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By Souza Media/Kyle Souza
Photo Tom Morris Racing Photography
WINCHESTER, N.H. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour may have one more weekend off before they return to racing at Monadnock Speedway on June 18, but the momentum coming off a busy month of May isn’t going anywhere. The Whelen Modified Tour is filled with storylines from top to bottom – from a substitute driver entering Victory Lane two races in a row, to a first-time winner, a shake-up at the top of the point standings, and a few surprises along the way.
The Duel at the Dog 200 will mark the second race of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup, and with one race in the books, the battle for the $5,000 champion bonus in the Cup is heating up. After the Granite State Derby at Lee USA Speedway on May 21, Tommy Baldwin Jr. leads the Cup standings, as the car owner of Doug Coby’s winning ride in the 175-lap race at Lee. Behind him, Matt Hirschman is second in the standings, with Dale Hedquist, owner for Jon McKennedy, sitting third. Tommy Baldwin Racing heads to Monadnock looking to not only remain at the top of the owners standings for the Cup and the series as a whole, but also make it four straight Tour wins – coming off two straight with Doug Coby at Riverhead and Lee, and one with Mike Christopher Jr. at Jennerstown last time on track.
Ron Silk, a Connecticut native and 2011 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, leads the division point standings at the quarter-way mark of the season. With a new team this year, Haydt-Yannone Racing, Silk has been consistent and it’s paying off behind the wheel of the No. 16.
While Silk is off to a strong start, perhaps the biggest surprise of the year so far is three-time Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore not coming out of the gate strong. Although the Holtsville, New York, native went to Victory Lane at Richmond Raceway in April, he sits seventh in the point standings, 39 points off the lead. Even though he has two finishes outside of the top-10, Bonsignore is certainly a favorite to steer things back in the right direction at Monadnock, one of his most successful tracks.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has already previously been to Monadnock 13 times, with Bonsignore winning their most recent stop in 2020, and also capturing wins in 2013 and 2014. Names like Ted Christopher, Coby, Mike Stefanik, Ryan Preece, Jamie Tomaino, Jimmy Spencer and others have also been to Victory Lane at Monadnock.
The Wincester, New Hampshire, oval is known for producing intense, side-by-side racing, and it won’t just be for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. A full day of action will also include the Granite State Pro Stock Series, a Street Stock special for the NHSTRA Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Late Model Sportsman and Mini Stocks. There will be non-stop action throughout the night, beginning with qualifying at 4:45 p.m. and followed by feature racing, ending with the Duel at the Dog 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at 8:30 p.m.
The Granite State Pro Stock Series will roll into Monadnock off an impressive event at Lee USA Speedway, where Joey Doiron passed Bryan Kruczek in the final laps to take the win. The 75-lap event at Monadnock will be a bit shorter than most are usually involved in, which means they will hit the ground running hard from the drop of the green.
Passes are available today for the JDV Experience – which will give fans preferred seating in turns three and four – the ultimate view of the high-banks – and a special seat in the new Beer Garden in turn one for the 200-lap Whelen Modified Tour race specifically. The JDV Experience also includes two beer vouchers, a concessions voucher, a private autograph session with select NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers, and more. Passes can be purchased online today at JDVProductions.com.
Along with JDV Experience passes, tickets for race day are available at JDVProductions.com. On Saturday, June 18, qualifying racing will begin at 4:45 p.m. for the Granite State Pro Stock Series, while the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will hit the track for time trials at 5 p.m. The drop of the green for the Duel at the Dog 200 is set for 8:30 p.m.
For more information on Monadnock Speedway, visit MonadnockSpeedway.com. For more information on JDV Productions, visit JDVProductions.com and follow on social media for the latest updates.
