Jacob Perry Lands Full-Time Modified Racing Series Ride For 2020

Jacob Perry (Photo: Jim DuPont/RaceDayCT)

The 2019 season saw Jacob Perry running a hodge-podge schedule of varied rides throughout the Northeast short track racing scene. 

The teenager from Pawcatuck ran with the Granite State Pro Stock Series, chased a championship with Exit Realty Pro Truck Series and made starts with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the Tri-Track Open Modified Series and the Modified Racing Series. He even made a Late Model division start at Stafford Speedway and a Dirt Modified start at Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. 

But for Perry, when it came to planning out a path for the 2020 season, the idea was to focus on Tour Type Modified racing. 

That plan got a big boost Monday. Perry came to an agreement to drive the No. 47 car for team owner Jack Bateman on the Modified Racing Series for the 2020 season. 

Perry will replace Bateman’s grandson Dylan Rock in the ride. Bateman is also the founder and operator of the Modified Racing Series. Perry will be a teammate to Donnie Lashua in the Bateman two-car stable. 

“We were out at [the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis last week] just kind of talking to Jack and he told us that Dylan had decided to step away from the No. 47 car,” Perry told RaceDayCT. “Monday we ended up getting a call asking if we wanted to run the full season with him in the No. 47. We’re super super excited for it.”

Perry made one start on the Whelen Modified Tour in 2019 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July. He finished third in a Tri-Track Open Modified Series event at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. in September. He also made a start for championship winning team owner Gary Casella with the Modified Racing Series at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H. in May. 

“Me and my dad have been talking all winter long about how we weren’t sure what our racing plans were going to be going into 2020,” Perry said. “We weren’t sure we were going to be racing if we hadn’t acquired a Tour Type Modified ride. We just didn’t have the money, but the Tour [Type] Mods were where we really wanted to be. We had turned down a lot of offers for Late Models and Pro Stocks and stuff like that because we were trying so hard to get back to a Modified. To have it pay off like this is definitely a huge confidence booster going into the year.” 

Perry, who turns 18 on December 26, said he isn’t worried that the full 2020 Modified Racing Series schedule is still a work in progress.

“I’m happy with anything that I get the opportunity to do, so it doesn’t really matter what the tracks are, I’m just grateful to be racing right now,” Perry said. “I really love Beech Ridge [Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Me.] and the MRS is going there three times next year so I’m super excited for that. And hopefully we can get a couple more tracks to come on board for the 2020 season. But I’m really excited for the tracks they do have to offer. I’m going to get to a couple news ones. It’s going to be a fun season.” 

Perry said he’s also open to other opportunities in Tour Type Modified rides for 2020. 

“We talked with Jack about it and he is Ok with me going and driving for other times on either the [NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour] or the Tri-Track [Open Modified Series],” Perry said. “Those are two series’ that I’m very interested in for 2020. If anybody is looking for a driver in either those I’d be honored to fill a seat.” 




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Comments

  1. Awesome news for a good kid with plenty of talent

  2. Ansel coats says

    Congrats Jacob Looking forward to attending some of your races!

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