RaceDayCT has learned that the No. 46 Russell Goodale owned NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team will have a new driver behind the wheel when the series returns to action on July 8 at Wall Stadium in Wall, N.J.
Woburn, Mass. veteran Modified driver Anthony Nocella will replace Justin Brown with the Long Island based Goodale owned team for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Nocella confirmed to RaceDayCT Wednesday evening that he will make his first start for the team at Wall. Brown, a rookie, struggled through the first seven events of the season for the team. The team parted ways with Brown following Saturday’s Miller Lite Salutes Mike Ewanitsko 200 at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway.
Nocella said he was quick to accept the offer to drive for the team.
“I just think that’s a team that has had success at a lot different places,” Nocella said. “It’s a good team. A lot of good guys over there. Russell is a great guy and they have beautiful equipment. I’m looking forward to getting into some top notch equipment with some really good guys working on it. I think we can put it all together and have some good runs.”
Nocella started five of the first seven events this season on the Whelen Modified Tour for his family owned team. He said work commitments with his family owned paving business has made focusing on race car preparation a struggle.
“That was definitely a big factor in my decision,” Nocella said. “I’m really busy with work. I’m going paving every day. You don’t even know when you’re going to be done every day. That wears you out and doesn’t give you a ton of time to get in the shop. I’ve been doing most of the work in the shop with my car. I think it will pay off being able to do something like this. I’ll be able to talk to them about what’s going on with the car and I won’t have to kill myself getting a car ready every week.”
The 30-year old Nocella has 62 career Whelen Modified Tour starts dating back to 2015. He scored his first career series victory last July at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Brown had an average finish of 16th over the first seven events of the season. His best finish this season was a 13th place at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H. on May 27.
The Goodale owned team had three victories with driver Craig Lutz, with one coming in 2019 and two in 2020. The team shut down from full-time competition following the 2021 season. Timmy Solomito recorded an eighth place finish driving for Goodale in the Phoenix Communications 150 at Thompson Speedway last August. The team returned to full-time competition with Brown behind the wheel this year.
Excellent Choice, Nocella can get the job done… Plus he drives clean and has the respect of the other drivers.. With NHIS coming up & Anthony being the defending Champion last year that will be interesting to see the #46 up front and swapping the lead back and forth…SILLY SEASON has now started…. LOOK for some Driver changes the rest of the way .. The reigning Champ is out there a could fill a seat quickly … See what happens… I think drivers will be moving around now….wait for it…….
Looking forward to seeing what he can do n someone else’s equipment. I have confidence in this driver. How good is the 46, and how good will the communication be?
I’m hoping really good, because it sure would be nice to have another team in the whelan series, that’s a serious threat to win every time out.
I wish them the best.