In previous years Stephen Kopcik has had the opportunity to celebrate victory on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour as a crew member and even as a crew chief.
Saturday, for the first time, he got to celebrate as the guy turning the wheel.
Kopcik, of Newtown, held off Ron Silk over the closing laps to win the Whelen Modified Tour Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway.
“It’s unbelievable,” Kopcik said. “I don’t know what other words to describe it. Racing against the best of the best guys at one of the [NASCAR Cup Series tracks]. It’s been a long weekend and everyone’s wore out. They stuck it out and they’re the reason we’re standing here.”
It was the first career series victory for Kopcik, who was making his 23rd series start in the event. Before Saturday Kopcik had two career second place series finishes, both coming last season.
Silk, of Norwalk, held on for second in the second of the event of the season for the series.
“Stephen and I had both really good cars,” Silk said. “He beat us out of the pits on that last stop and was able to control the race from there. … Great job by all my guys. Good pit stops the entire night.”
Tyler Rypkema of Owego, N.Y. was third. Rypkema, who had a second place finish in the season opening event at New Smyrna Speedway on Feb. 7, moved to the top of the series standings following Martinsville.
Patrick Emerling and Danny Bohn went side by side for the opening lap with Emerling ultimately taking control.
By lap 16 Emerling had opened up a little more than a one second lead over Bohn with Luke Baldwin running third.
Emerling’s lead was up to two seconds over Bohn by lap 35 with Baldwin hanging out in third. The first caution of the event flew on lap 35 for the spinning car of Ken Heagy in turn four.
The field headed to pit road under caution. Emerling came off pit road remaining in the lead. Kopcik, who was running eighth at the caution, came off pit road in second. Baldwin restarted third with Justin Bonsignore in fourth.
The race restarted on lap 43 with Emerling fending off Kopcik. A lap later Baldwin got by Kopcik to take over second. Behind them Silk was up to fourth place.
With Kopcik knocking Baldwin around in the battle for second, Silk found the lane under both of them on lap 50 to move to second. Two laps later Bonsignore moved past Kopcik for third place.
Caution was back out on lap 62 when Mike Christopher Jr. got spun in turn one by Tommy Catalano.
Many of the leaders hit pit road again under caution. Kopcik stayed on track to assume the lead. Rypkema, Matt Hirschman and Jon McKennedy also skipped trips to pit lane to line up in second, third and fourth respectively.
Under caution previous race leader Emerling was penalized for a pit road commitment violation. The race restarted on lap 73 with Kopcik controlling at the front of the field and Rypkema slotting into second.
By lap 85 Silk was back to fourth place with Bonisgnore behind him in fifth.
The event hit lap 100 with Kopcik out front, Silk just getting to second past Rypkema, Hirschman in fourth and Bonsignore in fifth. Kopcik led Silk by 1.8 seconds at lap 100, but Silk began biting into the lead quickly. On lap 115 Silk went Kopcik to move into the lead.
On lap 130 second place running Kopcik had to take evasive action to avoid the lapped car of Heagy, allowing Silk to open a 1.2 second lead.
By lap 143 Silk led Kopcik by 1.4 seconds with Baldwin running third, Rypkema fourth and Bohn in fifth.
Caution flew on lap 146 for the spinning car of Heagy in turn two. The caution sent the entire field to pit road. Kopcik won the race off of pit road with Silk coming out second. Emerling, who came onto pit road in seventh, left in third. Baldwin would restart fourth and Rypkema fifth.
The race restarted on lap 154 with Silk and Kopcik battling side-by-side for the top spot. On lap 157 Silk’s efforts to race Kopcik in the outside lane allowed Emerling to move into second, Baldwin to third and Rypkema to fourth.
Caution was back out on lap 160 for a wreck involving McKennedy and Teddy Hodgdon IV near the start/finish line.
The race restarted on lap 171 and Kopcik took control immediately, leaving Emerling to battle Baldwin for second. By lap 187 Kopcik had opened up a 1.8 second lead over Emerling.
On lap 188 caution flew again for a wrecking involving Baldwin and Bonsignore while racing for third place. It set up a restart with Kopcik leading, Emerling in second and Silk in third.
The race went back to green on lap 196 with Kopcik getting the advantage off of turn two, taking Silk to second.
Silk dogged Kopcik’s bumper for the final three laps but couldn’t find a way to make a move on him.
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Safe to say Kopcik isn’t some guy that can only set up cars.. He drove a great race. Consistent driver. Silk maybe was too aggressive trying to pass him instead of making a calculated move in the last 3 laps. Easier said then done I guess. Decent race
Kopcik was fast all weekend, The fastest car Won the Race… Emerling was also very fast but used up the left side tires coming from 23rd to 8th before the caution flew… Patrick would have had a really strong chance to win if he didn’t miss pit road box… Silk is fast as always and was fast too.. He kinda cut Steven a solid by staying off his bumper at the end.. seeing there friends.. shops real close together, etc.. plus Stevens first Win… If it was the 51 things may have been different… OLD BLUE # 3 leading the points, when was the last time that was the case on the Tour ….???? So great to see the HOMEBUILT CHASSIS up front against all the BIG MONEY teams… Respect to Michael & Janice for keeping Lenny’s OLD BLUE on the Tour all these years …I hope they grab a Win and have a solid year in 26 ” .. Mr Heagy needs to stop spinning himself out by hitting the berm, or bouncing off the leader’s as he’s getting lapped…. Maybe Ken could find a young Driver from NY or CT to drop in the seat and enjoy being a Car Owner and enjoy developing a new face on the Tour.. Tour looks strong this year with CAR COUNTS threw the ROOF compared to last season as Shawn pointed out ….Seems to me that Kopcik & Baldwin have lots of contact every time they are racing for position on the racetrack… Not sure if this is carryover from New Smyrna Race or last Season…?? hopefully cooler heads prevail… No replay on Flo on the 51 and 7NY wreck while running in top 5 near the end… did hear something about the Baldwin 7NY breaking a rear end that may have caused the wreck …???? wonder if someone has video of the contact …?? Tour is off to a strong start, It will be interesting with BIG MONEY running the full schedule … In their own Pee-Dee Stable Cars ,… He should be a contender, He is getting close to a Thompson Win with a 2nd place finish, Also we know how strong he is at Seekonk with 2 races on the docket, Stafford he’s very Strong also… Oswego he is always good too.. Should be a contender for a Championship and join his Father with His 5 ….Time will tell….
Kopcik is a threat. Someone that knows how to setup a car and is the driver can provide excellent feedback on what the car needs. If I was that car owner, I’d make sure Kopcik gets all he needs.
Emerling seems to always find a way to take himself out. He’s had speed for years, but takes himself out. He missed pit road entry and had to come from behind, used up his car. He did it to himself again.
The big news is the NEW POINTS LEADER: Tyler Rypkema in the legendary #3 ole’ Blue.
Agree, Heagy would be a bigger asset to the Tour as an owner. He has definitely upped his game, his cars have been much better. Maybe give Chase Dowling a call.
It looked like something in the rear suspension of the 7NY let go, let the axle wander around.
Next up: THOMPSON, baby!!!! THOMPSON!!!! Center of the Modified Universe!!!!!
See you all there.
MH has to develop and master the horsepower tracks, like he masters the bullrings. He’s an expert on the momentum bullring tracks, for sure. If he’s to have a shot at a NWMT 🏆 Championship, he must learn to run at horsepower tracks, and place consistently in the top. He’s done okay a couple times on a horsepower track, but once in a while is not enough. The present Tour schedule seems to be tilted more towards bullrings than horsepower tracks, then it has been in the past. Back in the day, more than half the schedule was Stafford, Thompson and NHMS, horsepower tracks, with the occasional bullring. The NWMT is not RoC or MMTTS.
And we have a new points leader, Tyler Rypkema and ole’ Blue!!!
That should have been the lede.