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Jennerstown House Divisions, Race Day Flyover Part of Busy Plans in Pennsylvania
By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
Photo: Noah Watts/Myracenews
JENNERSTOWN, Pa. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is heading back to Jennerstown Speedway this Saturday to celebrate Memorial Day. Set for competition in the Jennerstown Salutes 150 on Saturday, May 28, the Whelen Modified Tour is part of a full evening of racing at the Pennsylvania oval – one that includes multiple of the Jennerstown house divisions – the Modifieds, Fast 4’s, Pro Stocks and Late Models.
The major storyline surrounding race day includes honoring those veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving in the military and their families. The event will honor multiple Gold Star families and fallen heroes, including the family of Army National Guard Specialist Chad Edmundson, who will serve as Grand Marshals for the Jennerstown Salutes event.
As announced earlier in the week, for the second straight year, all NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour cars will carry decals on their roofs with a military member lost while serving their country. New for 2022, the Jennerstown Late Models will carry fallen members from the 14th Quartermasters Unit.
After four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races, Ron Silk, with his new team, Haydt-Yannone Racing, leads the championship standings heading to Jennerstown. Silk holds a three-point lead over New York native Eric Goodale, as the two drivers are the only ones to have top-10 finishes in all events so far in 2022. Silk will carry the name of Edmundson on the roof of his No. 16 ride.
Jon McKennedy, Tommy Catalano and young rising star Austin Beers complete the top-five in the points heading to Pennsylvania.
Outside of the top-five, one of the major storylines of the Whelen Modified Tour season to date has been Justin Bonsignore. The three-time and reigning champion, who has won two of the last three races at Jennerstown, has two DNFs, a victory and a 10th place finish, and sits eighth, 40 points from the top at the quarter-way mark of the season. Jennerstown could produce a turnaround to his season, especially given his track record there over the last few years.
A strong entry list for the race includes the return of former series champion Donny Lia, multiple-time winner Patrick Emerling and rising star Mike Christopher Jr., driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing – the team that has won the last two events with Doug Coby driving. Names like Kyle Bonsignore, Max McLaughlin – driving for Gary Putnam – Jon McKennedy and Craig Lutz are also expected to be major contenders. Lutz picked up a victory at Jennerstown in 2020 and has finished inside the top-three in all three of his starts at the track. Out of all active drivers, Bonsignore and Lutz are the only two to finish top-five in the last three races at the track.
The Jennerstown house divisions will provide the perfect support division action for the evening. The always popular Pro Stocks and Late Models will showcase some fendered racing, while the Modifieds and Fast 4’s are going to give fans a different perspective.
Saturday’s race day schedule includes grandstands opening at 2 p.m., with NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour practice set for 2:30-3:30 p.m. At 3:45 p.m., qualifying heats begin with the Jennerstown Fast 4’s, followed by the Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Late Models.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award qualifying will take place at 4:45 p.m.
At 5:20 p.m., race fans will be able to head down onto the track and meet and greet with all divisions – including the Whelen Modified Tour and all Jennerstown house divisions – during the autograph session. At 5:45 p.m., a special pre-race ceremonies will honor all of those who have been lost in service and gave the ultimate sacrifice, along with those who are currently serving the United States of America.
The pre-race ceremonies will include a flyover by two Blackhawk Helicopters with the Det 1 C Co Medevac General Support Aviation Battalion, based in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The crews of the flyover were recently deployed from 2020-2021 with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. The pre-race ceremonies, along with the entire night of racing, will air live on FloRacing.TV.
At the track on race day, at the JDV Productions tent, apparel will be available for the Jennerstown Salutes event and the 2022 season. Fans can also purchase apparel online today at JDVProductions.com.
Tickets for Jennerstown Salutes are $35 in general admission, with military set at $30 per person. Kids 12 and under will be free into the grandstands. Fans can upgrade to the JDV Experience once they get to the track – which includes preferred seating for the day, a private NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour inspection tour, private autograph session with select Whelen Modified Tour drivers, and more. The JDV Experience is $125 per person for Jennerstown. Pit passes for the event are $45 per person.
For more information on Jennerstown Speedway, visit Jennerstown.org and follow the track on social media. For more information on JDV Productions, visit JDVProductions.com and follow the series on social media for the latest updates, including from the track on race day.
