PIT BOX: Whelen Midsummer Championship comes down to the wire Saturday at Monadnock Speedway

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour continues its busy summer stretch this Saturday night when the series returns to New Hampshire’s Monadnock Speedway for the Duel at the Dog 200 Energized by USNE Power (8:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing), the fourth race in four weeks.

The race serves not only as the 10th event of the 2026 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season, but also as the finale of JDV Productions’ Whelen Midsummer Championship miniseries, which will pay $5,000 to the champion Saturday night.

Dating back to 1986, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has visited Monadnock 21 times; the first winner being Ken Bouchard behind the wheel of the legendary Ole Blue No. 3. The track has proven difficult to figure out, as 16 different drivers have found Victory Lane at Monadnock. In fact, seven different drivers have won the last seven Monadnock races. Only two drivers – Justin Bonsignore and Doug Coby – have multiple wins at the track.

Tickets to Saturday’s Duel at the Dog 200 Energized by USNE Power are available here. Below is everything you need to know about Saturday’s 200-lap affair.

Duel at the Dog 200 Energized by USNE Power at Monadnock Speedway

Matt Hirschman has made a habit of cashing checks from JDV Productions owner Josh Vanada.

Vanada has been promoting what is now known as the Whelen Midsummer Championship since 2022. The program, which will pay $5,000 to the champion Saturday night at Monadnock Speedway, is Vanada’s way of supporting NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour teams through the busy summer months.

Hirschman has collected the top prize from Vanada twice thus far. He claimed the inaugural crown in 2022 and captured the miniseries title again last season. Entering Saturday’s Duel at the Dog 200 Energized by USNE Power, Hirschman is in position to win the top prize for a third time thanks to finishes of first at Seekonk Speedway and second at Claremont Motorsports Park.

The champion of the Whelen Midsummer Championship is determined based on NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship points earned at Seekonk, Claremont and Monadnock. Entering Saturday’s race, Hirschman has scored 91 points in the miniseries and holds a slim two-point advantage on NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship leader Patrick Emerling.

While Hirschman holds the advantage in the Whelen Midsummer Championship, it’s Emerling who has emerged as the top threat to claim the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship. After winning the last two races on the schedule at Claremont and White Mountain Motorsports Park, Emerling leads the standings by 10 points ahead of defending series champion Austin Beers.

Beers had his best race of the season last weekend at White Mountain, where he led 80 laps and had arguably the fastest car. He is still looking for his first victory of 2026 and Monadnock is as good a place as any to collect it.

Mike Christopher Jr. is scheduled for a busy weekend as he will be competing in Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park before traveling to New Hampshire for Saturday’s event at Monadnock.

Speaking of Christopher, for the first time this season he will have a teammate. Craig Lutz returns to NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competition aboard a second Elite Racing entry as he looks to get back in the win column after parting ways with Goodie Racing earlier in the year.

Other notable entries for Saturday’s event include Jon McKennedy, Stephen Kopcik, Doug Coby, Ronnie Williams, Tommy Catalano, Eric Goodale, Trevor Catalano, Paulie Hartwig III and Andrew Molleur.

The full entry list for Saturday’s Duel at the Dog 200 Energized by USNE Power is available here.

RACING REFERENCE:

• Previous NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Monadnock
• NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers at White Monadnock

SCHEDULE: Saturday, July 25: Practice from 3:20 to 4 p.m. … Final practice from 4:05 to 4:35 p.m. … American Racer Pole Award qualifying at 6:45 p.m. … Start of the Duel at the Dog 200 (200 Laps / 50 Miles) at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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 5th Annual Duel at the Dog Energized by USNE Power 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 from 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.