Connecticut’s Mike Christopher Jr. Wins First Career NASCAR Whelen Modified Race at Jennerstown 

JENNERSTOWN, May 28 – Tyler Rypkema was the fastest car in qualifying and lead over 100 laps of the second annual Jennerstown Salutes 150, but rookie Mike Christopher Jr. made the pass for the lead with 11 laps to go to earn his first career win on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

Rypkema lead the first 87 laps of the 150-lap event. On Lap 88 Jon McKennedy, who had been battling with Rypkema for the lead for several laps, made the pass for the point position. Christopher Jr. was closing the gap and took second away from Rypkema.

With McKennedy leading, the caution flew with 50 laps to go when sparks flew from the fifth-place car of Kyle Bonsignore. Under the caution, the leaders came to pit road. McKennedy overshot his pit stall and slid right into Christopher Jr.’s. The costly mistake created a delayed stop for Christopher Jr., but McKennedy suffered the worst consequences. McKennedy had to leave pit road without receiving service and come back down on the following lap putting him at the tail end of the lead lap cars for the restart.

Christopher Jr. worked his way back to the lead on the restart. But Rypkema, who had the best short-run car, tracked him down to take the lead with 32 laps left. The race stayed green and Rypkema’s car tightened up allowing Christopher Jr. to close the gap. With just 11 laps left, Rypkema could not hold off Christopher Jr. as the rookie took the lead and drove to his first-ever win on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

It’s the third win in a row for the car owned by well-known modified driver and owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. Doug Coby had won the previous two races of the season at Riverhead Raceway and Lee USA Speedway, but Coby couldn’t make the race at Jennerstown. The 23-year-old Christopher Jr. capitalized on the opportunity to be behind the wheel and was crowned the Champion of the Jennerstown Salutes 150.

The night included remembrance ceremonies for America’s fallen veterans on Memorial Day weekend, and the track invited Gold Star families to be with them on the track. Drivers from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and of Jennerstown’s weekly series carried the names of American war heroes who never made it home.

Four of Jennerstown Speedway’s weekly divisions competed prior to the main event.

Mike Sweeney, who is a former multi-track champion in northeast Pennsylvania, found himself in Stoney’s Beer Victory Lane for the first time at Jennerstown Speedway. The Martella’s Pharmacies late model driver started on the pole and lead every lap of the 40-lap feature. Jarred Barlcay finished second. Barry Awtey, Jeremy Shaffer, and Brandan Marhefka completed the top five.

In the One Stop Auto Sales Pro Stock division, Kyle Burkholder claimed redemption after being disqualified last week. After several caution flags, Burkholder and veteran driver Adam Kostelnik battled wheel-to-wheel for nearly half the race for the lead. Kostelnik did everything he could to hold off Burkholder, but the new driver to the division was too much as Burkholder officially picked up his first win of the year. Kostelnik finished second. Jeff Giles, who was involved in two of the cautions, rebounded for a third-place finish.

Doug Glessner picked up his first win of 2022 in the Stoystown Autowreckers Modifieds. Glessner, who won seven races last season, started fifth and quickly worked his way to the front cursing to a three-second win over John Fama. Tom Golik finished third.

The Somerset Trust Fast N’ Furious 4’s saw Skylar Berkey dominate the competition. Berkey, driving for Vasos Racing, carries the picture of former track champion Jeff Vasos on the hood. Vasos tragically passed away during the offseason. Berkey dedicated the win to Vasos in his Stoney’s Beer Victory Lane celebration. He started on the pole and lead every lap of the feature event lapping nearly half of the field.

Next week, Jennerstown Speedway welcomes the CRA Super Late Models to the track for the Laurel Highlands 150. The track expects some big names in late model racing to make the trip for a chance at the $10,000 grand prize.