By: Pam Baker

Marble, PA…  ForImmediate Release…. For the second time this season, The Modified Tour, Inc.will be returning to Pittsburgh’sPennsylvania Motor Speedway on September 14th – 15th.  The two-day event will find the Modified Tourrunning their heat races and a King of the Hill race that will pay $500 to thewinner on Friday night.  Then on Saturdaynight the 30-lap feature event will be run with the winner going for the cool$3,000 top prize money.  Up to 32 carswill start the event that pays $200 to the final starting car. 

The last time the Modified Tour, Inc. visited Pittsburgh’s PennsylvaniaMotor Speedway was over the Memorial Day weekend and there were 21 cars on handfor the event.  Randy Chrysler whostarted in the tenth position methodically worked his way to the front duringthe non-stop race to take over the lead on lap twenty-one.  Finishing second to Chrysler was KevinBolland over Rex King, Steve Feder and Jeremiah Shingledecker. 

Many other drivers should be on hand for the event such asSharon Speedway winner, Steve Feder, Eriez Speedway winner Skip Moore alongwith Joe Kubiniec, Brad Rapp, Rex King, Jr., Chris Haines and our current pointleader Brian Weaver from Binghamton, NY.  Weaver is leading the points with a total of284 after 7 races completed.  Sitting insecond in points is Dave Murdick with 276 points.  Third place goes to Jeremiah Shingledecker whohas 264 points, followed by the 2011 Champion, Rex King, Sr. who is currentlysitting in fourth with 263 points. Rounding out the top five in points is Kevin Hoffman with 259points.  As you can see it is a very tightpoint’s battle with the final point night being determined during the SteelCity Stampede at Lernerville Speedway on October 25th-27th. 

Gates open at Pittsburgh’sPennsylvania Motor Speedway on Friday night at 3:00 pm with races starting at7:00 pm.

At our September board meeting of the Modified Tour, Inc.the board accepted the resignation of Lou Long as President and boardmember.  Taking over the Presidency isDenny McNany.  Denny and his wife Barbhave been on the Modified Tour board for several years and questions for himcan reach him at [email protected]

Now in its fifteenthyear The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the WesternPennsylvania/Eastern Ohio area a chance to compete with one another for ahigher purse structure and for a point fund for the scheduled events. Startedin 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker and Randy Myers the Modified Tour hashad great success at bringing the local cars together at various speedways inWestern Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Canada.

The 2012 sponsors for The Modified Tour, Inc. include:  Bicknell Racing Products; Hoosier Racing TireCorp; World Racing Group; Sunoco Race Fuels; Bazell Oil Co; Approved ToiletRentals, Inc.; Bert Transmission; ATL Fuel Cells; Big Daddy’s Speed Center,Inc; Bilstein Shocks – Fastline Performance; Brisk Spark Plugs; Bulldog RearEnds-Diversified Machine, Inc; Bully Dog; Controlled Thermal Processing, Inc.;Engles Trucking Services, Inc.; ISC Racers Tape; Hall’s Safety Equipment,Corp.; JE Pistons; King Brothers; Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Inc.; LandrumSprings; Mallary Ignition Performance; McCool’s Signs and Graphics; OylerPhotos & More; PerformanceParts.com; Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick &Raspanti, LLP; Priest Enterprises, Inc; Pyrotect; R2C Performance Products;RaceQuip; Ray’s Racing Collectibles; Redhorse Performance; Richmond Geer; RodEnd Supply; Scorpion Racing Products; Turbo Start Batteries; Turn One PowerSteering; Ultra-Shield Race Products; Winters Performance Products, Inc; andWrisco Industries, Inc.

By: Pam Baker

The BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour held its second doubleheader weekend and the drivers went for special prizes offered by BullyDog.  Taking the win at Sharon Speedwaywas Steve Feder while Skip Moore picked up the win at Eriez Speedway.

Although Kevin Hoffman won the race the weekend before at Dog Hollow he had the best points of the two races combined for the weekend and won the Bully Dog Challenge which entitled him to the $500 Bully Dog topprize.  Eric Gabany picked up $350 fromBully Dog for second while Rex King, Sr. collected $250 from Bully Dog.  Other drivers getting $100 certificates fromBully Dog included Jeremiah Shingledecker, Brian Weaver, Dave Murdick, SteveFeder, Chris Haines, Brad Rapp, and Skip Moore.

The 2012 sponsors for The Modified Tour, Inc. include:  Bicknell Racing Products; Hoosier Racing TireCorp; World Racing Group; Sunoco Race Fuels; Bazell Oil Co; Approved ToiletRentals, Inc.; Bert Transmission; ATL Fuel Cells; Big Daddy’s Speed Center,Inc; Bilstein Shocks – Fastline Performance; Brisk Spark Plugs; Bulldog RearEnds-Diversified Machine, Inc; Bully Dog; Controlled Thermal Processing, Inc.;Engles Trucking Services, Inc.; ISC Racers Tape; Hall’s Safety Equipment,Corp.; JE Pistons; King Brothers; Kirkey Racing Fabrication, Inc.; LandrumSprings; Mallary Ignition Performance; McCool’s Signs and Graphics; OylerPhotos & More; PerformanceParts.com; Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick &Raspanti, LLP; Priest Enterprises, Inc; Pyrotect; R2C Performance Products; RaceQuip;Ray’s Racing Collectibles; Redhorse Performance; Richmond Geer; Rod End Supply;Scorpion Racing Products; Turbo Start Batteries; Turn One Power Steering;Ultra-Shield Race Products; Winters Performance Products, Inc; and WriscoIndustries, Inc.

Now in its fifteenth year The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania/Eastern Ohio area a chance to compete with one another for a higher purse structure and for a point fund for the scheduled events. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker and Randy Myers the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at various speedways in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio,New York and Canada.

By: Pam Baker

Skip Moore has been waiting a long time to get to victorylane, a long 9 years if you can believe that as his last win was at Tri CitySpeedway on May 18, 2003.  “We had allthose problems on Saturday night at Sharonand didn’t run time trials, or the heat race as we were having MSD electricalfailure and also spark plug failure. Besides that we had to replace the transmission three times and werehaving some engine problems.  Then Sundaynight our troubles continued as we broke a transmission line before the heatrace and had to replace it, but we went out and won the heat and the feature.  So it turned out to be a really greatnight.  I want to thank my sponsorsMuscle Lubricants,R & R Construction, McCool’s Signs and Graphics; SlipperyRock Sportswear, Nichols-Hepp Racing Engines, GME Steering, #1 Speed Centerand Moore’s Auto Body,”said Moore. Moorewas not going to be denied on Sunday evening as he led from green to checker topick up his second win of his career and his first Modified Tour feature event.

The seventh leg of the Modified Tour racing series was heldat Eriez Speedway on Sunday night of Labor Day weekend and leading the field tothe drop of the green flag by virtue of the handicapped system used by theModified Tour, Skip Moore and Shawn Fleeger started on the pole for theevent.  At the drop of the green flag, Moore gained theadvantage over Fleeger and led the group of cars through the first turn.  Coming down the back stretch, Chris Hainesworked his way into second with Mike Turner running third.  The trio raced this way through lap four whenKevin Hoffman started getting into the mix and passed Turner for third.  Moorewas using the high side of the speedway to his advantage while Haines wasapplying the pressure from the bottom of the speedway.

A caution on lap 14 for Shawn Fleeger who spun in turn threegrouped the field back together.  On theensuing restart, Haines got the jump on Moorebut a caution for Brad Rapp who spun in the second turn brought the group backtogether with Moorestill the leader.  On the next restart, Moore was not to bedenied the lead and got the jump over Haines. Moorecontinued his charge at the front, but a caution with two laps to go for aslowing Ricky Richner who had a flat tire brought the field together for thefinal two laps.

On the restart, Moore and Haines were side by side comingoff the turn and made slight contact about the flag stand.  The contact was just enough for Haines toslide high in turn one allowing Jeremiah Shingledecker who started in theseventh position to get by for second.  Moore held on the finaltwo laps to pick up the feature win over Shingledecker, Haines, Rex King, Jrand Brian Weaver.  Rounding out the topten were Eric Gabany, Kevin Hoffman, Brad Rapp, Rex King, Sr and MikeTurner.  Heat races were won by BradRapp, Dave Murdick and Skip Moore.

The Contingency Connection award winners were Skip Moore,Eric Gabany and Shawn Fleeger while gift certificates from Bully Dog wereawarded to Skip Moore, Ricky Richner and Kevin Hoffman. 

By:  Pam Baker

Marble, PA…..The sixth leg of the BRP Modified Tour racingseries for 2012 took place at Sharon Speedway on Saturday night and picking uphis first career Modified victory in the $2000 to win Russ King Memorial Racewas Steve Feder of Butler, PA.

Steve Feder has been coming close the past month or so towinning a feature and finally on this big holiday weekend his dreams came trueas he led the race starting on lap twelve and working lapped trafficmethodically went the distance to pick up his first career win.  “I’m ecstatic” said the 29-year olddriver.  “This is just amazing – it’sbeen a long time coming.  I couldn’t askfor anything more to be part of the group of guys that have won this race.” 

Using the handicapped system for starting lineups MikeTurner and Chris Haines brought the twenty-three car field to the drop of thegreen flag at Sharon Speedway with Turner taking off and leading the first lap.  By lap three, Feder had worked his way from thefourth starting position into second and went to work on the leader,Turner.  Lap after lap the two ran sideby side with Turner having the advantage at the flag stand.  On lap eleven the duo started getting intolapped traffic and on lap twelve, Feder using the bottom side of the speedwaytook over the point and never looked back. Turner ended up existing the race a few laps later with engine problems.

On lap fifteen Brad Rapp had moved his way into the secondposition and looked like he might challenge Feder for the lead, but was notable to close the gap. It was reported later that a torsion bar went bad in theRapp machine causing him to fall back in the field.   A caution flag on lap twenty for Shawn Fleegerwho spun in the third turn grouped the field together and with the Delaware restart used bySharon Speedway Feder was on the point with Rapp and Rex King, Sr. behind.  By lap twenty-four King made the pass forsecond over Rapp but Feder stayed about three car lengths ahead the rest of theway of King to take the victory.

Finishing second behind Feder was Rex King, Sr. followed byEric Gabany, Dave Murdick and Kevin Hoffman. Rounding out the top ten was Joe Kubiniec, Brad Rapp, Brian Weaver,Chris Haines and Jeremiah Shingledecker. Heats were won by Dave Murdick, Kevin Hoffman and Brian Weaver.

The next stop on the Modified Tour series will be Sundaynight at Eriez Speedway.

Results:  Steve Feder,Rex King, Sr., Eric Gabany, Dave Murdick, Kevin Hoffman, Joe Kubiniec, BradRapp, Brian Weaver, Chris Haines, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Rex King, Jr., JimRasey, Skip Moore, Mark Frankhouser, Rick Ryder, Troy Willoughby, Shawn Fleeger, Duane Botelho, JimWeller, Jr., Jeremy Paup, Tommy Mattocks, Mike Turner, Carl Murdick, DNS:

Jeff Monoskey

Kevin Hoffman romped to his first BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour win in the series' first visit to Jim Michny's Dog Hollow Speedway. An hour and a half rain delay forced all of the racers to change their set-ups before the show even started, but Hoffman and company obviously made all of the right choices. The race was shortened to 25 laps due to the threat of an approaching rain cell that would have ended the evening's action.

 "We made a lot of last minute changes, and we didn't know if we got it right," Hoffman said. "But the car felt great and the track was awesome and it's just awesome to get the win," he exclaimed. Moments later, Hoffman got a big bear hug from runnerup Brian Weaver.

 Ageless veteran Carl Murdick and Chris Haines led the field to the green flag in the historic first visit of the Big Block Mods to Dog Hollow Speedway. Fittingly, Murdick led the first lap, but Haines roared by him on the outside to lead the second circuit. Meanwhile, Kevin Hoffman was already at work, slicing his way to the front from his fifth starting spot. 

A caution on lap three for a spin by Rex King, Jr. put Hoffman next to Haines for the restart. Haines slipped above the cushion in turns one and two, handing the lead to Hoffman. Worse, though, Haines lost several other positions in the process. 

While Hoffman began to stretch his lead, New Yorkers Joe Kubiniec and Randy Chrysler were fighting for position with Brian Weaver and Brad Rapp close behind them.

 Action was slowed once again on lap 6 for an inadvertent yellow. The caution was called when two cars got together in between the third and fourth turns and one of them cut through the infield. The field was quickly realigned, with Hoffman on the point and Chrysler on his flank. 

Hoffman jumped out front on the the restart and led the rest of the way without further interruptions. Chrysler held second until the halfway mark. That was when Weaver went sailing by on the inside of turn four. 

Weaver started to whittle away at Hoffman's lead. When Hoffman had some trouble getting past lapped cars that were fighting for position, Weaver narrowed the gap even more. However, Weaver jumped the cushion in turn one with two to go, and that gave his pal the breathing room that he needed. 

Hoffman whisked under the checkers in first. Three Empire State racers followed: Weaver, Chrysler and Kubiniec. Haines rallied for fifth. 

Rapp crossed in sixth. Dave Murdick, the points leader heading into the event, was seventh. Jeremiah Shingledecker, Steve Feder and Rex King, Jr. rounded out the top ten. 

Heat wins were scored by J.R. McGinley and Hoffman.

There was no B Main. 

Contingency Connection awards went to Hoffman and Shingledecker.

 Bully Dog awards went to King Jr., Shawn Fleeger, and Carl Murdick. Dog Hollow Speedway

(August 19, 2012): Kevin Hoffman, Brian Weaver, Randy Chrysler, Joe Kubiniec, Chris haines, Brad Rapp, Dave Murdick, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Steve Feder, Rex King, Jr., Rex King, Sr., Mark Frankhouser, Shawn Fleeger, Carl Murdick, Mike Turner, Rick Ryder, J.R. McGinley.

Dave Murdick topped an outstanding field of 41 BRP/Hoosier Tire Modifieds at Mercer Raceway Park, taking advantage of a miscue to squeeze by leader J.R. McGinley with 27 laps completed. The event was the annual Smackdown!, which pits the touring Big Blocks against the track's own 358 Modifieds.

The Modified Tour's handicapping system worked to the advantage of several track regulars. J.R. McGinley and Rob Curtis occupied row number one, with Klye Fink and Eric Gabany in row two. Jimmy Holden, the defending track champ, lined up in row three. Frank Guidace was in row five, with Lonny Riggs in row six.

When the green flag waived for the start of the 35 lapper, McGinley took command, followed by Curtis, Gabany and Dave Murdick. McGinley showed Curtis and all of the other big boys the fast way around the tricky oval. Despite reaching lapped traffioc on just the seventh circuit, McGinley stretched his lead. For a while, it looked as though he would take the win for the strong contingent of 358 Modifieds that turned out to support the program. No Mercer regular had ever successfully defended the home turf in the annual showdown between the Big Block Tour and the potent Mercer 358 Mods.

A caution on lap 11 for New Yorker Ron Cartwright bunched the field up, but it did not bother McGinley in the least. He continued to lead the way. By the halfway mark, Murdick slipped past Curtis, and he started to reel in McGinley. Another caution on lap 19 for Ron Eperthener's frontstretch spin put Murdick beside McGinley for the restart.

A four car tangle on the very next lap slowed the pace again. Kevin Hoffman, Tommy Mattocks, Steve Feder and Jeff Schaffer were the involved cars. Only Feder was able to continue the event. None of the participants were injured.

Once again. McGinley was up to the task, but this time, Murdick stayed within close range.While they ran out front, Joe Kubiniec was driving the best race of his Modifed Tour career. He was holding down the third spot, ahead of top runners Brad Rapp and Brian Weaver.

On lap 26, as McGinley rounded turn four, he slid high and opened the door for Murdick. The veteran driver seized the opportunity and snuck under McGinley as they raced down the front chute. They entered turn one side by side, but Murdick powered off turn two with a lead that he would not surrender.

Murdick led the rest of the way to earn the win. McGinley crossed in second, the top Mercer runner. Kubiniec was third, Rapp in fourth, and Weaver in fifth.

Jimmy Holden and Lonny Riggs were the next Mercer regulars, in sixth and seventh. Then came the Big Blocks of Rex King, Sr., Jeremiah Shingledecker and Rob Curtis.

Heat race winners were Ron Cartwright, McGinley, Curtis and Weaver.

The twin B Mains were won by Ron Eperthener and Rex King, Sr.

The Contingeny Connection award winners were McGinley, Rapp and Weaver. Holden, Riggs and Curtis won gift certificates from Bully Dog.

Mercer Raceway Park (August 18, 2012):  Dave Murdick, J.R. McGinley, Joe Kubiniec, Brad Rapp, Brian Weaver, Jimmy Holden, Lonny Riggs, Rex King, Sr., Jeremiah Shingledecker, Rob Curtis, Eric Gabany, Randy Chrysler, Ryan Susice, Rex King, Jr., Mark Frankhousaer, Steve Feder, Mike Turner, Jeff Schaffer, Kevin Hoffman, Tom Mattocks, Ron Eperthener, Frank Guidace, Max Smoker, Ron Cartwright, Skip Moore, Kyle Fink. DNQ: Randy Kriegisch, Jeff Monoskey, Don Brown, Carl Murdick, Jeremy Paup, Shayne Izzo, Dillon Barr, Chris Haines, Tom Kristyak, Gary Smoker, Tom Glenn, Rick Ryder, Jerry Schaffer, Shawn Fleeger, Makayla Guidace.

The BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour held its first doubleheader weekend of the 2012 season and the racers vied for special prizes offered by Richmond Gear. Taking the win at Mercer Raceway Park was Dave Murdick, while Kevin Hoffman scored his first series victory at Dog Hollow Speedway. 

Although he did not reach victory lane, series points leader Brian Weaver, of Windsor, NY, gathered the most points over the course of the weekend. Also receiving Richmond Gear prize packages were Dave Murdick, Joe Kubiniec, Brad Rapp, Randy Chrysler, and J.R. McGinley.

 The next events for the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour will be contested over the Labor Day Weekend, at Sharon Speedway and Eriez Speedway. That will be the Bully Dog Northern Challenge, and over $1,000 in Bully Dog awards will be presented based upon the racers' points earned that weekend.

Dave Murdick, a former champion of the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour, won the series’ annual visit to the Trumbull County Fair. The race was presented by one of the series’ new sponsors, Bully Dog, which provided $1,000 in contingencies to the racers.

Murdick, who struggled in his heat race, wasn’t very happy with his car early in the night. “I told my guys to do whatever they wanted with it because they weren’t going to fix it tonight, but they must have done a pretty good job with it.” The changes were perfect, he was able to race his way to the lead twice, and he even held off a late race challenge from Chris Haines.

Murdick started the race in the seventh spot, but he had to chase down Joe Kubiniec and Shawn Fleeger, who were out front from the start. Murdick got a break when Fleeger damaged his car by hitting a utility tire located in turn two. Fleeger limped down the backstretch and finally lost the wheel in turn three. His disabled car was struck hard by Randy Chrysler, who had no opportunity to take evasive action. That set up a Delaware double file restart that enabled Murdick to vault from third to first.

Murdick led for two laps, until Brian Weaver, driving one of Kevin Hoffman’s cars, also used the Delaware restart to take the lead away. It took Murdick three circuits around the huge oval to regain the lead. While he would lead the rest of the way, Weaver was always hanging close.

Murdick, who learned a trick watching a recent Late Model show, changed his approach on the restarts. “I think you’re a sitting duck as the leader, and I thought they were going to jump me again.” So, he tried to switch lanes in order to block both racers from row two. “It’s just a way of protecting yourself on those Delawares.” Unfortunately, the maneuver resulted in several cars checking up which, in turn, set off a chain reaction pile-up that eliminated a number of cars from the race.

On the final restart, with just a few laps left in the contest, Murdick stayed put, and Haines got a good run into turn one, pulling even with him on entry. “I really didn’t notice him there, then I saw Chris a little bit going in, but we were so good down there, I kinda figured we’d be OK.” He was right, and Weaver followed him past Haines. Weaver ran second until the final lap, when he ran out of fuel.

Rex King, Jr. closed fast to grab the second spot, much to the delight of the large crowd of fair-goers. Haines crossed in third, his best outing with the series. Likewise, Kubiniec tallied his best effort, a fourth. Mike Turner completed the top five.

Mark Frankhouser and Steve Feder finished sixth and seventh. Weaver was credited with eighth. Ron Cartwright was ninth and Rex King, Sr. was tenth after starting at the tail with a back-up car.

Heat races were claimed by Jeremiah Shingledecker, Kubiniec, and Chrysler.

Contingency Connection prize packages were awarded to Dave Murdick, Chris Haines and Joe Kubiniec.

The Bully Dog beneficiaries were Murdick, King, Jr., Haines, Turner, Frankhouser, Feder, Cartwright, Jim and Justin Rasey, and Rougeux.

The next races on the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour schedule will be the Richmond Gear Weekend Warrior events. The races will be held on Saturday, August 18, at Mercer Raceway Park, and Sunday, August 19, at Dog Hollow Speedway. Points earned in those races will determine the winners of the special awards posted.

BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour, Round 3 (July 5, 2012): Dave Murdick, Rex King, Jr., Chris Haines, Joe Kubiniec, Mike Turner, Mark Frankhouser, Steve Feder, Brian Weaver, Ron Cartwright, Jr., Rex King, Sr., Jim Rasey, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Justin Rasey, Del Rougeux, Jr., Carl Murdick, Shawn Fleeger, Randy Chrysler, Kevin Hoffman, Eric Gabany.

The roster of 2012 sponsors for The Modified Tour, Inc. includes: Bicknell Racing Products; Hoosier Racing Tire Corp.; World Racing Group – DIRTcar; Sunoco Race Fuels – Bazell Oil Co.; Approved Toilet Rentals, Inc.; Bert Transmission; ATL Fuel Cells; Big Daddy’s Speed Center Inc.; Bilstein Shocks – Fastline Performance; Brisk Spark Plugs; Bulldog Rear Ends – Diversified Machine, Inc.; Bully Dog; Controlled Thermal Processing, Inc.; Engles Trucking Services, Inc.; ISC Racers Tape; Hall’s Safety Equipment Corp.; JE Pistons; King Brothers; Kirkey Racing Fabrication Inc.; Landrum Spring; Mallary Ignition Performance; McCool’s Signs and Graphics; Motorsports World; Oyler Photos & More; PerformanceParts.com; Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP; Preist Enterprises, Inc.; Pyrotect; R2C Performance Products; RaceQuip; Ray’s Racing Collectibles; Redhorse Performance; Richmond Geer; Rod End Supply; Scorpion Racing Products; Turbo Start Batteries; Turn One Power Steering; Ultra-Shield Race Products; Winters Performance Products Inc.; and Wrisco Industries Inc. Watch for further additions to the list of 2012 sponsors.

Now in its fifteenth year of success, The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area the opportunity to compete for higher purses and a substantial points fund. The Modified Tur has had great success at bringing together the top stars at the area speedways

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 26, 2012 – Randy Chrysler of Tuscarora Indian Reservation, NY picked up his first ever BRP and PPMS feature win. Kevin Bolland grabbed the lead at the start, with Steve Feder a close second. Bolland opened up a big lead and looked like he was headed to his second win of the weekend. Tenth starting Chrysler had other ideas, as he charged thru the field to catch Brian Weaver on lap 15, and then get by Bolland on lap 20. He pulled away at that point, while 12th starting Rex King Sr. charged up to third and closed in on Bolland, but ran out of time. At the finish of the non- stop affair it was Chrysler, Bolland, King Sr., Feder, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Kevin Hoffman, Brad Rapp(who picked up the K&N Performer of the race), Brain Weaver, Dave Murdick and Mike Turner. In the heats, Dave Murdick grabbed the first go, while Brian Weaver took the second.

BRP/Hoosier Tire Feature Finish: 1. Randy Chrysler 2. Kevin Bolland 3. Rex King, Sr. 4. Steve Feder 5. Jeremiah Shingledecker 6. Kevin Hoffman 7. Brad Rapp 8. Brian Weaver 9. Dave Murdick 10. Mike Turner 11. Rex King, Jr. 12. Del Rouguex, Jr. 13. Eric Gabany 14. Joe Kubiniec 15. Shawn Fleeger 16. Chris Haines 17. Carl Murdick 18. Mark Frankhouser 19. Randy Chronister 20. Don Brown 21. Brad Weaver DNS: Ron Cartwight, Jr., Rick Ryder

The BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour kicked off its fifteenth season in grand style at Bobby Rohrer’s Eriez Speedway. Taking the win before a large crowd of enthusiastic fans was five-time and defending champion, Rex King, Sr. while his son Rex King, Jr., finished a close second. It marked the second time in Tour history that the duo from Bristolville, OH swept the top spots.

Steve Feder and Eric Gabany had the front row of the feature under the Modified Tour’s new handicapping system. Gabany jumped out to the early lead with his potent 358 Modified, but he was unable to capitalize upon the opportunity. Racing hard on the outside trying to maintain his momentum, Gabany jumped the cushion in turn two and lost valuable ground. Brian Weaver, from Windsor, NY, benefited most from the miscue, and he grabbed the lead as the pack of snarling Modifieds completed lap two.

While Waver maintained control, Dave Murdick quickly moved through the field. This was all the more remarkable, give the heroic efforts of Murdick and his crew to repair substantial damage from a heat race incident that destroyed the chassis of Kevin Bolland’s machine. Murdick was closing in on Waver when he skid through turn four, allowing Weaver to open up some breathing room.

Back in the pack, the drivers were battling hard for positions. On lap six, the unthinkable happened when King, Sr. spun between turns three and four. After the race, he would explain that he closed too fast on a group of cars, the track got bottled up, and he had nowhere to go. That sent King to the rear of the field.

On the Delaware double-file restart, Cooter King blasted into second and he began to challenge Weaver for the lead. Their nip and tuck battle was interrupted by a massive pile-up in turn four on lap 13. While no cars were eliminated in the accident, it did substantially alter the running order from mid-pack on back. Somehow King Sr., managed to avoid getting collected in the melee, and he moved up in the field for the restart.

On lap 14, Cooter made another bold run at Weaver, but this time he jumped the cushion, allowing his dad to slip by for second. Now, it was King Sr. chasing after Weaver. On lap 20, King, Sr. went to the cushion coming through turn four and he won the drag race into turn one. Weaver fought back through turns one and two, but King again used the cushion to perfection coming off the second turn to maintain his advantage.

With King Sr. out front, Jr. went back to work on Weaver. They again raced side-by- side, but this time it was for second place. Cooter took the position away on lap 23, and it looked like Weaver was starting to fade.

Just when it looked like Murdick and Kevin Hoffman would mount their own attacks upon him, Weaver rallied. Although neither of them could pass Weaver, they would continue to swap positions as the laps wound down.

When the checkers flew at the end of the 30 lapper, it was King and King, followed by Weaver. Hoffman claimed fourth, from seventeenth on the starting grid. Hoffman reverted to a back-up car when his primary mount sustained a terminal oil leak in the heat race. Murdick rode home in fifth with his battered mount.

Jeremiah Shingledecker was sixth, after pitting for a flat rear tire in the middle staged of the race. Gabany finished seventh, just one notch ahead of another New York invader, Ron Cartwright, Jr. Brad Rapp was ninth. Mark Frankhouser finished tenth after running near the front for most of the event.

For their efforts, the Kings and Weaver each earned prize packages from Contingency Connection. Hoffman, Murdick and Shingledecker also received prized from Bully Dog. This pair of sponsors, new to the Modified Tour for 2012, will be back in a big way at Eriez when the Tour has its return engagement over Labor Day weekend. That race will be the final leg of the Bully Dog Northern Challenge. The mini series will carry $1,500 in prizes, along with some bragging rights, or, should we say barking rights!

There was a pair of heat races for the 20 car field. The winners were Shingledecker and Peter Britten. The Aussie was making his first start with the Modified Tour.

BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour Finish, May 20, 2012: 1. Rex King, Sr. 2. Rex King, Jr. 3. Brian Weaver 4. Kevin Hoffman 5. Dave Murdick 6. Jeremiah Shingledecker 7. Eric Gabany 8. Ron Cartwright, Jr. 9. Brad Rapp 10. Mark Frankhouser 11. Mike Turner 12. Shawn Fleeger 13. Steve Feder 14. Peter Britten 15. Rob Curtis 16. Chris Haines 17. Joe Kubiniec 18. Carl Murdick DNS: Kevin Bolland, Jeremy Paup