On Saturday night Patrick Emerling kicked off his 2025 racing season in victory lane in the NASCAR Modified Tour New Smyrna Beach Visitors Bureau 200 at New Smyrna Speedway.
Tuesday night the Orchard Park, N.Y. driver made it two for the week in Florida.
Emerling started on the pole and led every lap to score victory in the 50-lap Tour Type Modified division feature Tuesday at New Smyrna Speedway.
It was the second of five consecutive nights of features for the Tour Type Modified division at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Emerling finished third in the 59-lap Tour Type Modified division opener on Monday.
“This is just awesome,” Emerling said. “I’ve just got to give it up to the whole Fleetworks No. 1 team. We came out, won the [NASCAR Modified Tour] race and we had a really solid third last night. We knew we had a little bit to gain on her so that’s what we did. We were really really good. [Lutz] was really really stout as well. We had our track position from the beginning an we were just able to go out there and maintain.”
The Tour Type Modified division will run the 76-lap John Blewett III Memorial Wednesday, a 50-lap feature on Thursday and the 100-lap Richie Evans Memorial on Friday.
Jacob Lutz of Hamburg, N.Y. was second.
“We started seventh,” Lutz said. “[Emerling] was really good. I thought we were pretty even at the end. … We’re happy with that. First two days were terrible for us. I made a bunch of mistakes. … Good turnaround.”
Stephen Kopcik of Newtown was third following up a runner-up finish on Monday.
“I’m happy with [third], but still two spots short,” Kopcik said.
With Emerling leading, Luke Baldwin in second and Matt Hirschman in third, the first caution flew on lap five for the heavily smoking ninth place running car of Anthony Nocella.
Under caution Hirschman went to pit road with a fluid leak and retired from the event. Tyler Rypkema assumed third place behind Emerling and Baldwin.
On the restart Emerling was able to hold on to the top spot.
On lap six Monday night winner Austin Beers went to pit road under green and retired with clutch issues.
On lap 13 Baldwin got a run under Emerling at the front through turn three, but Emerling was able to stave off the challenge.
On lap 36 Jacob Lutz found a way by Baldwin for second place. On lap 43 Kopcik got by Baldwin for third.
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Who is the crew chief for the Emerling car? I haven’t heard anything about that little Fuller guy in a long time. Is he still owning/running the Emerling ride?
Darealgoodfella,
The No. 1 team is owned by Rich Gautreau and Dale Hedquist is the crew chief.