THOMPSON – The burgeoning relationship between Ole Blue and one of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s most dynamic and successful drivers meant a big money payday for the group Sunday at Thompson International Speedway.
Ted Christopher celebrates Sunday at Thompson (Corey Sipkin/NASCAR)
In his fourth race competing for Boehler Racing Enterprises in the team’s historic No. 3 ride, Ted Christopher hit the jackpot in winning the 50-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – Whelen Southern Modified Tour UNOH Showdown Sunday at Thompson International Speedway.
The race brought together 32 drivers from the Whelen Modified Tour and Whelen Southern Modified Tour after each division ran 75-lap points events Sunday at Thompson. Christopher finished fifth in the Whelen Modified Tour Town Fair Tire 75 before the Showdown.
The Showdown paid a winner’s purse of $15,000 plus lap bonus money.
“I think 50 laps is pretty good for these cars and tires,” Christopher said. “It was good for me, I can’t complain about it.”
Jimmy Blewett of Howell, N.J. was second and Ryan Preece of Berlin third.
The 54-year old Christopher, the division’s third winningest driver of all time, lost his regular ride on the Tour when team owner Ed Whelan shut down his operation following the July 14 event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Christopher got the chance to get in the Boehler Racing Enterprises No. 3 after their driver, Keith Rocco, was injured in an SK Modified practice crash at Thompson in late July. Christopher made his first start for BRE in the Bud 150 at Thompson on Aug. 9 and also ran for the team at the UNOH 150 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Aug. 22.
Christopher’s biggest concern Sunday afternoon was his own comfort in the car. He still hasn’t put his own personal seat in the ride.
“I was more worried about me going away than the car because of being uncomfortable in it,” Christopher said. “But I can still get it done at my age so screw it.”
Christopher took the lead from Bobby Santos III on lap seven and never trailed again. Blewett went by Preece for second place on lap 37 and looked to have a car to challenge Christopher.
“I knew Ryan was right there with me and I looked up and I was like oh [crap],” Christopher said of seeing Blewett in his rearview. “I picked it up as much as I could. We were actually getting a right front flat. We went in victory lane and it had a hole in it.”
Blewett finished 20th of 24 cars in the first event and had to start 27th in the Showdown.
“From what I had in the first to this race, it was a drastic difference,” Blewett said. “But that’s how close our field is. My car was just a tick off in the first race, but it looked like I didn’t have no motor. We went into the second race with just minor changes and puts right to the front. I enjoy making runs like that because it proves to people that work with me how much I really appreciate it.”
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