Powered Up: Patrick Emerling Tops Tour Type Mod John Blewett III Memorial 76 At New Smyrna

Last year Patrick Emerling celebrated his first New Smyrna World Series Tour Type Modified division championship. 

When engine problems forced Emerling to sit out of the first of five events for the division on Monday, it looked like defending that title was probably out of the question. 

But Emerling showed Wednesday that he’s not to be counted out at New Smyrna. 

Emerling followed up a second place finish on Tuesday by rolling to victory in the John Blewett III Memorial 76 on Wednesday at New Smyrna Speedway. 

“We had a little tough day Monday, we weren’t able to race,” Emerling said. “[Tuesday] we had a solid runner-up. We were able to get some notes together from [Tuesday] and make ourselves a little bit better. Track conditions were a little bit different. A lot of grip out there tonight. I can’t thank the whole USNEPower Motorsports team enough. [Team owner David Miller], we have [crew chief Dale Hedquist] over there and this whole crew. What a way to honor John Blewett. He was a heck of a racer.” 

It was the second consecutive year that Emerling has won the John Blewett III Memorial 76 at New Smyrna. 

“I wasn’t racing when John was racing, but heard nothing but good and he was a heck of a competitor,” Emerling said. “I’ve had the pleasure of racing with his [his brother Jimmy Blewett]. Great guy. We talk on the phone sometimes and just chit chat about everything. Just a great family and just an honor to be here in victory lane honoring John.” 

After blowing a motor in Tuesday’s event, Ronnie Williams was second. 

“[Emerling] was able to kind of take control on that restart … early on in the race,” Williams said. “I knew I was going to have to capitalize at some point on one of those other restarts and just never did. We were matching lap time to lap time. It is what it is. They’re a good group of guys. They’ve got a lot of talent on their side. Upsetting to be one spot short, but it’s also better than blowing a motor like we did [Tuesday] night. Pros and cons.” 

Austin Beers was third for third time in three starts at the World Series. He was third in the season opening Whelen Modified Tour event on Saturday and third in the Monday Tour Type Modified division opener. 

“Third’s not great, but it’s still good,” Beers said. “We’re not in the back or getting wrecked. We’ll take consistency.” 

Emerling became the third different winner in three in Tour Type Modified events this week at New Smyrna. Paulie Hartwig III won Monday’s 60-lap feature and Ryan Preece topped the 60-lap feature on Tuesday. The division runs a 60-lap feature Thursday before closing out the week at New Smyrna with the running of the Richie Evans Memorial 100 on Friday. 

Jeff Goodale brought the field to the green flat with Tommy Catalano to his outside and Williams in third. 

Goodale controlled at the front on the opening lap, leaving Catalano and Williams to fight for second. 

Williams went to the lead about 10 laps in with Emerling moving to second. 

On lap 16 Jimmy Blewett slowed under green. He attempted to go to pit road but slowed through turn three bringing out the first caution of the event on lap 18. 

On the ensuing restart Emerling used the low lane off of turn four to overtake Williams at the front. 

Caution flew on lap 20 for a wreck in turn two involving Timmy Solomito and Tyler Rypkema. 

Emerling controlled on the lap 20 restart, with Beers moving by Williams for second. A lap later Williams fought back under Beers to regain second. After a three-lap side-by-side battle for second, Williams cleared Beers on lap 23. 

With leader Emerling and second place Williams checked out from third place Beers, caution flew on lap 50 for a Tommy Catalano wreck. 

Emerling outran a Williams challenge on the lap 50 restart, but the caution was back out again on lap 51 for a Tommy Catalano spin on off turn four. 

Emerling got the jump on a squirrelly Williams on the lap 51 restart, leaving Williams to fend off third place Cam McDermott. 

By lap 56 Emerling was able to open up his lead over Williams to just over a half second. Caution flew on lap 57 for the wrecked cars of Trevor Catalano and Tyler Catalano on the frontstretch. 

Emerling dispatched of Williams on the lap 57 restart with Beers getting by McDermott for second place. Caution was back out on lap 61 for the stopped car of Paulie Hartwig III on the frontstretch. 

Emerling was up to the task out front on the lap 61 restart. By lap 70 Emerling’s lead was just over half a second.