PIT BOX: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour ready to ride into Lee USA Speedway for Granite State Derby

For the seventh time in series history, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads to Lee USA Speedway this Saturday night for the running of the Granite State Derby.

The event, a JDV Productions race, also serves as Round 2 of the Whelen Granite State Short Track Cup, a special bonus program offering participating teams more than $15,000 in bonus money.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debuted at Lee USA Speedway in 1993, with Tour legend Reggie Ruggiero picking up the victory. Jamie Tomaino, Tim Connolly, Rick Fuller and Ed Flemke Jr. scored victories in the years that followed before a lengthy hiatus by the Tour at the 0.375-mile oval. Doug Coby triumphed in the Tour’s return to the track in 2022.

Tickets to Saturday’s Granite State Derby are available here. Below is everything you need to know about the fifth race of the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

Granite State Derby at Lee USA Speedway

What to watch for:

Momentum is on the side of Justin Bonsignore, who enters Saturday’s Granite State Derby as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship leader following his victory Sunday at Riverhead Raceway.

He’ll be looking to continue that positive momentum this weekend at Lee USA Speedway, one of a few tracks on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule where Bonsignore has never won.

Major competition is expected to come from Doug Coby, the defending Granite State Derby winner who was never in contention last week at Riverhead following an early penalty that trapped him two laps down.

Ron Silk enters the Granite State Derby one point behind Bonsignore in the battle for the Tour championship. Silk dominated the most recent race at Riverhead but lost the lead to Bonsignore late and was forced to settle for second. Defending Tour champion Jon McKennedy finished second at Lee USA Speedway last year and will try to do one spot better this weekend.

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Matt Hirschman, who led a race-high 100 laps last year at Lee USA Speedway, returns to Tour competition after being forced to miss the most recent event at Riverhead due to a scheduling conflict. Austin Beers, who enters Saturday’s race third in the series standings, will also be in the field and should be considered a potential threat to win.

Jake Johnson, back at the wheel of the Ole Blue No. 3 for Boehler Racing Enterprises, returns to the site of his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour pole one year ago. He led three laps and finished fifth last year, which could be a good omen ahead of Saturday’s race.

Other notable entries include Anthony Nocella, Woody Pitkat, Tommy Catalano, Sam Rameau, Craig Lutz, Tyler Rypkema and Kyle Bonsignore.

The complete entry for the Granite State Derby is available here.

RACE FACTS

Schedule: Saturday, May 27 … Final practice from 1:40 – 2:25 p.m. ET … Qualifying at 6:30 p.m. ET … Race at 7:45 p.m. ET

Qualifying: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the Granite State Derby is limited to 28 starters including Provisional Positions.

Tire allotment:The maximum tire allotment available for this event is fourteen (14) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is six (6) tires, any position.