The loss of young talent in the Super Late Model ranks has proved the gain for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for 2019.
Joey Mucciacciaro of Wolcott confirmed to RaceDayCT Thursday that he will step away from focusing on Super Late Model racing and instead compete full-time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2019.
The 21-year old plans to run full-time for a family owned operation, though there is a possibility another team could end up involved in the effort. The Whelen Modified Tour season opens March 16 at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway.
“I talked to some sponsors over the winter time,” Mucciacciaro told RaceDayCT. “Most people know that I ran down south in Late Models for years. I pretty much just got to the point where I decided I wanted to make the switch up here. It just got really hard to find sponsors to go down south and run down there with those guys. I was able to partner up with some people that have helped sponsor me in Legends cars and NEMA Midgets and a couple Modified shows I started up here. Everybody loved the idea of doing a Modified deal and that’s kind of what sent us in our direction for 2019. Now we’re just in the works of getting all the rest of the details worked out and getting ready for Myrtle Beach on March 16.”
Mucciacciaro, who has worked in the past with LFR, has reteamed with Massachusetts based company owned by Rob Fuller. Mucciacciaro said he has been working closely with Stephen Kopcik in preparing his car. Kopcik served as crew chief for Whelen Modified Tour series runner-up Chase Dowling in 2018 with Rob Fuller Motorsports. Dowling left the organization after the season and as of now the Rob Fuller Motorsports No. 15 ride will not run full-time. Kevin Crider will serve as crew chief for Mucciacciaro.
“My car is up at LFR and Rob has really been a big help getting my car together there,” Mucciacciaro said. “Stephen Kopcik has been great helping me to learn all the stuff about Modifieds. It’s a pretty big transition coming from a fendered car. Right now we’re just focused on getting that thing together … for Myrtle Beach.”
Mucciacciaro has been focused on full-fendered type racing since 2013, but along the way has dabbled in SK Modified and Tour Type Modified racing. He has never made a start with the Whelen Modified Tour.
“My main goal is to just try to earn the respect of these guys and just finish every race and just go out there and build every race we can and learn as much as I can,” Mucciacciaro said. “That’s the biggest deal.
“The difference between Modified racing and Super Late Model racing is Super Late Model racing there’s a lot of drivers that kind of all start on the same page and a lot of young blood. On [Whelen Modified Tour] there are plenty of guys that have way more laps than me and way more experience than me. … To go out and race with those guys, I just want to be respectful.”
Mucciacciaro will bring sponsorship from Logan Steel, Pools by Murphy, SCP Distributors, Shut Shot Gunite, FK Rod Ends and Fragile Oil Lines.
Saw him wheel his second ever late model race at smyrna to victory lane! Come back with the modified!
Doesn’t this make two well funded capable your drivers injecting new blood into the NWMT along with plenty of excitement.
Sam Rameau, both team and driver erased from the VMRS points summary for 2018 for a dust up of a physical nature at Lee are going to mix it up with the big boys in the NWMT in 2019.
Mucciacciaro also signed up for the Stafford Opens which if great news.
And so it goes. Across the spectrum of modified racing, young drivers with well funded teams making their presence felt which is a good thing.
Who’s driving the LFR house car? Someone out there has to know something.
Who brings the most money- money buys speed