NOTEBOOK: Stafford Speedway’s proving grounds are nothing new for many of the Modified Tour’s best

Through the years, some of the best and brightest Modified racers have called Stafford Speedway home. Legends like Bugsy Stevens, Richie Evans, Fred DeSarro, Geoff Bodine, Reggie Ruggiero, Charlie Jarzombek, Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher are among those who have claimed track championships at the historic half-mile oval located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Fast-forward to today, and Stafford continues to be a proving ground for future NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour stars. Many of the series' current crop of competitors have honed their skills at Stafford before hitting the road with the Modified Tour. As NASCAR's oldest division prepares to return to Stafford for the first time since 2021 this Friday night for the running of the GAF 150 (8:45 p.m. ET on FloRacing and the NASCAR Channel), several modern stars will hope to turn their experience into a trip to Victory Lane. ENTRY LIST: See who's racing Friday at Stafford Take Stephen Kopcik for example. The Newtown, Connecticut native is an 18-time feature winner at Stafford. Amongst his successes is a victory in one of the track’s marquee events, the 2025 Spring Sizzler. Ten years earlier, he captured the SK Light track championship at Stafford. Another prime example is six-time Modified Tour champion Doug Coby. He’s a two-time track champion at Stafford in the Late Model and Pro Stock divisions and a 12-time Modified Tour winner at the track. He’s also a four-time Spring Sizzler champion. Mike Christopher Jr. practically grew up racing at Stafford. Following in the footsteps of his late uncle Ted and his father Mike, the newest member of the Christopher racing clan is a 28-time Stafford winner across multiple classes. Two of the Modified Tour’s newest stars can also include their names on the list of Stafford Speedway champions. Andrew Molleur conquered Stafford’s SK Modified division in 2024, and Teddy Hodgdon collected the SK Light Modified championship in 2019. Ronnie Williams, a part-time Modified Tour competitor, is another driver who is no stranger to Stafford. He collected consecutive SK Modified championships in 2018-19 at Stafford. Of the 25 drivers entered in Friday’s GAF 150, 16 have visited Victory Lane at some point at Stafford. It further supports the notion that if you can win at Stafford, you can win anywhere. [caption id="attachment_523558" align="aligncenter" width="1300"] Austin Beers now finds himself tied with Patrick Emerling at the top of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings with four races left in the season. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)[/caption]

Championship battle heats up with four races left

Following an unpredictable Mohegan Sun 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend, the race for the Modified Tour championship is as close as could be. Following an early crash that resulted in a last-place finish for Patrick Emerling, he is now tied with defending series champion Austin Beers at the top of the standings entering Friday’s GAF 150 at Stafford. Beers seems to have found his stride in the last few events. He finished second at White Mountain Motorsports Park after leading 80 laps, which he backed up with a third-place effort at Monadnock Speedway after leading 50 laps. Beers finishes second at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park after starting from the pole and leading 29 circuits. He then won the pole again at New Hampshire and led 32 laps before a late spin dropped him to 19th. Emerling has equaled his career high with three victories this year and has led a series-best 348 laps through the first dozen races. Also in the conversation is Jon McKennedy, who finds himself only 24 points behind the leaders thanks to his third victory of the year last weekend at New Hampshire. With events at Stafford, Oswego Speedway, Riverhead Raceway and Thompson remaining on the schedule, anything can happen as the battle for the series championship comes down to the wire. [caption id="attachment_523557" align="aligncenter" width="1300"] Mike Christopher Jr. is one of many Modified Tour drivers with ample experience at Stafford Speedway. (Photo: Jaiden Tripi/NASCAR)[/caption]

Christopher eyes continued family success at Stafford

When you look at the list of all-time winners at Stafford Speedway, the Christopher family is well represented. Sitting at the top of the record books is Ted Christopher, a 131-time winner at Stafford across all divisions. The late Modified Tour legend is also a nine-time champion in the track’s SK Modified, with his first title coming in 1987 and his final championship coming in 2014. Then there’s his twin brother Mike, who captured Stafford’s SK Modified championship three times between 1989 and 1993 and is a 28-time feature winner at the half-mile asphalt oval. Now there's Mike’s son, Mike Christopher Jr. The driver of the No. 31 Elite Racing Modified on the Modified Tour is also a 28-time winner at Stafford during his young career, with his most recent win coming just a few weeks ago. If you’re looking for a favorite ahead of Friday’s GAF 150, it would be hard to bet against Mike Christopher Jr. After all, he’s been looking forward to this race all year. "The Tour deserves to be at Stafford. It's what it's known for,” Mike Christopher Jr. said. “You think of the Tour, you think of the Northeast and New England, and when you think of Modified racing, you think of Stafford."