MARTINSVILLE, Va. — All through Martinsville Speedway‘s lengthy historical past, a few of Modified racing‘s greatest have discovered their approach to Victory Lane.
Richie Evans. Mike Ewanitsko. Reggie Ruggiero. Tony Hirschman. Justin Bonsignore. They‘ve all received in a Modified at Martinsville.
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On Saturday, a brand new title was added to the unique checklist.
Stephen Kopcik held off Ron Silk throughout a late restart to win Saturday‘s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200, which was postponed in the future on account of inclement climate.
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The victory, which got here in his twenty third profession begin, was the primary of Kopcik‘s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour profession. He’s the 82nd driver to win a collection occasion because the formation of the fashionable Tour in 1985.
“I knew I had a automotive able to profitable. It was as much as me to not screw something up on each restart,” Kopcik stated. “It‘s loopy. I knew I had an excellent automotive, however Ron additionally had an excellent automotive. He bought by me earlier within the race, and I wasn‘t positive what he had left.
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“You by no means know; he had an excellent automotive tonight too. Simply glad we might come out on prime.”
Earlier than the inexperienced flag even waved for the 200-lap occasion, Kopcik and his Wanick Motorsports workforce had a plan. The aim was to remain off cycle with the opposite leaders, which the workforce hoped would permit Kopcik to take care of observe place and, hopefully, management of the race.
The plan labored completely.
Stephen Kopcik
Kopcik, who began twelfth, took the lead with 50 laps left throughout a cycle of pit stops. From that time ahead, the trail to victory ran via him.
The driving force from Newtown, Connecticut survived three extra restarts, together with the ultimate inexperienced flag with 4 laps left, to etch his title in historical past as a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour winner at Martinsville Speedway.
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Now he simply wants determine the place to place his new grandfather clock.
“Most likely the largest win of my profession at this level,” Kopcik stated. “Coolest trophy, greatest win, coolest place to win at. I might say this tops most all of them.
“We‘ll keep in mind this one without end.”
Silk completed second, a profession greatest at Martinsville for the two-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion. Tyler Rypkema drove the Ole Blue No. 3 to a third-place end, adopted by Eric Goodale and defending collection champion Austin Beers.
Polesitter Patrick Emerling, Kyle Bonsignore, Tommy Catalano, Timmy Solomito and Ryan Newman had been sixth via tenth, respectively.
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The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season continues with its annual spring journey to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Sunday, April 12. Followers unable to attend in particular person can watch the race reside on FloRacing at 4:30 p.m. ET.
