SEEKONK, Mass. – For much of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Bob Katon J&R Pre-Cast 150 Saturday at Seekonk Speedway, it looked like Stephen Kopcik was ready to score a stunning third consecutive series victory.
Kopcik got his first series victory on March 28 at Martinsville Speedway and it followed it up with a second series win on April 12 at Thompson Speedway.
But Saturday at Seekonk, Jon McKennedy played streak snapper versus Kopcik and for himself.
McKennedy, of Chelmsford, Mass., passed Kopcik with 21 laps remaining and rolled to victory in the J&R Pre-Cast 150 Saturday at Seekonk Speedway.
It was McKennedy’s third career series victory and his first as a team owner.
“All day we had a really good car, we were, I thought overall like a top three car all day in speed, and as well as long run speed in practice, something we worked on hard,” McKennedy said. “… As far as the race goes, we had a great car. It started off a little bit tight, and I was concerned, because in the past here when you get tight, you usually get tighter, but I was able to move my line around a little bit, run up a little higher, and the car just honestly came to me, I felt like the last 50 laps it was really good. [Kopcik] and I were pretty even for a while, but I could see he was getting tight, and I just wanted to kind of keep putting pressure on him.”
It was McKennedy’s first series win since July 29, 2022 at Claremont Speedway, snapping a 19-race winless streak on the Whelen Modified Tour for the division’s 2022 driver’s champion.
After driving part-time with the series for the last three seasons, McKennedy embarked on a full-time Whelen Modified Tour run this season as a car owner. He won his first series event for owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. in 2018 and his 2022 victory came driving for owner Tim Lepine.
Kopcik, of Newtown, was second.
“Three in a row really would have been something, but [McKennedy] just turned the middle a little bit better than me and, you know, towards the end of the run there, that’s what it comes down to,” Kopcik said. “There’s a fine line between, you know, being too free and still being able to turn the middle, but congratulations to him.”
Chase Dowling of Roxbury, who is running part-time for Tinio Motorsports, was third.
“We built a good notebook obviously tonight. It’s hard being part time, not to make any excuses, but it’s hard. For us to have a good day like this, it feels like a win. I know we want to win obviously, but a very solid day.”
Kopcik went by pole-winner Justin Bonsignore for the lead on lap 44. Bonsignore fought back to regain the lead on lap 47. Kopcik fought back in the low lane and regained the lead with 100 laps remaining. Bonsignore continued to fiercely fight Kopcik for the lead for the next 10 laps.
On lap 84 McKennedy got by Bonsignore for second. On lap 92 a spinning Trevor Catalano brought out a caution with Kopcik leading, McKennedy in second and Bonsignore in third.
On the ensuing restart McKennedy began attacking Kopcik at the front while Dowling moved to third by Bonsignore.
On lap 129 McKennedy used the outside lane off of turn four to pass Kopcik for the lead. McKennedy quickly checked out from Kopcik, leaving him to battle Dowling for second.
“I had a good run on the outside and he ran me clean, gave me the line, and I was able to open up to a good lead there, and just kind of set my own pace,” McKennedy said.
Reigning series champion Austin Beers recovered from an early race spin to finish fourth. Tommy Catalano was fifth.
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