With the opening event of 2009 less than a month away, officials of the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour met to elect new officers, announce new sponsors and formulate rules for the season ahead.
The Modified Tour will kick things off with the “Chiller Thriller” at Mercer (PA) Raceway Park on Saturday, March 28. After a successful return to the Park in 2008, the race will pit the ground pounding Big Blocks against the nimble Mercer 358 Mods. “It should be a great event again,” said Mod Tour President Ray Baselj. “The close confines of Mercer will provide a level playing field for all of the cars, regardless what engine package the racers choose.”
The Big Blocks ruled in the Mod Tour’s only appearance at Mercer in 2008, but the 358 cars were highly competitive all season long. Indeed, small block powered cars copped two wins on the 2008 Modified Tour at tracks where the Big Blocks were featured. Gary Smoker scored in the Mod Tour opener at Tri-City (PA) Speedway and Lonnie Riggs took the season-ending show at Sharon (OH) Speedway. Both are expected to be in the thick of things on March 28. Frankie Guidace, the defending Mercer 358 Modified champion, will also be a threat to take the win.
Former Mod Tour champion Russell King captured the Mercer race last year while subbing for his father, Rex, who was recovering from surgery. Russell has moved on to the Late Model wars and Rex has recovered, so the patriarch of the King Brothers race team will be back in his familiar mount, hoping to regain the Mod Tour crown that slipped through his family’s hands in 2008 for the first time in a number of years. Younger son Rex, Jr. placed a creditable second to Brian Swartzlander in the title chase and hopes to move up a notch in the 2009 standings. The younger King and Swartzlander will be among the Mod Tour stars coming to Mercer. Kevin Bolland, Del Rougeux, Jr., Dave Murdick and Jeremiah Shingledecker, all former winners on the Mod Tour, will also be on hand.
A fine payday of $2,000 will await the winner of the opening event. A raindate of April 4 has been reserved.
Presently, the 2009 Modified Tour schedule has ten other dates, but negotiations are still in progress for additional races.
Baselj will return as Modified Tour President for 2009. “I am honored to be back,” he humbly said. “Ray has a passion and vision for this division,” said his new Vice President and Public Relations Director, Lou Long. Founding member Pam Baker will again serve as Secretary/Treasurer. Joining the Board of Directors for 2009 will be Patty Shingledecker, Jodi Carbone, Kim Gerber and Race Director Bill Bauer.
The Modified Tour’s primary sponsors will again be Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tires and Sunoco Race Fuel. Product and contingency sponsors will include Bilstein Shocks and Kaizer Wheels. Associate sponsors will include Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rental, Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, King Brothers Feed and Supply, Oyler Action Photos, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hometown Pharmacy, Wedge Motorsports, Motorsports World, and Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
Other sponsorships are still under negotiation.
Watch the website, www.modifiedtourinc.com, for announcements regarding the 2009 rules package. “We do not anticipate any major changes in the technical rules for 2009,” Baselj said. “Some competitors asked for clarifications and we will try to give them that. Also, we are addressing their concerns about uniform race procedures,” he added.
The BRP Modified Tour ’09 would like to thank the following series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Bilstein Shocks, Kaizer Wheels, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rental, Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, King Brothers Feed and Supply, Oyler Action Photos, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hometown Pharmacy, Wedge Motorsports, Motorsports World, and Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area the opportunity to compete for higher purses and for a seasonal point fund. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker, and Randy Myers, the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at the area racetracks.