After inclement weather forced the postponement of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s planned trip to White Mountain Motorsports Park on June 20, the series is set to return to the quarter-mile oval this weekend for the Thunder in the Mountains 200 (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on FloRacing).
White Mountain has built a proud history of racing since first opening in 1993, yet Saturday will only serve as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s fourth visit to the facility. The first two races for the series at White Mountain only took place back in 2020, with the track added to the schedule following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The success of the first year despite the circumstances played a vital role in the Modified Tour returning to White Mountain in 2025. In those three events, White Mountain’s tight layout has offered Modified Tour competitors a small margin of error to utilize in their pursuit of a victory.
Three different drivers have reached the top of White Mountain during the Modified Tour’s brief history at the track. A fourth name will seek to join an elite group comprising of Justin Bonsignore, Doug Coby and Kyle Bonsignore as the Modified Tour enters the second half of the 2026 season.
Tickets to the Thunder in the Mountains 200 are available trackside. Below is everything to know ahead of Saturday’s race.
[caption id="attachment_519003" align="alignnone" width="2560"]Thunder in the Mountains 200 at White Mountain Motorsports Park
After eight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races this year, a four-man race has emerged for the 2026 championship.
Leading the way with a five-point advantage is Patrick Emerling, who just earned his first victory of the year at Claremont Speedway last weekend. Emerling hopes to translate that momentum into a strong performance at White Mountain Motorsports Park, a track where he has not finished better than 15th across his three previous appearances.
Reigning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Austin Beers will be ready to capitalize on any misfortune Emerling encounters Saturday evening. The 2026 season has been quiet for Beers, who saw his top-10 streak come to an end after 45 races, yet five top fives in eight races have Beers in an optimal position to earn his first victory of 2026 on Saturday.
Sitting third in the Modified Tour standings is Jon McKennedy, who possesses two victories this season at Seekonk Speedway and Oxford Plains Raceway. Like Emerling, McKennedy has contested all three series events at White Mountain, but his best finish there is a fourth during the second race in 2020.
An early spin for Stephen Kopcik at Claremont saw him drop from the top of the Modified Tour standings to fourth, 10 points behind Emerling. Claremont was a low point amidst a breakout season for Kopcik that includes two victories, so he looks to bounce back at White Mountain, where he finished runner-up to Kyle Bonsignore last year.
The four contenders will have to deal with plenty of other talented names Saturday evening if they wish to bolster their Modified Tour championship odds. Those names include a past White Mountain winner in Doug Coby, along with Matt Hirschman, Mike Christopher Jr., Tyler Rypkeman, Eric Goodale and Anthony Nocella.
A full entry list for the Thunder in the Mountains 200 will be released later this week.
[caption id="attachment_519004" align="alignnone" width="2560"]RACING REFERENCE:
- Previous NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at White Mountain
- NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers at White Mountain
| Race | Thunder in the Mountains 200 |
| Date | Saturday, July 18, 2026 |
| Track | White Mountain Motorsports Park |
| Layout | Quarter-mile asphalt oval |
| Location | North Woodstock, New Hampshire |
| Start time | 8 p.m. ET |
| Laps | 200 |
| Posted Awards | $106,132 |
| Tickets | At track |
| How to Watch | FloRacing |
SCHEDULE: Saturday, July 18: Practice from 3 – 3:45 p.m. ET … Final practice from 3:55 to 4:25 p.m. ET … American Racer Pole Award qualifying at 6 p.m. ET … Start of the Thunder in the Mountains 200 at 8 p.m. ET (200 Laps / 50 Miles)
QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the Thunder in the Mountains 200 is limited to 28 starters including Provisional Positions.
TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is ten (10) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by NASCAR Officials, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. A maximum of two (2) tires of the allotment may be used as change tires. The tire change rule is two (2) tires per stop. This includes “swapping” tires front to back.
RE-DRAW PROCEDURE: The fastest qualifier will spin the wheel to determine the number of drivers that will re-draw for their starting positions: 4, 6, 8 or 10 positions will re-draw. Once the fastest qualifier spins the wheel, NASCAR will have the various buckets ready to immediately start the re-draw procedure. Driver will re-draw in their qualifying order after qualifying has been completed (1 through 10, or however many are applicable). The pole position and/or any bonus point(s), if applicable, will be awarded to the fastest qualifier and will be the pole of record. If, due to adverse conditions, qualifying is canceled, the field will be set in accordance with the 2026 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Rule Book. The re-draw procedure will still take place regardless of how the field is set.