Bristol Motor Speedway Officials Excited To Host NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Event

BRISTOL, Tenn. – It certainly looks like the perfect pairing: NASCAR’s most popular track hosting the oldest touring series in the sport.

To the delight of many traditional racing fans, Bristol Motor Speedway officials announced just before Christmas that the track will add a visit by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to its August race week.

The Modified Tour, which dates back 60 years, will run a 150-lap race at Bristol on Wednesday, Aug. 19. It will be part of an opening day double-header that also features a Camping World Truck Series race.

The Bristol race will be the championship event for both the Whelen Modified and Whelen Southern Modified tours.

BMS vice president of public affairs Kevin Triplett said he believes the pairing of BMS and the Modifieds is a natural.

“It’s kind of like that old commercial where you put chocolate and peanut butter together, then get that ‘wow’ effect,” Triplett said. “This news has already created a tremendous buzz within the industry from people who understand what Bristol and the Modifieds represent.”

The Whelen Modified Tour features lightweight, open-wheeled vehicles that have been part of NASCAR since its first season in 1948. The powerful and loud cars, which have generally been powered by V-8 engines, are shorter and wider than Sprint Cup cars.

The Modifieds are so powerful that NASCAR officials have been forced to use restrictor plates to reduce engine power on large tracks such as New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

“For people who have never seen these races, it’s going to blow their mind,” Triplett said. “This is one of those events where the guys in the [NASCAR] garage area will stop what they doing, get up on their trucks and watch the action.”

Triplett said BMS administrators have had several discussions regarding the feasibility of bringing the Modifieds to their tight oval. The series has long been popular in the Northeast and at famed Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Modified events also have a long history at Martinsville Speedway.

“In the four years I’ve been at Bristol, Modifieds have been in the conversation,” Triplett said. “I always enjoyed the Modified events when I worked at NASCAR, so I’m excited to have them here at Bristol.

Wayne Estes, BMS vice-president of events, said he shares Triplett’s excitement for a brand of racing that has a cult following and an experienced roster of stars, such as seven-time series champ Mike Stefanik.

Familiar NASCAR drivers such as Jimmy Spencer, Todd Bodine and Steve Park all graduated from the Modified ranks.

“The Modifieds are spectacular,” Estes said. “Those people who know about these cars are going to come out of the woodwork to see this race at Bristol. We should see a numbers of campers from the Northeast.” 

Estes said a tire test, which will be held in the spring or early summer, will help NASCAR officials determine what kind of adjustments need to be made for the Modifieds at Bristol.

Thanks to the work of Estes, BMS made racing history in 2000 and 2001 by placing dirt around their .533-mile oval to accommodate World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and dirt late models.

“We’ve done the dirt here, so let’s see how the Modfieds go,” Triplett said.

Triplett said he would like to showcase the radical open-wheel cars every year, but NASCAR will make that determination.

“It’s up to us to see if this works,” Triplett said. 

Meanwhile, BMS officials continue to search for a title sponsor for the National Hot Rod Association Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.
That popular event, scheduled May 15-17, was formerly sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts.

“It’s one of those things where one day you think you’re ready to get the [press] release ready and the next day it’s back to the drawing board,” Triplett said.
“A lot of companies are eager to be involved because of our brand and product, but first they want to make sure it’s something they can do due to the uncertainty of the economy.”

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Information: http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or http://www.bristoltix.com