #28 before -- his driver back then was Jamie Asklar. King is known for giving young drivers a chance to race. His driver last season was Doug Coby of Milford, CT. Coby is now behind the wheel of the Chases’ #77 Pontiac. King said, “This will be very exciting and interesting.” Do you think the prestige of Martinsville will bring new modified fans to the south? “I really think we will covert quite a few, especially with the Cup teams in California. It should be fun for the fans.”

I spoke with Jerry Marquis after qualifying for the Big Y 150, and asked if he was looking forward to heading back to Martinsville. “I really am. I have a little unfinished business there! In 2000 I finished second behind Reggie Ruggiero. In 2001 I was third, and we blew a motor during the 2002 event and finished 39th.” Marquis is from Broad Brook, CT, and drives the #4 Mystic Missile owned by Bob Garbarino, a fixture on the modified circuit.

Marquis said, “I am looking forward to seeing how the track has changed, and hope its fast. Martinsville is definitely a unique experience for the modifieds, and the fans will really enjoy the race. Racing at night at Martinsville Speedway will make this unique. I hope this becomes a tradition here.” Marquis passed Doug Coby last Saturday night with 96 laps to go and held on to win as a determined Coby challenged Marquis all the way to the checkers.

Dave Etheridge, driver of the #54 A&A Office System Chevrolet, visited the .526-mile track in 2002 for the Advanced Auto Parts 200. He qualified 26th and came home 26th after an accident on lap 170. Etheridge, who is from Portland, CT, said, “We hope our setups will be a good place to start for the practice session. We know the track will be fast and we’ll have to adjust to the conditions. We are racing for points as much as prestige. It really is tough for us financially to travel here, but I wouldn’t miss it!” Etheridge is currently 12th in the point standings after a ninth place finish at Waterford.

John Blewett III will be driving the family car – the #66 Blewett Motorsports Chevrolet out of Howell, NJ. Blewett, who led 10 laps early in the Big Y 150, was black flagged for leaking fuel, and his night was done. Blewett has two top-5 finishes at Martinsville. In 2001 he was fourth behind Mike Ewanitsko, Jerry Marquis, and Modified legend, Tom Baldwin Sr. “We had our best finishes with Curt Chase at Martinsville,” he stated. Blewett thinks any exposure to modified racing is good, but having it come from Martinsville Speedway at night, “This surely will be a big hit there. I know that we will be in late model country, but that makes it even more interesting. I hope that we put on a good show for the fans and leave them wanting more. This about bringing back the tradition.”

L.W. Miller, who won 2002 event, has won two Southern Modified Auto Racing Tour Championships. He was a regular on the FMS before heading south. NASCAR has become the sanctioning body for the Southern Modified Racing Tour as the former S.M.A.R.T. has suspended operations. Many of the S.M.A.R.T. competitors now race under the Whelen Southern Modified Tour banner.

Steven Whitt, driver of the #06 Greenfield Dodge Dodge is from Farmingdale, NJ. I asked him if he though the exposure of tape-delayed television coverage will help either tour. “It certainly can’t hurt. I know Phil Kurze would love to see more coverage. I hope that Don Hawk can continue on with TV for the Tours. Events like this can be as big as we make them. It is really a big challenge for both the competitors and Whelen. I really love to race here at Martinsville Speedway. I hope that we have plenty of opportunities to do so.” Whitt is currently 14th in the standings.

Matt Hirschman was just crowned as champion in the Race of Champions Tour North Region Point Championship. This young modified star will not be competing in the Whelen 300 Made in America Tour, though he says he would have, but he has a commitment to the #52 team on the ROC Tour and has to race there. He is the son of defending Whelen Modified Tour Champion and current point leader, Tony Hirschman. Matt has attempted and qualified for six WMT events, with two impressive top-ten finishes. He drives the Ed Bennett Properties Chevrolet. Hirschman said, “I really would have enjoyed racing at one of the fastest half-mile tracks that any modified has seen. I have heard so many stories about Martinsville and modified racing, it is just part of my heritage. My dad won there in 1990. Being a son of a four-time FMS/WMT champion, it is hard not to pursue a career in modified racing. If the Whelen 300 becomes an annual event I will be there to race it in the future.”

Tony Hirschman is looking forward to another chance at winning at what is been called “two dragways with turns at the end.” Hirschman says, “That description best describes how fast that track is. With the new surface and the fact that we haven’t been here in a couple years should have everybody on an even playing field till we practice. This is a great chance for the tour to garner exposure. Phil Kurze has put a generous amount of effort and money into bringing the mods together here. I hope we can reward Phil and Whelen with a fantastic show for the fans. With the night race, it will feel like ‘modifieds with a twist’ at Martinsville. I would like to win the race -- to be the first one to win under the lights there will be just a tremendous reward for my career on the WMT. The clock would look nice too!”

Doug Coby, who drives the #77 Angellinos Italian Restaurant/Mansfield Paper Pontiac, has had his best season on the tour with four top-five and six top-ten finishes. Coby ran second to Marquis in the Big Y 150. Coby has demonstrated this season the talent that won him three track championships at Stafford Motor Speedway. He was in contention for the win at New Hampshire International Speedway, as well as at Stafford in July. Coby has had one appearance at Martinsville. “I finished 28th I believe. We were involved in three different wrecks and still had a 28th place finish. We were still running!”

“I had hoped for the last couple of seasons we would get back to Martinsville. In 2002, I learned plenty during that race. The track is great, they treated us like royalty when were there. The track appreciates our presence, and the tour really loved this place. We will be racing with the Whelen Southern Modified Tour which will be first for all of us. It should be fun to watch and compete in. Mr. Campbell has shown us Southern hospitality here and we’ll be very grateful. I hope this event under the lights will entice many fans off the couch and to the track for some good ‘ole Saturday night racing!” Coby is currently tenth in the point standings.

Gregg Shivers of Rocky Point, NY, is another driver heading to Martinsville for the first time. Shivers drives the #23 Kleet Lumber Pontiac. Do you look forward to Martinsville? “Yes, I certainly am. I have practiced NASCAR 3 simulated racing at Martinsville!” Do you think it will help? “I certainly do as for as what to expect in the corners. I don’t know about the surface, but we’ll make adjustments.” As low budget operation is it hard for you to make the trip to Martinsville? “We may only get one chance to run there under the lights and we wouldn’t miss it. We have new baby, Kayla, and she is going with us! We’re bringing the motor home. It maybe an added expense, but we had to run this event.” Shivers is currently 15th in the WMT point standings.

Renee Dupuis, driver of the #90 SpaceFitter/Ramco Chevrolet, is from Glastonbury CT, and is currently 17th in the WMT point standings. I spoke to her at Waterford, and she expressed some concern as to having a new engine ready for the trip to Martinsville. “The engine that is in the car now is down slightly on horsepower and you need horsepower down the straights at Martinsville.” Renee was looking forward to racing there again, but had concerns about her work schedule and having to fly in from California on Friday morning. Her job requires her to travel, and logistically it creates some problems with racing. Asked if she thought the combined tours was a good idea, she said, “We should be a pretty fair match up at the track. The budget difference between the two tours is probably the biggest difference. The track is steeped in modified racing tradition and history. I look forward being a part of history again as we run under the lights at Martinsville Speedway. If you’re a modified fan you’ll always be modified fan!”

Gary Teto is the owner of the #10 Redline Oil/Ron Bouchard Auto Chevrolet driven by Eddie Flemke. Have you been to Martinsville before, I asked him. “Yes, with Tim Mangus in 2000. I really enjoyed the event. While we didn’t fare all that well, it was something I was proud to take part in. We are headed there again with a competitive car and great driver. The Whelen 300 is a race that nothing will match as we challenge this half-mile under the stars and moon. I just wished we had live TV coverage of the event so that all of America would see modified racing at its best.” Flemke finished second to Tony Hirschman in the FMS/WMT championship in 2004. Flemke is currently 12th in the points. Teto is having his best season on Tour with Flemke.

Eric Beers is driving the famous #3 “Ole Blue” of Lenny Boehler Family modifieds. Beers is from Northampton, PA. The Boehler name is a part of the modified history at Martinsville, with drivers like Bugsy Stevens, Wayne Anderson, and Tony Hirschman, who all won championships for Boehler. Beers is currently sixth in the WMT point standings. He has one win at Seekonk Speedway this season, as well as 7 top-five and ten top-ten finishes. He missed one race after suffering a broken scapula during the Ice Breaker at Thompson Speedway. He has recovered from the injury and has been one of the most consistent finishers on the WMT. Beers qualified 14th back in the 2002 event at Martinsville in the Horwirth Freightliner Dodge. Beers retired early from the event with engine problems.

I asked him what it is like to drive at Martinsville. “You have to be real smooth in and out of the turns. You need to concentrate on what you’re doing, and have a good set of tires and plenty of horsepower,” said Beers. “It’s a lot of fun racing side-by-side with these guys -- Mike Stefanik, Reggie Ruggiero, Rick Fuller, Ted Christopher and my neighbor, Tony Hirschman. I will blockade his driveway so he can’t get out,” Beers said laughing. “He (Tony) has been real strong driving for the Kehleys last year and again this season. My goal for this race is to qualify well and bring home the “Clock”. It would be special to bring Ole Blue to victory at Martinsville Speedway. With so many modified fans from New England and the Mid Atlantic states headed there, it would be good to beat ‘Hirschy’ at the line, as two Pennsylvania boys battle for the win!”

Zach Sylvester is from Lebanon, CT, and drives the #15 TAS Country Homes Chevrolet. Sylvester qualified 12th in the 2002 event before the handling went away and he parked the car on lap 137. “I really look forward to having a good run. We started off the season really well and have had few unwanted finishes. We had back-to-back second place finishes at the Icebreaker and the Spring Sizzler at Stafford. The team is excited about returning to Martinsville -- we have worked hard as a team and we are doing well this year. I am having good qualifying runs this season. We haven’t won a Bud Pole Award yet this season and I can’t think of better place to pick up the first one! Maybe we can break Greg Sacks’ track record speed!” The absolute track record at Martinsville Speedway is 101.014 miles per hour (18.746 seconds), set by Greg Sacks in 1986. And it was NOT in a NEXTEL Cup car, but in a NASCAR Modified Tour car. “We just want have fun, and have the fans enjoy the race with us. Hopefully, Clay Campbell will have us back again next year. And what is a fried baloney burger anyways?” said Sylvester with a smile.

How the Field Will be Set for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Combined Tours Event

The top 20 positions for the Made In America Whelen 300 will be determined in qualifying at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, September 2. The next eight spots will go to the top drivers in the points standings who didn't make the top 20 on time. The remaining 15 berths will be filled through the Chatlee Boats Last Chance Race, which takes the green flag at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 3.

Gates open on Friday at 4 p.m. There will be a 90-minute practice session at 5 p.m. with time trials at 8:30 p.m. There will be an autograph session after qualifying.
Gates open on Saturday at 3 p.m. with a one-hour practice session scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Chatlee Boats Last Chance race starts at 7 p.m. followed by the 250-lap feature at 8:30.

Tickets for Friday's qualifying session are $5 and may be purchased the day of the event.
Tickets for the Made In America Whelen 300 are $20 for adults, $5 for children six to 12. Children under six are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at the Martinsville Speedway ticket office all week or on the day of the event.

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