Whelen Modified Tour Driver Ron Silk And Team Owner Ed Partridge Parting Ways

The Ed Partridge owned No. 6 Whelen Modified Tour car with driver Ron Silk (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

The Ed Partridge owned No. 6 Whelen Modified Tour car with driver Ron Silk (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team owner Ed Partridge announced Thursday that he and driver Ron Silk will part ways following the conclusion of the 2014 racing season.

Silk, of Norwalk, has driven for the team full-time since the start of the 2010 racing season. The team won its first Whelen Modified Tour championship with Silk driving in 2011.

Silk is currently fourth in the Whelen Modified Tour standings with four top-five’s and 10 top-10’s in 12 events this year. Silk will start his final event for the team in the Whelen Modified Tour season finale on Oct. 19 at Thompson Speedway.

“The 2011 title is one the best memories of my racing career, and Ron has been a great driver for us these last few years, but the time has come for us to try something different,” Partridge said in a release from NASCAR. “I’m very thankful for what Ron has done for us, and I wish him all the best in the future.”

Silk told RaceDayCT that the decision to part ways was not a surprise. After winning the championship in 2011, Silk finished third in the series standings in 2012 and seventh in 2013.

“The last two years have kind of been a struggle,” Silk said. “We talked about things last winter and just tried to kind of put a band-aid on it and see if we could keep it going. Obviously we had a lot of success there the first couple years I was there so it was something we all wanted to work on and keep it going. But five and a half years is a pretty long time to race with a team the way racing is today. I think we had a pretty good run at it and it’s time, all of us need a change.”

Patridge is expected to name a new driver for his team for the 2015 season sometime after the final event of the season at Thompson.

Silk made his first start for the team on Sept. 19, 2009, winning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He made one more start for Patridge in 2009 before being named as the team’s full-time driver before the 2010 season.

In 72 points races for Patridge, Silk had six wins, 36 top-five’s and 54 top-10’s His last win with the team came on Aug. 22, 2012 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Overall Silk has nine victories in 137 career Whelen Modified Tour starts dating back to 2003

In 71 points races with TS Haulers Racing, the 31-year old Silk has compiled six wins and 53 top-10 finishes. The last victory was 31 races ago. Silk said his hope is to continue competing full-time with the Whelen Modified Tour.

“I want to keep racing,” Silk said. “It’s all pretty new right now. The season is coming to an end. I don’t know where this is going to leave me. I’m going to try like hell to get something else going. I surely can’t afford to run my own car or anything close to that. It’s just a matter of seeing what’s available and who’s interested.”

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Comments

  1. That is a top notch ride. Silly season has officially begun.

  2. Crazy in NY says

    If it’s not Keith Rocco I’ll eat my hat.

  3. A good driver gets 1st, 3rd, and 7th in points over three years. If that can’t guarantee you a ride in ANY series I don’t know what will. Crazy.

  4. Andy Boright says

    Szegedy????

  5. Hey Jason – I’d be SHOCKED if it was Keith Rocco, being Partridge fired him years ago in a not so pleasant scene.

    But stranger things have happened.

    Matt Hirschman?
    Jimmy Blewett?
    Teddy?
    Todd?
    Lia? (the 4 was going to sit out a race – that’s how bad things have not clicked for him and the 4)
    Santos?
    Pennink? (the 93 has not been sporting much sponsorship of late.)

    Only Ed knows…

  6. That is a stout race team, myself i would love to see TC wheeling it or Money Matt. I think Jimmy is a liking the dirt side of modified racing …

  7. Maybe it will a new face to the modifieds

  8. Knuckles Mahoney says

    Ed should give Les Hinckley a call. Looking for a ride. 17 wins on the MRS alone speaks for itself. Countless pro stock wins.

  9. Because new faces have so much success??? Too much good talent available to not put a winner in the seat.

  10. Hodge racing says

    Shawn Solomito. Nuff said

  11. jml racing says

    I want to see Shawn Solomito in the 6 car.

  12. Rafter fan says

    I believe TC has hinted that he may be driving for Galante next year??

  13. Shawn Solomito

  14. captain obvious says

    Captain obvious says Preece is in it

  15. Chris clark says

    If you take a look at showtimes Facebook someone might think a reunion is in order

  16. justafella says

    Captain Obvious get the prize bingo

  17. Gary mollem says

    Wade cole?

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