On Oct. 10 RaceDayCT reported that NASCAR and Stafford Speedway management had come to an agreement for the Whelen Modified Tour to return to the track in 2026.
On Thursday that news became official with the release of the 2026 Whelen Modified Tour schedule.
The Whelen Modified Tour will return to Stafford Speedway for the first time since 2021 on Friday Aug. 28, 2026.
“Few places embody the soul of Modified racing like Stafford,” Joey Dennetwitz, managing director of NASCAR Regional, told RaceDayCT exclusively. “We heard from the fans, we heard from the competitors and they all wanted the same thing. Why aren’t we at Stafford? So, I couldn’t be prouder that we were able to do that. It’s not just our nod to history, but it’s everything that the Whelen Modified Tour is known for. … That place is a special place. Adding that to our 2026 schedule is fantastic.
Stafford is one of three new tracks added to the 2026 Whelen Modified Tour schedule [See Also – Big Changes: NASCAR Releases 2026 Whelen Modified Tour Schedule].
For decades the Whelen Modified Tour was a cornerstone of the Stafford Speedway schedule. From the series’ inception in 1985 to 2021 Stafford Speedway had the Whelen Modified Tour on its schedule every year except 1988. The Whelen Modified Tour has run 135 events at Stafford since 1985.
“There’s no place like home for the Modifieds, and Stafford Speedway has always been that home,” Paul Arute, chief operating officer at Stafford Speedway said. “Our history with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour runs deep, spanning generations. With support from our partners at Riverhead Building Supply, we’re proud to welcome the Tour back and continue that tradition next August.”
Said Eric Goodale, a longtime veteran driver on the Whelen Modified Tour and also Director of Marketing at Riverhead Building Supply: “Riverhead Building Supply is a proud sponsor of Stafford Speedway, and we’re excited to see the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour return to the premier short track in 2026. The rich history shared between Stafford and RBS makes this partnership a perfect fit to bring the best in Modified racing back to the New England racing community.”
Dennewitz said he has been working to get the series back to Stafford since 2023.
“I first met with the Paul and the Arute family back in 2023 when I first took this job,” Dennewitz said. “And my opportunities to sit down with successful people, I try not to turn that down. You never try to turn down an opportunity to sit down and learn from other successful people. Paul and I kept in touch. We talked about, not really the Modified Tour for the majority of it. We just talked about short track racing and business. I like to hear what those guys are working on. Promoters all across the country, what are they working on, what are they struggling with, what are they finding success with? Literally one day I was talking to our head of regional broadcasting, Dan Barker, and I said ‘Man I need to call Paul and see how their season has been going.’ And there was an email in my inbox the very next day from Paul. Sometimes the universe kind of finds a way.”
Four-time series champion Justin Bonsignore won the last Whelen Modified Tour event held at Stafford on Sept. 25, 2021.
“It’s just one of the best places in the country and we need to be there as a series,” Bonsignore said.
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