Ted Christopher (Photo: Michael Ivins/NASCAR)
LOUDON, N.H. – If NASCAR was handing out a Tough Man award following Saturday’s Whelen Modified Tour Eastern Propane & Oil 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, there’s little doubt who would have garnered the hardware.
The final results box, with a seventh place finish in the event, doesn’t quite illustrate the story of the day that was Ted Christopher in Loudon.
The Plainville driver was involved a huge frontstretch wreck on lap 19 that involved numerous series frontrunners. And when the race went back to green there was Christopher continuing on, and completing the 105-lap event, that went to overtime thanks to a late caution.
It wasn’t until after the checkered flag fell that the 59-year old driver headed to the hospital to have his broken right hand casted. He sustained the injury during the lap 19 crash.
“I raced that car for like the last [86] laps with the thing broken,” Christopher said of of the fractured radius bone in his right hand. “I’m not too right sometimes.”
Christopher said Sunday morning he will visit with his orthopedic surgeon to ensure there isn’t any further damage that wasn’t found Saturday, but he expects to be racing again Friday in the SK Modified feature at Stafford Motor Speedway.
“It’s fractured, it’s not like it’s got a compound break or something,” Christopher said. “What they see in X-rays they see it as just fractured, but I think they might look at some other stuff. It feels better today than it did yesterday. I mean it hurts.”
The wreck was set off when Doug Coby and Timmy Solomito made contact in turn four in a battle near the front of the field, sending Solomito’s car riding up the outside wall.
“That thing happened so fast I couldn’t believe it,” Christopher said. “You’re full throttle, shifting. As soon I shifted and put my hand on the steering wheel, boom and that thing happened. I was on the outside so you can’t see a lot on the outside.”
Christopher said he will likely withdraw from Friday’s Exit Realty Modified Touring Series event at Stafford, but will run his own SK Modified in the division’s 40-lap feature. Christopher has two victories in seven SK Modified starts at Stafford this year.
“I don’t think I’m going to do the MTS race,” Christopher said. “I was supposed to the MTS race with Jimmy Paige. But I probably won’t do that. I really want to concentrate on Stafford and we don’t race the Tour for another three weeks.”
Christopher was making his third start for Danny Watts Racing in Saturday’s event at NHMS. The Whelen Modified Tour doesn’t compete again until August 4 at Stafford Motor Speedway.
“I’m not too right sometimes.” – Ted Christopher
Truer words were never spoken.
Heal well and soon.
Get well soon TC — you are THE man!
I’ll run the mts car for ya ted
Your health is more important than a race car. Heal up and the give them hell again.
Teddy is an old school racer he will compete just fine with his hand so give em hell GOAT
Ted you are da man, heal up, get better and take no prisioners. You remind me of the late, great George “Moose” Hewitt. Breaks his foot at Thompson on a Wednesday nigh in the Craig Kirchhoff #23 Vega after finding a tree stump in the sand banks 4th turn, on crutches at Waterford on Saturday night, gets into his 19 car and finishes third in the fearure. Real racers are hard to find these days.
Why was Moose Hewitt racing on the golf course?
Tough as nails man
These young men today miss races because of fake stuff
Like ONCE I raced with the legionares disease..
I also raced after I got shot in the head too
Teddy is the best of all time
Preece too
Rocco is best sk driver ever too
Woody can rave too
Rowan is the best ever
jeffrey, the time you raced when in a coma was the best. You probably don’t remember that.
Was there with Moose when that happened, he not only raced, but worked everyday plus worked on car ever night…….No hang nail excuse……..
Ronnie Williams in the Brady 00 Friday night??
You are absolutely correct Jeff, forgot that detail. Matter of fact I believe that was a new car, the throttle hung and I stand corrected it was the 3rd turn not 4th. Way before they had the safety equipment they have today. One of toughest hard nose racers I ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Not sure the Brady car will make it Friday night. It got hurt pretty bad at N.H. Saturday. Wasn’t Ronny Silk’s fault, either.
Word is that the 00 will be ready and back in action for the WMT race at Stafford but with McKennedy driving. Also, coming off of his impressive run in New Hampshire, it looks like Ronnie Williams will be in the Bertuccio 21 at Stafford.