BMS Brings Back Modified Race; Kahne, Others To Compete

BRISTOL, Tenn. – It was a compelling scene at Bristol Motor Speedway Monday morning.

Kasey Kahne powered around the high banks of the .533-mile concrete oval, then greeted a pack of adoring fans and curious media members.

One aspect of the picture was unique, however: Kahne was not driving his familiar No. 9 Budweiser Dodge.

To the delight of track promoters and the close-knit community of modified fans, Kahne plans to compete in the first modified race at BMS in 40 years. The University of Northern Ohio 150 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event will open a Wednesday night (Aug. 19) doubleheader that also features the NASCAR Camping World truck series.

“I like to flip around and try to learn how to drive different types of cars,” Kahne said. “This race is going to be interesting.”

Before earning celebrity status for his driving skills and matinee idol looks, Kahne developed his racing instincts driving open-wheel cars.

Like the 18 other drivers at BMS Monday, Kahne spent much of his time discovering how the light and powerful modifieds would react on a track associated with heavier stock cars.

“From what I’ve heard and what I know of Bristol, you are going to run pretty darn hard in these cars, and that’s basically what we did,” Kahne said.

“I’m not sure if the [racing] line will move up the track or down, or whether you will be able to pass a lot or not. I think there will be some bumping and pushing.”

Six drivers participated in the first modified test at BMS on Feb. 24. Veteran driver Ted Christopher generated a buzz in the racing world on that cold afternoon with a lap of 14.479 seconds, which broke Ryan Newman’s track record of 14.908 at 128.709 miles per hour.

No official times were kept during Monday’s session, but several drivers said Bristol fans will enjoy the fast-paced “Mod Squad” show.

“It’s an amazing thing to be on this track,” said Burt Myers, a 33-year-old racer from Kernersville, N.C. “I think people are a little bit skeptical of the speed and design of this track for these cars, but once everybody gets their cars dialed in and gets comfortable with the track it will make for a good race.”

Myers is a regular on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. The BMS event will be a combination race with the Southern Tour and NASCAR Whelen Modified tour.

Few drivers have a richer background in motorsports than Myers, a second-cousin to former Dale Earnhardt pit crew member, Chocolate Myers. Burt Myers is a four-time track champion at storied Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston Salem, N.C.

“My family has been involved in racing since the 1940s, and I ran my first race at age 17,” Myers said. “When you grow up around something as a lifestyle, you don’t have much choice, but racing was something I wanted to do.”

For hardcore modified fans, few drivers can compare to seven-time series champion Mike Stefanik. The 51-year-old Massachusetts resident feels the unique BMS event is a fitting showcase for his brand of speed.

“The modified tour used to go to some pretty neat tracks like Richmond and Nazareth,” Stefanik said. “When this race came on the schedule, everybody got excited.

“You can’t help smiling when you walk in this place. As far as I’m concerned, this is how every track should be.”

Stefanik will have a Bristol baseline from which to draw during the Aug. 19 event. He competed in NASCAR Busch and truck races at BMS in 2000.

“I kind of knew what [Bristol] was like coming down, as opposed to some of the drivers who had no clue,” Stefanik said. “They were really surprised when they walked in this place.

“But it comes down to typical racing, you still have to get your car to drive right. I hope we put on a great race here so they invite us back.”

While the modified regulars have more experience, Kahne earned the most attention Monday. He was joined by former NASCAR crew chief and current Sprint Cup car owner Tommy Baldwin.

“Tommy called and asked if I wanted to race for them in the Troyer [Engineering] house car, and I said ‘Heck yeah,’ ” Kahne said.

Troyer Race Cars have long commanded respect in the modified world.

“Sometimes you just look at the people, the equipment and things like that, then try to make the right decision,” Kahne said. “I’ve got a great job, so I don’t want to screw anything up there.”

Kahne drives for the Richard Petty Motorsports team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

Kahne, who also plans to race in the September NASCAR Whelen Modified race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, might be joined at BMS by NASCAR Sprint Cup regular Ryan
Newman, who is contemplating entering the modified event.

The big question in Monday’s session was whether any drivers were brave enough to complete a full lap without applying the brakes. The power of the cars was limited by the use of a restrictor plate.

“I actually used my brakes the first time around the track,” Kahne said. “I didn’t want to just drive in there and do something stupid. I’m not going to be the fastest car here. To carry the speed, you have to change your feet and steering. That just takes laps to figure out.”

While the modified drivers lack the marketing power and profile of their NASCAR brethren, Kahne said, the average fan does not realize the talent of the open-wheel drivers.

“Probably not, but as a race car driver you understand how good the drivers are in each series,” Kahne said. “I was pretty decent in midgets and sprint cars, and now there are guys that are definitely better than I am in that type of stuff.

“It just comes down to experience and what you race.”

And Kahne loves to race.