Wade Cole Eyeing Return Soon To The Driver’s Seat On Whelen Modified Tour After Injury

Whelen Modified Tour driver Wade Cole Saturday at Stafford Motor Speedway

STAFFORD – Don’t tell the management at Stafford Motor Speedway, but NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Wade Cole was really hoping for rain this weekend.

One of the Whelen Modified Tour’s most loyal competitors and well known ambassadors, Cole was noticeably missing from the lineup for the division’s season opening Icebreaker 150 on April 12 at Thompson Speedway.

The 62-year old Cole, who has been competing on the Modified Tour since its inception in 1985, sustained a detached retina on April 7, which forced him out of the car for the season opener.

“[Missing the event at Thompson] wasn’t that bad,” said Cole, who has 294 Whelen Modified Tour starts. “I was more worried about my eye more than anything else. My buddy wanted me to go, but it wasn’t worth it. I’m not going to take a chance. Obviously I hate missing the races, but it is what it is, I can’t do anything about it.”

Johnny Bush drove Cole’s car for the season opener. Saturday Cole was at Stafford Motor Speedway in the pits, but Bush was still in his car preparing for Sunday’s NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler 200. Cole is waiting for medical clearance to get back in the car.

“I was hoping it would rain out this weekend,” Cole said. “It all depends when the doctor says it’s OK, but I couldn’t get an appointment with the doctor to get it cleared. My vision is pretty good now. It’s just a matter of making sure it’s healed right so it doesn’t become detached again.

“They put it back together. I was very very lucky. They said another 24 to 48 hours I would have been permanently blind. I had injured it about a month before when I was working on my little Dodge truck. I’m just really lucky. I’ve just got to be careful until they tell me I can race again.”