For not less than the subsequent few days, Mike Christopher Jr. would be the dwelling embodiment of the phrase, ‘I will sleep once I’m lifeless.’
The 27-year-old Christopher, who races the No. 31 Elite Racing entry on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, will drive the No. 62 Toyota for Halmar Friesen Racing at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Friday night (8 p.m. ET on FS1).
Commercial
As soon as his duties in Indiana are full, he’ll get no matter relaxation he can earlier than leaping on a aircraft at 6 a.m. Saturday morning to fly to New Hampshire to compete within the Duel on the Canine 200 at Monadnock Speedway (8:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing).
Christopher’s busy stretch actually began final weekend with the Thunder within the Mountains 200 at White Mountain Motorsports Park.
As soon as that was full, he had a full day of labor forward of him Monday earlier than he caught a flight to North Carolina that night to show some laps within the simulator and go to with the Halmar Friesen Racing workforce.
RELATED: Discover out who’s racing Saturday night time at Monadnock
Commercial
“Monday was in all probability my simpler day as a result of I simply labored. It was a full day of labor Monday,” Christopher stated. “I had a flight that was scheduled to go away Hartford [Connecticut] at 7 p.m., however it took off nearer to 10:30 p.m. I landed in Greensboro simply earlier than 12:30 a.m. and I drove to Mooresville to remain over. I received there at like 2:15 a.m.
“I used to be up early and I received to the HFR store at about 8:30 a.m. I did the sim from 12 to 2 p.m. and I am scheduled to fly out [to go home] at about 8 p.m.”
His flight residence on Tuesday did not precisely go in keeping with plan. His aircraft left North Carolina greater than two hours late and he did not contact down in Hartford, Connecticut, till someday after midnight.
No downside, in keeping with Christopher. He received no matter relaxation he might and was up vibrant and early once more Wednesday morning to go to work at Mohawk Northeast, a heavy civil and marine development enterprise owned by Al Heinke, a well known motorsports fanatic who has supported many drivers and groups via the years.
Commercial
Christopher labored all day Wednesday and can work a half-day Thursday earlier than returning to the airport for his flight to Indianapolis, Indiana, forward of Friday’s TSport 200 introduced by Warn Industries NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence race.
Mike Christopher Jr. #31 throughout qualifying for the New Smyrna Seashore Space Guests Bureau 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour throughout night time 2 of the World Sequence of Asphalt Inventory Automobile Racing at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, Florida on February 7, 2026. (Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
“I fly to Indy and land there about 7 p.m. Thursday night time. I will exit to dinner after which I will be Truck racing all day Friday,” Christopher stated. “Saturday morning, I’ve a 6 a.m. flight again to Hartford. I’ve to cease in Chicago, however I land in Hartford round 11 a.m. and I’ve received one among my guys there to coordinate choosing me up from the airport.
“From there we’re going straight to Monadnock and racing there. So possibly I will get to sleep Sunday morning.”
In fact, a plan like this would not be full with out contingencies.
Commercial
Elite Racing proprietor Alan Dering has filed a second entry for Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour occasion for veteran Craig Lutz. If for some motive Christopher cannot make it to Monadnock Speedway in time for Saturday’s occasion, then Lutz will slide into the No. 31 automobile, and the second entry can be withdrawn.
If all goes in keeping with plan, then Elite Racing will subject each vehicles. It might mark the primary time the workforce has ever fielded two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour entries in an occasion.
RELATED: What to know earlier than Saturday’s Duel on the Canine 200
“It was only a good excuse to get their different automobile prepared. They (Elite Racing) have one other automobile that’s model new simply sitting there,” Christopher stated. “It simply labored out. So now the opposite automobile is getting constructed and Craig goes to race that. If one thing have been to occur and I am unable to present up, then clearly they get factors and all is properly.”
Commercial
Christopher’s busy weekend is simply the tip of the iceberg for what has already been an extremely busy season. Not solely has he embarked upon his first full NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season, however he is additionally been an everyday competitor at Stafford Speedway in native competitors.
The Modified Tour season hasn’t gone precisely as deliberate. Exterior of a third-place end at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in April, Christopher admitted the workforce struggled for the primary a part of the season.
Christopher’s pal Joey Mucciacciaro lately started serving to the Elite Racing workforce with setups and that, together with the work down by crew members Ryan Lutz, Dave Roys, Gino Orlando, Chris Elliot and Darryl Baker, has helped flip the season round with prime 10s within the final two races.
Michael Christopher Jr. driver of #31 Elite Towing modified throughout the Thunder within the Mountains 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, New Hampshire on Saturday, July 19, 2026. (Chris Dehney/NASCAR Racing)
“It is turning round for certain. It is getting higher,” Christopher stated. “Alan and his Elite Towing crew put together actually good race vehicles, however we simply struggled off the trailer and battle to get higher all through the day and end the place I feel we as a workforce deserve to complete.
Commercial
“Lately I introduced on my buddy Joey Mooch [Mucciacciaro] and fortunate for me he has time all through the week to go all the way down to [Long] Island and work on the factor and clearly develop a bond with the crew that is already there and the proprietor and make one thing occur.”
Racing has been a part of Christopher’s life since an early age. His father, Mike, and his uncle, 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted, each raced Modifieds for years. It is virtually all he is ever identified.
Christopher is aware of he will not be capable to do that without end, however for now he is centered on profiting from each alternative so he can chase his dream.
If which means he loses a number of hours of sleep so he can race in a Truck Sequence occasion on Friday in Indiana and a Modified Tour occasion Saturday in New Hampshire, then so be it.
Commercial
“No matter it prices, nonetheless a lot sleep you aren’t getting, no matter,” Christopher stated. “Ten years from now I will be trying again on this considering it was the time of my life. I am dwelling it proper now, that is what I am doing.
“I am not likely a child anymore, however I really feel like a 17-year-old child on the market doing no matter he needs and driving race vehicles and making loud noises and stuff like that. It is a blast so I’ll soak all of it in.”
