Reigning Whelen Modified Tour champion Ron Silk battled from the 11th starting spot at Seekonk Speedway to finish third in Saturday’s J&R Pre-Cast 150.
It was the fifth podium finish in six events this year for the series points leader.
Dating back to the 2023 Whelen Modified Tour event at Seekonk Speedway, Silk has finished on the podium in 15 of the last 19 Whelen Modified Tour events.
Since the start of the 2023 season Silk has been on the podium in 18 of 24 events. Going back to the 10th event in 2022 he has podium’s in 21 of the last 30 events. Overall since the start of the 2022 season he has has been on the podium in 24 of 40 Whelen Modified Tour races.
In comparison, Justin Bonsignore has finished on the podium in four of six events this year, 15 of 24 events since the start of the 2023 season and 20 of 40 events since the start of the 2022 season.
— With his victory in the J&R Pre-Cast 150 Saturday at Seekonk, Matt Hirschman jumped from 16th in the Whelen Modified Tour standings to 9th place.
Hirschman has started four of six Whelen Modified Tour events in 2024. He is the only driver in the top-10 in the standings that has not started all six events this year.
Hirschman has averaged the second most points per event this year. Silk has averaged 44.16 points per event. Hirschman has averaged 42.75 points per event. Bonsignore, who is second in the standings, has averaged 41.75 points per event.
— Austin Beers, who finished second in his third consecutive series event Satuday, has six second place finishes in the last 13 Whelen Modified Tour events dating back to the 2023 season.
— Jacob Lutz was sixth in his Whelen Modified Tour series debut at Seekonk.
— Stephen Kopcik had a fourth place finish at Seekonk in his second Whelen Modified Tour start. Kopcik’s only other series start before Saturday came in the 2021 NAPA Fall Final 150 at Stafford Speedway where he was 14th.
Every now and then a special talent comes along. Ron is the talent. He is methodical in his moves and most always finds his way to the front. Combined with a car owner and crew who seem to give him a near perfect car, he’s become a dominant player on the NWMT. But it’s his ability to get good finishes out of a less than perfect car that set him apart.