The Whelen Modified Tour Auxiliary Needs Your Support as We Begin the 2007 Race Season

The leaders of the Whelen Modified Auxiliary offer thanks for all of your support to our members and our causes and we are looking for your continued support. We look forward to the 2007 season as the best for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and our Whelen Modified Tour Auxiliary.

When you hear the word auxiliary, what do you think of? If you’re like many people, you think of women. Well, we have plenty of women in the Whelen Modified Tour Auxiliary, but the WMTA is not JUST for women. Our primary make-up is of competitors, crew members, team owners, media representatives, and track owners and promoters – anyone who has a direct relationship with the WMT is welcome.

The WMTA is a service and support based non-profit group. The Auxiliary offers support to injured or ill Tour members (drivers, crew members, spouses). It may be something as simple as flowers to cheer up an ailing member, or in more severe circumstances, financial support to assist in paying bills or purchasing groceries. We do strive to help wherever we can.

The best and biggest event that is sponsored by the auxiliary is the WMTA picnic, which has provided the Auxiliary with revenue. A steak dinner or traditional cookout fare are on the menu. There are a multitude of raffle prizes awarded during the evening, which are donated or purchased at special rates. The picnic not only helps fill the coffers, it is also an excellent time to mingle and share good times and lasting memories with fellow tour competitors and supporters.

To raise the funds needed to offer this support, the Auxiliary asks each team to join by contributing $10.00 per team member up to $100.00. The Modified Auxiliary also sells t-shirts and other apparel throughout the season to dress all modified fans in exciting racing togs.

The WMTA also presents two year-end awards – the Smiley Waterman and Donna Parks Awards. The Auxiliary presents these awards in memory of those long-time Tour officials to people who offer extraordinary contributions to the Tour and Auxiliary. The 2006 season winners were Lisa Brice-Erm and Mark Mockovac (Series PR Director).

The Auxiliary has sponsored a hole at the Tom Baldwin Memorial Golf Tournament. The decision had been overwhelmingly supported at the 2006 Auxiliary organizational meeting. The tournament was a huge success and the Auxiliary is proud of its support. The proceeds of the event went to The Victory Junction Gang Camp, the Autism Society of America, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Village of Bellport Concert Series.

We have, in the past, made donations in memory of supporters of the WMT, including Racing with Jesus Ministries when Brother Pat, an ardent supporter of the Tour, passed way. Our offers of help usually don’t receive much fanfare, which provides the recipients help without any notoriety.

Our Auxiliary has been able to help many teams in the past – now we need your support in order to continue our efforts. Fred Neergaard, Public Relations Director of NHIS, and a member of the Auxiliary said, “Everyone associated with the Tour should join. It is a very important part of racing.”