LOUDON, NH :: The stars of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tours will take on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in their first ever all-star race this weekend. The 40-lap Whelen All-Star Shootout will go green Friday at 1:10 p.m as a part of Oxford Casino Pole Day.
The race will feature a 20-car field made up of past champions, race winners, and the defending rookie of the year from both the northern and southern divisions.
Many questions have surrounded the event since it first appeared on the schedule back in December. While some have been answered, many have been wondering just how intense the racing will be.
Andy Seuss of Hampstead, N.H. is the current points leader on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and is locked into the event. He said he expects the racing to be fierce from the drop of the green flag.
“I’m really excited for a no-hold-back real quick shootout in the way it’s going to play out,” said Seuss. “I think it’s going to be very exciting. A lot of passing. Everybody is going to be going as hard as they can.”
Seuss said that tire wear won’t be a factor since the race distance is so short.
“It’s going to be like 40 time-trial laps, but with drafting,” he said. “I think the fans are going to be really really pleased.”
2003 NWMT champion Todd Szegedy said he hopes he can stay out of trouble in that race and save the car for the next day’s race.
“We hope to run very well, but stay out of trouble,” he said. “And hopefully we can use it as a big test session for Saturday.”
Szegedy said that he just hopes all of his competitors will race with respect.
“You’ve got to look at the big picture and that’s the 100-lapper the next day,” he said. “That’s where you get paid the most money. That’s where you get the big trophy.”
