DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The modified tours have always been an integral part of NASCAR racing, dating back to the first race in NASCAR history in 1948.
As NASCAR celebrates 60 years of racing and 60 years of modified champions, the 2008 schedules for the NASCAR Whelen Modified and Southern Modified tours enable the series to race at some of the best short tracks in America and revisit some of the sport’s roots.
“The schedules are very strong. They encompass new markets and position both series well for the future,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR’s managing director of racing operations. “With the support of Whelen Engineering, a terrific group of track promoters and a strong field of competitors, we’re looking forward to continued excitement and close racing throughout the season.”
The 16-race, eight-track Whelen Modified Tour schedule will begin and end at Thompson (Conn.) Int’l Speedway — a track that first opened in 1940 and has always been an important stop for modified drivers touring the Northeast. The tour will take the green flag April 5-6 with the traditional season-opening Icebreaker and conclude Oct. 17-18 as part of the track’s World Series.
The Southern modifieds kick off their fourth season March 22 at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C., and will conclude Oct. 4 at the .455-mile oval. The schedule features 13 races at seven tracks.
The two tour schedules also include the fourth annual Made In America Whelen 300 Sept. 21 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the combination event.
The schedules:
NASCAR Whelen Modified Series
April 6, Thompson Int’l Speedway, Thompson, Conn.; April 27, Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, Conn.; May 23, Stafford Motor Speedway; June 19, Thompson Int’l Speedway; June 28, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H.; July 12, Spencer Speedway, Williamson, N.Y.; Aug. 2, Riverhead Speedway, Riverhead, N.Y.; Aug. 8, Stafford Motor Speedway; Aug. 14, Thompson Int’l Speedway; Aug. 23, Mansfield Motorsports Park, Mansfield, Ohio; Sept. 7, Thompson Int’l Speedway; Sept. 13, New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Sept. 21, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va.; Sept. 28, Stafford Motor Speedway; Oct. 4, Chemung Speedrome, Chemung, N.Y.; Oct. 19, Thompson Int’l Speedway.
NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Series
March 22, Caraway Speedway, Asheboro, N.C.; March 29, Southern National Raceway Park, Kenly, N.C.; April 5, Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Greenville, S.C.; April 11, Ace Speedway, Altamahaw, N.C.; April 12, Caraway Speedway; April 19, Caraway Speedway; July 4, Caraway Speedway; Aug. 2, Bowman-Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Aug. 30, Lanier National Speedway, Braselton, Ga.; Sept. 6, Caraway Speedway; Sept. 19, Ace Speedway; Sept. 21, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va.; Oct. 4, Caraway Speedway.