NASCAR Announces 2017 Whelen Modified Tour Schedule
The series will have 17 points events next season and also two special non-points exhibition events, spanning seven states.
It was announced in October that the Whelen Modified Tour would merge with the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
The season will kick off in the south on March 18 at Myrtle Beach Speedway in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The season will end on Oct. 15 at Thompson Speedway.
The series will visit Thompson Speedway four times, Stafford Motor Speedway three times and the New London-Waterford Speedbowl once.
“NASCAR is committed to growing and enhancing the profile of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour," George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president of weekly & touring series said in a release. “The 2017 calendar is a mix of some of the best race tracks for the exciting brand of racing that Modified fans have loved for more than 60 years. We are looking forward to a championship season worthy of the likes of Richie Evans, Jerry Cook and others."
The schedule includes companion events with NASCAR’s national divisions at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July and September, and Bristol Motor Speedway in August. The July weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will also once again include a special All-Star Shootout exhibition event.
The schedule will also include a special non-points exhibition event on the quarter-mile track at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. on Oct. 5.
“Whelen Engineering is extremely excited about the direction NASCAR is taking with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and our commitment to the tour is unwavering," Phil Kurze, vice president of motorsports for Whelen Engineering said. “We truly feel the racing is some of the best in NASCAR, and the tracks that the tour will visit will provide fans a great experience as the drivers fight for the 2017 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship."
After opening the season at Myrtle Beach the tour will head to Thompson Speedway for the annual Icebreaker event on April 2. The tour will also run event at Thompson on June 14 and August 9.
After the Icebreaker the series will head to Stafford Motor Speedway for the NAPA Spring Sizzler on April 30. The series will also visit Stafford for a Friday night show on Aug. 4 and as part of the track’s NAPA Fall Final weekend on Oct. 1.
The division will visit the New London-Waterford Speedbowl on July 22, with that event moving from a May date the past two seasons.
A May 13 event at a Southern venue is still to be announced.
Thompson Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway, have all signed three year sanctioning agreements with the division.
A release from NASCAR stated: “In combining the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tours, NASCAR will offer competitors close to $500,000 in year-end point fund money through support from Whelen Engineering and contingency sponsors. NASCAR will also make available more than $230,000 in owner-plan money. As part of this, NASCAR has reallocated what was formerly the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour year-end point fund in the form of non-qualifier money and a champion/owners plan for the teams who competed in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour in 2016.
“The visibility of the tour and the money available to the competitors is unmatched in asphalt Modified racing. In addition, NASCAR is continuing to look at other ways to help teams reduce costs from a competition standpoint."
“It’s very important to us, as we bring these two tours together, to keep in mind the financial realities of racing on the touring series level," Brandon Thompson, Senior Director of NASCAR Touring Series said. “Since the end of the 2016 season, we have met with drivers and owners across all series, and will continue to have an open dialogue to work to provide what is best for everybody involved in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour."
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour television broadcast schedule on NBCSN will be announced at a later date.
2017 NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR SCHEDULE
Date Track Location
3/18: Myrtle Beach Speedway Myrtle Beach, S.C.
4/2: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Thompson, Conn.
4/30: Stafford Motor Speedway Stafford, Conn.
5/13: TBA TBA (Southern race track)
6/14: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Thompson, Conn.
6/24: Riverhead Raceway Riverhead, N.Y.
7/14: New Hampshire Motor Speedway* Loudon, N.H.
7/15: New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, N.H.
7/22: New London-Waterford Speedbowl Waterford, Conn.
8/4: Stafford Motor Speedway Stafford, Conn.
8/9: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Thompson, Conn.
8/16: Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, Tenn.
8/26: Seekonk Speedway Seekonk, Mass.
9/2: Oswego Speedway Oswego, N.Y.
9/16: Riverhead Raceway Riverhead, N.Y.
9/23: New Hampshire Motor Speedway Loudon, N.H.
10/1: Stafford Motor Speedway Stafford, Conn.
10/5: Charlotte Motor Speedway* Concord, N.C.
10/15: Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Thompson, Conn.
*non-points, special events
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE