Whelen Modified Tour Wilkesboro preview, entries

After an extended break, the stars of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour are back in action Sunday with the running of the FaithFest Evangelistic Ministries 150 at North Wilkesboro Speedway (2 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

While the Modified Tour has raced on the same day or weekend at the same track as the NASCAR Cup Series before, this marks the first time the Tour has raced on the same day and same track as the NASCAR All Star Race.

This marks just the third race for the Modified Tour at North Wilkesboro in the 40-year history of the series. Matt Hirschman triumphed in the inaugural race at the track in 2023, and Justin Bonsignore dominated the 2024 edition of the event.

Tickets to Sunday’s FaithFest Evangelistic Ministries 150 at North Wilkesboro Speedway are available here. Below is everything you need to know about the third race of the 2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

FaithFest Evangelistic Ministries 150

The NASCAR All Star Race is one of the biggest events on the Cup Series calendar. This year, with the addition of the Modified Tour to the race-day schedule at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the event is even bigger.

More than 30 drivers are entered to compete in Sunday afternoon’s FaithFest Evangelistic Ministries 150, and all of them will be looking to take the first elevator ride of the day to Victory Lane at the historic 0.625-mile asphalt oval.

Leading the charge will be Justin Bonsignore, the most recent Modified Tour winner at North Wilkesboro. The driver of the No. 51 Ken Massa Motorsports Modified dominated at North Wilkesboro last fall, leading 130 of 150 laps on his way to Victory Lane. He’ll be among the drivers to beat Sunday.

A trio of drivers with Cup Series experience will be among those looking to deny Bonsignore a return trip to Victory Lane at North Wilkesboro. Ryan Newman will make his second start of the season and first aboard the Mystic Missile No. 4 owned by Tim Connolly. Bobby Labonte, the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion, makes his first start of 2025 in the No. 38 fielded out of the PSR Products shop.

Corey LaJoie will make his first Modified Tour start since 2023. LaJoie, a series winner at Martinsville Speedway in 2022, has six previous Modified Tour starts. He’ll be driving the No. 77 Modified owned by Mike Curb.

Conner Jones, a winner in CARS Tour competition who has made starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, will make his Modified Tour debut Sunday. It’ll be a busy weekend for Jones, who is scheduled to race in both CARS Tour races, the Truck Series race and the Modified Tour event at North Wilkesboro this weekend.

Matt Hirschman, who won the inaugural Modified Tour race at North Wilksboro in 2023, is in the field in pursuit of his first series win of 2025. Championship leader Patrick Emerling, a series winner already this year at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, will try to pad his advantage with a win at North Wilkesboro.

Other notable entries include Austin Beers, Luke Baldwin, Carson Loftin, Stephen Kopcik, Craig Lutz, Tommy and Trevor Catalano, Eric Goodale, Joey Coulter and Kyle Bonsignore, among others.

Race Facts

SCHEDULE: Sunday, May 18 … Final practice from 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. ET … Qualifying at 12:45 p.m. ET … Start of the FaithFest Evangelistic Ministries 150 (150 Laps / 93.75 Miles) at 2 p.m. ET

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the FaithFest Evangelistic Ministries 150 is limited to 32 starters including Provisional Positions.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is nine (9) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is two (2) tires per stop.

Entry List

Updated Standings

Patrick Emerling
Ron Silk -6
Austin Beers -9
Justin Bonsignore -10
Stephen Kopcik -15
Craig Lutz -16
Luke Baldwin -17
Trevor Catalano -18
Tommy Catalano -24
Matt Hirschman -27
Tyler Rypkema -28
Andrew Krause -30
Eric Goodale -34
Mark Stewart -36
Chase Dowling -37