On Tap: Modifed Tours Taking Over For The Local Racing Weekend

All three local tracks showcase special touring Modified events on the schedule this weekend.

Ryan Preece looks to keep streaking in his Whelen Modified Tour ride and his SK Modified ride Friday at Stafford Speedway (Photo: 122 West for NASCAR)

The touring action kicks off Thursday with the Valenti Modified Racing Series at Thompson International Speedway, making up and event that had been scheduled for last Thursday.

The touring continues into Friday when Stafford Motor Speedway hosts the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour CarQuest 150.

At the Waterford Speedbowl Saturday, the Pro Four Modifieds are in town with Doug Coby and Keith Rocco expected to be in the lineup for the division.

Where: Thompson International Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event and Valenti Modified Racing Series
When: Thursday
Schedule: 75-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series, 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 40-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Sportsman, 15-lap Mini Stock and 20-lap New England Truck Series. Grandstands open: 2 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6 p.m.
More: The sixth week of Thursday night racing at Thompson in 2013. … The Valenti Modified Racing Series makes the first of two visits to the track this season. The series had originally been scheduled to run three events at Thompson this year, but an event was rained out on May 19. This event was rained out last Thursday. … Former Thompson Speedway SK Modified division regular Rowan Pennink won the last Valenti Modified Racing Series event on July 20 at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Me. Pennink sits two points behind leader Tommy Barrett Jr. in the standings after seven of 17 events this year. Pennink and Barrett are the only multi-time winners in the series this year. Each has two victories. Other winners this year include Steve Masse, Lou Mechalides and Dwight Jarvis. … Thursday’s event will mark the first run under a new rule that will award championship points to the top-five finishers in each qualifying heat race for the division. … Over 10 Valenti Modified Racing Series events all-time at Thompson, Pennink has three victories and is the only multi-time series winner at the track. … In the track’s last event on July 18, Matt Gallo won for the first time in his career at Thompson in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified division. … Keith Rocco leads the SK Modified division point standings. Ryan Preece, Woody Pitkat and Kerry Malone are in a three-way tie for second, six points behind Rocco. Todd Ceravolo is fifth in the standings, 12 points behind the leader. … Rocco has won four of seven SK Modified events at Thompson this year. Gallo, Preece and Malone are the other winners at the track this year in the division.

Where: Stafford Motor Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event and Whelen Modified Tour
When: Friday
Schedule: 150-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Late Model and 15-lap DARE Stock. Grandstands open: 4:15 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6 p.m. Features begin: Approximately 6:30 p.m.
More: The 11th week of Friday night racing at Stafford in 2013. … The Whelen Modified Tour makes their third of four visits to Stafford. Bobby Santos III won the Spring Sizzler at Stafford on April 28 and Modified Tour points leader Ryan Preece won at the half-mile oval on June 14. Preece, also a regular in the SK Modified division at Stafford, has won three of seven events this year and has a worst finish this year of fifth. … Rowan Pennink, also a regular in the SK Modified division at Stafford, is second in the Modified Tour standings, 42 points behind Preece. Reigning Modified Tour champion Doug Coby, another regular in the SK Modified division at Stafford, is third in the Modified Tour standings, 45 points behind Preece. … Preece won for the sixth time in 11 starts this year in last week’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature. … Woody Pitkat, still looking for his first victory of 2013, is second in the standings, six points behind Preece. Coby is third in the standings, 18 points behind Preece. … With two victories this year, Ted Christopher joins Preece as the only other multi-time SK Modified winner this year at Stafford. Other SK Modified division winners this season include Danny Cates, Rowan Pennink and Keith Rocco. … Late Model division standings leader Adam Gray goes looking for his 11th consecutive podium finish Friday. Gray leads Tom Fearn by 38 points in the Late Model standings. Gray’s only finish outside the top three in 11 events this year was an 18th place in the first race of the year.

Where: Waterford Speedbowl
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Saturday
Schedule: 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 25-lap Street Stock, 25-lap Mini Stock, 25-lap SK Light Modified and 25-lap Pro Four Modified. Grandstands open: 3 p.m.; Qualifying: 5:15 p.m.; Features: 7 p.m.
More: The 15th event of the season at the shoreline oval. … Kyle James won for the second time this season in last week’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature. … Keith Rocco takes a 20-point lead in the standings over second place Todd Ceravolo into this week’s event. Reigning division champion Tyler Chadwick is third, 62 points behind Rocco. … Rocco has won five of 14 SK Modified events this year at Waterford. Chadwick has three victories. Rocco, Chadwick and James are the only multi-time SK Modified winners at the track this year. Other winners this year include Ceravolo, Jeff Rocco, Joey Gada and Rob Janovic Jr. … Keith Rocco also leads the Late Model division standings at Waterford. Reigning division champion Dillon Moltz of Waterford is second, 14 points behind.