(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)
The race every NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver looks forward to is finally on the horizon. The Mohegan Sun 100, the ninth race of the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season, takes place this Saturday evening at New Hampshire Motor Speedway at 6 p.m. ET (live on FloRacing).
Considered the biggest race of the season for NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour teams and drivers, the Mohegan Sun 100 represents one of the most challenging and rewarding events on the series schedule. Much like superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, drafting will be in play when Whelen Modified Tour teams hit the 1.058-mile oval to battle for supremacy.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been a constant on the Whelen Modified Tour schedule since 1990, when Mike McLaughlin triumphed in the Tour’s first visit to the track. The series has raced at the track at least once every year since, with some of the best Modified drivers in history among those to earn trips to Victory Lane.
They include drivers like Mike Stefanik, Jeff Fuller, Reggie Ruggiero, Steve Park, Mike Ewanitsko, Tony Hirschman, John Blewett III, Ted Christopher, Chuck Hossfeld, Donny Lia, Ron Silk, Ryan Newman, Todd Szegedy, Doug Coby, Bobby Santos III, Justin Bonsignore and Ryan Preece. Last year Anthony Nocella avoided a last-lap crash on the frontstretch to earn his maiden NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory.
Below is everything you need to know about the ninth race of the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.
Mohegan Sun 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
What to watch for:
Close finishes are the norm rather than the exception at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and last year Anthony Nocella came out on top of one such close finish.
Nocella restarted sixth with three laps left and avoided a multi-car crash on the final lap to earn his first and, so far, only NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory. Unlike last year, when he drove his family No. 92 to Victory Lane, this year he’ll look to defend his victory aboard the No. 46 entry fielded by Goodie Racing.
In order to do so he’ll have to topple a stacked field of entries that includes NASCAR Cup Series star Corey LaJoie. The driver of the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series is returning to the Modified Tour in the No. 1 for Robert Fuller after earning a victory in his last start at Martinsville Speedway last October.
Andy Seuss, a multi-time champion of the defunct NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, is among those returning to action aboard the No. 70 entry on Saturday.
Bobby Santos III, the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and six-time New Hampshire winner, is making his first start of the season in the No. 44 owned by Lawney Tinio. Six of Santos’ last seven Modified Tour triumphs have come at New Hampshire. Max McLaughlin, who last raced with the Tour at Richmond Raceway, is also back in action aboard the No. 77 entry owned by Mike Curb.
You can’t forget about the series regulars either. Ron Silk, Justin Bonsignore and Doug Coby have all earned victories at New Hampshire during their respective careers and each would like to add another trophy on Saturday evening.
Other notable entries include Patrick Emerling and Eric Goodale, who wrecked racing for the victory on the last lap last year at New Hampshire, as well as Austin Beers, Craig Lutz, Ronnie Williams, Chase Dowling and Tommy Catalano, among others.
The complete entry list for the Mohegan Sun 100 is available here.
RACE FACTS
| Race | Mohegan Sun 100 |
| Date | Saturday, July 15, 2023 |
| Track | New Hampshire Motor Speedway |
| Layout | 1.058-mile oval |
| Location | Loudon, New Hampshire |
| Start Time | 6 p.m. ET |
| Laps | 100 |
| Posted awards | $139,600 |
| Live stream | FloRacing (Live) |
Schedule: Friday, July 14 … Final practice from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. ET … Qualifying at 6:45 p.m. ET; Saturday, July 15 … Mohegan Sun 100 at 6 p.m. ET (FloRacing)
Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the Mohegan Sun 100 is limited to 32 starters including Provisional Positions.
Tire allotment: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is twelve (12) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is four (4) tires, any position.
29 aint bad.
shawn have you heard any rumors of NHMS being for sale, or is it just the internet/Reddit trying to make things up.
Weren’t there rumors a few years about cup going to NHMS every other year?
Zig,
Lots of rumors in recent months about NHMS losing their Cup date or somehow being involved in some type of new style Cup scheduling where certain tracks are visited every other year. I guess anything is in play at this point. I’m not sure the Boston/New England market is quite as important to NASCAR as it once was. Attendance on Sunday will probably say a lot about the future of the facility.
Did I read that entry list correctly? McKennedy in the 79? Typo?
Fact checking here… Cory Lajoie is a NASCAR Cup series star???
There used to be ~5 year waiting list for $$$$ Cup tickets at NHMS, now they can’t give them away. Super low priced packages. For some reason, the fans aren’t coming out like they used to at NHMS.
Attendance seems to be up this season at the other tracks, let us see how Loudon does. Hope the weather is optimal.
79 will not be racing, was hopeful to run but plans were nixed by owners… Too bad!
Bobf, I’m going to guess there was a first draft of this list done a few weeks ago and he was never removed.
Had to be registered last week sometime and there was talk amongst the 79 group about running, but was a pipe dream really.
Wish Newman would run this since he will be in town for SRX & the Cup race. NHMS should always have at least one date on the Cup schedule.
STACKED????
Attendance seemed to go downhill once camping went from free to $100. What is it now?
Entry list looks impressive, allot of good drivers in great equipment. 6PM starting time is pushing it, hope they get all 100 laps in. Santos for the win. Williams as a darkhorse.
Cory Lajoie is a star podcast star and modified tour winner! I’m coming up from New Jersey to see the modifieds and stay for the cup race. When I clicked to buy tickets it appeared there that the place will be packed. Sure hope that is the case.