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We are an hour.
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This week on the modified minute.
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There's more times than not that we go to the racetrack on Saturday solely because my kids wouldn't know what to do with themselves.
00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:19.120
I enjoy being with my racing family more than driving the car 90% of the time.
00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:19.839
I don't know.
00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:21.440
That's the secret sauce right there.
00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:28.000
Like if somebody wanted the secret, you know, what what is the secret nut or bolt or magic nut and bolt?
00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:34.960
I think it's just him and I hit it off really early with uh with trusting each other.
00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:37.759
He trusts what I do and I trust what he does.
00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:41.520
And and a lot of times, 97% of the time, they align.
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:43.679
We've been fortunate to win a lot of races.
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I don't know when this.
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I have so much fun racing with this team.
00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:50.079
The owners are my friends.
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You know, I when this deal, whenever it does end, that'll probably be the end for me, too.
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All that plus hot dog of the week, radio replay, and either or.
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So tighten those belts because this week's modified minute is next.
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They're called the Mod Squad.
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Ground Pounders.
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The men that live by the grace of God and 600 horsepower.
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Here they come to the strike, down to the finish, checkered flag in the air.
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Monsignor up to hell.
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Here comes Tolamino to the inside.
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Here comes John Beatty Jr.
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And off the corner to the line they come.
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This is the Modified Minute.
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Go inside the world of modified racing with Jackaroot.
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Modified Minute is brought to you by Wadell Communications, the official track side radio supplier for the Mod Squad.
00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:53.040
By Mid-State Site Development, safety, knowledge, and innovation.
00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:59.760
By Wheeler's Auto Services, the finest in top-level service of premier automobile makes and models.
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By Hummel Brothers Quality Meets.
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100% quality since 1933.
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By Riverhead Building Supply.
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Build Smarter.
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Build better.
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By Mr.
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Ruder Plumbing.
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Expert plumbing contractors you can trust.
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By SignPro, exceeding your expectations.
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And by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925.
00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:28.719
Here's Jack.
00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:33.520
Welcome to another edition of the Modified Minute.
00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:40.800
Now this week we've got three great guests who represent three different sides of the world of modified racing.
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The driver, the crew chief, and one of the sports proven winners.
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First up in SK Soundings, we're putting the spotlight on Anthony Flannery.
00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:54.000
Anthony has been steering modified since 2019.
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And in fact, in 2024, he captured the track championship at the Waterford Speed Bowl.
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Now, he's chasing championship number two at the Shoreline Oval.
00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:14.000
And earlier this season, Anthony pulled off a last lap pass on Keith Rocco to score his eighth career SK modified victory.
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We'll find out what makes Flannery tick and what it takes to race and win at Waterford.
00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:26.080
Then it's time for crew call, and this guy needs very little introduction.
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They call him Superdale, Dale Hedgequist, one of the most respected modified crew members in the business.
00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:39.919
Dale was a key part of Jonathan McKennedy's 2022 Wheel and Modified Tour Championship run.
00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:46.560
And today, the wrenches on the USNE Power Energizer number one for Patrick Emmerling.
00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:51.919
We'll get the crew chief's perspective on what it takes to make a modified go fast.
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And finally, our racer spotlight shines on a guy who's been winning on modified tracks for nearly 25 years.
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His name?
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Ron Silk.
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He's a two-time wheel and modified tour champ, and just this past weekend, he added another win to his resume, taking the top honors at Manadinoch Speedway in their open modified dash for cash.
00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:23.040
From go-karts to ground pounders, Ron Silk just keeps finding a way to make it to Victory Lane.
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Three guests, three different perspectives, but one passion: modified racing.
00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:34.079
But before we get to all of that, we need to get you up to speed.
00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:40.399
Time to get you up to speed in the modified world.
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Up to speed is brought to you by Mid-State Site Development.
00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:50.560
Mid-State, safety, knowledge, and innovation.
00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:54.800
The action got underway at Stafford Speedway Friday night.
00:04:54.959 --> 00:05:02.959
First up was the SK Lights, where the field tried to stop Nick Banglays from winning his seventh of 14 events.
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Here they come off turn number four.
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Good start.
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Pretty much even as they hit to the bottom of turn number one.
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Why?
00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:14.959
The top eight cards bunched together as they continue to race for the top spot.
00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.120
Bloxham, then Holton, then Anderson.
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Final time down the back stretch.
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:20.879
Final chance for Holton to get that first win.
00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:22.879
Trying to make a move, but Bloxham protects.
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Bloxham protects the bottom of the racetrack.
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Here comes Dylan Ho in one final shot off of turn number four.
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I've lost him before from uh dive bombs.
00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:48.319
Um, so you know, you learn to watch your mirrors, and um, Dylan did an awesome job.
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Um, I know he had some issues with those restarts a couple weeks ago, but the kid's getting really good.
00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:57.600
Then it was the SK modified turns before he turns it around the half mile.
00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:02.560
40 laps to instant for the SK modified because we go under the green flag.
00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:05.600
Side by side to the corner, but it's though for the lead.
00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:08.399
Split got a little bit loose, but here's Rocco with the bottom side.
00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:11.759
Rocco does the move in his past in the number two.
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On four, we've got a brand new leader.
00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:15.680
It is Keith Rocco.
00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:17.199
Mikey Flynn's gonna go.
00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:20.639
He has heavy two laps in R24 with two laps to go.
00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:24.560
That being said, Flynn is able to close the gap, it's down to three cards lane.
00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:28.399
The leader keeps Rocco, they're closing it on the last card of Kurt Rainer.
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Here they come up on heavy lap graphics they come off turn number four.
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The white flag is out one lap to go.
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Keith Rocco leads the way, they're gonna laugh at Kurt Rainer coming off with turn two and down the back stretch.
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If Rocco can get there, that might be helpful for him.
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He's trying to use that 96 as a pick, but he's still well ahead of him, heading into three.
00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:52.079
Brainerd will pull that car to the bottom of the racetrack, leave the leaders plenty of room to the outside lane.
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Keith Rocco comes off with turn number four, and for the 77th time in his SK modified career, takes the win.
00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:00.959
Here's the Stafford Motor Speedway.
00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:02.800
We're uh we're building here.
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We're not done.
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Um man, uh I uh I love the Nazi caution here.
00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:12.079
You know, I was choosing on the other foot a few weeks ago where I was forced and had a car to win.
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Wanted to caution, but man, it's nice not to have one when you're up front.
00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:21.120
Also on Friday, Riverhead Raceway hosted their duet type modified for a 50 let go.
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He'll head towards the newsday, goes to three flags in the air.
00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:38.079
Rogers move on a slip on the initial start.
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You broody.
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And he's closing in.
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To the go! Tootico, whatever Grunin's down on that lap, you might want to use it again.
00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:57.120
It's down now under three cents a second.
00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:02.800
White flag! One more left to go here.
00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:06.399
And Chris Rogers, hold on! Chris Rogers with the lead.
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Oh, and Grunin right behind us.
00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.240
They have to turn number three.
00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:13.439
One last gas by Gruddon won't be enough.
00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.480
I'm gonna turn four Chris Rogers to Victory Lane!
00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:18.800
No, it's been a long time.
00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:28.879
We uh you know getting hurt last year didn't help, but uh you gotta come back and uh yo come back and finally put this thing back in victory lane.
00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.439
Uh no, it's there's no words for it.
00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:33.519
There's nothing better than being the victory lane perfect.
00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:38.960
Saturday night, water produced to the state for a 25-lap SK light date.
00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:43.759
And Robert Block to the third doubled down on the weekend, taking the feature.
00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:56.879
And in the 35-lap SK modified feature, it was Jonathan Julio who took the lead with 12 laps to go and cruised to the 35-lap SK victory.
00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:00.399
It was JP's third in a row and fourth to speed.
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Todd Owen took seconds with Nick Hubby finishing third.
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And finally, Madmax Blay hosted their open modified event for a$10,000 to win 100 lapper.
00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:17.679
Coming out on top, it was Braun Silk.
00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:22.320
Finishing right behind silk with Joey Cipriano and Anthony Marcella.
00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:27.200
There you have it, the ground pounding action from this past weekend.
00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:39.120
All the touring series were idle this past weekend, so I thought we should take a look at the current track point standings for the weekly tracks.
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Here's a look at the championship chases.
00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:47.120
Brought to you by SignPro, exceeding your expectations.
00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:55.360
At the Thompson Speedway, Keith Rocco holds a 12-point margin over Todd Owen and a three-point lead over Danny Cates.
00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:00.639
While in the SK Lights, Kevin Davis holds a 14-point lead over Austin Goff.
00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:04.480
RJ Marcot rounds out the top three.
00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:14.559
In Stafford's SK Lights division, Nick Anglais enjoys a 22-point lead over Tyler Barry and a 60-point lead over Dalton McCarthy.
00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:25.200
Keith Rocco's win in the SK modified event Friday night, coupled with Jonathan Puglio's 15th place finish, lengthened Kid Rock's margin to 38 points.
00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:28.559
Len Reen occupies the third spot.
00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:40.639
At Riverhead Raceway, AJ DeSantis holds a six-point margin over Michael Berner and an eight-point lead over third place Richard Davinovich in their Crate Modified series.
00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:47.120
While Owen Grennan is up by six over Mark Stewart in their Tour type modified standings.
00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:58.240
The Waterford SK Lights leaderboard shows Robert Flox from the third out front over Kevin Cormier by 40 points and ahead of third place Kevin Davis by 43.
00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:04.320
While the SK points show Anthony Flannery leading Todd Owen by just nine points.
00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:11.919
Nicholas Humpy is third, 13 points back, with Timmy Jordan and Keith Rocco rounding out the top five.
00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:18.720
You know, Anthony Flannery has been steering modified since 2019.
00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:22.879
He took the track title at Waterford Speedbowl back two years ago.
00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:27.360
But this season he's chasing his second championship at the Shoreline Oval.
00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:31.440
He's in focus in this week's SK Soundings.
00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:34.960
This is SK Soundings.
00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:40.320
News from the SK, SK Life, and 602 Modified World.
00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:43.360
Brought to you by Wheelers Auto Services.
00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:53.039
The finest in top-level service of Premier Automobile makes and models, specializing in European, Japanese, and domestic vehicles.
00:11:53.519 --> 00:12:00.960
We moved from Legends cars to dirt cars to full-bodied cars and now to the SK modifieds.
00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.200
We're talking about Anthony Flannery.
00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:05.840
Anthony, you kind of came up the normal way.
00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:11.200
As a kid, you were in go-karts and you were in, you know, in the Tiger Cub type cars.
00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:17.919
So uh when did you first say to yourself, you know, I really want to do this?
00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:21.200
Well, I was uh I was probably seven.
00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:23.039
Oh well I wasn't probably I was seven.
00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:28.639
My father uh bought my first go-kart and uh we were racing corner midges down at Silver City and Meriden.
00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:35.440
I mean I I mean any any little kid, little boy at that time would love to drive a race car, right?
00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.720
And uh I had success.
00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.919
I like doing it.
00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:49.279
Um you know, I liked meeting the people and hanging out with the with the families and the friends, and um, you know, I would say I was probably seven, eight years old when I decided this is something that I want to do as long as I can.
00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:57.679
So who did you always imagine yourself to be when you were in that quarter midget or that go kart or even that legends card?
00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.080
Oh, I was always gonna be Dale Earnhardt.
00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:02.080
I mean that's that's that's just the thing, right?
00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:03.759
Everybody wanted to be Dale Earnhardt.
00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:10.879
Um as I gotten older, um I realized that's not as easily done as as I thought of when I was seven years old.
00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:21.120
Um, you know, now I I look at myself as a hometown hero and some of my kids look up to and my friends like to talk about, and uh it means just as much to me as racing on Sunday.
00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:31.519
You know, I I don't think a lot of folks at Waterford or at Stafford know the fact that when you went away to college, uh your first modified ride was on the dirt.
00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.960
Tell me about that.
00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:37.600
It was an awesome school.
00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.600
I had a great time at a lot of awesome people, and uh they ran dirt out there.
00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:46.799
There's uh, you know, if you're from New England, you know other than Lemon Valley, there's no dirt racing out here.
00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:53.039
Um I moved out to Ohio to the Midwest and they uh paving racing wasn't a thing.
00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:55.279
They they looked down on pavement racing out there.
00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:59.120
Um so my first year at school, I ran a dirt street stock.
00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:09.279
Um had great success doing that with the school for my first time, and then uh my second year at school, I ran the modifier, and um I I wouldn't train for anything.
00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.799
I had an awesome time.
00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:15.919
Um I learned so much about car control, driving, um, setup.
00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:29.120
You know, there's there's so much that that goes back and forth between dirt and pavement that a lot of people don't know, and they see it on Sunday, they see the guys that run dirt cars, that ran dirt cars, Kyle Larsons, Christopher Bells.
00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.799
Um, you know, even uh Jeff Gordon.
00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:37.679
Um great, great drivers that came from dirt racing.
00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.759
Um there's something to be said about that.
00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:43.360
There's a lot of amazing drivers that have never raced dirt that probably would do good there.
00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.399
Um but it was an experience that I couldn't have couldn't have skipped life with.
00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:51.120
Alright, let's move to the SK modified.
00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:58.480
Uh you had a certain degree of success at the third mile shoreline oval we all know as new London Waterford Speedbowl.
00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:04.000
In fact, you won a championship there, and now you are leading in the points.
00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:09.519
When did you decide that you were gonna move up to the big ass half mile at Stafford?
00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:16.399
You know, it um I hate to say it wasn't my decision, but uh, I got hooked up with Todd Owen and Chassis Pro.
00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:18.960
Um about my it wasn't even a full season.
00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:22.159
I it was probably my first half season I ran an SK modified.
00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.759
And um I was struggling, but I was trying like hell.
00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.360
And uh and Todd noticed that.
00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:38.639
Todd came over, he tried to help me out, and he could see that um I was trying as hard as I could and he knew I was getting more out of it than I should have because I didn't have the right setup, the right deal.
00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:40.960
Um, you know, we were just doing it on our own.
00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:50.720
And uh I got hooked up with Todd and started running one of his cars at Waterford, and he had a car that opened up about halfway through the season at Stafford, asked if I wanted if I was interested.
00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:52.799
Um, so I jumped into the car.
00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.679
My first race was the was the Senators Cup.
00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.720
Uh it's gotta be five years ago now, four years ago now.
00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.159
And we finished sixth.
00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.480
And from then on, it was just it was over.
00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:03.840
I I had to race there.
00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:12.720
Um Stafford has this this aura to it that every local short track racer wants to win a race at Stafford.
00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:16.399
Um there's just something about it, and it's something I haven't been able to accomplish.
00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.759
I I really want to.
00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:22.320
I want that more than anything, but uh I couldn't I couldn't be happier racing there.
00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:29.440
Um, you know, the the competition level in SK Modified racing in general is the highest it could be.
00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:33.440
And at Stafford, especially, you go to some tracks and there's five cars that can win a race.
00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:37.120
You go to Stafford, there's 15 cars that could win that race.
00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:42.960
Um, so you gotta be on your game every night, and um, it just forces you to be better.
00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:49.600
I had a moment, Anthony, the other night when I was watching you, and I was trying to find your pitch crew.
00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:59.840
And then all of a sudden I realized because you're part of Todd's pit crew, you only literally on pit road had one pit crew member and he was in charge of the signboard.
00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.559
That's right.
00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.600
Yeah, no, that's right.
00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.519
We uh we share we share a crew.
00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:07.759
Um, you know, it's uh we're a big family, and uh I I wouldn't change it.
00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:09.279
It's it's a great time.
00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:11.759
It gets a little hectic if we all pit at once.
00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:14.000
Um they gotta decide who they're gonna who they're gonna help out.
00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:16.240
Well, I think the boss goes first, don't you?
00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:25.839
Well, sometimes, unless he unless he's being unless he's being a jerk that day, then they might leave him back, but no, it's um there's a little bit of strategy there.
00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:29.920
Um we do our best to not have to pit together or not have to pit at all, really.
00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:32.640
Um all those guys on a pit road there.
00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:36.559
Um you know you talk about I have one one pick, right holding the holding the pit sign, right?
00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:54.079
I mean there's there's a small group of people that make everything happen at Jassy Pro, and they do a lot for us, for me, for Todd, for all of the rental cars, all of the cars that have been sold out of Jassy Pro to give them the best foot forward.
00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:58.319
And I I I rely on those guys more than anything.
00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:02.160
Um I have a small family, I have a business, and a lot of stuff going on.
00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:08.240
Um without those guys, I definitely couldn't race two nights a week, and I could probably barely race the one night a week on my own car.
00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:13.920
Um so hats off to all those guys that put in all the time.
00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:16.880
Um, you know, 99% of it is volunteer.
00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:24.559
Um just just to be there and to be helpful and and do what we gotta do, and that's the only way to make this deal affordable, really.
00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:26.480
You know, it's beyond affordable.
00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:48.559
One of the things I noticed um, you know, on your Facebook page is just like so many other racing families, and you've got a growing young family and it keeps getting bigger and bigger, you know, and and yet they're gonna be offered the same opportunity you were, and that's to grow up in what I call the modified racing community.
00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.119
How important is that to you and your wife?
00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.559
That's very important.
00:18:52.720 --> 00:19:01.519
Um, there's more times than not that we go to the racetrack on Saturday solely because my kids wouldn't know what to do with themselves.
00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:08.079
I enjoy being with my racing family more than driving the car 90% of the time.
00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:15.599
Um it it was a great thing for me as a small kid, uh growing up, seven years old, to be involved in an adult sport, right?
00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:23.039
There there were children racing, but you were around adults, you you learned respect, you learned manners, um, you learned how to talk with adults.
00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:30.160
Uh, and I I I love that my children are comfortable with adults, that they know how to talk with people.
00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:32.480
Um they don't write from wrong.
00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:42.880
Um, and and the racing community is 99.9% amazing people that you would never meet unless you were there on a Saturday night.
00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:48.720
Listen, I appreciate you carving some time out of a very, very, very busy schedule.
00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:52.480
I I know you're getting ready for another uh weekend this weekend.
00:19:52.559 --> 00:20:01.279
And who knows, Anthony, now that you've been on the modified minute, it may be Victory Lane at Stafford Speedway on Friday night in the SK5K.
00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.000
You never know.
00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.200
That's it.
00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:06.079
And if I am there, I sure hope you're staying at Victory Lane with me, Jackie.
00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:08.079
I'll join you, my friend, for sure.
00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.839
Thanks so much, Anthony.
00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:10.559
Thank you.
00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:18.960
Whenever the SK lights take the Stafford's half mile, you can always be assured that the action will be fast and furious.
00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:25.839
And this week was no different, and for one driver, it was the continuation of a dream season.
00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:30.960
It's now time to reveal this week's modified minute hot dog of the week.
00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:33.359
Someone who stood above the rest.
00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:37.759
Brought to you by Hummel Brothers, Quality Meets.
00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:40.880
The top dog in modified racing.
00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:44.640
100% quality since 1933.
00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:51.920
Robert Bloxham III has had a very good 2026 campaign.
00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:56.240
A win in May and another in July streaming at the Great Event.
00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:02.559
Two weeks ago, Bloxham unveiled a new partner in Payne Ski for his number 32.
00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:04.319
Mohawk Northeast.
00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:07.200
Joined forces with Robert Bloxham III.
00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:14.160
And then, this past Friday, Robin started in the 12th spot.
00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:19.680
Two wide, the top eight cards bunched together as they continue their race for the top spot.
00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.920
Bloxham, then Houghton, then Anderson.
00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.519
Final time down the back stretch.
00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:25.599
Final chance for Houghton to get that first win.
00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.680
Trying to make a move, but Bloxham protects.
00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.839
Bloxham protects the bottom of the racetrack.
00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:31.200
Here comes Dylan Houghton.
00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.519
One final shot off of turn number four.
00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:36.160
Pulls up alongside, but it's not enough.
00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:41.519
Robert Bloxham III picks up another SK Lite modified win here this season.
00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.759
His third of 2026.
00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:51.039
Between these guys and a little experience, I think that's all that got these guys because I mean they're very fast and it was it was a lot of fun to race with them.
00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.960
Congratulations, young man.
00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:56.640
You are this week's hot dog of the week.
00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:12.160
They call him Superdale, and he is indeed considered one of the top modified wrenches in all of modified racing.
00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:18.720
He was in charge of Jonathan McKennedy's Wheel of Modified Tour Championship run back in 2022.
00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:26.799
And now he calls the shots and twists the wrenches for Patrick Emmerling and the USNE Power Energizer number one.
00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:29.920
He is this week's Crew Call guest.
00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:35.279
Time to drop in at the race shop and get the inside dope from the guys who twists the wrenches.
00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.640
It's Crew Call.
00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:42.720
Brought to you by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925.
00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:50.160
So I'm at Stafford on Friday night, just kind of hanging out, watching the cars go by, and who do I run into?
00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.519
My next guest.
00:22:51.759 --> 00:23:02.079
Dale Hedgequist was out there either A, trying to gather intel, or B, just doesn't have a life, or C just loves modifies regardless of where they're running.
00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:04.400
So what's the story, my friend?
00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:08.079
Uh a little bit of bowl, all three, actually.
00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:11.839
So um I don't know.
00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.839
I just I'm a huge fan of racing.
00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:16.400
I'm a huge fan of modified racing, obviously, right?
00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.480
I've been around it my whole life.
00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:31.440
Um I like talking to a lot of different guys and seeing like a lot of different views on you know, maybe changes or adjustments or you know uh stuff like that.
00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:39.839
And then I just I don't know, I have uh I guess a soft spot for some of these younger modified guys and just want to try to help them package.
00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:48.640
Or if I can give them you know a tidbit of knowledge or you know help, then yeah, that's that's really all it was for.
00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:52.960
Yeah, I saw you out there working with some of the young studs and offering up your assistance.
00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:59.599
All right, it's been an incredible July for you and the USNE Power Energizer number one.
00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:05.680
Uh you sweep the Granite State Bull Ring Circuit, you go back to back to back.
00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:08.559
That's all in the rearview mirror now, Superdale.
00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:23.039
We're back up on the big tracks now, which, oh, by the way, in case nobody uh remembers, uh, you and uh Patrick are the defending champions for the last two years of the Thompson Wheel and Modified Tour race that's coming up this week.
00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:37.839
So what what is involved in making the transition from the little bull rings, the quarter miles, the third miles, etc., to the big tracks, like a 5/8 mile, a half mile, and sandwiched in between the magic mile at New Hampshire?
00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:45.039
So I think just strategy is really the only thing that kind of changes our game plan or our outlook, right?
00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:50.799
Um you know, we've been fortunate, like you said, to win the last two August races there.
00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:53.279
Our our car runs really good there in August.
00:24:53.519 --> 00:25:01.519
Um you know, so our mindset is still the same as it was in February when we went to New Saberna.
00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:11.920
We go to every race wanting to win and preparing to win and trying when we even when we can't win, we want to try to make the best finish we can out of it.
00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:17.839
Um and sometimes strategy plays a lot of role in that, you know.
00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:26.960
So the two past Thompson August races, we sat on the pole at every lap, and then we started dead last, and yeah, we came back in one.
00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:30.319
So um, but that's all strategy driven.
00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:41.119
So you know, one of the things that I think work in our favor is Pat and I, and not so many words are on the same page of we're never in panic mode.
00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:50.720
Like okay, we're gonna roll with the punches and and adjust on our car as we need to, and uh and run our race, not somebody else's race.
00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:53.119
And I think that's that's what's got us where we are.
00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:55.599
It takes a great amount of trust though, doesn't it?
00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:57.599
He and you and you and he.
00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.039
Absolutely.
00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.799
Absolutely.
00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.880
How do you build that?
00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.440
Oh yeah, I don't know.
00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.880
That's the secret sauce right there.
00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:13.279
Like if somebody wanted the secret, you know, what what is the secret nut or bolt or magic nut and bolt?
00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:20.240
I think it's just that him and I hit it off really early with uh with trusting each other.
00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:22.960
He trusts what I do and I trust what he does.
00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:26.960
And and a lot of times, 97% of the time, they align.
00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:32.400
Very seldom does he come on the radio and say, I think we should have gone this way and not this way.
00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:40.160
So and a lot of times I can see the car, and I'll before he even says it, I'll ask him if what I'm seeing is what he's feeling.
00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:44.480
And um, and that's also paid huge dividends for us.
00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:48.000
You know, he's been at this, as you have, for quite some time.
00:26:48.160 --> 00:27:08.079
But the thing that I notice is yes, he's always been one of the top runners at the Wheel of Modified tour, but he also was out there gathering intel, gathering experience, increasing his racecraft by driving on the super speedways, be it trucks, be it O'Reilly, whatever might come his way.
00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:22.079
When you see that in a driver, the desire to try and improve, not just in a specific discipline, Dale, but overall as a race car driver, does that allow you to do things maybe a wee bit differently?
00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.039
It does.
00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:43.680
And sometimes him and I, like if if people could be a fly on the wall for some of the conversations that we have, like you know, the text message chain that goes back and forth with pictures, like we'll send pictures of Formula One cars and what they did in a Formula One race or an indie race or you know, uh an SECA race.
00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.759
Like, you know, did you see the way that this worked?
00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:47.200
And did you see the way that that worked?
00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:54.799
And and I think his love for racing and my love for racing um are really all we're really doing.
00:27:55.119 --> 00:28:10.400
So all the rest of it, the mechanical end of it is almost an oversight for us because we both we both study a lot of things, we study a lot of races, like him and I on no set schedule will watch.
00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:14.960
Like I watched Thompson, you know, icebreaker the other night.
00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:21.519
I watched last August's race, I watched the World Series race, you know, all over the past few nights.
00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:29.599
And he texted me and he said, Hey, you know, I just watched Thompson and did you see, you know, so and so did this, and did you see the reaction to that?
00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:35.680
And you know, this guy was leading and came in, took a tire, and made this adjustment and then fell off.
00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:57.359
And you know, so we kind of both see that and understand it, and I think that comes from his years of driving all the modified stuff, the ROC, the wheel and modified tour stuff, um, you know, and then going down south and driving all the national series stuff and just collecting all of that data and and mind power, right?
00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.480
And racecraft.
00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:05.680
And and that's the biggest thing is he never panics when the air cleaner broke, he broke off at White Mountain.
00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:08.400
Oh, yeah, he literally came on the radio.
00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:13.279
It was kind of funny because he literally came on the radio with a chuckle in his mouth and he said, Did you see that?
00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:16.079
You know, and I'm like, Yeah, bring it to me.
00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:18.079
We have an air cleaner in a stud ready to go.
00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:21.359
So um there's just never any panic.
00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:27.119
And and I've worked with a lot of guys and and help a lot of guys, you know, in weekly stuff.
00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:36.160
And sometimes you can hear the panic in their voice because they spent three days building up the race in their mind of how they want the race to go.
00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:43.839
And when it doesn't go that way, they they backpedal a little bit or or they think of they can't think of it on the fly.
00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:52.000
Um and that's one of the huge assets in Patrick is he never there's never panic.
00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:59.680
It's just in even when we have a bad race car, he just comes on the radio and he's like, Man, we just write this in the notes that we can't come back with this.
00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:02.400
Like this is probably where we needed to change it.
00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:05.440
Um But there's never panic.
00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:09.359
Well, most fans may not realize this.
00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:11.680
The flow racing coverage is outstanding.
00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:16.480
But in the Wheel of Modified Tour, uh, as they say, there's a little known rule.
00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:26.079
While weekly tracks and Monaco modified and all the open modified series encourage the use of in-car cameras, NASCAR prohibits it.
00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:31.200
Does that limit you in terms of debrief looking and being able to see?
00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:43.279
Or is there enough coverage vis-a-vis the flow racing that you can have those text exchanges or those phone call exchanges with Patrick and come up and uh you know generate some ideas?
00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:52.480
So yeah, the the use of in-car cameras are we do look at some of that.
00:30:52.960 --> 00:31:00.000
Um I'm I'm kind of uh I don't know, I'm not not that technologically advanced, right?
00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:08.079
So um a lot of times I I watch it on a 75-minute screen TV and I just know pause, I know rewind, and I know slow-mo, right?
00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:26.960
Okay, so with like the tri-track stuff, and you know, in fence line films does a great job putting in car things and and I like to watch hand placement and all that kind of stuff, but a lot of it is more like car attitude that I'm looking for, right?
00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:37.200
So um Patrick's hands, he knows where his hands want to be and where he wants them to be on the steering wheel.
00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:56.880
So to me, watching it can be cool, but it's not as important as seeing like an oncoming shot of a car and seeing the attitude of a front end or how the car lays down on the racetrack, um, you know, or a side shot and seeing if the car is hiked up in the back or if it's squatted down, making drive.
00:31:57.039 --> 00:32:07.759
You know, that kind of stuff to me is a little more um educational than than watching his hand placement, which at times is cool, like the new Smyrna stuff.
00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:12.880
Yeah, um Tom Capuano from Fence Line Films and I have a kind of a running joke.
00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:16.240
Like sometimes I'll put stuff in the car just to see if he sees it.
00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:19.599
He does an outstanding job.
00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:21.839
He does it it's funny.
00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:32.960
Could did you ever imagine when you got started that you as a as a chief mechanic or Patrick as a driver, that during the week you'd be engaged in film study?
00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:35.200
No, not at all.
00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:42.400
Although, you know, I have I have a younger guy here that works in the shop with me, um, TJ Tomasi, right?
00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:50.400
So he's uh 18 years old and he's he's been around me since or us really since he's been five or six years old.
00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:56.640
So um one of the things we laugh and joke about is like, how do you remember all of this information?
00:32:56.799 --> 00:33:07.759
Like you you have a conversation with some of the older guys or you know, that come in and they'll have old conversations about Evans and Jazambac and all of the greats, right?
00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:11.279
And and a lot of those stories I remember being a little kid, right?
00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:23.519
And being a part of them, but what's lost in our sport is like when I was a little kid, I came home every Friday and I read the Speedway scene from cover to cover, flipped it over, read it upside down, went back and forth.
00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:30.640
Like I used to love reading the classified in the Speedway scene and seeing who was selling a car and Rolly Limblad selling a kit.
00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:33.759
You know, we used to pr promote his kit cards back in the day.
00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:36.880
Um and we don't have that anymore.
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:43.680
So now what we have is film study, and we have everything's on online, it's at the you know, in our pocket and our on our phone.
00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:47.359
Um so and the photographers are great, right?
00:33:47.440 --> 00:34:03.119
You know, like Tommy Morris and a bunch of the photographers that we in Canfield, like when we go to their races, they like I ask them like I really want shots of my car in the corner, middle of the corner, exiting the corner, like you know, if you can get me those.
00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:24.239
And every time we race, my phone is just texting because I'll get 30 or 40 pictures a race from the photographers, which is great because a lot of times you can't really notice or pick up on tire scrub or you know, fine fine-tuning the race car is a visual thing as much as it is just grabbing a wrench and going to town.
00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:26.079
Well, listen, it's a real treat.
00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:29.760
You kicked off the modified minute season with episode one.
00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:37.679
Good luck as we hit the big tracks, especially to go back to back, and now back again at Thompson Speedway.
00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:39.599
And uh, you're the very best.
00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:43.519
Super Dale, you are, and I appreciate your visiting with us.
00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.400
No problem.
00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.360
Thank you, Jack.
00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:50.239
You know, sometimes a driver has to refocus after an early brush with disaster.
00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:54.880
That's the case for Glenn Reen's first lap two weeks ago.
00:34:55.039 --> 00:35:01.119
But he persevered and he finished on the podium, and now you get to ride with him.
00:35:10.079 --> 00:37:22.239
I want to tell community, be ready for it.
00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:27.599
Good job, but I know he gave you the best shot.
00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:30.719
You took your only opportunity, it just didn't work out.
00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:33.280
Gotta get it just a tick better for you.
00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:37.280
Ron Stilk has been winning on the modified circuits.
00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:48.000
He's a two-time wheel and modified tour champion, and just this past weekend, he took the top honors at Menadnock Speedway in their open modified Dash for Cash.
00:37:48.159 --> 00:37:53.039
From go-karts to ground pounders, Ron Stilk just keeps winning.
00:37:53.199 --> 00:37:56.719
Let's visit with him on this week's Racer Spotlight.
00:37:57.039 --> 00:38:02.159
Time to drop in at the race shop and get the inside dope from the guys who twist the wrenches.
00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:03.519
It's Crew Call.
00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:09.760
Brought to you by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925.
00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:14.159
Hey Ron, thanks for jumping in and uh being part of Modified Minute.
00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:15.280
Welcome to the show.
00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:16.639
Yeah, thanks for having me on.
00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.519
I'm glad to be here.
00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:40.880
All right, before we talk about your incredible modified racing career, I want to go as Chris Berman used to say on ESPN Sports Center, back, back, back, back, back to your karting days, where a very good authority informed me many years ago that you and Danica Patrick had some real throw down karting events against each other.
00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:43.039
Tell me the rest of the story.
00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:44.400
Yeah, we did.
00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:48.320
Um there were a lot of great kids that ran go-karts back then.
00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:50.400
Um but we had a lot of good races.
00:38:50.480 --> 00:38:52.320
Danica, we were close with her family.
00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:56.079
It was uh amazing to see what she accomplished in auto racing.
00:38:56.239 --> 00:39:09.199
But um race carts with Justin Bonsenor, although we were a little different in age, we didn't really race against each other, but um a lot of great lot of really people that made it far in motorsports we got to race with all over the country.
00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:11.280
It was a lot of fun racing go-karts.
00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:13.280
All right, let's move to the modified.
00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:17.920
Can you believe that you've been turning left for 23 years?
00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:19.280
No, I can't.
00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:21.519
It's something it doesn't seem like it's been that.
00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:27.519
I mean, in some ways it seems like it's been that long, and other other times it uh seems like it's only been a few years, you know.
00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:30.239
You uh something I really enjoyed doing.
00:39:30.320 --> 00:39:32.880
I'm glad I've got the opportunity to do it for this long.
00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:34.239
It's it's been a lot of fun.
00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:39.360
Where do you think, Ron, your racecraft has improved over those two decades?
00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:41.280
Well, it's improved a lot.
00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:46.159
You know, when I first started racing SKs, um, Stafford, Waterford, Thompson.
00:39:46.239 --> 00:39:54.320
Yeah, all I had driven was a go-kart up to that point and got pretty good at ripping the right front off of uh a modified when I first started.
00:39:54.480 --> 00:39:57.280
Um, but you just pick up a lot as you go.
00:39:57.360 --> 00:40:07.599
Um luckily when I was younger, I got to race against a lot of great car drivers, Ted Christopher, Mike Stefanic, uh Tony Hersch and Hirschman, Jerry Marquis.
00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:09.039
The list goes on and on.
00:40:09.119 --> 00:40:15.599
But those guys were so talented and and so good at what they did, it was hard to uh not learn stuff from them.
00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:29.679
So you then move up the ladder, and over the course of the last, I would say, ten years or so, you have absolutely dominated any tour-type modified event held at the Stafford Motor Speedway.
00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:31.440
What's your secret?
00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:32.800
You know, I don't know.
00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:34.639
I I've always run good at Stafford.
00:40:34.719 --> 00:40:38.559
That was one of the places I I started at and and learned to race at.
00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:44.159
Um, but we've I went a long time um, you know, not having that kind of success there, too.
00:40:44.320 --> 00:40:46.639
Um I would say a big part of it's Filmoran.
00:40:46.800 --> 00:40:52.559
I mean, he had he had lots of success there with Doug Covey prior to me and and Todd Zeggetty prior to Doug.
00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:56.719
So um just knowing that the car is gonna be good every time we go.
00:40:56.880 --> 00:41:01.599
My car owners give us great equipment to be able to do this, and that's what it takes.
00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:03.920
It takes the whole team effort.
00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:11.440
You know, you gotta have the right equipment, the right people working on it that know what's going on, and then uh it makes the job as a driver a little bit easier.
00:41:11.679 --> 00:41:13.440
Yeah, you talk about your ownership.
00:41:13.519 --> 00:41:20.800
Uh it it it is one of the more well-heeled and more committed to modified racing, HYR.
00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:26.159
And uh I've had Phil on this show, and he's mentioned that you you guys don't want for anything.
00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:32.719
If all of a sudden there's some new thingamajig, they say, well, go get it because we want to go to Victory Lane.
00:41:33.039 --> 00:41:33.920
Yeah, they do.
00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:36.800
Um they're you know, they're in it full force.
00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:49.920
Uh we try not to, you know, just get everything, a bunch of stuff that we don't need, but um if we need something or lacking in some department, their their commitment, Tyler Hayden, Joey known, is uh it's been 100%.
00:41:50.719 --> 00:41:52.719
All right, let's talk a little bit about this season.
00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:55.280
At the beginning of the season, you were gonna go back.
00:41:55.519 --> 00:42:08.480
You already have two uh championship wheel and modified tour trophies in your trophy case, but you and Phil and uh and the team were going to chase for the title, and then you decided to step away.
00:42:08.719 --> 00:42:13.280
I've got a new nickname for you because they can talk about big money Matt Hirschman.
00:42:13.679 --> 00:42:17.679
I think Ron Silk and this team, you're the bounty hunters.
00:42:17.840 --> 00:42:20.400
You just go where the big paychecks are.
00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:22.480
Well, we've been trying to do it this year.
00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:27.599
Matt Hirschman's been doing it for a lot of years, so it's uh it's working good for us this year.
00:42:27.679 --> 00:42:28.880
We're having fun doing it.
00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:32.639
It's a little uh less stressful trying to chase like one championship.
00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:37.440
You know, that that kind of becomes all consuming, and uh it's nice to not be doing that.
00:42:37.679 --> 00:42:56.159
You know, Ron, you I remember when you were just a kid at Stafford, and in fact, when you first signed up to be an apprentiter, uh a plumber's apprentice, you've had that blue-collar attitude, not just to racing, but what you've done with the business and where you're at as a businessman.
00:42:56.320 --> 00:43:00.480
How do you how do you get 26 hours out of a 24-hour day?
00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:04.000
Well, I mean, I'm lucky at work, you know.
00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:10.079
It was it was a family business that I grew up uh, you know, being a part of and taking it over.
00:43:10.159 --> 00:43:13.280
Um it's all the same employees from when my father took it over.
00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:23.760
So have a good group of guys there and you know, having a guy like Phil Moran here in the race car shop, uh Bob Tullipani, who who is totally committed to this deal too.
00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:30.320
Um you know, I can kind of focus on both and and not get pulled too hard in one direction.
00:43:30.800 --> 00:43:36.800
You know, it's it's fascinating to watch the chemistry between you and Phil.
00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:48.000
Uh and I I've always believed that that's the thing that most race fans sitting in the stands don't doesn't appreciate to the level that you, as a race car driver, does.
00:43:48.400 --> 00:43:51.519
He can complete your sentences before you even speak them.
00:43:52.400 --> 00:43:53.760
Yeah, I mean that's what it takes.
00:43:53.840 --> 00:43:55.199
You gotta be on the same page.
00:43:55.360 --> 00:43:57.920
Uh, you know, I really enjoy working with Phil.
00:43:58.159 --> 00:44:01.519
Like I said, i the cars are Prepared flawlessly.
00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:13.360
Um, very I don't know that we've had very any m mechanical problems, but beyond that, just the speed that they have, um you know, it's it's it's a great position to be in.
00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:15.280
It's makes racing a lot of fun.
00:44:15.599 --> 00:44:18.159
How much longer do you think you're gonna stay at it?
00:44:18.639 --> 00:44:19.440
I don't know.
00:44:19.599 --> 00:44:22.719
I mean, I we've been fortunate to win a lot of races.
00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:27.679
I don't know when this I I have so much fun racing with this team.
00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:29.199
The owners are my friends.
00:44:29.360 --> 00:44:34.159
You know, I when this deal, whenever it does end, that'll probably be the end for me too.
00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:46.880
When you survey the modified racing scene, and I asked Phil this earlier this season on the modified minute, there's an there seems to be an abundance of what I call tour type modified races.
00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:57.840
You've got the Wheel and Modified Tour, you've got the just what you want at Monadnock with the Dash for Cash and they're open modified, Stafford's open modified, the Monaco modified.
00:44:58.400 --> 00:45:01.519
It's there's such an abundance of them.
00:45:01.920 --> 00:45:03.119
Are there too many?
00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:06.159
I would say probably there are too many.
00:45:06.400 --> 00:45:10.960
I think it stops the big draw from any one series getting it.
00:45:11.360 --> 00:45:18.960
Um you know, when I first started racing, it was if you wanted to race a tour modified, you ran uh wheeling modified tour.
00:45:19.039 --> 00:45:21.760
I I know there's a Riverside Park and Riverhead.
00:45:22.239 --> 00:45:25.280
Not many, there weren't many other options outside of the tour.
00:45:25.360 --> 00:45:27.840
So um I think it's good to have options.
00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:32.480
People can do what they want and and go race where they want closer to home, but it does stop.
00:45:32.719 --> 00:45:36.480
The days of 50 cars at one race are pretty much over.
00:45:36.559 --> 00:45:37.760
There's too many options.
00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:49.840
Um you and Thompson, maybe not as his title of affair as it's stabbed, but you do like the big track.
00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:52.880
Yeah, I mean Thompson's been great for me.
00:45:53.039 --> 00:46:02.960
Um I've won like, I think, nine tour races at Thompson, so it's it's been a good one for me, but that was one we were planning on going back to, but we're actually not gonna go on Wednesday.
00:46:03.039 --> 00:46:06.239
Uh I know we're on the entry list, but we won't be there Wednesday.
00:46:06.400 --> 00:46:09.039
We'll be at Star on Saturday for the Tri-Track race.
00:46:09.199 --> 00:46:09.679
Oh, okay.
00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:11.599
News break right here.
00:46:12.400 --> 00:46:15.039
How many more championships do you want to chase?
00:46:15.840 --> 00:46:19.280
I don't know that I'm too concerned with uh chasing anymore.
00:46:19.360 --> 00:46:28.079
Like I said earlier, Chasing championships is is fun, but it it it brings a different level of stress to the season.
00:46:28.239 --> 00:46:32.559
Um it's much more fun to go try and just win the race and not think about points.
00:46:32.719 --> 00:46:38.320
Um I mean I'd love to win another one, but I don't know that that's like uh uh a goal for me at this point.
00:46:38.719 --> 00:46:42.079
Well let's see, you've got a white master's coat from Stafford.
00:46:42.400 --> 00:46:52.320
Down south at the Smart Modified Tour, you were given a crown, a robe, and and a scepter as the king of the modified down there.
00:46:52.880 --> 00:46:57.840
You've got some pretty unusual hardware up there on the shelf behind you.
00:46:58.400 --> 00:47:04.079
Yeah, um it's been a good year between uh um King of the Modified.
00:47:04.320 --> 00:47:05.280
That was a great race.
00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:05.760
It was fun.
00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:07.599
South Boston's a great racetrack.
00:47:07.679 --> 00:47:09.280
It's fun to go race with smart.
00:47:09.679 --> 00:47:15.760
Um I got two of those white jackets now, so I'm getting a uh closet full of them, hopefully.
00:47:15.920 --> 00:47:21.599
But yeah, it's been a it's been a good year, and and uh definitely have a lot of cool trophies and hardware to show for it.
00:47:21.920 --> 00:47:27.679
Ron, good luck to you in the future, and uh we appreciate you uh joining us here tonight on the Modified Minute.
00:47:27.920 --> 00:47:28.960
Yeah, it's great being on.
00:47:29.119 --> 00:47:29.920
Thank you.
00:47:30.320 --> 00:47:34.400
It seems as if Robert Bloxon III has been all over this episode.
00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:38.880
What with his double wins over the weekend and his hot dog of the week award.
00:47:38.960 --> 00:47:41.280
So we might as well not stop there.
00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:46.239
We sat him down in the hot seat for this week's either or segment.
00:47:46.880 --> 00:47:51.920
It's either or where our guest must choose one or the other.
00:47:52.159 --> 00:47:53.440
Brought to you by Mr.
00:47:53.599 --> 00:47:58.000
Rooter Plumbing, expert plumbing contractors you can trust.
00:47:58.239 --> 00:48:01.280
This week it's a special foods edition.
00:48:01.519 --> 00:48:03.519
Joining me is Robert Bloxham III.
00:48:03.679 --> 00:48:09.199
He has agreed to sit down to either or the special foods edition.
00:48:09.760 --> 00:48:11.199
Here's how it goes, Robert.
00:48:11.280 --> 00:48:12.800
I'm gonna give you two choices.
00:48:13.039 --> 00:48:16.239
You pick one, and if you want, give me the reason why.
00:48:16.559 --> 00:48:20.800
First up, either Dairy Queen or Friendlies.
00:48:22.880 --> 00:48:24.559
Definitely Dairy Queen.
00:48:24.800 --> 00:48:29.360
I just grew up with it, so I'm used to it, and I don't like change, so dairy queen.
00:48:29.760 --> 00:48:31.360
Alright, moving on.
00:48:31.760 --> 00:48:34.960
Either ribs or wings.
00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:37.440
Wings all day long.
00:48:37.760 --> 00:48:40.079
Hot, mild, Chernobyl.
00:48:40.960 --> 00:48:43.199
Uh I like I like all kinds.
00:48:43.280 --> 00:48:48.639
Uh I'm not afraid of spice, but I'm not afraid of flavor, so we we dabble in different things, so.
00:48:49.599 --> 00:48:50.239
Alright.
00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:52.559
How about in the hamburg department?
00:48:52.719 --> 00:48:54.800
Big Mac or a Whopper?
00:48:56.000 --> 00:49:02.400
Um, I actually had my big my first Big Mac this year, so um, but I'd I'd have to go with a whopper.
00:49:03.119 --> 00:49:03.280
Okay.
00:49:04.239 --> 00:49:06.480
Going a little more high class, alright?
00:49:06.639 --> 00:49:08.480
Going down to the steak department.
00:49:08.800 --> 00:49:12.320
Texas Roadhouse or the Outback Steakhouse?
00:49:13.280 --> 00:49:15.679
Uh Texas Roadhouse.
00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:17.679
It's always a staple with me and my friends.
00:49:17.760 --> 00:49:20.960
We go there all the time, so yeah, Texas Roadhouse.
00:49:21.119 --> 00:49:24.159
Well, maybe by endorsing it, maybe they'll send you a gift certificate.
00:49:24.239 --> 00:49:25.039
You never know, right?
00:49:25.280 --> 00:49:27.599
Somebody's gotta pay for this racing too, so.
00:49:27.840 --> 00:49:28.159
Amen.
00:49:28.800 --> 00:49:34.880
And finally, just a straight-up milkshake or a Wendy's frosty.
00:49:36.719 --> 00:49:38.159
Milkshake for sure.
00:49:38.480 --> 00:49:38.960
Really?
00:49:39.519 --> 00:49:50.800
Yeah, I I don't know, that's a hard one because I I grew up uh uh you know being a little poor, so me and my friends always had the free frosty keychains.
00:49:50.960 --> 00:49:55.760
So we were always we were we were at uh Wendy's getting free frosties all the time.
00:49:55.920 --> 00:49:59.760
So I might have I might have had too many of them before I'm tired of them now.
00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:00.159
Okay.
00:50:00.960 --> 00:50:07.679
Well, I appreciate your visiting with us and participating in the special food edition of Either Or.
00:50:08.719 --> 00:50:10.239
Awesome, thank you.
00:50:10.639 --> 00:50:13.280
And that's a wrap for this week's Modified Minute.
00:50:13.519 --> 00:50:23.039
A big thank you to Anthony Flannery, Dale Hedgequist, and Ron Silk for joining us and sharing their stories and their passion for modified racing.
00:50:23.599 --> 00:50:28.159
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00:50:52.800 --> 00:50:59.599
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00:50:59.840 --> 00:51:01.199
I'm Jack Aroot.
00:51:01.360 --> 00:51:06.880
Thanks so much for watching, thanks for listening, and thanks for supporting the Modified Minute.
00:51:07.039 --> 00:51:14.880
We'll see you next time, and until then, keep the RPMs up on that modified so we can pound the ground.
00:51:15.119 --> 00:51:16.800
So long, everybody.
00:51:17.679 --> 00:51:19.840
This has been the modified minute.
00:51:20.320 --> 00:51:35.920
Modified Minute has been brought to you by Quadell Communications, the official track side radio supplier for the Mod Squad by Mid-State Site Development, safety, knowledge, and innovation.
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