MARBLE, PA – Rex King, Jr led the 35-lap BRP Modified Tour from green to checkered to capture the win on Sunday night in a caution filled race. It wasn’t an easy win for King, Jr. as he battled with both Erick Rudolph and Jeremiah Shingledecker, but in the end, patience paid off for King, Jr. and he picked up the win.
Thirty cars registered in the pit area but unfortunately three drivers had problems during the heat races and were unable to start the feature. Having mechanical issues were Ray Bliss, Brandon Michaud and Rick Regalski.
Rex King, Jr. and Jeremiah Shingledecker brought the 26-car field to the drop of the green flag with Trevor Wright and Eric Rudolph hot on their back bumpers. King, Jr. got to the first turn before Shingledecker and Rudolph and took the early lead. The real race was for second as Shingledecker and Rudolph battled and even had sparks flying as the two drivers wanted that second spot. Cautions slowed the event and definitely tested the patience of the drivers from lap nine through thirteen. Rudolph was able to use the restarts to get into second place putting Shingledecker into third place.
King, Jr. was able to control the restarts and led every lap of the event. Shingledecker suffered a flat tire who was running third and on the same lap, lap thirty Chad Brachmann suffered problems in the rear of the car while running fourth ending his night. Dave Murdick who started eighteenth would now restart in third.
At the finish it was all Rex King, Jr. who ended the race with a bald right rear tire. He stated in victory lane, “Any time we are on the front row, we’ll take it. We’ll do whatever it take to get the win.” This race took a lot of patience and a soft tough on the gas to get to the end without blowing that tire.
Erick Rudolph closed in on King, Jr. the final five laps but came up short to finish but was able to pick up where he left off last season as the 2023 point leader at this time. Dave Murdick finished third with Chas Wolbert who started seventh survived to finish fourth. Garrett Krummert, winner of the first race of the series at Michaels Mercer Raceway started eleventh and finish fifth.
Rounding out the top ten was Kyle Fink who had to pit early in the race for a flat tire but was able to come back and finish sixth. Seventh through tenth was Shannon Whaley, Mike Kinney, Trevor Wright and Rodney Beltz.
The next series race for the BRP Modified Tour will be coming up on Sunday, June 4th at the Bedford Speedway in Bedford, PA.
Feature Finish: Rex King, Jr., Erick Rudolph, Dave Murdick, Chas Wolbert, Garrett Krummert, Kyle Fink, Shannon Whaley, Mike Kinney, Trevor Wright, Rodney Beltz, WallyColton Wally Wade, Shawn Kozar, Chad Reitz, Chad Brachmann, Jeremiah Shingledecker, JR McGinley, Colton Walters, Brad Rapp, Steve Slater, Nick Joy, Ayden Cipriano, Rick Regalski, Mike Dougherty, Jr., Kevin Green, Lenny Leibold, Austin Eyler. DNS: Andrew Smith, Jeff Miller, Ray Bliss and Brandon Michaud.
The BRP Modified Tour racing series is a non-profit organization established to give Big Block Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania/ Eastern Ohio area a chance to compete with one another for a higher purse structure and for a point fund for the scheduled events, started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker and Randy Myers. The BRP Modified Tour has had great success at bringing regional cars together at various speedways in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, West Virginia, and Canada.
We would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of our organization. Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Sunoco Race Fuels/ Bazell Oil, King Brothers, McCool’s Signs and Graphics/Slippery Rock Sportswear, Mad Skins Race Car Bodies/Sunflowers of Sanborn, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, Frankland Racing Supply, Hall’s Safety Equipment, McCandless Ford, Moore’s Auto Body, MRO – Motor Racing Outreach/Team Green, Rockhouse Bar and Grill, Russ King Racing, Steve’s Auto Body, Thermo Supply, Competition Carburetion, Eperthener Auto Wrecking, and Wrisco Aluminum.
