CREAM RIDGE, N.J. – Long time New Egypt Speedway Crate Sportsman standout Ryan Simmons and Modified car owner Mike McClinton have joined forces for the 2023 racing season to compete in the Modified division.
Simmons, who is the grandson of former East Windsor Speedway promoter Jack Simmons has been competing in the Crate Sportsman division at New Egypt since the 2010 season, has amassed 11 wins and finished second in the point standings on six separate occasions. After making sporadic modified starts throughout his career, 2023 will be Simmons’ first full time foray as a modified driver.
McClinton will be entering his fourth season owning a modified at the Ocean County D-Shaped oval.
“I’m really just excited for the chance to finally do what I dreamt about as a kid,” Simmons said. “It’s a whole new challenge and you’re going against the best of the best now. We won’t be the richest team out there but we are going to give it our all every week. Mike and his guys are doing everything they can for me to make sure we can compete for wins. Thankfully, I have solid guys I can run to for advice in proven NES winners in Dominick Buffalino and Danny Bouc.
“Mike called me out of the blue and asked me if I was interested and the more he mentioned what he was willing to do the more I couldn’t turn this opportunity down. It’s hard to find someone who believes in you like that and for him to not just have me at the top of his list but wait for me to get things together and make a decision shows how great of a person he is.”