MRS Makes Long-Awaited Return to White Mountain This Saturday
N. Woodstock, NH — For the first time in 15 years, the thunder of the Modified Racing Series (MRS) is coming to White Mountain Motorsports Park. The long-running New England–based Modified tour arrives in N. Woodstock, NH this Saturday, September 5 at 6:00pm for the Honor to Essential Workers 100 as part of a holiday extravaganza presented by Caron Fabrication.
MRS officials are expecting a field of more than 25 cars for the long-awaited event. With household names such as Anthony Nocella, Woody Pitkat, Todd Owen, Richard Savary, and Ronnie Williams expected in attendance, it will be a big Labor Day Saturday whether fans are watching in the beautiful North Country or from the comfort of home on the Northeast Sports Network.
Saturday’s event is the first MRS visit to White Mountain since the 2005. The Modified Racing Series was founded in 2004 and made four trips to the track in its first two years — including both Labor Day dates. Now the pleas of drivers and fans have been answered with the renewal of that tradition.
Several competitors anticipated this weekend already have experience at White Mountain. Woburn, MA’s Anthony Nocella and Bellingham, MA’s Woody Pitkat, two former MRS champions, started both NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events this year and ran the Bullring Bash event in 2019 with Nocella winning the latter. Pitkat made two starts in an American-Canadian Tour Late Model this year as well.
Still, it is too early to declare either the frontrunner. Six-time MRS winner Richard Savary of Holbrook, MA was a contender in the final laps of the Bullring Bash event. Ellington, CT’s Ronnie Williams won MRS features last year in at three different tracks and will try to put another notch in his belt.
Other former winners expected include Millis, MA’s Tommy Barrett, Feeding Hill, CT’s Jeff Gallup, and Auburn, NH’s Mike Douglas Jr. Series officials also say perennial Stafford Motor Speedway SK Modified contender Todd Owen of Somers, CT is making the trip north. A full list of expected drivers can be found at www.themodifiedracingseries.com.
The Honor to Essential Workers 100 is part of “Twin 100s” with the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models. The Leaf Peepers 100 has become another late-summer tradition and arrives as the year-long “King of the Mountain” championship chase enters the stretch drive.
With three point-counting events left, a pair of White Mountain titans are going at it for the title. Five-time champion Stacy Cahoon of St. Johnsbury, VT snapped a two-plus year winless drought last time out. In doing so, he put himself in position to nab a sixth championship. Cahoon is 13 points ahead of eight-time champion Quinny Welch. Groveton, NH’s Welch has yet to win a race this year but leads the division with seven top-5 finishes.
Not far behind are Monroe, NH’s Oren Remick and South Barre, VT’s Mike “Beetle” Bailey. Remick has won countless races at White Mountain over the years but is still searching for his first championship. Bailey, like Cahoon, recently broke a long winless streak and could be a dark horse in the battle. Craftsbury Common, VT’s Joel Hodgdon completes the top-5.
Saturday’s program also includes championship action for the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers, Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s, and 7-Eleven Dwarf Cars. Barton, VT’s Shane Sicard is in the catbird seat for his third straight Flying Tiger championship. The four-time 2020 winner has a 24-point lead over Hardwick, VT’s Jaden Perry. Rookie Kasey Beattie of St. Johnsbury, VT, who is the only driver to finish in the top-10 at every event, sits third.
The experience of Bethlehem, NH’s Brett Jackson continues to lead the youth of Littleton, NH’s Tyler Thompson in the Strictly Stock Mini’s. Jackson has finished in the top-5 at all nine point-counting events, giving him a 13-point edge over Thompson. St. Johnsbury, VT’s Colby Bourgeois has been unstoppable in the Dwarf Cars and leads teammate Jason Wyman after three straight victories.
White Mountain Motorsports Park celebrates Labor Day this Saturday, September 5 at 6:00pm with Twin 100s. Both the Modified Racing Series and the Foley Oil & Propane Late Models have 100-lap main events presented by Caron Fabrication along with a full card for the Wells River Chevrolet Flying Tigers, Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank Strictly Stock Mini’s, and 7-Eleven Dwarf Cars.
The front gates open at 3:30pm. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for kids ages 12 and under. A $25 live pay-per-view broadcast is also available on the Northeast Sports Network at www.NSNsports.net.
For more information, contact the White Mountain Motorsports Park offices at (802) 244-6963, [email protected], or visit www.whitemountainmotorsports.com or www.themodifiedracingseries.com. You can also get updates on Facebook at @WhiteMtnMotorsports.
