Category Archives: New Smyrna Speedway

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FloRacing, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, New Smyrna Speedway

Matt Hirschman Wins the New Smyrna Visitors Bureau 200

By Michael Jaworecki

Photo Kathleen Veit/Myracenews

Leading up to today’s first NASCAR WMT race at the New Smyrna Speedway there were high expectations for the first-time event, but no one knew how successful. Great weather, a sold-out crowd where the track had to stop selling tickets, 31 NASCAR Modifieds and a good race.

Matt Hirschman would set fast time with a 17.462 over Ryan Preece then would lead much of the early race, pitting, and working his way back through the field to dominate the late stages of the race.

Matt made the call to put tires on earlier than other drivers. His call to his crew was “let’s put them on now”. His bet was there would be no late race caution that would give fresh tires to his competitors, and he won that bet. He recalled how last year at Beech Ridge Speedway he made the same bet and lost the race.

In victory lane he gave credit to the Pee Dee Motorsports team and how huge this victory was. This is their 6th season together and as Matt said they have won many races, but this was special.

Eric Goodale in the GAF Riverhead Building Supply #58 would chase Matt Hirschman for about the last twenty-five laps and gave it all he had but he could not catch him. Eric has always run well and New Smyrna and tonight it showed.

Third place went to Mike Christopher Jr. in the Tommy Baldwin Racing #7. Michael ran a solid race all night to earn a podium finish in his first trip to New Smyrna Speedway.

Notes: Two drivers that had a tough night, the 2021 NASCAR Tour champion Justin Bonsignore in the Pheonix Communications Inc. #51 who retired on lap 49 with overheating issues and Andrew Krause in the Supreme Mfg. #24 who had a big hit to the inside wall after he and Ryan Preece in the Propane Plus, CBYD Boehler #3 tangled on the front stretch.

Results for the New Smyrna Visitor Bureau 200 February 12th 2022

Results: https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/02/12/race-results-new-smyrna-visitors-bureau-200-at-new-smyrna-speedway/

New up for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour 150 laps at the Richmond Raceway on April 1st .

FloRacing, Justin Bonsignore, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, New Smyrna Speedway

The NASCAR WMT Opens the Modified Portion of the World Series of Stock Car racing at New Smyrna Speedway February 12th.

By Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews

Big fields and big races await the 2022 Modified fans and teams. at New Smyrna Speedway.

Starting on Saturday February 12th the mighty Tour Modifieds roll out to start the Modified racing portion of the Word Series at New Smyrna Speedway.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Series open their season for the first time in the Sunshine state with the New Smyrna Visitors Bureau 200.

Following the NASCAR WMT opener 5 nights of Tour Modifieds starting on Monday night will compete in the 55th edition World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing

The WMT race will have one of the biggest purses in the history of the series with posted awards of $115,800.00. The purse will include sponsorship from long time sponsor Whelen, FloRacing and many other sponsors. The impressive entry list consists of 31 teams who will make their way south to New Smyrna Speedway and the $14,000.00 + winner’s share. 200 Laps of racing will kick off their 2022 season.

2021 NASCAR WMT champion Justin Bonsignore will be on hand with the potent Pheonix Communications #51 to defend his championship season and try to become a 4-time champion. Patrick Emerling who will be a part time Xfinity driver and runner up in the 2021-point chase will be there.

NASCAR Cup driver and longtime Modified driver Ryan Preece will hop into the Bohler #3 to try and take down the top prize. Ron Silk will be running his first race with a new team and crew chief Phil Moran. Phil was the crew chief for multi time, NASCAR WMT champion Doug Coby.

Clink on the link below for the complete entry list.

We got a chance to speak to Jimmy Wilson Series Director for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour about the New Smyrna Visitors Bureau 200

You must be happy with the 31 entries for the first WMT at New Smyrna Speedway?

We are quite happy with the car counts. It’s a solid field with a good mixture of new and veteran drivers. Having NASCAR Cup driver and fan favorite Ryan Preece in the Boehler #3 doesn’t hurt either.

What has the feedback been from the teams on starting the season at New Smyrna?

All the feedback from the teams has been incredibly positive for this race.

What are your thoughts on having all the races broadcast on Flo?

Partnering with FloRacing is a tremendous thing for the Tour. We have been extremely excited to work with FloRacing. Not only are they doing the broadcasts of the series, but they are also doing promotion and contributing money to the purse every race. FloRacing will pay the race winner a $1,500 bonus, while second place will receive $1,000. The third-place finisher will receive $900, fourth place will receive $800, $700 for fifth place, and $600 for sixth. Positions seven through ten will take home $500. Positions 11 through 15 will take home $300 and $200 will go to finishers in positions 16 through 20.

In addition to the live FloRacing all races will be re-broadcast on USA Network later at a date to be determined. The series will also have two knowledgeable and well-known announcers for the entire season. Joe Coss and or Ben Dodge will be calling all 16 races.

What about the purse? You have put together a large base purse with many bonus monies.

This race will pay $115,800 including purse and bonus monies. Depending on what bonus money you collect the winner could come home with over $16,000.00. The pole award is $1,000.00 again this year sponsored Mayhew Tools, a halfway leader bonus of $500.00, most laps led of $400 and other bonuses.

NASCAR WMT New Smyrna Visitor Bureau 200 Entry List

Click For Entry List

World Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing

After an off night for the Modifieds on Sunday the Tour Modifieds return on Monday February 14th for the first of 5 straight nights of racing. The NASCAR WMT will be out of town, but the Tour Modifieds will still have 5 nights of racing.

On Monday night a 50-lap feature at the extremely fast half mile track kicks off the week. Quite a few WMT teams will stay over to race in some or all of the 5 nights of Tour Modified racing.

Fifty drivers have entered and while not every driver will be there for all 5 nights each and every Tour Modified race will have full fields. Tuesday and Thursday nights will have 35-lap features. Two extra distance races are the annual John Blewett Memorial 76 on Wednesday night and the big one hundred lap Richie Evans Memorial race on Friday.

Tour Modified Entry List for the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing:

Monday 2/14/2022- Friday 2/18/2022

1 Chris Ridsdale. Rochester NY
2 J.R Bertuccio. Centerreach NY
7NY Jimmy Blewett. Howell NJ
7 Rich Parker. Forked River NJ
8 Cam McDermott. Canterbury CT
8 Chris Finocchario. Macedon NY
8 Earl Paules. Palmerton PA
9 Tom Martino Jr. Red Bank NJ
11X Dillon Steuer. Bohemia NY
16 Ron Silk. Norwalk CT
17 Mike Christopher Jr. Wolcott CT
19 Anthony Bello. Newtown CT
20 Eddie McCarthy. Brick NJ
20 Kyle Sysco. Toms River NJ
21 Joe Bertuccio III. Statesville NC
22 TBA Gershow Racing.
24 Andrew Krause. Holmdel NJ
24 Chris Hatton. Deltona FL
25 Brian Robie. Sunapee NH
25nj Chris Andretta. Neptune NJ.
27 Christian LaCicero. Seaside Park NJ
28 Paul Charette. Woodstock CT
28x Jeff Malave. Manchester CT
29 Spencer Davis. Dawsonville GA
32 Tyler Rypkema. Owego NY
36 David Sapienza. Riverhead NY
38 Ricky Moxley. Palm City FL
48 Marcello Rufrano. Northhaven CT
49 Chris Young. Riverhead NY
50 Ronnie Williams. Tolland CT
54 Tommy Catalano. Ontario NY
54C David Catalano. Ontario NY
55x Chuck Zervas. Wesley Chapel FL
55 Jeremy Gerstner. Wesley Chapel FL
55h John Hartwig. Galloway NJ
55 Teddy Hodgdon. Danbury CT
56 Amy Catalano. Ontario NY
59 TBA Steve Mendoza Racing
60 Matt Hirchman. Northampton PA
64 Tyler Catalano. Ontario NY
70 Dylan Slepian. Lake Grove NY
72 Bud McIntyre. New Smyrna Beach FL
73 Paul Hartwig Sr. Galloway NJ
79 Jon McKennedy. Chelmsford MA
82 Craig Lutz. Miller Place NY
99 Tyler Truex. Truckerton NJ
00 Chris Dewalt. Easton PA
02 Joey Coulter. New Braunfels TX
07 Patrick Emerling. Holland NY
179 Stephen Kopcik. Newtown CT

Yes, it’s February in Florida, if you can’t be there Flo Racing will have all 9 nights live from New Smyrna Speedway. Saturday Night the NASCAR Broadcast starts at 7:30. For more information about the World Series New Smyrna Speedway

FloRacing, Justin Bonsignore, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, New Smyrna Speedway

Justin Bonsignore To Begin Defense of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Title at New Smyrna

By Souza Media/Kyle Souza

Photo Michael Jaworecki/Myracenews

It’s time to begin the 2022 season.

After a shorter offseason compared to past years, Justin Bonsignore and his No. 51 Ken Massa Motorsports team are ready to roll with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season-opener this weekend at New Smyrna Speedway.

The New Smyrna Visitors Bureau 200 will mark the first time the Whelen Modified Tour season begins in Florida, and also will be the first points-paying event to be contested in the Sunshine State.

Bonsignore won the last two series titles and three of the last four. With 31 career wins to his credit, he’s looking forward to trying to add the half-mile to his tour win list, while opening the chase for a fourth championship with a strong run.

“It’s a huge step forward for our series to open our season during Speedweeks at New Smyrna, it’s special,” Bonsignore said. “All of the eyeballs will be on us. It’s an honor to be part of it. We’re just going to take this one race at a time, but our goal each year is to contend for the championship. We want to get off on the right foot. We want to try and win the race, but if we can’t, come home with a good top-five finish and get things rolling for the year.”

The Holtsville, New York, native does have previous experience around New Smyrna as part of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in the Tour-Type Modifieds. The half-mile hosts a nine night racing spectacular which will also include the ARCA Menards Series East, Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, Tour-Type Modifieds and more from February 11-19. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event will headline action on Saturday, February 12.

“Never been there with Ryan Stone setting up the car and I’m confident with what Ryan brings to every track,” Bonsignore said. “We’ve had some success in the years we went down to New Smyrna and we used it as testing for our program. I’ve won there before and we are familiar with the track. It’s a long race, multiple pit stops and the Tour drivers… so it will be different but we’re confident.”

The day begins with the only practice session from 2-3:20 p.m., followed by Mayhew Tools pole qualifying at 5:45 p.m. The New Smyrna Visitors Bureau 200 is scheduled to take the green flag at 7:30 p.m., live on FloRacing.TV.

Driver: Justin Bonsignore
Race DateFebruary 12
Race Time:7:30 PM
Race Track:New Smyrna Speedway, half-mile banked oval
Location:New Smyrna, Florida
Tickets:Available at track
Watch Live:FloRacing.TV
More Information:NewSmyrnaSpeedway.org | NASCAR.com

For more information on Justin Bonsignore, visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his athlete page on Facebook for the latest updates, including from the track.