Ted Christopher (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s third-winningest driver is back with the series full-time for the remainder of the 2017 season.
RaceDayCT has learned exclusively that Ted Christopher will take over the Danny Watts owned ride that was vacated by Ron Silk after the third race of the season.
Christopher will make his first start for the team on June 14 at Thompson Speedway.
“I think I’m not going to be as stressed with him as I was with Ronnie,” Watts told RaceDayCT. “With Ronnie, you had to make him happy, Teddy just wants to race. Teddy’s a winner. Teddy’s aggressive. Teddy knows how to use a racecar. And he still wants to win. I stopped seeing that with Ronnie and that’s why when he said he wasn’t having fun anymore I said ‘Just go.’”
Christopher has not run full-time with the series since 2015.
“I’m looking forward to it,’ it should be fun,” Christopher said. “[Last year] would miss some of the Tour stuff as far as when [the events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway] would come up because I always love racing at New Hampshire. And the end of the year races like the Fall Final and the World Series, I would miss those. Now I’ve got a chance to run those races again.”
Twelve of the 16 points paying events of the 2017 season on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule remain to be run, along with two non-points events.
Christopher likes the fact that he won’t be racing for points to chase a championship.
“I like that way better,” Christopher said. “The competitors won’t like that knowing that Ted Christopher is not running for points. Because you know what, I don’t really care then. Not that I’ll wreck people or anything, but my focus is only winning races now.”
Christopher has 42 career Whelen Modified Tour victories in 364 series starts dating back to 1987. He won the series title in 2008. His last series victory came in 2011. Christopher made two starts with the series last season. He finished fifth in the NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 at Stafford Speedway on April 30 in his only series start this season. Christopher turns 59 on June 5.
Christopher sits two victories behind second place Reggie Ruggiero (44 wins) on the division’s all-time win list. Mike Stefanik is the division’s all-time winningest driver with 74 career victories.
Silk, the 2011 Whelen Modified Tour champion, finished eighth in the series standings last year in his first season driving full-time for Watts. He gave Watts his first series victory in the third race of the 2016 season at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. He finished the season with four top-five’s, nine top-10’s and one pole in 17 events.
This year the team had a 16th place finish following a wreck in the season opener on March 18 at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway and Silk was 13th in the Icebreaker 150 on April 9 at Thompson Speedway before an eighth place finish in the NAPA Spring Sizzler on April 30 at Stafford Motor Speedway. Silk left the team after the Spring Sizzler.
“I just kind of felt like we had plateaued and we weren’t really improving and it just wasn’t working for me anymore in that situation,” Silk said.
Spencer Davis drove for Watts in the Whelen Modified Tour event on May 13 at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va.
sideways move at best ….has not won a tour race in years ….better stock up on the bolt on parts also ….lol….jmo
The Tour NEEDS TC more than he needs the Tour. A race is always more interesting when TC is in the race with a competitive car! I really things work out for TC, Watts and mostly for the fans – for and against him!
Here we go…
Business is about to pick up. That said,the tour doesn’t need TC as hemi suggests. It’s always fun having him but there has been some great races and points battles without him. His Saturday nights were free this season so it makes sense.
Awesome always been a fan good luck teddy
What a terrible pick. The Tour doesn’t need him at all. Every team he goes to seems to hit rock bottom and close down. The kid Kyle Bonsignore should have been the pick.
It’s time to go !! from the back to the front Good luck Ted.
Who to dump on first…. Coby or TC. Decisions, decisions.
well NEVER been a TC fan but I will admit I am glad to see him back, races always are more interesting with him in it and a decent ride, should be fun to see, COMPETITION never hurts!!!
Great news! I miss this guy especially at Loudon. Good choice. Now if we can get the V4 back !
Nice
I am gonna go to a few now
Plainville in the house boys
He should pass the reg now . Love all the haters especially dareal . Dareal hates ted because he refused to autograph his man pouch . Never got over it
Okay, here’s the office pool… how long before TC is involved in his first incident? How many laps?
TC is in total control of everything but his hair. TC might get Rogaine sponsorship.
Dareal has always been mad at drivers who don’t talk to him
Just like he does not like me because I got lots of power and $$
It’s very sad to see grown up mad like that
Love ya man
Do you people really thing that the Watts team will magically learn how to set up a car now? Wow guys. Silk left the team because they don’t have a clue how to set up a car or run a winning team. That’s not going to change folks. Teddy is decent but can’t make up for that large of a gap. These guys need to go MRS racing or something. Way over their heads on tour.
Danny Watts talk to me about sponsoring TC for both NH races see you the 14th Good luck
Coby thought he had problems before
Mark, if you read these forums over the years, you would know that TC knows everything about setting up a car and he will tell the crew exactly how to set up the car so TC can rule the track while missing up to three spark plug wires, and a flat RR.
teddy has not won a tour race since 2011 !!!!!!! tanked more teams than run the tour today . looks like watts team is next one on the hit list ….should have talked to some of the others he drove for first before he pulled the pin .
I hope TC can get the car where it can run with the 2.
Let’s do a GoFundMe effort to get a good flux capacitor for the Watts car.
Colbee doesn’t like another car near him within 20 feet, and TC continues to try to defy the law of physics that says two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time.
LOL!!! Should be fun, fun, FUN!!!
Hopefully daddy won’t take the t-bird away.I think Watts already has the upgraded capacitor.TC is always fun to watch in good equipment.
Dareealgoodfella
Don’t make sense at all
Tc best ever
TC is never happy with the car… never.
It’s always the car this, the car that.
jeffrey, as good as TC is, he needs a good car. Watts & Co. had better have thick skin. That and TC had better have learned to communicate clearly, concisely and kindly.
Hey gang, please remember that Watts & Silk won in their third race together. There were two other races that they were in contention for the win and got taken out late, and finished 8th in points last year. I think Mr. Watts and crew are very capable of setting up the car. If the chemistry and communication is there, #82 will be up front and contending.
Mike Christopher SR would have looked good back in a 82 car. He was always the faster brother.
Funny hearing you say hes never happy with the car… Ever hear of Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick, when was the last time they said car is perfect… They are always complaining about something thats what makes them good.
Or the car is always getting the blame.