* New Tracks: Twin State, Wall
Township and Mansfield Speedways Added to 2007 Slate
* New Format: Qualifying Races Scheduled at Wall Township, Twin State
and Riverhead
* Saturdays at NHIS: Open Wheel Excitement on Two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
Series Weekends
Long-time racing traditions share space on the calendar with
new events, as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is set for a strong 2007
season.
The schedule begins with Thompson (Conn.) International
Speedway’s annual “Icebreaker” event on Sun., April 15. The Icebreaker
is the first of 16 championship points races planned in 2007. Another
New England racing custom, the “Spring Sizzler” at Stafford Motor
Speedway, in Stafford Springs, Conn., is set for Sun., April 29.
Following the Spring Sizzler at Stafford, three of the next
six events will feature a new three-part “Flash” format. Those events
include a trip to Wall Township (N.J.) Speedway on Sun., May 6, for what
is being touted as “Thunder at the Shore,” and a mid-summer Sunday
afternoon event at Twin State Speedway, in Claremont, N.H., on July 8.
With this event, Twin State returns to the schedule for the first time
since 1985. The third of these three special events will be held at
Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway, on Sat., Aug. 4.
The “Flash” events will include twin qualifying races – one
for the even-numbered drivers in the point standings and one for
odd-numbered drivers in the standings – in place of traditional time
trials. The top finishers from each qualifying race will transfer into a
feature event, in which the main prize money and championship points
will be awarded. Starting positions for the feature events will be based
on finishing positions of the qualifying races, with the drivers from
the faster of the two races lined up on the inside row.
The qualifying races and feature events at Wall and Twin
State will be 50 laps each, while the “Flash” event at Riverhead is
scheduled to include twin 60-lap qualifying races and a 70-lap feature
event.
“The 2007 Whelen Modified Tour schedule will bring new
excitement and generate new interest in what is already one of NASCAR’s
most popular and historic touring series,” said George Silbermann,
NASCAR’s managing director of racing operations. “The teams and drivers
on the Whelen Modified Tour produce some of the best racing in our
entire sport and this schedule is designed to showcase what NASCAR
Modified racing is all about – incredible racing with incredible
machines.
“Long-time fans and new fans alike will find plenty of
opportunities to see the Whelen Modified Tour at its very best.”
A top executive from Connecticut-based Whelen Engineering,
title sponsor of the Tour since 2005, echoed Silbermann’s sentiments.
“I can’t tell you how pleased we are to be part of the NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour during this exciting time,” said Phil Kurze, vice
president of motorsports for Whelen Engineering. “The 2007 schedule
presents the Whelen Modified Tour to fans in new and exciting ways,
while also respecting and continuing many of the longstanding traditions
that make Modified racing unique.”
Other 2007 schedule highlights include:
* In between these innovative “Flash” events, the Whelen Modified Tour
makes return visits to Stafford on Fri., May 25, and Thompson on Thurs.,
June 21, along with the first of two stops at the 1.058-mile New
Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS), in Loudon, N.H., on Sat., June
30.
* Both events at NHIS will be held in conjunction with the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup Series, offering up-and-coming Modified drivers the opportunity to
showcase their skills before NASCAR NEXTEL Cup teams and sponsors – and
providing an exciting open-wheel racing experience for NHIS fans on
Saturday afternoons.
* After the final “Flash” event at Riverhead, the schedule continues
Fri., Aug. 10, at Stafford, and Thurs., Aug. 16, at Thompson, before
heading to another new venue: Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Speedway on
Sat., Aug. 25.
* The Mansfield event will be held in conjunction with the NASCAR Grand
National Division, Busch East Series in an exciting Saturday afternoon
NASCAR doubleheader at one of the nation’s premier state-of-the-art
short tracks.
* The Whelen Modified Tour travels to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on
Labor Day weekend, for a combination event that includes the NASCAR
Whelen Southern Modified Tour for a third consecutive year.
* The schedule concludes with return visits to Thompson on Sun., Sept.
9; NHIS on Sat., Sept. 15; Stafford on Sun., Sept. 30; and the
traditional season finale at Thompson, on Sun., Oct. 14.
The Whelen Modified Tour features lightweight, open-wheeled
racing machines that have been part of NASCAR since its first season in
1948. Throughout its storied history, the NASCAR Modified division has
proven to be a tremendous training and developmental program for future
stars. Todd Bodine, the 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion,
began his career in the Modified division along with his racing
brothers, Geoff and Brett Bodine. Drivers Jimmy Spencer, Mike McLaughlin
and Steve Park also began their careers in the Modifieds, along with
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series crew chiefs Greg Zipadelli and Tommy Baldwin
Jr.
In 2006, Mike Stefanik made history by winning his seventh
Whelen Modified Tour championship. Combined with his two previous NASCAR
Grand National Division, Busch East Series titles, Stefanik’s
accomplishment tied him with another Modified legend and nine-time
NASCAR champion, Richie Evans, as NASCAR’s all-time championship leader.
2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Tentative Schedule
Sun., April 15 – Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway
Sun., April 29 – Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Conn.
Sun., May 6 – Wall Township (N.J.) Speedway*
Fri., May 25 – Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Conn.
Thurs., June 21 – Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway
Sat., June 30 – New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, N.H.
Sun., July 8 – Twin State Speedway, Claremont, N.H.*
Sat., Aug. 4 – Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway**
Fri., Aug. 10 – Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Conn.
Thurs., Aug. 16 – Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway
Sat., Aug. 25 – Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Speedway
Sat., Sept. 1 – Martinsville (Va.) Speedway ***
Sun., Sept. 9 – Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway
Sat., Sept. 15 – New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, N.H.
Sun., Sept. 30 – Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Conn.
Sun., Oct. 14 – Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway
Fri.-Sat., Oct. 19-20 – “Save the date”
* = “Flash” event featuring twin 50s qualifying format and 50-lap
feature race
** = “Flash” event featuring twin 60s qualifying format and 70-lap
feature race
*** = Combination event with NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Source: Jeremy
Davidson/NASCAR WMT PR
Posted:
December 15, 2006