After more than a month off the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rumbles back into action at the ¾-mile Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia on Friday for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150. NASCAR officials just released the 28-car entry list, so let’s take a look who will be racing for the win at the first companion race of the 2024 season.

For the first time in his career, Mud Lane’s Austin Beers returns to a race track as the defending winner. Richmond one year ago was where the second-generation racer announced his presence as a consistent threat for race wins. Beers absolutely dominated last year’s race weekend. He was fastest in practice, won the pole, and led 102 of the 150 laps on the way to his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory. 

That leads us to three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, who went to victory lane in this race two years ago in 2022. Bonsignore led 58 laps that evening, which was the second-most of any driver that day. Bonsignore finished fourth one year ago as well, so clearly Richmond is a track that the Holtsville, New York native enjoys.

It’s hard to believe, but Ron Silk only had two finishes lower than sixth all season long in 2023. That consistency was a big reason why Silk scored his second NWMT championship at the end of that season. But, one of those two finishes came right here at Richmond. Should that be a cause for concern for Silk and crew chief Phil Moran? Probably not. Because if we’re being honest, his finish at Richmond was a seventh-place result. That’s definitely not a bad finish by any means, but for Silk and his Haydt Yannone Racing team that is a bad night. We’re sure that silver No. 16 will be fighting for the win alongside Bonsignore, Beers, and the next driver we’re going to highlight.

One can argue that Stafford Motor Speedway, which is his home track, or New Hampshire Motor Speedway might be the most special to Doug Coby, but a strong case can be made for Richmond Raceway. The six-time champion went to college right down the road and would take his friends to watch the Modifieds roar around the D-shaped oval each of his four years while telling them that one day he’d be the one they were watching out there. In 2021 he finally got to do that, and he went on to finish fifth that day. Two years later Coby led 27 laps but faded near the end and finished 13th after starting sixth.

Another driver that should never be forgotten about any time he steps foot in a Modified with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is “Rocket Man” Ryan Newman. Newman will be piloting the yellow and blue No. 77-car owned by Gary Putnam. This car finished third last year with Max McLaughlin behind the wheel. Newman has hundreds of laps around Richmond throughout his NASCAR Cup Series career and visited victory lane there during his eight-win rookie season 21 years ago in 2003.

Finally, let’s not overlook the 15-year-old hotshoe on this entry list either. Of course, we’re talking about Carson Loftin, who currently leads the points with the SMART Modified Tour. Loftin won each of the first two SMART events at Florence Motor Speedway (SC) and Caraway Speedway (NC) before finishing 13th in Sunday’s “King of the Modifieds” at South Boston Speedway. The Lexington, North Carolina native has struggled in his first three NWMT races, with just one finish inside the top 20. However, Larson’s confidence has done nothing but rise throughout the early stages of 2024 and should have a strong run Friday night.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s “Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150” is scheduled to go green at 6:30 p.m. ET from Richmond Raceway live on FloRacing. Race fans can subscribe to FloRacing by clicking here.

"Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150" at Richmond Raceway Entry List