Posted on by Staff Report

Stafford Motor Speedway is known for a family atmosphere.

The Arute family has owned the Connecticut half-mile for more than four decades, and their name is no stranger to race fans. Some of them race, while some of them are in management, and some do both.

When the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to Stafford on Friday night, there is another family that will be at the track making a little bit of their own history. The Catalano’s, including Tommy, Timmy and Amy, will all attempt to compete together on the track in the Stafford 150.

It will be the first time in their Whelen Modified Tour run that all three of them hit the track at once. They have done it before on the Race of Champions Modified Tour, but, the experience of doing it on NASCAR’s highest Modified level is going to be special. Both Tommy and Timmy will be going wheel-to-wheel with their mother during the 10th race of the season.

“Both my husband and I used to race against each other, so we met at the race track,” Amy Catalano said. “I have about 25 years of it.”

The family is already off to a strong start this season before Amy even hits the track. She’s been running B-Modifieds in New York, and has made a habit of having success at places like Chemung Speedrome, Spencer Speedway and Lancaster Speedway over the years. Tommy is the defending Sunoco Rookie of the Year on the Whelen Modified Tour and has one pole and three top 10 finishes this season.

WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR RACE CENTER | STAFFORD 150 ENTRY LIST

Timmy, who is in his rookie season, earned his first career top-five at Wall Stadium Speedway in May. In total, there are five of the Catalano brothers. One of them runs B-Modifieds with Amy, another is going to be debuting a Super Stock in the near future, and one is in go-karts at just seven-years-old. He recently earned his first career win.

“Before I had all of the kids, it used to be a joke, but when I had the first four I said to people that I had four tire changes but I needed a spotter,” Amy said with a laugh. “It was never the joke that they were going to take over the racing and we were going to quit, but, I never anticipated they would all like it. They all have different personalities and they all deeply love the sport, whether it’s working on it or racing them. Every one of them was at the race track within a month of being born. The last one was born during the week and I raced that Friday night.”

Even though Tommy started on the Whelen Modified Tour in 2017, and took off last year winning the Rookie of the Year crown, Amy always had other plans until he started having success.

RELATED: PIT BOX: Doug Coby Returns Home Looking To Pad Points Lead

“We started racing weekly and the very first time we chased a title, we had no idea, but someone told us we were going to win the NASCAR New York state title,” Amy recalled. “We never even looked at the points, but I lost it by three and the next year we accomplished it and won it. My goal was always to run the Whelen Modified Tour. Even when Tommy started, we were going to get our feet wet and I was ultimately hoping to run myself. But Tommy started doing so well, and Timmy started saying he wanted to do it, so I let them have it.”

Now, she’s kind of stuck in the middle of what might be a competitive race among the three on Friday night. Obviously the bragging rights are going to be high for whichever of them finishes ahead of the other.

“They started begging me a few weeks ago that they wanted me to fill out my dream, they told me I had to do it,” Amy said. “They even said they were going to sit out for me, but I told them we had come too far for that. They convinced me that I am going to like Stafford. Last year they convinced me to run a Valenti Modified Racing Series race at Thompson and we said if I finished top 10 I would run a Whelen Modified Tour race. I finished there, and they are holding my feet to the fire now.”

STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY | SEASON SCHEDULE | FRIDAY SCHEDULE

She also knows it’s going to be a major challenge, not only while hanging left turns on the historic Stafford half-mile, but in the pit area preparing the cars, and on pit road during the race.

“Even having two cars is a little bit stressful for us,” Amy said. “The problem for us is that we have a very small crew, with just three guys from up home. That’s really all we bring with us. We just try and get the rest of the crew from race-to-race. Stafford was strategically picked because it’s one tire per stop, and we won’t need five guys for each car over the wall.”

No matter what the results, it’s going to be a special night for the entire family. But one of the major parts of the experience is going to be the ride to, and from, the track. The family rides in the same hauler, with three cars all in one.

“A 15th to a 10th place finish would be as good as a win after being completely blind to the track, I’ve spotted there, but I haven’t turned a lap on the track myself yet,” Amy said.

“We used to have two double haulers, but we decided to sell all of it and get one so we could be together. We wanted to ride, talk, laugh, be disappointed — we wanted to through all of it together.”

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour News & Notes:

  • Ron Silk enters the Stafford 150 on a wave of momentum he’s hoping will earn him his second career Stafford victory. Silk is coming off a major triumph in the Eastern Propane & Oil 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he took his Kevin Stuart Motorsports team to Victory Lane for the second time this season. In his last two Stafford starts, Silk has top-five finishes.
  • Former Riverhead Raceway Crate Modified champion Mike Rutkoski will attempt to make his second career Whelen Modified Tour start driving for Buzz Chew. Rutkoski finished 21st after qualifying ninth in his tour debut at Riverhead on July 6.
  • Stafford’s five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions will also be in action. In the premiere SK Modified class, Todd Owen is the most recent event winner, and leads the championship standings by 44 points over defending champion and former Whelen Modified Tour regular Ronnie Williams.

Posted on by Staff Report

It isn’t quite clear which car or team Tyler Reddick, the defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, will drive for next season, but it is clear he is primed for a ride in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Currently driving the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet full time in the Xfinity Series with three victories to his name, team owner Richard Childress has high hopes for the young star … whether it’s with his team or another.

“He’s going to be a superstar. We hope to be able to keep him, but you know how this sport is,” Childress told reporters Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. ” … We want to keep him here if there’s any way. If not, I want to see him in a good situation.”

Reddick has made two Cup starts for RCR this year, and Childress has shed light on the fact the team would like to add more for him.

“That’s our goal right now is to try to put him in a Cup car,” Childress said. “That’s what he wants to do. That’s the reason he came to RCR because he knew we had Cup cars and Cup experience. He’ll win some Cup races if you put him in a Cup car. That’s where he wants to be, and I think he deserves it. He’s ready for Cup right now.”

Posted on by Staff Report

The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series returns for a Thursday night showdown on dirt in this season’s edition of the Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway, the half-mile clay oval in Rossburg, Ohio.

Before heading into Thursday’s 150-lap shootout (9 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), take a look at some key information.

RELATED: Full schedule for Eldora

QUALIFYING PROCEDURES

There are five qualifying races for the Eldora main event, and lineups will be determined by speeds from Wednesday’s two practice sessions. The top five trucks based on the combined practice speeds will start on the pole position for their respective qualifying races.

The top five finishing trucks from each qualifying race will transfer to the 150-lap main event.

QUALIFYING RACES

The qualifying races begin Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Each race is 10 laps, and five trucks from each qualifying race will transfer to the feature. Those that don’t advance to the feature will race in the Last Chance Race later Thursday evening.

Caution laps do not count toward that 10-lap total. Pit road will remain closed during caution laps and there will be a free pass throughout. There will be no overtime and if the leader received the white flag at the start/finish line under green condition but they yellow flag is displayed, the race will not be restarted.

RELATED: Qualifying race lineups | Eldora entry list

LAST CHANCE RACE

The Last Chance Race is 15 laps, and all of the above rules still apply. The lineup for the Last Chance Race is set based on finishing positions from the qualifying races. The top two finishers of the Last Chance Race will transfer to the 150-lap race (positions 26 and 27). The 28-32 starting positions will be set by the provisional rules outlined in the NGOTS Rule Book.

RULES PACKAGE

The Eldora Dirt Derby will be 150 laps with Stage 1 ending on Lap 40 and Stage 2 ending on Lap 90.

HOW ELDORA RACE LINEUP IS DETERMINED
STARTING SPOT HOW DETERMINED
1 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #1
2 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #2
3 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #3
4 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #4
5 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #5
6 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #1
7 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #2
8 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #3
9 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #4
10 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #5
11 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #1
12 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #2
13 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #3
14 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #4
15 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #5
16 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #1
17 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #2
18 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #3
19 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #4
20 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #5
21 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #1
22 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #2
23 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #3
24 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #4
25 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #5
26 Top finisher in Last Chance
27 Second finisher in Last Chance
28 Owner points
29 Owner points
30 Owner points
31 Owner points
32 Past series champion/owner points

 

GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES

The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series will use Goodyear Eagle Dirt Bias Ply tires at Eldora. Each team will get four sets for the event. This is a new tire set-up for the Gander Trucks compared to the 2018 race. The left and right-side tires features a tread compound designed to introduce more wear. There are three significant differences between this tire and ones that are used on an asphalt surface: 1. The tires are bias ply instead of radials. They are more compliant with the irregularities of the dirt. 2. The tires have a block-style tread pattern with leading edges to bite into the dirt and help move it. It’s not a smooth tread. 3. The left-side tire is significantly shorter to create more stagger between the left and right. Teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Eldora.

STATS

• Matt Crafton (2017) and Chase Briscoe (2018) are the only two drivers on the entry list with a win on the dirt track

• The most cautions in this race was 13 for 61 laps in 2015

• The fewest cautions during the Eldora Dirt Derby is six

• Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton are tied for the most starts at Eldora (six)

• Of the six races run at Eldora in NGOTS history, there have been six different pole winners from six different teams

2018 RACE WINNER

Chase Briscoe won the Eldora Dirt Derby in 2018, marking the first win for a Ford at the dirt track. He started third and led 54 laps. There were nine cautions for 41 laps and seven lead changes. Briscoe will be competing again this year with hopes of winning back-to-back races.

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

CONCORD, N.C. — Bubba Wallace insists the middle finger he flipped in the direction of Daniel Suarez in the closing laps of Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway was all in good fun.

During an event held Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Wallace took part in grading and smoothing the new backstretch chicane section of the 2.28-mile road course, the driver of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet explained there was no ill intention toward a fellow driver who he has considered a friend.

RELATED: Bubba, Suarez get testy on pit road

“Ain’t nothing wrong with that,” Wallace said with a grin. “I was telling him he was number one, that’s good.”

Wallace went on to elaborate he has displayed the gesture to multiple competitors to essentially lighten up the mood in the heat of the moment.

“I do it to guys I like and I can race around,” Wallace said. “Hell, if Kyle Busch or Martin Truex are coming up to lap us, I’ll give them the finger. It’s funny. We’ll talk about it and laugh at it after.”

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR officials issued fines Tuesday to two crew chiefs in the Monster Energy Series for lug-nut violations last weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Competition officials handed down $10,000 fines to Chris Gabehart, crew chief of Denny Hamlin’s race-winning Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota, and Chad Johnston, crew chief for the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet of fifth-finishing Kyle Larson.

RELATED: Pocono race results

Both cars were found with one lug nut not safely secured after Sunday’s Gander RV 400 at the 2.5-mile track.

Officials also issued two indefinite suspensions to Brandon J. Lee and Zachary L. Yager for violations of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy.

Posted on by Staff Report

In 11 years at Evergreen Speedway, Naima Lang drove one super late model that won multiple championships.

Now, Lang’s son, Tyson, is driving that car, and looking for a title of his own.

Lang Family

The two are both competing in the Speedway Chevrolet Super Late Models division at Evergreen Speedway, a 0.375-mile semi-banked asphalt oval track that is the only NASCAR Whelen All-American Series sanctioned track in Washington. Naima is currently second in the points at the track, and Tyson is 12th; the younger Lang leads in the track and state’s rookie of the year race.

Evergreen Speedway | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube| Instagram

Naima has won five championships overall at the Monroe, Washington track. His most recent Super Late Model title came in 2016. He started his career when he was in his early 30s, with no experience racing before that. A friend started racing in 2000, and Naima helped on his crew. He eventually bought that car, and that’s when his racing career began.

“I didn’t race anything early on but dirt bikes here and there. But nothing on four wheels or any kind of racing what so ever. I just liked cars and motor sports and stuff,” he said. “My father-in-law, he raced out there for years and years and he was able to come and help out and it just kind of went from there.”

Naima drove his last car for 11 years, and it served him well. But after building a brand new car this offseason, that former championship ride was up for grabs.

And Naima’s son was there for the taking.

“It was weird because I never expected him to drive that car,” Naima said. “I wasn’t even thinking about letting him drive it. I just assumed someone else was going to take it but he just decided he wanted to try it.”

Tyson Lang

Tyson, who celebrated his 17th birthday on July 27, raced for the first time last season, driving in the hornets division at Evergreen. While he has very little experience driving, Tyson’s natural ability behind the wheel has shown early in his career.

“He went out to try it, him and grandpa were teaming up together and they’ve been having a lot of fun,” Naima said of Tyson. “He’s picked it up really good. I guess it’s just natural driving.”

“I think it’s going pretty good,” Tyson said. “Just trying to keep my nose clean every race, and if I do I know I’ll probably come out and be right there and come out with the top guys at the end of the race.”

Naima Lang Racing| Facebook

Tyson, like his dad, wasn’t as into racing when he was younger. — “I remember just watching him win a lot. That’s the biggest thing I remember.” — but it wasn’t until he got the chance to get behind the wheel himself that he decided to to follow in his dad’s footsteps.

“I started watching him when I was little,” Tyson said. “I liked to watch him but I wasn’t really that into it. And I started racing hornets and I’ve liked it ever since. I like the adrenaline.”

The only problem with having two Langs on the track at the same time is they’re not able to watch each other. For Tyson, that means he isn’t able to learn from his dad like he used to. And for Naima, it means he isn’t able to watch as a dad.

The two drivers try to keep things separate when it comes to their individual cars and crews. Naima does try to teach Tyson as much as he can though.

“Just overall knowing the car. He doesn’t know if the car is tight or loose or what’s wrong with it,” Naima said. “Just trying to get explanations to him for what the car is doing. Sometimes I have to jump in it to confirm what he’s saying, but he’s learning. He’s getting it all down slowly but surely.”

“He tells me just to stay patient and just not try to win it on the first lap, save tires and stuff like that,” Tyson said.

Evergreen Speedway Points Standings | NWAAS Division I Points Standings

As long as Tyson gets seat time and stays out of trouble and safe, that’s all Naima really cares about. The hope is the younger Lang can keep progressing and possibly get into a better car next year.

For Naima, he would like to continue putting his new car to the test, and keep getting wins.

Tyson has very specific goals for this year, and it includes a trip to Charlotte for the NASCAR banquet.

“My dad, I have pretty big shoes to fill. He’s won the track championship five times there, so it’d be cool for him to get a sixth and me to get rookie of the year and go back to North Carolina together,” Tyson said.

NASCAR racing will return to Evergreen Speedway this Saturday night for the Rory Price Memorial Presented by BARDAHL, featuring Evergreen Super Sprints, Outlaw F8, youth hornets, and late models.

Evergreen Speedway Schedule

Posted on by PJ Walsh

The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here.

For the second time this season, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) will go road course racing — this time at Watkins Glen International.

Road courses always provide exciting side-by-side racing, while the additional intrigue of how teams will approach strategy — based on differing agendas like racing for stage points as opposed to winning the race — will make this event unique.

To make this weekend’s NASCAR Props Challenge picks, we’ll lean on historic results from Watkins Glen, as well as how teams with different agendas will likely approach this race.

1. Will the pole sitter lead the first seven laps? Yes or No?

Denny Hamlin won the Watkins Glen pole in 2018 but finished with just two laps led in the race. Green flags/restarts can get dicey at road courses, so I expect that at least one driver can snag the lead from the polesitter by Lap 8.

Pick: No

2. The Stage 1 winner will lead O/U 5.5 laps in the first stage?

Stage 1 will be 20 laps on Sunday. In last year’s race, Martin Truex Jr. won Stage 1 but led a total of four laps throughout the entire race.

Pick: Under

3. Will the Stage 1 winner score stage points in Stage 2? Yes or No?

In two MENCS races at Watkins Glen since stage racing was introduced, the Stage 1 winner did score points in Stage 2.

Pick: Yes

Download the FREE Action Network app to finish reading this article and get the rest of PJ Walsh’s NASCAR Props Challenge Picks.

Posted on by Data Skrive

Tyler Ankrum crossed the finish line second in the Gander RV 150 at Pocono Raceway Saturday. It’s Ankrum’s third top-five finish of the season.

Ross Chastain brought home the win in the race, with Harrison Burton crossing the finish line third. Christian Eckes took fourth place, followed by Brett Moffitt in the No. 5 spot.

Chastain came away victorious in Stage 1, and Burton won Stage 2. Each driver earned 10 bonus points for their efforts.

Ankrum earned 36 points over the weekend, giving him 294 on the season. He ranks No. 12 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series overall points standings.

Ankrum did not pick up any playoff points and remains at five on the season.

The second-year driver qualified in ninth position at 169.122 mph.

Ankrum has tallied one career victory, two top-five finishes and has placed in the top 10 in 5 races.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured four cautions and 12 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there were three lead changes.

With Chastain driving his Silverado to victory lane for Al Niece, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 527 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 506. Ford sits at No. 3 with 471 points on the season.

Tyler Ankrum Driver Page | Get Tyler Ankrum Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Tyler Dippel placed 11th in the Gander RV 150 at Pocono Raceway Saturday.Tyler Dippel

Ross Chastain earned the checkered flag in the race, with Tyler Ankrum finishing second, and Harrison Burton crossing the finish line third. Christian Eckes took fourth place, followed by Brett Moffitt in the No. 5 spot.

Stage 1 was won by Chastain, while Burton took Stage 2. Each driver added 10 bonus points to their weekend ledger.

Dippel earned 32 points over the weekend, increasing his total to 306 on the season. He ranks No. 11 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series overall points standings. Dippel did not earn any playoff points Saturday and remains on the hunt for his first playoff points of the season.

The second-year driver qualified in 20th position at 165.423 mph.

Dippel has yet to secure his first NASCAR win but has placed in the top 10 in one race.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured four cautions and 12 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there were three lead changes.

With Chastain driving his Silverado to victory lane for Al Niece, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 527 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 506. Ford sits at No. 3 with 471 points on the season.

Tyler Dippel Driver Page | Get Tyler Dippel Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Natalie Decker finished 16th in the Gander RV 150 at Pocono Raceway Saturday.

Ross Chastain earned the checkered flag in the race, with Tyler Ankrum following in second, and Harrison Burton placing third. Christian Eckes took fourth place, followed by Brett Moffitt to round out the top five.

Stage 1 was won by Chastain, while Burton won Stage 2. Each driver added 10 bonus points to their weekend ledger.

Decker earned 21 points over the weekend, giving her 179 on the season. She ranks No. 19 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series overall points standings. Decker did not pick up any playoff points Saturday and has yet to tally her first playoff points of the season.

The second-year driver qualified in 24th position at 162.787 mph.

After 11 career starts, Decker continues to search for her first win and top-10 finish.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured four cautions and 12 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there were three lead changes.

With Chastain driving his Silverado to glory for Al Niece, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 527 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 506. Ford sits at No. 3 with 471 points on the season.

Natalie Decker Driver Page | Get Natalie Decker Gear | Race Center