The Modified Tour Inc.

                             REX KING JR .                                            IS OUR 2019 BRP MODIFIED TOUR                                       CHAMPION!

                                            AND JUST AROUND THE CORNER...………...

                           The  2019 BRP Modified Tour Awards Banquet

                       @ Brandy Springs - Mercer, PA. November 16, 2019

                                                                                                                                            Photo courtesy of Tom Stevens

By Lou Long

Ransomville, NY September 14, 2019):  The BRP Modified Tour made its first visit to Ransomville Speedway for a showdown between the best of the Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio Big Block Modifieds and the 358 Modified stars of the Niagara region. Mix in a few Central New York racers and it made for a very entertaining and competitive program. The event was a big success, and promoter Jenn Martin proudly announced a return engagement for the 2020 season.

 There were no less than four leaders through the 35 lapper, with Modified Tour drivers having the upper hand early in the contest. But, in the end, drivers more familiar with the Big R dominated the action. Taking the win was Gary Lindberg, from Ridgeway, ONT. Rex King, Sr. and Rex King, Jr. were the highest finishing Modified Tour regulars, at seventh and eighth. The close finish between the father and son was enough to ensure that the point title would go home to Bristolville, OH with the younger generation.

 King Sr. was paired up with another Ohio veteran, Jim Rasey, for the start of the feature event. Chad Brachman and Dave Murdick were in the second row, with Alan Johnson and King Jr. in the third. Lindberg and Jesse Cotriss were in row four. Kevin Hoffman, Justin Haers, Greg Martin, and Ryan Susice occupied rows five and six.

 At the drop of the green, King Sr. led Rasey, Murdick, Brachmann and Johnson. While Rasey was chasing King Sr., Murdick was struggling to keep Brachmann at bay. There was some contact between them in the third turn, and Murdick slid out of the groove, losing several positions. A quick caution for Steve Barr's slowdown on the front stretch enabled Rasey to start beside King Sr. again. This time, Rasey assumed command, with King Jr. moving into third ahead of Johnson and Brachmann. The leaders caught the rear of the field with eleven laps in the books. Rasey picked through them with ease, as did King Sr. Soon thereafter, AJ Slideways moved into second as King Sr. got loose in turn two. Brachmann was on the move again, too, as he was hounding King Jr. for third. Brachmann got into King's rear quarter when Cooter checked up for a lapper. King Jr. went around and was called for the yellow.

That set up a restart with fifteen complete. Rasey led Johnson to the stripe, but Johnson powered by in turns one and two. Lindberg moved into the top three , while Brachmann and Haers were putting on quite a show for the fourth spot. Johnson led the next ten laps, but Lindberg found extra speed around the high side of the track. He moved into second and was closing in on Johnson as the leaders began working through traffic again. Lindberg grabbed the lead with a powerful move off the second corner to lead lap 26. Brachmann and Haers were now running third and fourth, with James Sweeting into fifth. Rasey, Martin, and King were fighting for the sixth spot.

 A major skirmish coming off turn four brought a halt to the excitement. Cotriss spun, causing cars to scatter. Most made it through without contact, but Murdick got over the lip of the speedway and made heavy impact with the front stretch wall. His car was severely damaged, but Murdick was able to walk away from the accident scene. Lindberg scooted away from the field on the restart and led the final eight laps without incident. Haers moved into second when the green came on for the final time. Brachmann was the third racer to see the checkers. Johnson and Sweeting  topped Susice. King Sr. was seventh, with King Jr. coming up through the field to get eighth. Martin and Justin Wright took ninth and tenth.

The four heat winners were King Sr., Lindberg, Susice, and King Jr. Rick Regalski was the B Main victor. Max Smoker claimed the Modified Tour provisional.