WELCOME TO THE BRP MODIFIED TOUR

By: Pam Baker

August 30, 2020……Marble, PA …… Jim Rasey captured his first BRP Modified Tour race of the 2020 season on the night which he honored two special people. First his sponsor, George Poschner, Jr. who passed away during the week and second the late Rick Hall who passed away from cancer on November 11, 2019.

The family of Rick Hall was in attendance at this special race which honored our former BRP Modified Tour board member, our Race Director over the past few years, a race car driver, a business man owning both Big Daddy’s Speed Center and Hall’s Safety Equipment in Grove City, PA and last of all a friend to all. Rick was taken from us way too early, but he fought a great battle right up to the end.

There were 34 cars registered in the pit area and Tri City Raceway promoter, Merle Black decided that he would start all cars in the feature. When feature time came, the drivers brought their cars out to the speedway for a driver introduction session and then a group picture. Unfortunately, JR McGinley was unable to make the call due to ignition problems in his Ryder Racing owned machine. Thirty-three cars paced the field, and using the missing man formation thrilled the fans with their four-abreast formation before the start of the feature. History was made as this was the largest starting field of Big Block Modifieds ever to start in Western PA.

When the green flag dropped Jim Rasey and Chad Brachmann led the full field to the green flag, but before a completed lap could go down in the record books Brian Swartzlander spun in turn four in front of the field. The red flag was displayed and several cars sustained damage in the accident including Rick Regalski who flipped over the top of the Swartzlander machine. Regalski was helped to the ambulance by the EMT’s, but would come back out onto the track eight laps down to run several laps before his crew called him back to the pit area. Other drivers involved in the accident were Steve Slater, Dave Murdick, Eric Gabany and Erick Rudolph. Murdick and Gabany were able to restart while Swartzlander, Rudolph and Slater were towed to the pit area.

The green flag waved for the second start of the race and Jim Rasey took off into the lead ahead of Brachmann, Rex King, Jr. and Garrett Krummert. The caution flew on lap eight for Shawn Kozar who spun in turn four. On the restart, Rasey once again took command of the race and within five laps started encountering lapped traffic. Rasey worked his way through the lapped cars and had stretched out a four car length lead before the caution flew once again on lap twenty-one when the lights on the front stretch went out.

Once the lights came back up, two laps were completed before the caution flew once again for Tom Holden who lost a driveshaft. The race resumed, with Rasey in the lead, but once again the caution flew for Jeremiah Shingledecker who stopped on the track in turn two.

The final ten laps were run caution free with Rasey in command the entire time. He went on to pick up the win. Rex King, Jr. who started in seventh position finished second ahead of

Chad Brachmann, Garrett Krummert and Rex King, Sr. Brad Rapp finished sixth ahead of Phil Vigneri, III, Paul Kot, Robbie Johnston and Dave Murdick. Heats were won by Jim Rasey, Rick Regalski, Chad Brachmann and Phil Vigneri, III.

Rick Hall’s car number when he drove a Modified was B-4, so we presented some special awards for this event with the first being $250 from the BRP Modified Tour for the driver who was in 4th place at the halfway point of the feature. That award went to Rex King, Sr. The second award was $200 for the driver that finished 4th in the feature, which went to Garrett Krummert. $100 went to the driver who had Hard Luck and that award went to Rick Regalski. The Hard Charger award of $100 went to Mark Frankhouser who started in the 32nd position and finished 17th advancing 14 positions during the feature. Every driver that started the race was guaranteed at least $200 to start.

The final race of the 2020 BRP Modified Tour season will be held on September 5, 2020 at Hummingbird Speedway. This is the first ever appearance by the BRP Modified Tour at Hummingbird Speedway and the drivers are excited to run at this track as it has a great history behind the speedway. We will also be doing the reverse draw for the nineteen drivers that hold perfect attendance in front of the fans at Hummingbird for the 2020 Bicknell Chassis.

Feature Finish: Jim Rasey, Rex King, Jr., Chad Brachmann, Garrett Krummert, Rex King, Sr., Brad Rapp, Phil Vigneri, III, Paul Kot, Robbie Johnston, Dave Murdick, Eric Gabany, Steve Feder, Chris Rudolph, Rick Richner, Shawn Kozar, Richard Whitney, Mark Frankhouser, Kevin Green, Max Smoker, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Tom Holden, Kevin Hoffman, Clyde Gump, Rodney Beltz, Dillon Barr, Rick Regalski, Ray Bliss, Thomas Urey, Greg Martin, Steve Barr, Brian Swartzlander, Erick Rudolph, Steve Slater, JR McGinley – DNS.

By: Pam Baker

August 8, 2020……..Marble, PA…. Chad Brachmann was the class of the field on Saturday night for the BRP Modified Tour event held in memory of the Edward Michaels family at Michaels Mercer Raceway Park.

There were 28 cars registered in the pit area for the event, but Kevin Hoffman and Shawn Fleeger had mechanical problems during the heat races that ended their evening early. The 26 car starting field was led to the green flag by Tom Glenn and Chad Brachmann. The first five laps were uneventful until Rex King, Sr. brought out the yellow on lap five. After this caution, two red flag periods took place when eleven cars both times blocked the track after the restarts. No one was injured but after these two red flag periods, the field was reduced to 18 cars for the restart of lap six.

Chad Brachmann who had led the first five laps found Rex King, Jr. right on his back bumper followed by Jim Rasey and Paul Kot after the restart. A caution on lap nine for JR McGinley who spun in turn three grouped the field back together and after the restart, King, Jr. bobbled just enough to let Jim Rasey and Garrett Krummert make the pass for second and third. The caution flag flew once again on lap fourteen for Rodney Beltz who came to a stop on the apron on the front straightaway.

Once racing resumed, Brachmann was in charge and started to pull away from Rasey and Krummert. Rex King, Jr. started his charge back towards the front again and by lap twenty-eight had made his way into second, but was unable to catch and pass Brachmann who held on to lead every lap and pick up the $5,000 top prize money. Chad Brachmann also was awarded $50 for the Fastest Lap award compliments of Competition Carburetion of Sun Valley, NV. On top of that Brachmann also received $100 compliments on Alex Snyder, a fan of the Modified division at Michaels Mercer Raceway Park.

Finishing second behind Brachmann was Rex King, Jr. followed by Garrett Krummert, Jim Rasey and Brad Rapp. Brad Rapp will receive an extra $10 in his check in loving memory of Ed Hallstein, grandfather of Sue Kane and Steve Barr and Great Grandfather of Dillon Barr, who raced at Mercer many years ago and passed away last season. Also receiving a $10 bonus will be 20th place finisher Tom Glenn, in memory of Ed Hallstein.

Bob Oliver of Competition Carburetion also awarded $250 to the driver that towed the farthest distance to get to Michaels Mercer Raceway Park and collecting that money is Greg Martin who traveled 193 miles from his home in New York.

Heat races were won by Rex King, Sr., Dave Murdick and Jim Rasey. The next race on the BRP Modified Tour schedule will be the Rick Hall Memorial Race at Tri City Raceway Park on Sunday, August 30, 2020. The way it is looking right now, the season ender will take place at Hummingbird Speedway on Saturday, September 5, 2020 in our first ever visit to the Bird!

Feature Finish: Chad Brachmann, Rex King, Jr., Garrett Krummert, Jim Rasey, Brad Rapp, Paul Kot, Steve Slater, Greg Martin, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Phil Vigneri, III, JR McGinley, Chris Rudolph, Rick Regalski, Mark Frankhouser, Eric Gabany, Rex King, Sr., Dillon Barr, Rodney Beltz, Dave Murdick, Tom Glenn, Steve Barr, Shawn Kozar, Kyle Fink, Scott Kay, Dave Reges, Ryan Riffe, DNS: Shawn Fleeger, Kevin Hoffman

Revised 08/12/20

By: Pam Baker

July 24, 2020…..Marble, PA…. On a beautiful night at Thunder Mountain Speedway, Erick Rudolph made it four for four by winning the BRP Modified Tour 35-lap feature event.

There were 27 cars filling the pit area at Thunder Mountain Speedway in Brookville, PA on Friday night for the fifth race in the BRP Modified Tour series. Bedford Speedway winner, Garrett Krummert and Rick Regalski brought the 26 car field to the drop of the green flag.

Rick Regalski led the first lap, but Garrett Krummert took that position away on lap two. Before the third lap could be completed, a pile-up in turn four that found Mark Frankhouser, Chris Rudolph, Steve Feder, Steve Slater and Ralph McBride all collected at the bottom of the speedway.

On the restart, Krummert jumped out once again into the lead with Regalski and Erick Rudolph fighting for the second position. Lap ten would find Rudolph finally making his way past Regalski for second. The caution flag flew once again for Ralph McBride which would end his night.

Krummert led once again until misfortune on lap twenty entered the picture and ended his night after breaking a shock and bird cage. Rudolph who was sitting in second, inherited the lead, but Rex King, Jr. had made his way into third and challenged Rudolph on the restart.

Rudolph and King, Jr. battled back and forth for a couple laps before Rudolph pulled out to a couple car lengths ahead of King, Jr. and the duo entered heavy lapped traffic by lap thirty. Rudolph held on to pick up his fourth win in four races with the BRP Modified Tour.

Following Rudolph across the line was King, Jr. Finishing third was Brian Swartzlander followed by Jim Rasey and Chad Brachmann. Rounding out the top ten were Rick Regalski, Rex King, Sr., JR McGinley, Colton Walters and Paul Kot. Heats were won by Rex King, Sr., Brian Swartzlander and Rex King, Jr.

The BRP Modified Tour will head to Michaels Mercer Raceway on August 8th for the running of the Michaels Family Memorial Race. The raindate for this race will be August 15th.

Feature Finish: Erick Rudolph, Rex King, Jr., Brian Swartzlander, Jim Rasey, Chad Brachmann, Rick Regalski, Rex King, Sr., JR McGinley, Colton Walter, Paul Kot, Ricky Richner, Eric Gabany, Mark Frankhouser, Shawn Kozar, Brad Rapp, Steve Slater, Chris Rudolph, Garrett Krummert, Greg Martin, Steve Barr, Phil Vigneri, III, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Dave Murdick, Rodney Beltz, Ralph McBride, Steve Feder

BRP Modified Tour Welcomes Competition Carburetion as New Sponsor

By: Pam Baker

Marble, PA….. July 20, 2020…..The BRP Modified Tour racing series would like to welcome Competition Carburetion of Sun Valley, Nevada on board as a new 2020 sponsor. Owner, Bob Oliver, will be presenting the BRP Modified Tour with sponsorship as part of his “2020 Send It” program.

Competition Carburetion will sponsor the Fast Lap Cash award of $50 at Thunder Mountain Raceway on Friday, July 24th and also at Michaels Mercer Raceway on Saturday, August 8th. The award will go to the driver that turns the fastest lap during the feature event for the evening at these two race tracks.

All winners of the Competition Carburetion Fast Lap Award at various tracks and series will be entered into a random drawing at the end of the season. The Grand Prize winner will receive a check for $500.

In addition to the Fast Lap Cash Award, two different drivers, one at each track, will be chosen and awarded $250 that makes the longest tow to get to these speedways.

The founder of Competition Carburetion, Bob Oliver, is a former racer who understands the importance of drive ability on the racetrack. Bob has been building carburetors and distributors for over 30 years. Competition Carburetion sells new carburetors and reworks customers’ cores. Competition Carburetion can build your big block, small block, or 602 crate carburetor and distributor to maximize performance. All carburetors are engine checked before shipping.

The BRP Modified Tour is excited to be a part of this program and hopes to continue to be a part of Bob Oliver’s company for years to come.

Erick Rudolph Makes an Unexpected Trip to Sharon Speedway and Collects the Win in the Lou Blaney Memorial!

By: Pam Baker

Marble, PA …. July 11, 2020…. Erick Rudolph had plans on attending Land of Legends Speedway on Saturday night, but Mother Nature changed his mind. With the Canandaigua, NY track cancelling early, this left several race teams with the opportunity to join the BRP Modified Tour at Sharon Speedway for the running of the 12th Annual Lou Blaney Memorial Race, including Rudolph. Thirty-nine cars were on hand for the event with nine cars making the haul from the state of New York.

By luck of the draw the front row for the start of the 35-lap feature found Eric Gabany and Brian Swartzlander leading the pack of 26 cars to the drop of the green flag. Before a lap could be completed the yellow flew when Kevin Hoffman, Dave Reges, Chris Rudolph and Phil Vigneri, III all came together in the second turn. No one was injured and everyone was able to restart.

Once the green flew again, Brian Swartzlander took command of the race with Gabany, Garrett Krummert and Michael Maresca in tow. The race went green to lap 12 when the caution flew for Colton Walters and Maresca. On the restart, Krummert who had worked his way into second was able to take the lead away from Swartzlander and by this time, eleventh place starter, Erick Rudolph was in third. Another caution on lap sixteen for Dave Murdick grouped the field together once again with Krummert in the lead and Rudolph in second.

The caution flew again on lap seventeen for Steve Slater and on lap nineteen Rudolph used the high side of the track to make the pass on Krummert and never looked back to pick up his third BRP Modified Tour race in four events and his first $2,000 Lou Blaney Memorial race.

Finishing behind Rudolph was Krummert, Swartzlander and Rex King, Jr. who started in the fourteenth position. Brad Rapp had a great run coming from the twelfth starting position to finish fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Jim Rasey, Ryan Susice, Greg Martin who had to run the B-Main to qualify for the feature and started twenty-first, Rex King, Sr. and Phil Vigneri, III who started twenty-third in the field.

Heat races were won by Rex King, Sr., Erick Rudolph, Chad Brachmann and Garrett Krummert. The B-Main was won by Greg Martin.

The BRP Modified Tour will be heading to Thunder Mountain Speedway for their next event on Friday, July 24th. Thunder Mountain Speedway is located just off of the Brookville, PA exit off I-80.

BRP Big-Block Modified Tour: Erick Rudolph, Garrett Krummert, Brian Swartzlander, Rex King, Jr., Brad Rapp, Jim Rasey, Ryan Susice, Greg Martin, Rex King, Sr., Phil Vigneri III, Dave Murdick, Chad Brachmann, Rick Regalski, Jr., Steve Feder, Rick Richner, Steve Slater, Steve Barr, Mark Frankhouser, Dave Reges, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Kevin Hoffman, Rodney Beltz, Eric Gabany, Michael Maresca, Colton Walters, Chris Rudolph (32).

DNQ: D.J. Schrader, Max Smoker, Tony Pangrazio, Brandon Michaud, J.R. McGinley, Shawn Kozar, Don Blaney, Randy Chronister, Dillon Barr, John Venuto, Ryan Riffe, Paul Kot, and Russell Morseman III.

By: Pam Baker

Marble, PA…July 5, 2020…..Racing action with the BRP Modified Tour was hot for the 4th of July weekend and the BRP Modified Tour ventured to The Bullring of Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV on July 4th.

Twenty-six cars made the journey to the speedway, but the action was delayed a couple of times, one for a medical emergency in the grandstand area and second as the lights on the backstretch when out when squirrels chewed the wires off in the transformer.

Once the action started the starting lineup for the feature was the same as Friday night as Garrett Krummert drew the pole position with Rex King, Sr. outside the front row. Several caution periods created a problem trying to get the first lap in the record books, but once it did Garrett Krummert came out ahead of King, Sr. Krummert paced the field until fifth place starter, Eric Rudolph took the lead away on a restart and survived several more cautions. At the end of the 35-lap feature Rudolph was in the lead and captured the $3,000 prize money and his second win in two-days.

Rex King, Jr. was able to pass his father, Rex King, Sr. for second. King, Sr. finished a solid third with Jim Rasey fourth and Brad Rapp having a good showing coming from the seventeenth starting position to finish fifth.

The point standings are very close with Rex King, Sr. leading by one point over Garrett Krummert. Rex King, Jr. is sitting in third with Jim Rasey fourth and Dave Murdick fifth.

The next race on the BRP Modified Tour schedule will be held on Saturday, July 11th at Sharon Speedway for the running of the Lou Blaney Memorial race.

Feature Finish: Eric Rudolph, Rex King, Jr., Rex King, Sr., Jim Rasey, Brad Rapp, Chad Brachmann, Garrett Krummert, Dave Murdick, Phil Vigneri, III, Rick Regalski, Ricky Richner, Chris Rudolph, Paul Kot, Ralph McBride, Mark Frankhouser, Rodney Beltz, Randy Chronister, Steve Slater, Cory Riffe, Kevin Hoffman, Steve Barr, Tom Glenn, Eric Gabany, Shawn Kozar, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Dillon Barr – DNS.

By: Pam Baker

Marble, PA……07/03/2020…….It was hotter than a firecracker on Friday night at Lernerville Speedway on the 4th of July weekend for the second race on the BRP Modified Tour schedule. There were 32 cars in the pit area for the event with three drivers, Phil Vigneri, III, Chad Brachmann and Eric Rudolph making the journey south from New York to run with the BRP Modified Tour.

Garrett Krummert and Rex King, Sr. led the 26 car field to the drop of the green flag with Krummert jumping out into the lead on the first lap ahead of King, Sr., Steve Feder and Brian Swartzlander. Lap two found the yellow fly for Ryan Riffe whose car slid off the third turn banking. The restart found Krummert once again in command of the lead but two laps later the yellow flew once again as a pile of cars in turn one slowed the action. Ricky Richner was sidelined after this accident, but everyone else was able to continue. On lap six, with King, Sr., having taken the lead away from Krummert, and tenth place starter Eric Rudolph in third the caution flew as Brian Swartzlander connected with Rudolph and spun Rudolph around in a circle bringing out the yellow flag.

Rudolph was able to get restarted and rejoined the field in the 25th position which was the last caution period of the race. King, Sr., and Krummert battled for the lead with King, Sr. gaining a couple car lengths on Krummert and by lap eleven started lapping cars. Meanwhile, working traffic methodically from the back of the pack Rudolph had made his way up to seventh by lap eighteen and by lap twenty-two was in fourth position. King, Sr. once again got into lapped traffic on lap twenty-eight and that is what played a part in the outcome of the race.

Lap thirty-two found heavy lapped traffic in front of King, Sr. which caught King, Sr. on the bottom of the track. Krummert and Rudolph entered turn four on the high side and Rudolph used that to his advantage to pass Krummert and King, Sr. who was tied up in traffic to take the lead away and went on to pick up the $2,000 win.

King, Sr. was able to hang on for second with Krummert riding home third. Fourth went to Rex King, Jr. who started 12th in the field. Fifth was captured by Brian Swartzlander.

Heats were won by Rex King, Sr., Garrett Krummert, Jeremiah Shingledecker and John Mollick. The B-Main was won by Tom Glenn.

Feature: Erick Rudolph, Rex King, Sr., Garrett Krummert, Rex King, Jr., Brian Swartzlander, Eric Gabany, Dave Murdick, Chad Brachmann, John Mollick, Phil Vigneri, III, Steve Feder, Rick Regalski, Paul Kot, Brad Rapp, Jim Rasey, Chris Rudolph, Mike Turner, Tom Glenn, Kevin Long, Steve Slater, Steve Barr, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Ryan Riffe, Rodney Beltz, Colton Walters, Ricky Richner.

By: Pam Baker

Marble, PA….(June 15, 2020)…..The BRP Modified Tour made their first ever visit in the 24 years that they have been organized to the Bedford Speedway in Bedford, PA on Sunday, June 14, 2020. This was the first event the BRP Modified Tour has been able to complete with the COVID 19 virus cancelling many of the other events.

There were 22 cars in the pit area for the event and before the evening really got started, Jeremiah Shingledecker hit the fourth turn wall and destroyed his car after something on the car broke. Fortunately for Jeremiah, he brought a second car and was able to run the heat race and feature event. Shingledecker was uninjured during the incident.

The two #32 cars of Chris Rudolph and Jim Rasey led the 20 car field to the drop of the green flag with Rasey jumping into the lead, but a spin by Brad Rapp in turn one brought the field together for a complete restart. Once the race went green, Rasey led the pack around the smooth racing surface before the caution flew once again as Phil Vigneri, III hit the wall in the same spot that Shingledecker did during hot laps. His car had severe front end damage and Vigneri was done for the night.

Rasey led the group around for the second restart and paced the field ahead of Chris Rudolph, Garrett Krummert and Rick Regalski for the first seventeen laps, when lapped traffic started to play a part in the race. On lap 18 Krummert was able to make his way around Rasey before the caution flag waved for Rex King, Jr. who ended up against the wall in the same place that Shingledecker and Vigneri had encountered.

King, Jr. was pushed off the wal, restarted and pitted with a flat tire. The crew was able to get him back out before the green flew and he started at the rear of the field. On the restart, Jeff Miller contacted the wall in the exact same place and was up on two wheels and then was struck by Shawn Kozar and Rodney Beltz. No one was injured however, Beltz and Miller suffered too much damage to continue.

The restart found Krummert getting a really good lead on the rest of the field and at the end of the 35-laps he was almost a half a track ahead of second place, Rasey. Krummert took home the $3,000 pay check and his first win of the 2020 season. Finishing second was Jim Rasey followed by Rex King, Sr., Chad Brachmann and Rick Regalski. Rounding out the top ten were Jeremiah Shingledecker, Rex King, Jr., Dave Murdick, Paul Kot and Chris Rudolph.

Heat races were won by Rex King, Jr. and Garrett Krummert. As far as we know now, our next race will be on July 4th at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV.

Finish: Garrett Krummert, Jim Rasey, Rex King, Sr., Chad Brachmann, Rick Regalski, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Rex King, Jr., Dave Murdick, Paul Kot, Chris Rudolph, James Henry, Mark Frankhouser, Steve Slater, Brad Rapp, Shawn Kozar, Jeff Miller, Rodney Beltz, Steve Barr, Phil Vigneri, III, Dillon Barr, DNS: Randy Chronister, Erick Gabany