Team to Open 2013 Season at North Carolina’s Southern National Motorsports Park
On Saturday, March 23, Renee is set to open the 2013 season by running a NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour event at Southern National Motorsports Park (Lucama, NC).
As she has been doing since the 2011 season, Renee will campaign the No. 59 Chevrolet for veteran Modified owner Ed Bennett. Together they are looking forward to running the 150-lap ‘KOMA Unwind Relaxation Drink’ event at the high-banked 4/10-mile speedway.
“I’ve never run Southern National, so to try and prepare I’ve been watching some You Tube videos,” offered Renee. “Then, a few weeks ago, we were traveling through North Carolina and decided to take a side trip off I-95 to visit the track. We had a look around and even took our street car out for a few laps. I love high-banked tracks; and think the Modifieds will put on an awesome show there. I can’t wait.”
In April of 2011, Renee became the first and only female to compete on NASCAR’s Whelen Southern Modified Tour when she teamed up with Ed for a 150-lap event at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway (NC). Throughout the last two seasons the duo has posted multiple top-10 qualifying and finishing results.
If all goes according to plan, following Southern National, Renee and Ed will next combine efforts at South Boston Speedway (VA) for another NASCAR WSMT race on Saturday, April 13.
NASCAR Releases 2013 WMT, WSMT Schedules
NASCAR recently announced the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Whelen Southern Modified Tour schedules. Both Tours feature traditional dates at some of the premier short tracks and speedways on the east coast.
In its 28th season of competition, the Whelen Modified Tour will see 14 dates – spread across seven tracks in four states. Similarly, for their ninth season of competition, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour’s schedule features 12 dates at seven facilities. As in the past, both Tours include companion events with NASCAR’s national Sprint Cup Series.
2013 Whelen Modified Tour Schedule
February 19 – Daytona International Speedway (non-points event); Daytona Beach, FL
April 14 – Thompson International Speedway; Thompson, CT
April 28 – Stafford Motor Speedway; Stafford Springs, CT
May 11 – Monadnock Speedway; Winchester, NH
May 24 – Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT
June 22 – Waterford Speedbowl; New London, CT
June 29 – Riverhead Raceway; Riverhead, LI, NY
July 13 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Loudon, NH
August 2 – Stafford Motor Speedway; Stafford Springs, CT
August 15 – Thompson International Speedway; Thompson, CT
August 21 – Bristol Motor Speedway; Bristol, TN
September 14 – Riverhead Raceway; Riverhead, LI, NY
September 21 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway; Loudon, NH
September 29 – Stafford Motor Speedway; Stafford Springs, CT
October 20 – Thompson International Speedway; Thompson, CT
2013 Whelen Southern Modified Tour Schedule
February 19 – Daytona International Speedway (non-points event); Daytona Beach, FL
March 16 – Caraway Speedway; Asheboro, NC
March 23 – Southern National Motorsports Park; Kenly, NC
April 13 – South Boston Speedway; South Boston, VA
April 20 – Caraway Speedway; Asheboro, NC
July 5 – Caraway Speedway; Asheboro, NC
August 3 – Bowman Gray Stadium; Winston Salem, NC
August 21 – Bristol Motor Speedway; Bristol, TN
August 31 – Langley Speedway; Hampton, VA
September 8 – Caraway Speedway; Asheboro, NC
September 21 – Southern National Motorsports Park; Kenly, NC
September 28 – Caraway Speedway; Asheboro, NC
October 10 – Charlotte Motor Speedway; Charlotte, NC
As in the past several years, Renee plans on running a combination of select races on the 2013 NASCAR WMT & WSMT schedules. Specific dates will be announced when information becomes available.
Team Moving Forward
A while back, Renee released an ambitious 2012 schedule. Unfortunately, that was not to be.
With three races in the record book – South Boston (VA); Caraway (NC) and Monadnock (NH) – the team was blindsided with sponsorship troubles. Unable to cover the costs associated with the first three events and without financing in place to continue, the Ed Bennett-owned team was forced to put the racecars up on jack stands.
Despite the obviously disappointing setback, the team is now prepared to move forward.
To that end, the No. 59 team has recently filed an entry for the UNOH Showdown at Connecticut’s Thompson International Speedway on Saturday and Sunday, September 8-9. The second annual event will feature twin 75-lap features for both of NASCAR’s Whelen Modified and Southern Modified Tours – followed by a 50-lap $50,000 non-points Showdown.
“Thompson has always been my favorite track and we typically run real well there,” explained Renee. “We had a real fast car for this event last year (Renee was 6th fastest out of the 47 cars in the pit area) and we’re looking forward to going back,” she continued.
“This season hasn’t turned out the way we wanted – to say the least. But we’ll all feel a little better with a strong showing at Thompson.”
We look forward to updating you further as the season progresses…