(Press release from the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series)
When the Tri Track Open Modified Series rolls into Stafford Motor Speedway on Saturday for the Call Before You Dig Modified Classic 81, a variety of different motor packages will come with the top talent in Modified racing to chase a $10,000 winning prize.
As previously released by Tri Track ahead of the Monadnock date in August, there are multiple different motor packages possible for each event. At Stafford, it will be no different. With talent coming from multiple different divisions, there will be various engine packages, and all of them will have a shot to take a purse of over $57,000 with contingency and additional bonuses included.
There will be a 21-degree Dart Spec Head Tour-Type motor under the hood of the No. 00 for Jimmy Paige and driver Justin Bonsignore and others in the field, while various drivers will compete with an 18-degree Tour-Type engine, including names like series points leader Matt Hirschman, Woody Pitkat, Mike Christopher Jr., Ron Silk, Todd Owen and more.
There will also be a collection of drivers using the approved NASCAR spec motor that runs on the Whelen Modified Tour – with names like Matt Swanson, Blake Barney, Calvin Carroll, Dave Sapienza, Andy Jankowiak, Chris Pasteryak and more taking that route. Additional motor packages in the field will include the 23-degree Tour-Type motor with drivers like Craig Lutz, the Dart Steel Head Engine and a FORD motor.
“A variety of different packages like this with top talent is what makes open modified racing so fun to watch for our fans,” Ed Bennett, Managing Partner of the Tri Track Open Modified Series, said.
As with every other event, different motor packages require different weights to keep a level playing field. Per the Tri Track rulebook, cars come to the track with a package that they wish to run and most conform to the current rules. There are Tour Type Modified engines, SK Modified and Sportsman Modified motors, DART Steel Head engines, NASCAR spec engines and more in the field. Depending on the motor combination a team runs, their overall car weight might be different. For example, Tour Type Modified motors that are between 355ci-364ci are 2,610 pounds on the scales. Those between 365ci-372ci are 2,600 pounds, while a NASCAR Modified Tour spec engine must be 2,660 pounds. The DART Steel Head engine must be 2,650 pounds.
The talent lining up to compete is going to put this race on a field in its own as the top Modified event in 2020. NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champions Justin Bonsignore (2020, 2018), six-time champ Doug Coby and Ron Silk are joined by top Tri Track names like Woody Pitkat, Chase Dowling, Ronnie Williams, Les Hinckley, Richard Savary and more. A full, updated entry list as of Tuesday morning is available on the Stafford Motor Speedway website.
With different motors, there are also different engine builders in the field, with names like Hutter, Performance Technology, Bob Bruneau Engines, Mike Pettit Engines, Billy the Kid Race Engines and more building for competition. Although there is a bit of a weight difference between some of the motors, it doesn’t show on the track, with different packages winning and running at the front.
See below the story for a full list of which teams are planning to bring which motor to the race.
For more information on Stafford Motor Speedway, visit staffordmotorspeedway.com and follow the track on social media.
For more information on the Tri Track Open Modified Series, visit tritrackmodifieds.com, and follow the series on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
MOTOR PACKAGES EXPECTED TRI TRACK AT STAFFORD
- 00 – Justin Bonsignore – 21-Degree Dart Spec Head Tour-Type Built Motor
- 00 – Tommy Membrino Jr. — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 06 – Les Hinckley – 23-Degree Aluminum Tour-Type engine
- 1 – Joey Cipriano — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 2X – Paul Kubesha — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 3 – Matt Galko — 23-Degree Aluminum Tour-Type engine
- 3 – Matt Swanson – NASCAR Spec Engine
- 6 – Woody Pitkat — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 7NY – Mike Christopher Jr. — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 8 – Nick Salva — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 8 – Cam McDermott — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 9 – Tommy Barrett Jr. — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 9 – Chase Dowling – NASCAR Spec Engine
- 11NC – Burt Myers – FORD Motor
- 11 – Matt Vassar – 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 13 – Dylan Izzo — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 14 – Blake Barney – NASCAR Spec Engine
- 20 – Max Zachem — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 21 – DRIVER TBA (Art Barry’s car) — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 23 – Troy Talman — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 25 – Doug Coby — 23-Degree Aluminum Tour-Type engine
- 25 – Calvin Carroll – NASCAR Spec Engine
- 25 – Brian Robbie — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 25CT – Anthony Flannery — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 33 – Michael Gervais Jr. — DART Steel Head Engine
- 34 – Dave Ethridge — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 35 – Andrew Molleur — DART Steel Head Engine
- 36 – Dave Sapienza — NASCAR Spec Engine
- 44 – Trevor Bleau — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 44 – Anthony Sesely — 21-Degree Dart Spec Head Tour-Type Built Motor
- 46 – Craig Lutz — 23-Degree Aluminum Tour-Type engine
- 48 – Marcello Rufrano — DART Steel Head Engine
- 50 – Ronnie Williams — 23-Degree Aluminum Tour-Type engine
- 50 — Ron Silk — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 50 – Noah Korner — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 55 – Ryan Doucette — 21-Degree Dart Spec Head Tour-Type Built Motor
- 57 – Keith Rocco — DART Steel Head Engine
- 58 – Eric Goodale — 21-Degree Dart Spec Head Tour-Type Built Motor
- 59 – Andy Jankowiak – NASCAR Spec Engine
- 60 – Matt Hirschman — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 66 – Austin Kochenash — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 74 – Manny Dias — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 74 – Shawn Thibeault — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 75 – Chris Pasteryak – NASCAR Spec Engine
- 76 – Kirk Alexander — 21-Degree Dart Spec Head Tour-Type Built Motor
- 176 – Cory DiMatteo — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 78 – Walter Sutcliffe Jr. — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 81 – Todd Owen — 18-Degree Tour-Type engine
- 92 – Anthony Nocella — 23-Degree Aluminum Tour-Type engine
- 99 – Richard Savary — 21-Degree Dart Spec Head Tour-Type Built Motor
This is race nerd heaven.
Enjoy it because we’re not going to be seeing this again. Top track and series managements overseeing a one of a kind event with car count number from the last century.
All that work that went into accumulating this information for fans is not lost on this one.
Thanks!!!
Interesting comments from forum members to follow.
Great piece, Shawn. That is indeed a cornucopia of engines.
I’m so glad and relieved that Matty is going to be there. 😅 And Burt Meyers too!!!! Everybody remember when the Ford was a hit, and then faded away?
This looks to be a very well attended good ol’ open race. The only way it could get better is if the engines were big blocks. I miss the sound of the big block.
Tell the racers the time to whine is now before the race, if they want to whine about the rules to attempt to level the field.
There’s tons of old 18º built motors out there, yet no new one has been built in many years.
I do hope Thompson is paying attention. An event like this would be awesome 😎 at Thompson.
Darealgooldfella,
I can’t take the credit for this. This was put together by Kyle Souza who works with Tri-Track Open Modified Series on public relations.
Great info from the TriTrack folks courtesy of Shawn! It’s great to have this info to add an additional competition element to the event!
18°, 23°, cast iron head, aluminum block, tour spec, tour type…
…I’m so confused! Please mommy make it stop.
In all seriousness, these various motor combinations seem to work. Need proof? 50 cars for a 26 car field. Tri Track rocks. Did I mention 10 grand plus contingencies to win?
Rop p., a decent purse seems to help bring out the cars.
Yes Dareal, the money don’t seem to hurt
Heads, blocks, carbs, compression ratio’s, cubic inches. I tried to glean some kind of edge to one particular package. Checked the Stafford open times vs the NWMT laps times but temperature and tire compounds make that useless. Tried connecting styles to engine builders and their success rate but that’s sketchy at best.
If they are going to the trouble of putting this all together the least a nerd can do is to show he appreciated it even if it exposes more of his ignorance on the topic.
Dart Steel Head 4
21 degree Dart spec head 6
18 degree 26
23 degree aluminum 6
NWMT Spec 7
Ford 1
“- 23-Degree Aluminum Tour-Type engine “- shown for cars like the 46,25,06 and 3. All cars that run Stafford opens. That’s just a non Dart aluminum head engine isn’t it with a cast iron block? A catch all for everything non Dart 23 degree?
-26 -18 degree engines. Multiple engine builders supply this variation. It’s another catch all isn’t it. Different components possible including cast iron or aluminum heads but categorized as 18 degree.
-as opposed to Pettit and the cars in the KRR orbit like the 57, 33, 37 and 48 all using the 23 degree Dart cast iron head. I’d watch those cars. That engine may be specifically built for the Stafford opens with characteristics suitable to the track and has shown with Rocco and Rufrano it’s a winner.
-you’d think cars like the 50, 46, 58, 7ny could be packing NWMT Spec engines but they aren’t. They appear to be sporting their Stafford open legal engines. Why?
-there was a question whether any SK or crate car would bolt on a 4 barrel, hang their hopes on the weight advantage and give it a try. That question was answered.
-is Walter Sutcliffe running an 18 degree engine on the NWMT races?. Might be part of the reason he’s not that competitive or at least we’ll say that.
-what the heck is the 21 Degree Dart Spec head. Dart has numerous variations on it’s site but I don’t see 21 degree.
-so Hirschman is bringing the red car is he. Loaded up with all that illegal stuff he gets away with because Tri Track doesn’t do rigorous post race inspections. At least that’s what some in these pages have said in spite of the fact there are only terrific results to draw that conclusion. . Don’t know if it’s true and don’t care. It’s above my pay grade. I’m just glad he will be there. The car will turn great times because it does at New Smyrna. I suppose he will be able to do his possum act on the bigger track since he’s done it at New Smyrna. Seems really risky though with the stacked field. He may have to actually burn up some rubber racing in the first two thirds of the race. I’ll be watching to see if he changes rubber really early then cruises waiting for a caution to pass cars.
Going in we had the Thompson open with specs allowed as a reference point but not really since they were mostly gearing up for the NWMT race. Now they’ll be locked and loaded at Stafford.
This list is a keeper. Post race we nerds will be looking at the finishing order and drawing conclusions about the advantages of certain engine packages. Ideally it will be a mish mash with no clear winner in that regard. If the TTOMS tech guys accomplish that it will be astounding in my view.
The only prediction I have is that it shapes up to be a great race. I just don’t see any car running away with it. The race is too short with tire changes, chassis adjustments and all kinds of moving parts. They’ll expand the field with provisionals and perhaps a last chance race winner or two and the track will be crowded.
That’s why they race em Doug, because trying to figure the finish on paper is all but impossible