08/28/06

Entry List Up For Made In America Whelen 300
At Martinsville

    The largest field of cars in recent memory to attempt to make a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event will gather at Martinsville Speedway this weekend.
    Fifty-eight cars are entered in the Made In America Whelen 300 NASCAR Modified event Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway. That’s up from last year’s inaugural Made In America 300.
    As was the case a year ago, this will be a companion event, with teams from the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour also entered. Twenty Southern teams are entered in the race, which is also up from last year.
    For many years, Southern teams dominated Modified racing until the tide shifted to the north in the late 1970s. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is now a New England-based series now, but has deep roots at Martinsville Speedway.
    But with the formation and growth of the Southern Modified Tour over the past two years, the division is making a comeback below the Mason-Dixon Line. And don’t be surprised if several southern drivers flex their muscles this weekend.
    AND SPEAKING OF INCREASES: Last year’s Made In America Whelen 300 was the first race ever run under the lights at Martinsville Speedway. The temporary lights, supplied by Musco Lighting, illuminated the half-mile track in grand fashion. But track president Clay Campbell spotted some portions of the front stretch that were hit by shadows and ordered an additional bank of lights placed on the back stretch, shining across to the front stretch, for this weekend’s event. The lights will arrive at Martinsville Speedway Thursday and engineers from Musco will test and align them properly that night. Musco is the most experienced lighting company in racing, having erected lights at 12 major NASCAR venues since 1986.
    OUT FRONT: Mike Stefanik, a former Martinsville Modified winner, leads the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points headed into the Made In America 300. The Auburn, MA, driver has a 71-point lead over Ted Christopher, who won here last Labor Day weekend. Stefanik has one win and seven top-five finishes this season. Christopher has three victories on the season and five top-five finishes. Christopher’s three wins is tops on the tour this season while John Blewett III is the only other driver with multiple wins (2). Blewett has started only seven of the Tour’s 10 events this season.
    Junior Miller has been dominant on the Whelen Southern Modified Tour this summer with three wins in six starts. The Pine Hall, NC, driver has finished in the top five in each of the series’ six races. Miller has a 103-point lead over Tim Brown, while Bert Myers is 183 points back in third.
    In addition to Miller, other Southern Tour winners include Jason Myers, L.W. Myers, a former Martinsville winner, and Christopher, who occasionally drives South for a one-off race.
    CIRCLING THE TRACK: The Made In America 300/Bailey’s 300 combo ticket package lasts through Wednesday. Until 5 p.m. Wednesday, fans can buy a ticket for the two races together for $30. Bought separately, the tickets would be $20 each.

    Tickets for Friday’s qualifying are $5 for adults and may be purchased on the day of the event. Tickets for Saturday’s Made In America Whelen 300 are $20 for adults. Tickets for children 6-12 are $5 and children under six are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling 877.RACE.TIX or at the track’s ticket windows. Ticket windows will open at 9 a.m. Saturday.

    Fan gates open for qualifying and practice on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and on race day at 3 p.m.

Source:  Mike Smith/Martinsville Speedway PR
Posted:  August 28, 2006