RGeeProductions
04-21-2009, 08:23 PM
Each week from May through the beginning of September, on Friday, Spencer Speedway hosts NASCAR racing in upstate New York . For years the “Tour-type” Modifieds have been in the main division. Starting last year, the “Tour-types” went to “Specials Only” format and the Weekly Modified became the main game in town.
The Weekly Modified division emerged in 1991 as a less expensive way to go open-wheel racing. The first three years of its existence the class was referred to as Sportsman Modifieds. Ironically this is the same name as the class that started on the speedway back in 1955. Since then the division has carried many names from Grand American Modifieds, to WIS Modifieds and SST Modifieds. But under new promoter John White the class has been referred to as Weekly Modifieds.
Also over the years, as with any other division of race car, the rules have evolved resulting in more and more speed. Many top drivers took to this division at one time or other to hone their skills or just learn the ropes of driving an open wheel car.
At last year’s “Tune and Test” opener Mike Leaty (19.82 sec) set fast time in a Tour-type Modified and Kevin Timmerman (21.13 sec) set fast time in a Weekly Modified. You can see from their times less then two seconds separated the two types of modifieds.
“Last year we averaged twenty (20) Weekly Modifieds on hand,” stated promoter John White . “Based on the costs of fielding one of these cars verses a Tour-type car, we expect this field to grow significantly in the next few years. We will still host specials for the Tour-type, like our Whelen Tour on Saturday July 11, but it looks like the Weekly Mods are here to stay.”
This year the 2009 NASCAR Season at Spencer will kick off with a 100-lap SST Modified main event in which the Weekly Modifieds will be competing. This will be the biggest opener this division has ever had at Spencer Speedway. It will also be the longest race this division has run at Spencer. So far the greatest number of laps in a Weekly Modified show at the track has been 75-laps. In 2007, Kirk Rutherford and Kevin Timmerman each won a 75-lapper. Last season, 2008, Erik Rudolph and Ryan Beeman won 75-lappers.
Opening day this year takes place on Friday, May 22, 2009 starting at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Besides the 100-lapper for the Weekly Modifieds a full card of Street Stock, Super Sixes and the new Auto Value 4-Cylinder Scorpions will take to the speedway. Rumors have the new Auto Value Scorpion class developing quickly, as some 20 cars are in the works.
A “Test and Tune” night is scheduled for the speedway on Friday, May 15 starting at 5 p.m. and running until dusk. Pit admission will be charged that day, however Grandstand admission is free. It should give be the first real look at the new Auto Value Scorpions.
Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester , NY , along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson . Spencer Speedway is the local “ NASCAR Place to Race” for upstate New York . Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship.
Spencer Speedway Weekly Modified Season Opener Top 3 (1991-2008)
June 7, 1991 ….(30) Tom Zacharias Terry Youngs Brad Smales
May 8, 1992 ….(30) Rick Zacharias Doug Ferrin Terry Youngs
May 7, 1993 ….(25) Bill Woods Dan Burman Joe Catalano
April 30, 1994 ..(25) Jon Burroughs Bill Woods Doug Ferrin
April 28, 1995 ..(25) Bill Woods John DeMinck Jon Burroughs
May 17, 1996 ...(25) Buck Catalano Jon Burroughs Scott Brady
May 23, 1997 ...(25) Tom Elliott Jim LeFrois Terry Cheetham
May 8, 1998 ….(25) Buck Catalano John DeMinck Chris Elliott
May 14, 1999 ...(25) Buck Catalano Jon Burroughs Jim LeFrois
May 26, 2000 ...(25) Roger Steurrys Jon Burroughs Chris Finocchario
May 11, 2001 ...(25) Wilbur Hebing Roger Steurrys Jon Burroughs
May 10, 2002 ...(25) Wilbur Hebing Roger Steurrys Jerry Gradl
May 9, 2003 ….(25) Jerry Gradl Daryl Lewis Jr. Jon Burroughs
May 21, 2004 ...(25) Daryl Lewis Jr. Roger Steurrys Zack Shove
May 20, 2005 ...(25) Roger Steurrys Mike Florio Zack Shove
June 2, 2006 ….(25) Wilbur Hebing Kirk Rutherford Tony Hanbury
May 11, 2007 …(25) Chris Finocchario Jeff Hamman T.J. Potrzebowski
May 16, 2008 …(35) Buck Catalano Kirk Rutherford Daryl Lewis Jr.
May 21, 2009 (100) ???
Gary Spaid
The Weekly Modified division emerged in 1991 as a less expensive way to go open-wheel racing. The first three years of its existence the class was referred to as Sportsman Modifieds. Ironically this is the same name as the class that started on the speedway back in 1955. Since then the division has carried many names from Grand American Modifieds, to WIS Modifieds and SST Modifieds. But under new promoter John White the class has been referred to as Weekly Modifieds.
Also over the years, as with any other division of race car, the rules have evolved resulting in more and more speed. Many top drivers took to this division at one time or other to hone their skills or just learn the ropes of driving an open wheel car.
At last year’s “Tune and Test” opener Mike Leaty (19.82 sec) set fast time in a Tour-type Modified and Kevin Timmerman (21.13 sec) set fast time in a Weekly Modified. You can see from their times less then two seconds separated the two types of modifieds.
“Last year we averaged twenty (20) Weekly Modifieds on hand,” stated promoter John White . “Based on the costs of fielding one of these cars verses a Tour-type car, we expect this field to grow significantly in the next few years. We will still host specials for the Tour-type, like our Whelen Tour on Saturday July 11, but it looks like the Weekly Mods are here to stay.”
This year the 2009 NASCAR Season at Spencer will kick off with a 100-lap SST Modified main event in which the Weekly Modifieds will be competing. This will be the biggest opener this division has ever had at Spencer Speedway. It will also be the longest race this division has run at Spencer. So far the greatest number of laps in a Weekly Modified show at the track has been 75-laps. In 2007, Kirk Rutherford and Kevin Timmerman each won a 75-lapper. Last season, 2008, Erik Rudolph and Ryan Beeman won 75-lappers.
Opening day this year takes place on Friday, May 22, 2009 starting at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Besides the 100-lapper for the Weekly Modifieds a full card of Street Stock, Super Sixes and the new Auto Value 4-Cylinder Scorpions will take to the speedway. Rumors have the new Auto Value Scorpion class developing quickly, as some 20 cars are in the works.
A “Test and Tune” night is scheduled for the speedway on Friday, May 15 starting at 5 p.m. and running until dusk. Pit admission will be charged that day, however Grandstand admission is free. It should give be the first real look at the new Auto Value Scorpions.
Spencer Speedway is located just fifteen minutes east of Rochester , NY , along Route 104 in the Town of Williamson . Spencer Speedway is the local “ NASCAR Place to Race” for upstate New York . Points earned each week at Spencer are counted into the national NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship.
Spencer Speedway Weekly Modified Season Opener Top 3 (1991-2008)
June 7, 1991 ….(30) Tom Zacharias Terry Youngs Brad Smales
May 8, 1992 ….(30) Rick Zacharias Doug Ferrin Terry Youngs
May 7, 1993 ….(25) Bill Woods Dan Burman Joe Catalano
April 30, 1994 ..(25) Jon Burroughs Bill Woods Doug Ferrin
April 28, 1995 ..(25) Bill Woods John DeMinck Jon Burroughs
May 17, 1996 ...(25) Buck Catalano Jon Burroughs Scott Brady
May 23, 1997 ...(25) Tom Elliott Jim LeFrois Terry Cheetham
May 8, 1998 ….(25) Buck Catalano John DeMinck Chris Elliott
May 14, 1999 ...(25) Buck Catalano Jon Burroughs Jim LeFrois
May 26, 2000 ...(25) Roger Steurrys Jon Burroughs Chris Finocchario
May 11, 2001 ...(25) Wilbur Hebing Roger Steurrys Jon Burroughs
May 10, 2002 ...(25) Wilbur Hebing Roger Steurrys Jerry Gradl
May 9, 2003 ….(25) Jerry Gradl Daryl Lewis Jr. Jon Burroughs
May 21, 2004 ...(25) Daryl Lewis Jr. Roger Steurrys Zack Shove
May 20, 2005 ...(25) Roger Steurrys Mike Florio Zack Shove
June 2, 2006 ….(25) Wilbur Hebing Kirk Rutherford Tony Hanbury
May 11, 2007 …(25) Chris Finocchario Jeff Hamman T.J. Potrzebowski
May 16, 2008 …(35) Buck Catalano Kirk Rutherford Daryl Lewis Jr.
May 21, 2009 (100) ???
Gary Spaid