Whelen Modified Tour Driver Tommy Barrett Jr. Placed On Indefinite Probation By NASCAR For DUI Arrest

Tommy Barrett Jr. (Photo: Tim Bradbury/Getty Images for NASCAR)

NASCAR officials announced Tuesday that 19-year old Whelen Modified Tour driver Tommy Barrett Jr. has been placed on indefinite probation by the sanctioning body.

The punishment from NASCAR stems from Barrett’s April 17 arrest in Willimantic for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Following the arrest, Barrett was subsequently suspended by Our Motorsports of the Whelen Modified Tour, and then later released by the team.

Keith Rocco of Wallingford replaced Barrett in the Our Motorsports car for the April 26, NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 at Stafford Motor Speedway and finished 12th. Barrett was under suspension from the team at that point.

Rocco was later announced as the new full-time driver for the team. The Spring Sizzler 200 was the second event of the 2015 Whelen Modified Tour season. The division runs its third event on May 30 at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl.

Tuesday’s announcement from NASCAR read as follows: “Tommy Barrett Jr., a driver in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, has been placed on indefinite probation with conditions for violations of the 2015 NASCAR Rule Book. Barrett Jr. was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4.9A (behavioral penalty).”

Although no official suspension was handed down by NASCAR, sources close to the sanctioning body and Barrett have confirmed that – at the current time – he is not allowed to participate in NASCAR sanctioned events pending meeting further guidelines of his probation.

Barrett, considered one of the top young prospects of Modified racing in the Northeast, was in his second season competing full-time on the Whelen Modified Tour for team owner Chris Our.

Barrett, of Millis, Mass., was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs after a traffic stop at 1:48 a.m. on April 17 in Willimantic. He was also cited at the time for driving unreasonably fast and failing to signal a turn.

Barrett made his first court appearance following the arrest in Danielson Superior Court on April 27. His next court appearance for the arrest is schedule for June 2 in Danielson. Barrett has not made any public comment on the situation.

Barrett was also scheduled to run a part-time schedule on the national ARCA Racing Series this season for Our. The team attempted to qualify for the season opening ARCA Racing Series event at Daytona International Speedway in February but did not earn a starting spot in the race.

Barrett finished 19th in the Whelen Modified Tour season opening Icebreaker 150 at Thompson on April 12.

Barrett arrived on the local racing scene as a 15-year old in the SK Light division at Stafford Motor Speedway in 2010 and recorded 14 victories in two seasons at the track before moving on to the Valenti Modified Racing Series full-time in 2012.

He had three victories with the Valenti Modified Racing Series in 2012 and three wins, ten top-five’s and 15 top-10’s in 17 starts in 2013 with the division, to finish second in the series standings.

Barrett replaced seven-time Whelen Modified Tour champion Mike Stefanik in the Our Motorsports Whelen Modified Tour ride prior to the 2014 season. In 13 events in 2014 he had three top-fives and five top-10’s, including a win at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway during his rookie year. He finished 12th in the series standings in 2014.