AYTONA BEACH, Florida — If momentum amounts to anything more than just a talking point, then Ted Christopher is sitting pretty heading into the second race of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST on Sunday, May 1.
"Veteran has won three of four races entered in 2011"
Between the Whelen Modified and Whelen Southern Modified Tours, Christopher has won three of the four races he has entered so far in 2011. Following an accident in the Whelen Southern Modified Tour season-opener at Caraway Speedway in which he suffered a hand injury, it’s been all checkered flags for the Plainville, Conn., driver.
On April 10, Christopher found Victory Lane at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway in the Whelen Modified Tour opener, the Tour in which he primarily competes in the No. 36 for owner Eddie Whelan. It was his sixth win in the last eight Tour races at Thompson, and third in a row. He also won the Sunoco Modified race that same day in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action, where he is the defending track champion.
Between the Thompson Icebreaker and this week’s Spring Sizzler, Christopher’s moonlight in the Whelen Southern Modified Tour in the No. 00 of car owner Joe Brady produced wins at South Boston (Va.) Speedway on April 17 and in the return to Caraway on April 23. He led 197 of the 300 combined laps in those events.
Add the success so far this year to a litany of accomplishments during his career at Stafford and Christopher shapes up to be the favorite as the Whelen Modified Tour heads to the historic half mile. Not only is he the winningest driver in track history at 110 triumphs across all divisions and series, but Christopher is the three-time defending winner of the Spring Sizzler and has five total Whelen Modified Tour wins in the event. Ten of those 110 checkered flags at Stafford have come in Tour races.
Despite the win in the Whelen Modified Tour opener at Thompson, Christopher will not bring the points lead to Stafford. Following a post-race penalty of 50 points for an altered carburetor booster, Christopher and car owner Whelan rank seventh in points with Rowan Pennink – the race runner-up – atop the standings.
