By: Mike Leone

Last season Jim Weller, Jr. won five features including the "Russ King Memorial" and "Johnny Zdelar Memorial" events. Weller certainly didn't pick up where he left off in 2014 as the start of the 2015 season hasn't been what the veteran racer had hoped for. Maybe though it took another special event for Weller to get back on track, as on Saturday night Weller charged from the eighth starting spot to pass point leader and three-time winner, Rex King, Jr., for the 35-lap, $2,000 Modified Tour feature win- his first of the season.

"That was a tough race," acknowledged the Hubbard, Ohio great. "Cooter (King, Jr.) got behind some lapped cars and if he didn't, I don't know if I would have got by him- he's good. That was my fault on the last restart, I pushed up a little and Cooter was there. I take the blame, I screwed that one up. The tires heated up a bit and it was fun. It's been a tough year so far. The first car I bought was a Tobias from Lou Blaney."

Tom Glenn led the opening lap before Jeremiah Shingledecker took over on lap two. King, Jr. started sixth and made his way to second on lap 10 taking the spot from New York invader Erick Rudolph. King, Jr. caught Shingledecker on lap 13. Then on lap 14, Shingledecker had to negotiate the lapped car of Shawn Fleeger, while King, Jr. made it three-wide for the lead racing off turn two. King prematurely took the lead, but meanwhile in turn three, Justin Rasey lost the handle and spun. Shingledecker was running the top and couldn't get slowed down enough to avoid Rasey as he brushed the fence and came to a rest with a flat tire.

King, Jr. was now the new leader on lap 14. Dave Murdick was running third, but broke and couldn't clear the track forcing another caution with 15 laps in the record books. This moved Weller to third for the restart, but it took until lap 26 for him to work by Rudolph for second. Weller had a half-straightaway to make up on King, Jr. Weller began to cut into the lead and really closed in on lap 28. The two were side-by-side for the lead on lap 30 with Weller making the outside work in turn four in lapped traffic to take over, while King passed Rudolph for third.

A caution for Shawn Kozar slowed action for the final time and set up a four-lap shootout to the finish. Weller chose the bottom for the restart and made heavy contact with King, Jr., who looked like he might have a shot at regaining the lead, entering turn one. Everyone kept going and no one lost any positions. Weller went on for his 32nd career Big-Block Modified win and 38th overall at Sharon by 1.360 seconds in the Zip Motorsports owned, Liberty Steel Products-sponsored #31. Weller joins Jack Johnson, Rasey, Kristyak, Kevin Bolland, Murdick, and King, Jr. as winners of the prestigious "Lou Blaney Memorial" Modified portion.

King, Jr. beat his father across the finish line for second. Rudolph dropped to fourth over fellow New York racer Ricky Richner, who started ninth. Garrett Krummert, 14th starting Brad Rapp, 18th starting Jim Rasey, Justin Wright, and Rob Kristyak completed the top 10. Heat winners were Weller, Richner, Rick Regalski, Jr., and King over the season high 34-car field. Brian Swartzlander won the B main.

Big-Block Modified Tour (35 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. JIM WELLER, JR. (31) 2. Rex King, Jr. (165) 3. Rex King (65) 4. Erick Rudolph (Chrysler 21R) 5. Ricky Richner (26) 6. Garrett Krummert (29) 7. Brad Rapp (11R) 8. Jim Rasey (32) 9. Justin Wright (19W) 10. Rob Kristyak (00) 11. Kevin Bolland (777) 12. Brian Swartzlander (83) 13. Jimmy Weller III (23) 14. Rick Regalski, Jr. (13) 15. Eric Gabany (3E) 16. Steve Feder (45) 17. Steve Barr (25B) 18. Carl Murdick (6) 19. Tom Glenn (83T) 20. Mark Frankhouser (03) 21. Shawn Fleeger (88) 22. Shawn Kozar (3K) 23. Dave Murdick (61) 24. Justin Rasey (21) 25. Jeremiah Shingledecker (37MD) 26. Kevin Hoffman (00).

DNQ from the B main: Dillon Barr (25), Max Smoker (5), Randy Chronister (71), Tiffany Williams (58), Rodney Beltz (64), Tom Mattocks (69), Randy Chrysler (21K), Dave Reges (27R).

By: Pam Baker

Middlebourne, WV……July 2, 2015….The Modified Tour completed their second race of the series at Tyler County Speedway on Thursday night, July 2nd. Rex King, Jr. collected the first ever $5,000 to win Modified Tour event that found 29 cars in attendance.

The 40-lap race at “The Bullring” started with Dave Murdick and Rex King, Sr. on the front row of the 26-car starting field. King, Sr. took the lead coming off the fourth turn on the first lap from Murdick. Rex King, Jr. who started in the seventh position made his way to second during the first lap and then went to work on his father for the lead. On lap five, King, Jr. using the high side of the speedway, took the lead for good and handled lap traffic with ease for the rest of the 35-laps. Rex King, Sr. finished second with Chad Brachmann coming from tenth to finish third after battling during the race with fourth place finisher Eric Gabany. Finishing fifth was Erik Rudolph who had a great run coming from the sixteenth starting position. Rounding out the top ten were Jim Rasey, Kevin Hoffman, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Rick Wegner, Jr. and Garrett Krummert. Picking up Heat Race wins were Steve Feder, Garrett Krummert and Chad Brachmann. The B-Main was won by Jim Rasey.

Finish: Rex King, Jr., Rex King, Sr., Chad Brachmann, Eric Gabany, Erik Rudolph, Jim Rasey, Kevin Hoffman, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Rick Wegner, Jr., Garrett Krummert, Dave Murdick, Rick Regalski, Tom Glenn, Steve Feder, Kevin Bolland, Carl Murdick, Shayne Pierce, Steve Barr, Bob Warren, Shawn Fleeger, Dillon Barr, Rodney Beltz, Brad Rapp, Randy Chrysler, Mark Frankhouser, Ricky Richner.

By: Jay Pees

Conneaut, OH (June 26, 2015): The BRP Big Block Modified Tour made its annual visit to Raceway 7 with a full field of 32 ground-pounders signing into the pit area. After four heats to set the starting lineup, 30 of the 32 present took to the track for their 35-lap feature, the first event on the tour schedule for 2015.

After a redraw of the top three in each heat on the front straight by kids in attendance, Rex King Sr started from the pole with Shayne Pierce on the onside front row. Caution struck as the cars entered turn one on the first lap when Rex King Jr spun. On the next try eight cars got together at the drop of green and came to a halt with the track nearly blocked, bringing red over the event. Dust was deemed to be excessive so the track was watered before another attempt was made to restart.

Shayne Pierce led with caution again flying at two laps complete for three cars spinning in turn one. Pierce again led at green with King right behind and Rick Richner third. King got by for the lead on lap six. Mat Williamson looped his mount as lap seven was starting, again slowing the event.

Dave Murdick who started in tenth position at the drop of the green, came from fourth on the restart to second by the end of the first lap under green. King caught the back of the field at halfway with Murdick about five lengths back.

Yellow bunched the cars at lap 21 and gave the leaders clear track again. Murdick took the lead at a lap 24 restart and began to open a big lead, a quarter lap by thirty circuits complete. At lap 33 Murdick got way wide in turn one but gathered it up, not losing much ground, and went on to the win over King, Brad Rapp, Rick Richner, and Kevin Bolland. Finishing sixth through tenth were Rex King, Jr., Jimmy Weller, III, Eric Gabany, Jim Weller, Jr., and Jim Rasey.

Modified Tour Notes: Brian Swartzlander had motor problems after winning his heat that kept him from competing in the feature. Jeremiah Shingledecker suffered front end damage on the first lap caution. Kevin Hoffman had mechanical problems and dropped out of the feature on the first lap. Brad Rapp broke a rearend just as he took the checkered flag. He also started eighteenth in the feature and finished third.

Finish: Dave Murdick, Rex King, Sr., Brad Rapp, Ricky Richner, Kevin Bolland, Rex King, Jr., Jimmy Weller, III, Eric Gabany, Jim Weller, Jr., Jim Rasey, Garrett Krummert, Doug Fleeger, Steve Feder, Mark Frankhouser, Rick Regalski, Steve Barr, Max Smoker, Bob Warren, Shayne Pierce, Shawn Kozar, Justin Wright, Dillon Barr, Rodney Beltz, Carl Murdick, Mat Williamson, Tommy Mattocks, Randy Chronister, Tom Glenn, Kevin Hoffman, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Brian Weaver – DNS; Brian Swartzlander – DNS.

The next event of the BRP Modified Tour will be on Thursday, July 2nd at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV and will pay $5,000 to win!

Tri-City Raceway Park is proud to host the $5,000 to win BRP Modified Tour '15 event on Sunday, May 17th. The Big Block Modifieds have a long and storied history at the Venango County oval and the increased payout is sure to attract competitors from New York and New Jersey who will battle the Mod Tour regulars.

Tri-City Raceway Park racing action is less than two weeks away and speedway co-promoters Chad Wagner and Sam Tatalovic are proud to announce a partnership with Sharon Speedway for the running of the Seventh Annual Lou Blaney Memorial. The winners of the BRP Modified Tour '15 event scheduled for Sunday, May 17th will be guaranteed to start in the respective main events of the prestigious event that is held as a tribute to Blaney each summer. "Lou was victorious in 24 Modified events here at Tri-City so this is a great way to honor him," stated co-promoter Chad Wagner. "In addition it will provide the Tri-City Raceway Park competitors in both of these events with an added incentive to win."

Gates are scheduled to open at 3 pm with racing taking place at 6 pm.

By: Pam Baker

Marble, PA…..The BRP Modified Tour has released their 2015 schedule of events with some big news coming from the organization as they will for the first time in the history of the Modified Tour be hosting two $5,000 to win events.

The first of the $5,000 to win shows will take place at the reopening of the new Tri City Raceway Park in Franklin, PA on Sunday, May 17th. The historic facility has been closed for several years and will reopen under the ownership of Mark Tatalovic and direction of Chad Wagner and Mark’s son, Sam on that Sunday afternoon. The Modified Tour is pleased to be a part of the opening day activities and with the $5,000 to win purse that offers $250 to take the green we are hoping for a large car count for that event.

The next show on the schedule will take place on Friday, June 26th at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, OH. The Modified Tour raced at the speedway last year and put on a fantastic show for the fans and were invited back for a second year in a row.

The month of July will be a busy on for the Modified Tour starting off on July 2nd at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV. The “Bullring” will feature the second 40-lap, $5,000 to win event of the summer. Then on Sunday, July 5th the Modified Tour will invade Eriez Speedway for the second show of the month. Sharon Speedway in Hartford, OH will be the next stop of the Modified Tour group on Sunday, July 11th for the running of the Lou Blaney Memorial Race which will pay $2,000 to win. The Modified Tour will then appear at the Expo Speedway at the Trumball County Fairgrounds on Thursday, July 16th finishing out the month of July’s events.

Mercer Raceway Park, Mercer, PA will find the seventh event of the Modified Tour series on Saturday, August 15th. This will be a shootout between the Big Block Modifieds of the Modified Tour and the Small Blocks that run at Mercer on weekly basis.

Rounding out the series schedule will be two events in the month of September with Stateline Speedway coming back to the Modified Tour schedule after several years’ absence. Owner, Bill Cantania has offered the Tour a chance to get reacquainted with the Busti, NY oval on Friday night September 11th. The following day, Saturday, September 12th the Modified Tour will return to Sharon Speedway for the running of the Russ King Memorial Event.

The Modified Tour will continue their program of Perfect Attendance award of cash to the drivers at their annual banquet which will be held after the season is over along with the Point Fund distributed to the top 20 drivers that have completed in at least 75% of the races. The Modified Tour has had drivers compete from the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Canada and would like to add to that list this year. If anyone has technical questions for the Modified Tour they can find them answered by calling Tim Engles at 814-673-2878.

Marble, PA…………..Tri City Raceway Park in Franklin, PA under the ownership of Mark Taliveck and the direction of Chad Wagner and Sam Taliveck will be hosting the opening event of the Modified Tour Inc. racing series for 2015, on Sunday, May 17th and it will pay $5,000 to win the 40-lap event.

“We are extremely pleased to have an organization such as the Modified Tour being part of our opening nights activities. The Modifieds are part of the history of the track and were featured as specials and weekly events over the years and we are proud to have them as part of our history as well,” said Chad Wagner in an interview on Tuesday.

The Modified Tour has a history with Tri City Raceway Park as well and is extremely proud to have the new owners come on board with the $5,000 to win event with a total purse of over $18,000. Chad Wagner stated that “We want to make it an event that people want to come to and is appealing for the fans and the drivers and hosting the first $5,000 to win event that the Modified Tour will be having in 2015 should bring in a great field of cars that will please the fans as well.”

The Modified Tour has expanded their schedule to 9 races so far with Tri City Raceway Park kicking off the series and then the drivers will return to Raceway 7 on Friday, June 26th. The following week the Modified Tour will return to the Tyler County Speedway in West Virginia on Thursday, July 2nd and will participate in their second $5,000 to win event. After a years absence at Eriez Speedway the Modified Tour will return to run there on Sunday, July 5th. The month of July will be a busy one for the Modified Tour with the organization being part of the Lou Blaney Memorial Race at Sharon Speedway on Saturday, July 11th. The Tour will then participate in the Trumball County Fair at the Expo Speedway on Thursday, July 16th. Mercer Raceway Park is on the schedule for Saturday, August 15th and then back-to-back races will be held in September, first at Stateline Speedway which the Tour has visited in the past on Friday, September 11th and then the King Memorial Race at Sharon Speedway will be on Saturday, September 12th.

August 10, 2014

Content Provided by Paul Oyler

When Rex King, Sr. took part in round one of the Smackdown! at Mercer Raceway Park back on July 12, his night did not go as he had hoped, as his was the first car to exit the race due to a lap one, turn one incident. Sunday night, he gained redemption for that, winning the twice-delayed Smackdown! night 2 event in the BRP Modified Tour feature.

Chris Schneider continued to enjoy his visits to Mercer Raceway Park, scoring the win in the inaugural visit of the Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series. Andy Feil took the checkers in the Bonnell’s Rod Shop Outlaw Sprint Warriors, while George Englert closed out the night with yet another roof-flapping win in the Rock Concrete Mod Lites.

Rex King, Sr. was grateful for the win, and acknowledged that the car was “just hooked up tonight. I could go high or low, it didn’t matter.” And King did use every line on the track to out-duel Dave Murdick for the win, as the two cagey veterans waged battle for the entire race, first for positions as they moved towards the front, and then for the lead over the closing laps of the race.

The full field of cars was led to the green flag by Rex “Cooter” King, Jr. and Kevin Hoffman, with the younger King grabbing the initial lead after two quick cautions on the opening lap. After those cautions were out of the way, the race wouldn’t slow again until lap 33, and for the first 20 laps it looked like King Jr. was going to leave the entire field in his dust. But as the laps clicked off and lap traffic became three-wide and even four-wide at times, King Sr. and Murdick began to reel in “Cooter.” As it turned out, not only was King Jr. having to deal with the traffic but he was also dealing with an ill race car, as his machine developed a fuel line problem.

By lap 20 King Sr. and Dave Murdick began swapping second and third place between them, all the while continuing to narrow the gap to the front-running King Jr. Finally, on lap 30, King Sr. slipped past his son to grab the lead, and Murdick quickly advanced to the second spot, while Jeremiah Shingledecker entered the fray, taking third.

The final caution flew on lap 33, setting up a two-lap shootout for the win. Murdick took a quick lead on the ensuing restart, but by the time they had circled back for the white flag, King had regained the advantage and held off Murdick for the win. Shingledecker was third, while Kevin Hoffman secured fourth place. Eric Gabany, who won Saturday night’s feature for the Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modifieds, was the standard bearer for the Mercer small blocks this night, finishing with a strong fifth place run.

Lonny Riggs, winner of Smackdown! night 1, finished sixth, while, Rex King, Jr. managed to hold on for seventh place. Dr. Brad Rapp slotted into eighth after going pit-side on lap one and restarting from the tail of the field. Tommy Kristyak, who started 22nd, finished in ninth place, while Shawn Fleeger scored an impressive tenth place finish, giving the Mercer small blocks four of the top 10 finishers.

There were 29 Modifieds on hand for this second night of Smackdown! The heat winners were Rick Richner, Dave Murdick, and Dr. Brad Rapp. Tommy Kristyak prevailed in the B Main.

BRP Modified Tour/Approved Toilet Rentals 358 Modified Smackdown!: Rex King, Sr., Dave Murdick, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Kevin Hoffman, Eric Gabany, Lonny Riggs, Rex King, Jr., Brad Rapp, Tommy Kristyak, Shawn Fleeger, Randy Chrysler, Steve Barr, Tom Glenn, Rick Regalski, Tommy Mattocks, Eric Martin, Mark Frankhouser, Brett Clarke, Shayne Pierce, Rick Richner, Kyle Fink, Justin Wright, Jimmy Holden, Carl Murdick, Bob Warren, Chris Haines, Kevin Green (DNQ), Matt Reeher (DNQ), Frank Guidace (DNS).

---Immediate Release---

After our first four races of the season, drivers have brought up an issue regarding lapped cars and where they should lineup on restarts. The rule was for lapped cars to have their choice whether they would like to hold their position or to restart at the tail behind the lead lap cars. The Modified Tour, Inc board members have voted to change that rule. Now effective immediately, the tour will use the host track’s racing procedure in regards to the issue.

Also brought up at the board meeting was the rule regarding the leader being able to choose whether to start on the inside or outside of the front row. The rule in place was that it was mandatory for the leader to restart the race on the inside of the front row. The board members voted to leave that rule the same and bring it up for discussion at the end of the season in regards to the 2015 season.

The next board meeting will be at Kings Restaurant in Reno, PA at 6:30 PM on September 10, 2014 if anyone is interested in attending.

By: Alex Sullivan

(Hartford, OH) Thunderstorms were brewing around the area but that didn’t stop the fans from storming into Sharon Speedway on Wednesday night for the Lou Blaney Memorial. A great turnout of 31 modifieds showed up for the $2000 to win BRP Modified Tour event, and as always put on a great show.

Mercer Raceway Park winner Lonnie Riggs would start beside BRP point leader Rex King Jr on the front row to lead the field to the green flag. King Jr would jump out to the early lead out powering Riggs into turn one.. That would leave Riggs to fend off Raceway 7 winner, Dave Murdick and Sharon Speedway regular, Jimmy Weller III. Murdick would complete the pass for second on lap five, as Weller would follow Murdick and overtake Riggs for the third spot.

King Jr would catch lapped traffic at lap twelve which allowed Murdick and Weller to gain some ground but a caution on lap fourteen would regroup the field as Jeremiah Shingledecker would spin on the backstretch collecting a yuke tire.

On lap twenty-two, King Jr. was back in traffic and this time struggled to clear some of the slower cars as Murdick closed in on lap twenty-three. The father-son Weller duo battled for third with Weller Jr. getting the spot on lap twenty-five; meanwhile, back up front the race was on for the lead as Murdick pulled even for two laps before a caution for Shayne Pierce.

The final restart showed the same result, King Jr assumed the lead and never looked back and would collect his first Modified Tour win of the season. Although King Jr did not extend his points lead too much because Murdick, who was second in points, finished second in the race. Jim Weller Jr, Jimmy Weller III, and Brian Swartzlander would round out your top five. Your heat race winners were Murdick, Weller Jr, and Swartzlander. Your B-Main winner was Kyle Fink.

Feature Finish: (35 laps, $2,000 to-win): 1. REX KING, JR. (165) 2. Dave Murdick (61) 3. Jim Weller, Jr. (31) 4. Jimmy Weller III (23) 5. Brian Swartzlander (83) 6. Brad Rapp (11R) 7. Rex King (65) 8. Ricky Richner (26) 9. Jim Rasey (32) 10. Kevin Hoffman (00) 11. Lonny Riggs (58) 12. Justin Wright (19W) 13. Bob Warren (96B) 14. Rick Regalski, Jr. (13) 15. Tom Mattocks (69) 16. Rodney Beltz (64) 17. Chris Haines (35H) 18. Eric Gabany (3E) 19. Tom Glenn (83T) 20. Kyle Fink (Hinkle 77) 21. Kevin Green (74) 22. Carl Murdick (6) 23. Randy Chronister (71) 24. Shayne Pierce (88) 25. Steve Barr (25B) 26. Jeremiah Shingledecker (37MD). DNQ: Justin Rasey, Eric Beggs, Mark Frankhouser, Shayne Izzo, Shawn Kozar.

For Immediate release: Feb.13, 2014

To all BRP Modified Drivers, Teams,Fans, and supporters:

          TheModified Tour Inc. would like to inform all of the above that it is severing tieswith World Racing Group/Dirt Car effective immediately.

Modified Tour, Inc. originally teamed up with D.I.R.T. under the control of Glenn Donnelly back in 2001. Since that time we have worked with D.I.R.T. in many ways, including car support at Eldora Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Between the two entities working together we felt it had become a good fit for both parties andall teams involved. In 2010 the Modified Tour Inc. and DIRT Car/ World Racing Group entered into a three-year written contract.

At the end ofthe 2013 season Dirt Car/ World Racing Group notified the Modified Tour that it would not be honoring its obligation of the third year of the contract. 

          We the board feel that with the lack of respect that Dirt Car/ World Racing Group has showed toward us and our membership that we would be uncomfortable to continue in any relationship with them.

          We look forward to our continued working relationships with our other sponsors,partners and racetracks, to make 2014 and beyond even better.

                                                                             ModifiedTourInc.