Comeback Trail: Todd Szegedy Returning To Competition With Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series

After the 2017 racing season, longtime Modified competitor Todd Szegedy walked away from regular competition on four wheels, finding a new focus in some two wheeled competition. 

Szegedy discovered a love for competitive Mountain Bike racing and headed down that trail so to speak, leaving motorsports in the rear view. 

Now the trail is leading back to Modified racing for the former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion. 

Szegedy confirmed to RaceDayCT Friday that he will return to action in 2022 driving for car owner Doug DiPisa on the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series. 

Szegedy will make his first start for DiPisa in the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series event at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl on Aug. 6. He’ll also compete in events with the series at Stafford Speedway (Sept. 24) and Seekonk Speedway (Oct. 22). 

Szegedy said that since walking away from motorsports competition regularly after the 2017 season the thought of returning had never really left his mind. 

“In the beginning I was wondering if I regretted my decision to take time off,” Szegedy said. “I thought about it constantly. But was so preoccupied with my career and being on the bike and my family that it kind of got me through it. As the years went on I didn’t think about it as much. But I would say every time racing season was starting up I would think about it. I would just think: ‘I wouldn’t mind being back in a car.’ I always enjoyed being at the track.” 

The 46-year old Szegedy last got behind the wheel of a Modified for an Aug. 7, 2020 Open 80 event at Stafford Speedway driving for DiPisa. On that night the car had issues from practice to the feature. It was the only event he’s attempted since the end of the 2017 season. 

“We never really got going that day,” Szegedy said. “I only ran a few laps in the race.”

Szegedy said as of now the plans with DiPisa will be focused on the final three Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series events of 2022. 

“Just start small,” Szegedy said. “I’ve got to get myself acclimated back in the car myself. So there’s no pressure, we’ll see what we can do. 

“From what I’ve been hearing from my friends who are still involved in racing, I’ve been hearing a lot of great things about [the Tri-Track Series]. I know Dave Monaco, he’s helped me out in the past racing. He’s a great guy. He’s a huge racer himself, he’s been involved in it a long time. I think it’s great that he’s involved. And I’ve just heard so many great things about the series. I’m excited to race with the series because of that.” 

Szegedy ran 212 Whelen Modified Tour events from 2000-2017. He had 19 career victories, 86 top-five’s and 130 top-10’s with the series. From 2005 to 2012 he had a string of seven consecutive seasons where he finished in the top-five in the series standings. In eleven seasons competing full-time with Whelen Modified Tour he never finished worse than seventh in the series standings and only finished outside the top-five twice. He won the 2003 Whelen Modified Tour title driving for team owner Don Barker. He drove for team owner Mike Smeriglio III from 2006 to 2013. He spent one season driving the Mystic Missile for owner Bob Garbarino in 2015.  After 2015 he drove primarily for team owners Kevin Stuart and Rob Fuller. He had three Modified Racing Series victories driving for Stuart and also made seven Whelen Modified Tour starts for Stuart in 2017. 

At Waterford Szegedy isn’t setting any over the top expectations for his return. 

“The plan is to do a practice before and get acclimated,” Szegedy said. “I’m just anxious to get out there and start making laps. The competition is tough. I haven’t been on the track in a while so I’ve got to get out there and make some laps. I’m excited to race against some of the guys I used to race against and I’m also excited to race against some of the new guys. I just need to get out there.”