NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads to Jennerstown as racing heats up at speedway

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will come to Jennerstown Speedway for the second straight year on Saturday night to celebrate Memorial Day.

It is the start of four straight weeks of special events planned at Jennerstown Speedway.

"I am just as excited for the pre-race ceremonies as I am the actual racing," said Jennerstown Speedway General Manager Bill Hribar. "The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is my absolute favorite type of race cars. The drivers are amazing. It's great to have them back to Jennerstown. But the opening ceremonies for Saturday ... it's going to be like Charlotte Motor Speedway but at Jennerstown."

The pre-race ceremonies will include a flyover by two Blackhawk Helicopters with the Det 1 C Co Medevac General Support Aviation Battalion, based in Johnstown. The crews of the flyover were recently deployed from 2020 to 2021 with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.

For the second straight year, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour teams will carry the names of fallen heroes on the roof of their cars. As part of the Jennerstown Salutes 150 event, in collaboration with Operation Vet NOW Inc. (OVN), NASCAR and JDV Productions, all teams in the Modified field will be racing to honor a veteran. 

The local drivers will also be in action the the Fast N' Furious 4's, Late Model, Pro Stock and Modified divisions.

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Hribar likes to think of Jennerstown as its own little island or field of dreams. Drivers and fans from across the country are invading Jennerstown to see the spectacle that it has become.

"This weekend is on the bucket list for so many people," Hribar said. "I've received emails from people as far as Michigan, who are coming to the races this weekend to see the Whelen Modified Tour. Between the history of Jennerstown and the history of the tour, it is just a great place for people to come. We are expecting a huge turnout."

Justin Bonsignore has won two of the last three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Jennerstown Speedway. The three-time and reigning tour champion has two DNFs, a victory and a 10th place finish. He sits eighth in points, 40 out of first at the quarter mark of the season.

Hribar knows there will be stiff competition on Saturday night.

"The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is probably some of the most competitive driving there is," he said. "Doug Coby has won the last two (tour races), but he won't be competing this weekend due to other obligations. We've got 24 cars showing up and I would say 18 to 20 of them are thinking they've got a chance to win it.

"That's the beauty of Jennerstown Speedway. You can miss the setup a little bit and a driver can make up for it. You might see some names you're not familiar with contending for the win this weekend."

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Big events ahead

Jennerstown is not going to rest on its laurels when it comes to its racing program. The speedway is always trying to raise the bar. Following the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event, Jennerstown will host the CRA Super Late Models plus six-division racing on June 4. The ISMA and MSS Supermodifieds come to Jennerstown on June 11, including the local action. On June 18, The Clarks will put on a show following the weekly racing schedule.

"We already have 18 cars registered for the Super Late Models," Hribar said. "Derek Griffith, who has made some Xfinity starts, Steve Massey, who is one of the favorites in short-track racing, Michael House from Nashville ... we have some really big drivers coming for that.

"We expect a great car count for the ISMA and MSS race as well. We had a great response about The Clarks concert this year. Anytime you bring something new to the race track, people want to see how it goes. They were really impressed last year and wanted us to bring The Clarks back this year. With the help of Marhefka Motorsports, we were able to do that."

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Saturday's racing slate

The grandstands open at 2 p.m., with NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour practice set for 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. At 3:45 p.m., qualifying heats begin with the Jennerstown Fast N' Furious 4’s, followed by the Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Late Models. 

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Award qualifying will take place at 4:45 p.m. 

At 5:20 p.m., fans will be permitted to come down onto the track and meet and greet with all divisions — including the Whelen Modified Tour and Jennerstown weekly division drivers — during the autograph session. At 5:45 p.m., special pre-race ceremonies will honor all of those who have been lost in service, along with those who are currently serving. 

Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on Twitter @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.