DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Throughout the season, NASCAR has been celebrating the 40th anniversary of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour modern era, beginning with the 1985 season, by releasing the list of the 40 greatest drivers in the series without ranking.
Ten were added to the list during each announcement, culminating in today’s final grouping of drivers released leading into Thursday night’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 at Richmond Raceway.
Previously announced drivers on the list include NASCAR Hall of Famer (Class of 2021) Mike Stefanik, whose 74 wins rank first all time, as do his seven championships. He impressively twice hit double-digit win totals during a season, doing it back-to-back in 1997 (10 wins) and 1998 (13 wins).
Doug Coby is also on the list as one of only two drivers to have won six or more Whelen Modified Tour championships – his six titles ranks second to Stefanik. Coby has tallied 35 Tour victories and had a steak of 13 consecutive seasons with a win (2011 to 2024).
The list also includes Richie Evans, the champion of the first season of the modern era of the Tour – 1985. Evans also tallied eight championships during the NASCAR Modified National Championship era of the Tour, and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012.
“It’s incredibly important for us to recognize and honor the great drivers who have built the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour into the fan-favorite series that it is today,” said Managing Director of NASCAR Regional Joseph Dennewitz. “These drivers are heroes at their local tracks and have made a name for themselves on a national level. With two NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees on the list, it shows the impact the Tour has had on the sport over the years.”
The final group announced today is highlighted by current NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece, who will pull double duty this weekend at Richmond.
Thursday night he’ll race in his family-owned No. 40 entry while on Saturday night he’ll sit behind the wheel of the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford in the Cup Series race.
Preece, the 2013 champion, started racing in the Whelen Modified Tour in 2007, and has tallied 26 Tour wins, including Richmond in 2021.
The list also adds a family tie with Tony and Matt Hirschman. Tony tallied five championships (1995, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2005), which is third all time, and he recorded 35 wins during his career (tied with Coby for fifth on the all-time wins list). His son Matt won at Seekonk Speedway earlier this season and has 10 career Tour wins.
Including Preece and Matt Hirschman, five drivers on the list, representing 96 wins between them, will be competing Thursday night in Richmond. Justin Bonsignore, the reigning and four-time Tour champion (2018, 2020, 2021, 2024), earlier this season recorded his 46th Whelen Modified Tour victory and a record 12th at Riverhead Raceway. He ranks second all-time in wins (behind Stefanik’s 74 victories) and now has at least one win in eight consecutive seasons (and in 14 of the last 15 years).
Patrick Emerling, who has a pair of wins this season, including last week at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, has recorded nine career Tour victories, while Eric Goodale has five Tour wins.
40 Greatest Modified Tour Drivers
Wayne Anderson
Eric Goodale
Woody Pitkat
Tom Baldwin
Doug Heveron
Ryan Preece
Jimmy Blewett
Matt Hirschman
Brian Ross
John Blewett III
Tony Hirschman
Reggie Ruggiero
Justin Bonsignore
Chuck Hossfeld
Bobby Santos III
Ted Christopher
Charlie Jarzombek
Ron Silk
Doug Coby
George Kent Jr.
Timmy Solomito
Tim Connolly
Jan Leaty
Jimmy Spencer
Patrick Emerling
Donny Lia
Mike Stefanik
Richie Evans
Jerry Marquis
Todd Szegedy
Mike Ewanitsko
Jon McKennedy
Jamie Tomaino
Ed Flemke Jr.
Mike McLaughlin
Satch Worley
Jeff Fuller
Steve Park
Rick Fuller
Rowan Pennink
