MODIFIED TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP AND 40 LAP SPECIAL TO PAY $2,500 TO WIN AND ALSO SETTLE SUNDAY SUMMER SLAM SERIES TITLE.
Story By: ANDREW HARPELL / FMP SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Photos By: DAVE DALESANDRO / RACERSGUIDE.COM
KIRKWOOD, NY- August 26, 2016- The 66th Season Championship for Modifieds will be contested this Sunday at Five Mile Point Speedway. The 40 lap event will pay $2,500 to win and will also serve as the third and final race of the Sunday Summer Slam Series at the quarter mile oval. After being twice rained out, the Modified feature will also award the 52nd Heath Memorial race winner title. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The nationally sanctioned IMCA Modified teams will also be gunning for their Track Championship on Sunday.
Entering this Sunday defending Modified Track Champion Shaun Walker leads the point standings over 2013 and 2014 Modified Track Champion Mike Colsten. One of the two is likely to be 2016 Track Champion after Sunday’s racing action. Walker leads Colsten in the point standings 458 – 416. Former multi-time Sportsman Track Champion Nick Petrilak currently sits in third place in the point standings with 375 points. Petrilak would be eliminated from title contention if Walker just starts the Modified 40 lap feature. Kevin Bates is currently fourth in the standings with 342 points and Modified rookie Brad Szulewski is fifth with 337 points.
The 2016 Five Mile Point Speedway Modified division has been one of the most competitive in recent memory. There have been a remarkable ten different feature winners in the eleven races this season. Danny Johnson is the only repeat winner on the season. Walker and Colsten each have one feature win this season and Colsten is the most recent feature winner back on August 13th. Colsten would be looking for his sixth Modified Track Championship. The forty plus year racing veteran went over 20 years between his 1991 Modified Track Championship and the 2014 title. In the last race held back on August 13th Walker led until the final turn of the 30 lap feature only to have Colsten drive by for the win. Walker is hoping to rebound strongly on Sunday for a “back to back” title.
The Modified 40 lap event will also serve as the Sunday Summer Slam Series title event. The race winner will also be crowned the titlist of the 52nd Heath Memorial event. The twice rained-out race will be made up on Sunday in conjunction with all the importance of the track title and Summer Slam title.
Danny Johnson is currently leading the Sunday Modified Summer Slam point battle over Jerry Higbie, Jr. Johnson has never won a Heath Memorial event but Higbie has a victory in the storied race back in 2009. Colsten is a four-time winner of the Heath Memorial race and Walker has yet to capture a victory in the race. Tyler Siri is the defending Heath Memorial race winner.
This Sunday will also see driver’s from the past returning for the Former Racer’s Reunion. The IMCA Modifieds will run twin feature events to determine their 2016 Track Champion. Matt Cole currently leads James Cornell in the championship hunt entering Sunday. Cole is the two-time defending IMCA Modified Track Champion. A FWD 4 Cylinder and Factory Stock special event. The Xcel 600 Modifieds will culminate their Summer Slam Series with their title race on Sunday. Racing on Sunday begins at 6 p.m.
For additional information please log on to www.5milepointspeedway.com or phone the speedway offices at 607-775-5555. Free weekend camping and parking and kids are always admitted free at Five Mile Point Speedway.
