Independence Day weekend didn’t hold a spot on the NASCAR calendar for the Whelen Modified Tour according to the original schedule. Typically this has been a weekend off for our beloved tour over the years. After the Memorial Day Weekend rainout occurred, there seemed no more appropriate date to make up the Connecticut Classic than July 4th weekend.

This of course would upset some folks. After all, as everyone has such busy schedules these days, who didn’t have plans for the weekend we celebrate our independence? I wasn’t upset, just a little disappointed. When the original schedule came out, I had booked my calendar solid with races and flights to Florida. Flights are inexpensive when one books them at the right time, just don’t try to cancel the reservation. Doing so might lead to the loss of the total investment.

Consequently I knew that I wouldn’t be returning to Stafford Springs for the makeup of this rain-postponed event. As our live updates have been so popular, we wanted to be sure to find someone who would bring us the best information possible from the Haynes 150. It was at that point of realization that Bruce Boucher entered the press box at Stafford during the rainstorm in May.

I didn’t think that Bruce would be interested in phoning in updates, much to my surprise and pleasure he was. The veteran scribe of Speedway Scene fame called in updates throughout the course of the event. Bruce’s updates had more information than I had provided in the past and really gave those who looked us up on the message forum an opportunity to see what was going on.

Boucher echoed sentiments similar to those who have done updates in the past at the race’s conclusion, he hoped that he wouldn’t have to do this again. I believe that Bruce, like many racing people, is a little superstitious. The fact that this 150-lap sprint race had nine cautions for fifty-seven laps (thirty-eight percent of the race) may have haunted him at that point. Bruce said, ‘There was a lot of action but not much racing’. It sounded as though he had witnessed way to much ‘accidental’ contact.

I was every bit as much responsible for those cautions as Bruce Boucher was as I typed the updates in from Shopgirl’s computer in Fort Lauderdale, FL. We are just as pleased and proud as can be to have had such a reputable and conscientious person who was willing to call in the updates. Thanks again Bruce.

Typing the updates in was no field day either. Bruce called when he had news. Usually I remain on the phone with Vicki through the course of an entire race. Those pauses in between made it possible for me to gather the information and get it up on the board. I must have been driving Vicki nuts as I have tried to scream the running order over the roar of the cars from the side of the track at several of the events.

This seems to be a Ted Christopher kind of year. I remember talking to Ted in the parking lot at Waterford after the Whelen 150 last Saturday. He was so disappointed with his second place finish. The Haynes 150 was Ted’s third victory in the five first races of the WMT season. His average finish is 2.0. Christopher’s closest pursuer in the title chase is Chuck Hossfeld who as of yet hasn’t reached victory lane in 2005 and has an average finish of 5.8.

Everyone has to be impressed with the kind of race that Doug Coby ran. The #77 team elected to let Doug run the entire race on the tires they started with. According to Boucher, the #77 was the only car not to hit pit road at least once during the event. There were several times that the youngster pulled out to big leads during the course of the race. The numerous cautions probably led to the finish in the end as the leader’s tires had been through so many heat cycles and Christopher and Hossfeld had fresher rubber. Coby earned the Tom Baldwin Memorial Award for his efforts along with a career-best third place finish.

Jamie Tomaino had a great race. In typical Tomaino fashion, the #99 avoided trouble, pitted early and held on for a great finish. Jamie earned the Featherlite Most Improved Driver of the race.

Fellow MSS columnist, Renee Dupuis earned the POWERade Power Move of the Race. She soldiered on to a fifteenth place finish after troubles early in the event. Dupuis picked up fifteen spots to get the award.

Our beloved Tour heads to the Jennerstown Speedway in Jenners, PA next weekend. This is perhaps one of my favorite venues and I have looked forward to our return ever since the date was dropped off of our schedule. Jennerstown’s sweeping turns and smooth surface generally lead to great racing and we can always count on people traveling in to this race from a long distance. The last time we were there I ran into some folks who traveled in from ‘near Toronto Canada’. When I asked how near Toronto they were from they replied, only about five hours north of there. These guys loved our Mods.

A reminder to the teams on the Tour. There is a tower that is easily seen from the infield of the track at Jennerstown. It appears to be about two miles west of the track. If weather conditions cause that tower to be out of view, have the car covers ready. The rains come and go quickly there but it usually rains pretty hard when they do.

I wish I could have been there this weekend but, I was just as glad to be here in Florida. The pool temperature is right at 87 degrees and Vicki and I were glad that we could help bring the race to those who couldn’t make it to Stafford either. I look forward to seeing everyone in Pennsylvania.