MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return to two popular Virginia race tracks next season.
Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway will each host NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races next year, with Richmond set to host the series on Sept. 10 and Martinsville welcoming the tour on April 8.
Richmond first hosted a modified race in NASCAR’s inaugural season on May 16, 1948. The race was the first NASCAR sanctioned race in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Richmond hosted the modern-day NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour from 1990-1993, 1997 and 1999-2002.
Mike Stefanik, elected to the 2021 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and one of the Modified Tour’s 10 greatest drivers of all-time, holds the modern-day record with three wins at Richmond.
“Adding Richmond Raceway to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule is a win for our competitors and our fans,” said Jimmy Wilson, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Director. “The challenge this historic short track creates for our drivers is only surpassed by its prestige. A win at Richmond will certainly be a highly-coveted prize in our garage.”
Martinsville hosted a modified race in NASCAR’s inaugural season on July 4, 1948. The race was the third NASCAR sanctioned race in history in the Commonwealth of Virginia. NASCAR’s National Modified Championship, the predecessor to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, competed at Martinsville from 1960-1984.
The modern-day NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour continued to race at the historic half-mile short track from 1985-2002 and 2005-2010. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was originally scheduled to return to Martinsville on May 8 of this year, but that race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virginia racing legend Ray Hendrick, who is the career leader in wins at Martinsville with 20, is the all-time leader in modified wins at the track with 13. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans is second with 10. Stefanik holds the modern-day record with five wins at Martinsville.
“The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has a rich legacy at Martinsville Speedway,” said Wilson. “The greatest legends of our sport have all competed there, and we couldn’t be happier that the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers of today will have a chance to add to that historic legacy.”