NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour series director Jimmy Wilson confirmed to RaceDayCT Friday afternoon that the May 23 series event at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway has been postponed to a date still to be determined.
Wilson told RaceDayCT series officials are hoping for a return to action in June, though where that might happen remains unclear. He said the series is committed to running all 17 events scheduled this year.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has now seen its first five events of the season put on hold due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The series was scheduled to kick off its season on March 21 at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. No makeup date for that event has been announced.
The series was originally supposed to run its second event of the season on April 5 at Thompson Speedway with the running of the Liquid Death Icebreaker 150. That event was first rescheduled to mid-May but now has been postponed to a date to be determined.
The Whelen Modified Tour Spring Sizzler 200, originally scheduled for April 26 had been tentatively rescheduled for May 31. Stafford Speedway chief executive officer and president Mark Arute confirmed to RaceDayCT Friday that as of now the Spring Sizzler 200 reschedule date is to be determined.
The May 8 Whelen Modified Tour event scheduled for Martinsville (Va.) Speedway has been postponed but no makeup date has been announced.
“Our intentions are to still get the season started and get our 17 events in this year as possible,” Wilson told RaceDayCT. “We’re still working towards that goal. Of course it’s a very fluid situation dealing with the states and seeing when we can go back to racing. It is our hope that we can get back to racing sometime in the month of June with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. As far as exactly where that venue will be, I can’t say right now. We’re of course monitoring everything very closely everywhere. But we’re hoping to get back at it in June.”
Currently the Whelen Modified Tour has events in June scheduled for Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway (June 6) and Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway (June 20).
The Whelen Modified Tour is scheduled to return to Jennerstown Speedway for the first time since 2006.
Following Wilson’s interview with RaceDayCT Friday, Jennerstown Speedway officials released a press release stating in part: “Given the uncertain exact timeline of the reopening of Somerset County (Pa.), the Speedway wanted to provide a reasonable timeline for possible adjustments to the reopening process while providing the traveling teams enough time to adjust and create a successful event for the competitors and fans.”
Following the comments from Wilson and Arute to RaceDayCT Stafford Speedway management posted the following to their Facebook page: “Based on the Governor and State of Connecticut’s most recent guidelines we will be unable to run events in the month of May including the 2020 NAPA Spring Sizzler. At this time it is unclear when we will begin to race in 2020. We are working with local government officials to begin private practice and hope to have further guidance in the next week. We will provide schedule updates as soon as we have them. We will honor all tickets at a future date. We appreciate your patience and hope everyone is staying safe at this time.”
Stafford Speedway officials had tentatively planned to open the season with a May 22 Friday night event followed up by the running of the inaugural Pro Late Model Open 81 on Friday May 29.
If they are looking to possibly start in June, I don’t know why they would bump the Sizzler already. It was scheduled only one day before June 1st. Maybe Seekonk will be the first WMT race?
PA is a part of the alliance of eastern states. NY, CT, NJ, MA and RI are in no position to consider a move like this kind of opening. Still too many new cases and deaths, no statistically valid downward trend. The alliance of states is to treat the region as one and protect all. Mobility within that alliance would be a huge setback.
GA opened up and their numbers have spiked. FL opened up and their number spiked. OH numbers have spiked.
Cuomo has said it over and over. If you open up too soon, the numbers will begin to spike in a couple days. So true.
The good news is that a vast majority gets it and are genuinely concerned about getting infected, or a loved one getting infected. With something this contagious, all it takes is someone being careless or cavalier and many people can get sick.
FACE It that all the WMT shows should be 1 day shows Only, if tracks want local divisions they should hold those on day before or after WMT shows without MIXING do some price adjusting and hope as fans we can attend any events even if we all have to wear mask and social distance
I’m with you on that Dareal. Every time I go into a store and see some people without masks I get real nervous. We were blessed and lucky once, I’m definitely not looking for “round 2.”
Not to pee on anyone’s campfire here, but I think we all have to eventually face the fact that as long as any state governor keeps social distancing in place, no matter how many other types businesses open up and how many times track owners try to keep pushing schedules out, anything that is spectator driven is toast, unless of course there is TV money to compensate for empty seat, which for any local track or touring series is pretty much non-existent. Would be cool if teams could test with special rules in place for social distancing and it was on You Tube , or if a couple of the bigger mod shows could be run as Paid Video on Demand (PVOD). But that would have to make economic sense for all involved including those who would be willing to pay to watch. Have it be just the mod tour, not all the support divisions. . Plenty of unemployed TV freelance production people who would be happy to have that gig.
Fast Eddie, how are you and your wife doing? Better I hope.
I wouldn’t get my hopes up to see any type of racing anytime soon. A handful of northeast states have formed an alliance if sorts, trying to safely reopen the region. Governor’s Baker, and Lamont have set May 18 and 20 respectively as partial opening dates. These dates may change depending on what happens between now and then in states that have reopened. I truly think the worse is yet to come, although I pray I’m wrong. I don’t foresee any racing this year in Connecticut or Massachusetts and New York. The numbers just don’t support it. The cup , Xfinity and trucks are set to start racing on may 17th with very strict guidelines. What happens at those events will dictate how they move forward.
Well we knew it was coming. It still stings. Stay safe everybody.
There are some dirt tracks down south running this weekend. No fans on the grounds ppv only. Its probably the only racing we are going to see for some time and there isn’t much we can do about it.
NY closed the temporary hospital at the Javic center today, although the equipment will remain. Maybe a good sign that the first wave is coming to an end.
Rob P we’re doing fine thanks, back with the rest of the world. Glad to see you got a visit from your friend! I’m sure that was definitely the high point of your month! I hope you’re correct on your first wave hypothesis.
Trump did a good thing today. He signed legislation so that people can not be evicted for non-payment of rent, and people cannot go into foreclosure for not paying their mortgage. Although you still owe the money, you don’t have to worry about ending up out in the street. Don’t know the exact details.
The U.S. Senate has been ordered back to D.C. for Monday. The Capital physician has already informed Mitch McConnell that they do not have access to enough tests to test all 100 senators and their staffs. And, the tests they do have will take 2-3 days for results to come back. But remember, there are more than enough tests, anyone who wants a test can get a test. They haven’t even issued any sort of guidelines for the Senators to follow, such as social distancing, and workplace safety guidelines. But remember, we’re on top of this. In a few days, when warmer weather hits, this virus will just disappear. Boy, I’m betting allot of senators are wishing for a do over on the impeachment vote.
De Blasio March 15th – “If you love your neighborhood bar, go there now,”
Pelosi – February 24th – “That’s what we’re trying to do today is to say everything is fine here (Chinatown),” Pelosi said. “Come because precautions have been taken. The city is on top of the situation.”