The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour gets underway on Saturday night with the Performance Plus 150 presented by Safety-Kleen at South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach Speedway.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Doug Coby’s first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start at Myrtle Beach Speedway was a forgetful 13th-place finish. But the Milford, Connecticut, driver closed the season strong to collect his fifth title in six years. He’ll look to get off to a faster start Saturday as the tour’s 34th season gets rolling in South Carolina.
Timmy Solomito capped a late-race charge to win the Whelen Modified Tour’s inaugural visit to Myrtle Beach last year, and came within six points of winning the championship. The Islip, New York, driver lead another strong crop of drivers looking to unseat four-time defending tour champion Coby.
There will plenty of contenders Saturday evening including Matt Hirschman, who is coming off a championship run in the tour-type Modifieds at New Smyrna Speedway’s World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, and former tour champions Burt Myers and Andy Seuss.
Six-time race winner Jimmy Blewett will be filling in for Ryan Preece in the No. 6, while championship contender Rowan Pennink will miss the race after having offseason surgery.
RACE FACTS
| RACE |
PERFORMANCE PLUS 150 |
| PLACE |
Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway |
| DATE |
Saturday, March 17 |
| TIME |
5:35 p.m. ET |
| TELEVISION |
NBCSN, Wednesday, March 21 – 6 p.m. ET |
| TRACK LAYOUT |
.538-mile oval |
| 2017 WINNER |
Timmy Solomito |
| 2017 POLE |
Rob Summers |
| EVENT SCHEDULE |
Saturday— Garage opens: 9:45 a.m. ET; Practice: 1:05-2:30 p.m.; Group qualifying: 4 p.m.; Driver autograph session (on track): 4:30 p.m.; Performance Plus 150 presented by Safety-Kleen: 5:35 p.m. |
| TWITTER |
@MB_Speedway |
| HASHTAG |
#PerformancePlus150 #NWMT |
ENTRY LIST
- Melissa Fifield
- Burt Myers
- Doug Coby
- Rowan Pennink
- Jimmy Blewett
- Jon McKennedy
- Blake Barney
- Chase Dowling
- Timmy Solomito
- Ken Heagy
- Ronnie Williams
- Kyle Bonsignore
- Joe DeGarcia
- Calvin Carroll
- Gary McDonald
- Wade Cole
- Dave Sapienza
- Frank Fleming
- Craig Lutz
- Justin Bonsignore
- Tommy Catalano
- Eric Goodale
- Matt Hirschman
- Rob Summers
- Chris Pasteryak
- Gary Putnam
- Walter Sutcliffe, Jr.
- Woody Pitkat
- Andy Seuss
- Jamie Tomaino
Read more Short Track Scene:
