When temperatures begin to drop in the Northeast, a large percentage of the bird population travels south for the winter. A few months later, the same can be said for race car drivers that strap themselves in behind the wheel of a mighty Tour-type Modified. 

Like birds flying south, Modified drivers making the trip to Florida's New Smyrna Speedway has become an annual tradition. After a few rough years with low car counts for the division at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, the ground-pounding Modifieds have become the healthiest division that competes at the popular season-opening event. 

In 2021, a total of 42 drivers took the green flag in at least one of the five Tour-type Modified races during the event. This year, 40 drivers are currently on the pre-entry list for the five-race mini series. 

Adding to the excitement is the fact that the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will open the season for the first time at New Smyrna on Saturday, February 12. Following a day off on Sunday, Modified teams will kick off five straight nights of racing on Monday, February 14.

This year's entry list is also filled with plenty of star power led by two-time defending Tour-type Modified champion Matt Hirschman. But the list doesn't end there. 

Eight-time Turkey Derby winner Jimmy Blewett, 17-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner Ron Silk and last year's NWMT championship runner-up Patrick Emerling have all filed entries for the event. 

Former Tri-Track Open Modified Series champions Jon McKennedy and Ronnie Williams will also be competing in the event. 

Craig Lutz, who has earned a win in each of the last two World Series at New Smyrna, will be looking for more success behind the wheel of the Danny Watts Racing No. 82. 

Stephen Kopcik, a five-time winner in the SK Modified division at Stafford Motor Speedway in 2021, will be chasing his first Tour-type Modified win. 

After taking a few years off from Modified racing, Spencer Davis is planning to make his return to the Mod Squad at New Smyrna. The Dawsonville, Georgia driver is a former Pro Late Model champion and Super Late Model winner at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. 

Five nights of Tour-type Modified racing begins Monday, February 14 with a 50-lap feature. Tuesday, February 15 will be a 35-lap sprint race before the stakes get higher with the John Blewett III Memorial on Wednesday, February 16. Another 35-lap dash on Thursday, February 17 will set the stage for the Richie Evans Memorial 100 on Friday, February 18. 

All five nights of Modified racing and the entire World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway will be streamed live on FloRacing. If you're not already a subscriber, subscribe today to watch NASCAR Roots racing all year long on Flo. 

Tour-type Modified Entry List (As of 1/27/22)

1 Chris Ridsdale. Rochester NY

2 J.R Bertuccio. Centerreach NY

7NY Jimmy Blewett. Howell NJ

7 Rich Parker. Forked River NJ

8 Cam McDermott. Canterbury CT

8 Chris Finocchario. Macedon NY

9 Tom Martino Jr. Red Bank NJ

11X Dillon Steuer. Bohemia NY

16 Ron Silk. Norwalk CT

19 Anthony Bello. Newtown CT

20 Eddie McCarthy. Brick NJ

20 Kyle Sysco. Toms River NJ

21 Joe Bertuccio III. Statesville NC

22 TBA Gershow Racing.

24 Andrew Krause. Holmdel NJ

24 Chris Hatton. Deltona FL

25 Brian Robie. Sunapee NH

25nj Chris Andretta. Neptune NJ.

28 Paul Charette. Woodstock CT

28x Jeff Malave. Manchester CT

29 Spencer Davis. Dawsonville GA

32 Tyler Rypkema. Owego NY

36 David Sapienza. Riverhead NY

38 Ricky Moxley. Palm City FL

48 Marcello Rufrano. Northhaven CT

49 Chris Young. Riverhead NY

50 Ronnie Williams. Tolland CT

54 Tommy Catalano. Ontario NY

54C David Catalano. Ontario NY

55 Teddy Hodgdon. Danbury CT

56 Amy Catalano. Ontario NY

60 Matt Hirchman. Northampton PA

64 Tyler Catalano. Ontario NY

72 Bud McIntyre. New Smyrna Beach FL

73 Paul Hartwig Sr. Galloway NJ

79 Jon McKennedy. Chelmsford MA

82 Craig Lutz. Miller Place NY

00 Chris Dewalt. Easton PA

07 Patrick Emerling. Holland NY

179 Stephen Kopcik. Newtown CT