Final group of 10 drivers released to commemorate 40th
anniversary of the modern era of the Tour
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2025) – Throughout the season, NASCAR has been celebrating the 40th anniversary of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour modern era, beginning with the 1985 season, by releasing the list of the 40 greatest drivers in the series without ranking. Ten were added to the list during each announcement, culminating in today’s final grouping of drivers released leading into Thursday night’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 at Richmond Raceway (7:30 p.m. ET).
Previously announced drivers on the list include NASCAR Hall of Famer (Class of 2021) Mike Stefanik, whose 74 wins rank first all time, as do his seven championships. He impressively twice hit double-digit win totals during a season, doing it back-to-back in 1997 (10 wins) and 1998 (13 wins).
Doug Coby is also on the list as one of only two drivers to have won six or more Whelen Modified Tour championships – his six titles ranks second to Stefanik. Coby has tallied 35 Tour victories and had a steak of 13 consecutive seasons with a win (2011 to 2024).
The list also includes Richie Evans, the champion of the first season of the modern era of the Tour – 1985. Evans also tallied eight championships during the NASCAR Modified National Championship era of the Tour, and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012.
“It’s incredibly important for us to recognize and honor the great drivers who have built the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour into the fan-favorite series that it is today,” said Managing Director of NASCAR Regional Joseph Dennewitz. “These drivers are heroes at their local tracks and have made a name for themselves on a national level. With two NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees on the list, it shows the impact the Tour has had on the sport over the years.”
The final group announced today is highlighted by current NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece, who will pull double duty this weekend at Richmond. Thursday night he’ll race in his family-owned No. 40 entry while on Saturday night he’ll sit behind the wheel of the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford in the Cup Series race.
Preece, the 2013 champion, started racing in the Whelen Modified Tour in 2007, and has tallied 26 Tour wins, including Richmond in 2021.
The list also adds a family tie with Tony and Matt Hirschman. Tony tallied five championships (1995, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2005), which is third all time, and he recorded 35 wins during his career (tied with Coby for fifth on the all-time wins list). His son Matt won at Seekonk Speedway earlier this season and has 10 career Tour wins.
Including Preece and Matt Hirschman, five drivers on the list, representing a total of 96 wins between them, will be competing Thursday night in Richmond. Justin Bonsignore, the reigning and four-time Tour champion (2018, 2020, 2021, 2024), earlier this season recorded his 46th Whelen Modified Tour victory and a record 12th at Riverhead Raceway. He ranks second all-time in wins (behind Stefanik’s 74 victories) and now has at least one win in eight consecutive seasons (and in 14 of the last 15 years).
Patrick Emerling, who has a pair of wins this season, including last week at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, has recorded nine career Tour victories, while Eric Goodale has five Tour wins.
“This list represent the best NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers of the past and also highlights the incredible talent currently on track in the Tour,” said Senior Technical Director of NASCAR Regional / Senior Director of the Whelen Modified Tour Jimmy Wilson. “In addition to seeing five of the 40 Greatest Drivers race on Thursday night in Richmond, they will also be watching up-and-coming drivers on the Tour who may make their way onto the 50 Greatest Drivers list in 10 years.”
Below is the complete listing of the 40 greatest drivers in alphabetical order (drivers entered in the race this week in Richmond are in bold):
| Wayne Anderson | Eric Goodale | Woody Pitkat |
| Tom Baldwin | Doug Heveron | Ryan Preece |
| Jimmy Blewett | Matt Hirschman | Brian Ross |
| John Blewett III | Tony Hirschman | Reggie Ruggiero |
| Justin Bonsignore | Chuck Hossfeld | Bobby Santos III |
| Ted Christopher | Charlie Jarzombek | Ron Silk |
| Doug Coby | George Kent Jr. | Timmy Solomito |
| Tim Connolly | Jan Leaty | Jimmy Spencer |
| Patrick Emerling | Donny Lia | Mike Stefanik |
| Richie Evans | Jerry Marquis | Todd Szegedy |
| Mike Ewanitsko | Jon McKennedy | Jamie Tomaino |
| Ed Flemke Jr. | Mike McLaughlin | Satch Worley |
| Jeff Fuller | Steve Park | |
| Rick Fuller | Rowan Pennink |
The 40th anniversary season of the Tour continues on Thursday, August 12, kicking off the NASCAR race weekend at Richmond Raceway in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Last year’s Richmond race featured 20 lead changes between five drivers, and fans can expect more of the same excitement again this year as the track regularly produces double-digit lead changes throughout the race.
Tickets are available at www.richmondraceway.com and the race will be broadcast live on FloRacing.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.
