MODIFIED MINUTE
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MODIFIED MINUTE
EPISODE 4
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In Episode 4 of the Modified Minute, Michael Christopher, Sr. drops in and reflects upon his driving career and his time turning the wrenches for his son, Michael, Jr.
Junior visits and shares his experience as part of the “RAM Race For The Seat” reality TV show as well as his forays into NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series. He also explains why he will always be an SK Modified guy.
And, Patrick Emerling, driver of the USNE number 1 shares his thoughts on the Whelen Modified Tour and who he feels made him a better driver.
This week on the modified minute.
SPEAKER_07You know, we really didn't know much about this sport. You know, even when Teddy, you know, was doing it. I remember we were standing by the bathrooms at Stafford, right? I don't even know who we asked, but we're clueless, too dopes, you know, standing there. And uh the guy goes, uh, we're talking some stuff and he goes, Hey, what'd you what do you guys have for stagger? Kid you not, Jackie. We both look at each other, go, what the fuck is stagger?
SPEAKER_06You know, I raced a lot with, for example, Matt Birchman. He was, you know, he's everyone knows he's one of the best in the game when it comes to modified racing. So it's like, I feel like I learned a lot from him.
SPEAKER_11It was crazy, Jackie. Like uh, you know, we spent three weeks down there, uh, no phones, no TV, no nothing. And I I heard about it um probably like a month or so before that something like this was gonna be possible. Talk to Ty Norris. Tommy Baldwin actually set me up with all this, so um, he knew about it, but also didn't tell me it was a show or anything. It was just something. I don't know.
SPEAKER_15All that plus hot dog of the week. Video replay and either or. So tighten those belts because episode four of the modified minute is coming your way. Next. They're called the Mod Squad. Ground Pounders. The men that live by the grace of God and 600 horsepower.
SPEAKER_16Here they come to the strike, down to the finish, checkered flag in the air. Monseignor, up the hill. Here comes Salamito to the inside. Here comes John Beattie Jr.
SPEAKER_15And off the corner to the line they come. This is the Modified Minute. Go inside the world of modified racing with Jackaroot. Modified Minute is brought to you by Wadell Communications, the official track side radio supplier for the Mod Squad. By Mid-State Site Development, safety, knowledge, and innovation. By Wheelers Auto Services, the finest in top-level service of premier automobile makes and models. By Hummel Brothers Quality Meets. 100% quality since 1933. By Hoosier Tire East. Tires designed for champions. By Riverhead Building Supply. Build Smarter. Build better. By New England Racing Fuels. New England's authorized distributor of Sunoko Fuels and Products. And by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925. Here's Jack.
SPEAKER_14Hi everyone. I am so happy you've decided to join me yet again for another episode of Modified Minute. You know, modified racing in the Northeast heated up this past weekend with the annual icebreaker races at the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, which means this week's Up to Speed is filled to the brim. So let's take a look.
SPEAKER_15Time to get you up to speed in the modified world. Up to speed is brought to you by Mid-State Site Development. Midstate safety, knowledge, and innovation.
SPEAKER_14It all started Saturday afternoon at Thompson when Keith Rocco took the top honors in the tracks Sunoko SK Mods after a seesaw battle with Todd Owen. Then it was time for the Monaco Modified Tritrax Series Bliplifter. It was the Propane Heating and Cooling 75.
SPEAKER_03Green flags are in the air and they are underway, thundering down the front stretch, down into turn one. It managed Ronnie Williams on the inside. Ronnie Williams out in front, burnt for second, then starting to put a little bit of breathing room between themselves and third place runner George Bassett. Here comes McKennedy down on the inside once again, this time hanging tough. Tries to uh keep it down there just underneath Bissette. Each lap trying to make the move will be sticking good on the bottom, but Bassett is able to hold him off again on the back stretch. Here comes a bit for the lead. Here's McKennedy's move down on the inside. Drives around Ronnie Williams to take over second. We've got a caution on the racetrack at lap 36. The leader. That of course is Eric Burns. With him, John McKennedy. Ronnie Williams, Michael Christopher. Pace car is off. They work their way out of turn four. Green flag is in the air. Ronnie Williams is able to recapture the lead. Right behind him on the back bumper is John McKennedy. And they're now battling with Trevor Conelano. Next crossover by Ronnie Williams.
SPEAKER_02Goes way up the hill. Three wide, they come off turn two. Michael Christopher Jr. is flying. He has moved up to second. Off the turn. Back to the strike they come. Jimmy Page's race car prepared by LeMay is now the star of the show. Here comes McKennedy. Inside, Christopher slips up a bit. The back kicks out on him. Lead change again. Oh, a spin. Just in front of the leaders. There are four circuits remaining. In the shootout of shootout. Here at Thompson. Speedway, raceway park. Off turn number four. Green flag is out. John McKennedy. Got some gimme up there. And here comes Patrick Emerling.
SPEAKER_03Look at this battle for second. Emerling digging hard up on the outside. And right there, Jake Johnson looking for an opening right behind him. Those two battle for second and third. Checkered flags in the air, and John McKennedy will win it. Christopher holds on for second. Patrick Emerling third.
SPEAKER_02And now finding out of a car, your winner! The 79 of John McKennedy.
SPEAKER_14Saturday night, it was the Smart Modified Storm. It's the historic Hickory Motor Speedway for the running of the Hickory 100.
SPEAKER_04It's the Hickory 100 for the Smart Modified Door. So by the grace of God at 600 horsepower, we are green at Hickory. Now look at Baldwin. All the way up to second, right behind his best friend, Jake Crumb. They've gone out at a time or two. Baldwin going for the lead. Jack Baldwin to the inside of Jake Crumb. Crumb lets them go. Jack Baldwin to the front of the Hickory Hunter. An orange and white bell helmet checkered flag comes out to complete stage one. And Jack Baldwin is the winner. Battle for the lead. Here comes Baldwin. Baldwin going to the inside of the 0-4. Newman is there as well. Brandon Ward able to hold off Jack Baldwin right now. Newman saying, hey, this might be my time to shine as well. Stop. We got a car going around, and it's Luke Baldwin.
SPEAKER_05Look at all of these drivers getting their tires, getting the adjustments they need to make that final push. With on lap 62, there's only so many laps left.
SPEAKER_04Decent restart, but look at the momentum that Brandon Ward gets again on that outside groove. We're coming up on the slower car, Melissa Fight feel the squeeze right there for Danny Bone. But that Andretti prepared car is now up to third. Keep our eyes peeled on this battle. Best one on the racetrack might not be a battle for long. Danny Bone goes to the inside of Jack Baldwin. Baldwin lets him go, tucks in behind him. Danny Bone to second. Here comes Danny Bone to the inside. Both of these drivers have won a race already in 2026. Ward on the outside, not working well for him. Danny Bone rubs him a little bit off of turn number four. Danny Bone to the lead. This guy is truly bad to the bone. Danny Bone wins the Hickory Hundred.
SPEAKER_14Sunday, it was back to time. The SK Light saw Kevin Davis scoring the victory. While Sunday's Sunoko SK modified feature yet again went to Keith Rocco when he rallied from an early race penalty to beat Todd Owen for a second consecutive time. Then it was time for the headline event. The Icebreaker 150 for the Wheel and Modified Tour.
SPEAKER_02The dream is out. The icebreaker is now breaking the ice in turn one. Bill goes to turn one for the first time. Onto the banking in the front row, McKennedy slides up just a bit off of turn number two. Hirschman having to get in the line in second, just in front of Michael Christopher in third. They stack up from fourth on back as they come around and complete lap number one. Bottom of turn number one. Second place is about to change. No question about it as they hit down the back straight away. That's Matt Hirschman, top side. As they come back off of turn number four, complete lap number 29 after the restart. All still chasing McKennedy of lap traffic. Certainly ish the big hit depth at turn number four. Hard tag the outside wall at a ton. It's Ronnie Williams. Ronnie Williams hits at a ton, you can see bunch of that smile. And it's toxic. McKennedy has a movement of a studded step tile. And it is Steven Topic to the front of the flash. Spider-Man to the bottom of the challenge for the race three. War that opposition back here, bird number two and 34 lines to run. They are side by side with a top five. Do it, move back in the line. Don't get still here. White flag comes out. Steven Topsick is it about to surrender. Imagine this. Two victories and three starts in 2026. Steven Kopstick takes it for the final time down to turn number three. Kopsick comes off turn four. The icebreaker is into the record books, and Kopstick has broken the ice to take down two wins in 2026.
SPEAKER_15Let's take a look at the chases for the championships. Brought to you by New England Racing Fuels, New England's authorized distributor of Sunoko Fuels and products. Sunoko, the official fuel of NASCAR. Steven Kopsick's win at Thompson moved him into the top spot of the Wheelin' Modified Tour. Defending Champ Austin Beers is seven points back, with the rest of the top five being Tyler Ripkema, Patrick Emmerling, and Justin Bonsignor. Next up for the tour is the Oxford Plains Speedway on May 2nd. Danny Bones' win at Hickory gives him a nine-point edge over Ryan Newman. The rest of the top five are Jack Baldwin, Brandon Ward, and Bert Myers. The Smart Tours headed to the high banks of Wake County Speedway on Friday, April 24th. With his win in the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series opener at Thompson, John McKennedy holds a four-point lead over Michael Christopher Jr. Six points back in third is Patrick Emmerling with Jake Johnson and Ronnie Williams filling the top five. Next up for the Tri-Track Series is May 23rd at the new London Waterford Speed Bowl.
SPEAKER_14Well, Steven Kopsick has certainly laid down the gauntlet in the tour is early going. So I thought we should let you ride with him and his spotter Ryan Blanchard during the running of last year's Turkey Derby. You see, they all have an insatiable hunger to be the very best at what they do. That certainly applies to the guy that you will meet in this week's crew call.
SPEAKER_15Time to drop in at the race shop and get the inside dope from the guys who twist the wrenches. It's Crew Call, brought to you by Ferguson Contractors. Building excellence since 1925.
SPEAKER_14Well, joining us for the uh crew call for this episode of the Modified Minute is a guy that is uh well, he's in the top 50 as a driver at the Stafford Motor Speedway. His racing career included 28 victories and three championships, but now he calls the shots for his son, Michael Christopher Jr. We're talking about Michael Christopher Sr. Mikey. Thanks so much for joining us here on the Modified Minute. How are you doing, Jackie? I'm doing good, I'm doing well. Let me let me go back because you and your brother really rewrote the legacy of the SK modified. Tell me about the first time that you drove an SK.
SPEAKER_07The first time I drove one, I bought a car from Mike Albaniz who delivered it to the racetrack for me. Really didn't know something about it because Teddy was doing it for two years before me. Go out and I it was easy to practice, I think it was practice one of the practice sessions, right? I'm gauge watching it because it's new, I don't know much about this stuff at all. Dude, I come down the front shoot, the thing loses oil pressure. I'm like, oh my god. Click the thing off right away, they haul it into the pits, Mike Alban is there, he pulls down the pan, the pump fell down. He bolted, hey, literally he bolted back up, puts the pan back up, and go on, and I continued, you know, whatever I was doing that first day. But yeah, it was a f in the fall, uh the first time I tried it.
SPEAKER_14And yet your career included 28 victories, which is fifth on the all-time list. I think you get it, you get overshadowed by your twin brother, who really was Mr. Modified, and that's your your late brother Teddy. But you were quite the driver in your own route.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, you know, um, we were both like tit for tat there for when we first started. I mean, I didn't realize until they said it the other day. I won in my rookie year. I remember doing that. But um I didn't win until like four years later, and that was probably just because, you know, we really didn't know much about this for, you know, even when Teddy, you know, was doing it. I remember we were standing by the bathrooms at Stafford, right? I don't even know who we asked, but we're clueless, two dopes, you know, standing there. And uh the guy goes, uh, we're talking some stuff and he goes, Hey, what'd you well what do you guys have for stagger? I kid you not, Jackie. We both look at each other and go, what the fuck is stagger? So I mean to do what we've done, you know what? We were we were hard workers and we wrecked a lot of stuff, but had a learner craft, you know, and it was basically a lot of hard work with a lot of friends that didn't mind working hard, and obviously, you know, the rest is history.
SPEAKER_14Well, and the rest is history with what I don't know whether you're aware of this or not, but your son, Michael Jr., is just five wins away from equaling your victory record at Stanford Motor Speedway. He must be a pretty good crew chief.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I was gonna say, and the only way he's gonna get those five more wins is with me. He said some really, really good stuff, you know, and that's actually Teddy's car. It's 11 years old this year. Um, you know, I build everything, engines, trainings, rears, you know, he builds bodies and a lot of stuff on it. He's actually building nerf bars tonight. But um, Jackie, the only way he can do this stuff is to do it the way we do it. You know, we we fabricate everything and I build all that stuff. You know, that's my pride, you know, and building uh all of it. Uh yeah, he can probably do it. We won five last year, you know, he wants to win eight this year, but we're gonna be restricted this year. We're not definitely not chasing the whole thing because he has uh one modified tour race that he's gonna miss on a Friday night, and then two, maybe three uh truck races that, you know, uh conflict on a Friday night.
SPEAKER_14So I want to talk about his foray in the truck racing. Uh happened last year. Loud it was the first one for uh Stuart Friesen. There's a good friendship between the Friesen family and the Christopher family. Most recently at Rockingham. Um what's your assessment of how he's doing in the Crash and Truck Series?
SPEAKER_07No, that was uh a little bit of uh an awakening because one, he's never been there before. Two, it is a hundred and sixty miles an hour driving into the turn. It is a fast, ripped up racetrack. Um, you just need some time. That's the problem with this four, is you can handle tests, you know, although he's supposed to do he told me the other day I think he's gonna go to Nashville and he can test beforehand, which would be a world of difference. He he does sim. You know, he was la last week before Rockingham, he did two days of sim, but that's not real world stuff, you know. And then the truck is really fast. At times in the race, he was almost equal to the leader. But you know, you're back one lap down, two laps down, because the places are so or those trucks are so aerodynamic dependent, it's all about air jacking. Like even a late restart, Stewie was fifth, and I'm like, oh Stewie's going pretty good, you know, and both trucks are very, very fast. They they produce some pretty good stuff. Um, he's like a half a straight away back, and it and it was a matter of two or three laps. Once the guy in the front gets clean air, they're gone.
SPEAKER_14I want to go back to what you were talking about as far as being a guy that works on everything. You know, we are in an environment in racing from top to bottom, and even here in Stafford in the NFK, where there's an awful lot of people that what I'm gonna call it our off-the-shelf racers. Heckbook racers, that's even better. How has that affected the health of this board?
SPEAKER_07Well, if you have enough people out there with a lot of money, you're gonna have a lot of competitors. I mean, Stafford has not really weaned, you know. It's still a good 20. I think it's on an average, it's always a 20 to 25 car count a night, you know. And you know it yourself, man. That place is tough. There's 12 to 14 guys, man, that can win at that place. Where I don't see that in other I watch a lot of races, dirt racing and other things like that, you know. Um you know, it's just the nature of the beast. I think because people just didn't work hard at and like when we started, we just we had to learn because you know, we decided to race this sport and do it, and it was like either sink or swim, and obviously through hard work we swam. Um I get you don't even have to do that nowadays. You know, you have guys like Keith or Copsick or or other guys that will just tell you what to do or set it up for you. Keith does a ton of those, you know. Rentals, they rent stuff. Teddy was actually gonna do that. That was part of his plan was to do rentals, you know. Obviously, since he was thinking about weaning maybe away a little bit, you know. Because he saw that there was a pretty good market in it. Those guys they pay.
SPEAKER_14Yeah, yeah. But it's gotta be frustrating for a guy like you because he'll get the dirt under his fingernails. Not at all, man.
SPEAKER_07It drives me harder than anything because you know what, Jackie? I love beating those guys. Because they can, no matter what, they're still gonna get the same stuff, they're all pretty close. You know, Keith has a package that's really good, puts them in the pro in the you know, makes them all competitive. But the only way you're competitive nowadays that I see is more time. Jackie, I'm there until 11 o'clock, 11 30 at night. I'll call Keith here and there. I'll go, hey Keith, what are you doing with your kid racing the goal cart? Yeah, guess what I'm doing? Full bench and make it more power.
SPEAKER_14You know, that's the other side. You've been very, very proud of the fact that the power plants that you put beneath the PT watch number 82.
SPEAKER_07Yes. You know what, Jackie, when we first started, you know, we uh we learned it. I I I have every single small block about May, Grumpy Jenkins, Smoky Unit, all Chevrolet stuff, you know. I've read 'em and read them and read them, and it was just a passion when we first started, you know, that oh, let's try building these things. And obviously, you know. We broke some stuff, but uh most of the time, you know what, Jack, more than anything, I love taking them apart and see how I I study them. I understand the thing. It's like you know, a fine wine that you try to make better each time you pull it apart and look at it. Yeah, it's dry, it's my passion. You know, I love beating up on Pettit and all them guys because they can't outwork me, Jackie.
SPEAKER_14I can't think of a lot of people that can outwork you, Mike. Nah, you're probably right. It's probably you know having your son race your stuff, what's that like? Because, you know, in the early going, you were the you you had to kind of kind of talk him through lap after lap after lap. But now it seems as if you can kind of lay back and become more of a typical car owner chief mechanic and just ask him how the car is going.
SPEAKER_07Pretty much, you know, and it's it's con. You know, people go, you get nervous out there, I go, you know what, maybe early on, but the last four or five years, yeah, he's become such a good he he's really, really good at feedback. Um, Marcus, my tire guy, myself and Michael, all discuss what we're gonna do before the feature, you know, at through after our practice session, a heat race. So it's a collective effort effort between the three smart, three guys that really need to know everything, me and Justin the chassis, Marcus with the tires, and my son telling us what to do. It's uh it's just so it's actually really calming, you know, because he if I was telling everybody you give him a horse, he'll ride it, it just depends who else is going to get in the way. More than likely, stupidity stuff. You know, it's not that it's a racing thing, because most of the racing in Stafford has been really good. I think when they went to the tire where we, you know, it's expensive to put three tires on a night, but it gives the guys that really aren't great at it or not as stable, more stable because they have something that has grip with them, you know, underneath them.
SPEAKER_14My dad always said that the biggest and most expensive part of racing are the tires. They are and and it's the only thing that connects the race car to the racetrack itself. How much of a black art is understanding the tires, what they're going to do on with the chassis, and how best to put the right combination of Hoosiers on to go out and win.
SPEAKER_07You know, I I don't think it's a black art. You just got to know what you're looking at. Most people just don't even know what they're looking at, you know. I remember years ago when I first started, I was at Thompson, and Mario, obviously the king of you know modifieds, he would look at his tire. I remember watching him in the pitch, you know, and I became friends with Mario, but he would like look at the tire, and it was like it was his baby. He would study them, he would do this, you know, and I'm like, well, that's where you really have to learn. And a guy that that used to do my car burers out of Utah told me he says those four things that hit the racetrack are the most important things. If you can read them, it'll tell you. Like my son will come in and we'll like he'll tell me it's loose and we'll go over and look at the car. Yep, look, it's telling us, you know, the one tire is telling us what it's doing. You need to be able to read it, and most guys can't.
SPEAKER_14It sounds to me like reading tires is the same thing that you do in reading and understanding engines.
SPEAKER_07Yeah. You know, Jackie, I pull it off, I look at every single valve, look at the engine from side to side, what's going on with it. You can really, if you know what to look for, and obviously, since I've been taking them apart for, you know, 30, 30 plus years or whatever it is, you can learn a lot. You know, it'll tell you, everything will tell you something if you know how to read it.
SPEAKER_14Do you ever get the itch to get back in the race car? Not at all. Well, you did one time for an invitational race. I believe it was at the at an SRX event, was it not?
SPEAKER_07Um, yeah, that uh tech mic thing. You know, I had a great time then. But since then, I don't even have an interest in it. Not at all. I'm like, man, I don't want to sit in that thing. It's noisy, it's hot, you know, nah, that's not me, man. I'm almost 68 this summer. Could I be competitive? More than likely. But I learned even when I did that deal a few years ago, you need to know who's out there. You have to study the it's just like tires and engines. You have to study your competition, know who you're racing against, and expect what they're, you know, know what they're gonna do and figure it out before it even happens.
SPEAKER_14Well, Mike, it's been a real treat. We've go way, way back, and you I consider you a very dear friend, and I appreciate your helping us with the modified minute. Me too, Jackie. Have a good night. A while back you heard from his crew chief Dale Headquist in our first episode of the Modified Minute. Well, in this week's Racer Spotlight, it's time to hear from the driver.
SPEAKER_15It's Racer Spotlight time on the Modified Minute. Racer Spotlight is brought to you by Riverhead Building Supply. Build better, build smarter. Here's Jack.
SPEAKER_14Well, in today's Racer Spotlight, I'm pleased to have joined me a guy that has been on a tear. Not just this year, but you heard from his his crew chief Dale Headquist in the first episode of this show. We're talking about uh, well, a Died-in-the-wool Buffalo Bills fan uh and the driver of the number one USNE Power Sports car, Patrick Emmerling. Patrick, first of all, my condolences to you about the outcome of the playoffs in the NFL season last year.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, that was a bummer. Um that that's kind of been uh, you know, they call it the Buffalo curse, right? And uh they've been uh just like a little catch away from uh getting there, I feel like, but they had a little bit for whatever reason, it's just like the stuff didn't align for them to get to the end there, right? Even though they were probably that they had a lot of good stuff going for them. But uh yeah, that's a bummer. I'm uh now uh being a Buffalo sports guy, the the Sabres are looking good, so because I do like I do love hockey as well. So uh um yeah, hopefully they could uh they were looking really good, so hopefully they can break the curse, right?
SPEAKER_14Well, let's talk a little bit about your racing endeavors. I I went back and I didn't even realize you've been at this for more than a decade racing. Uh where do you think where you started to where you are now in terms of in terms of your skills and in terms of the results that you're getting, where do you think you've gotten better?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, so um like when I started, um you know, we would run a sport mod at uh Holland in Lancaster, Wyoming County Speedway up in New York, right? And um eventually we had a family-owned modified car. And um definitely, yeah, definitely a big difference. Like I feel like when I was uh younger, it's like you know, you see a lot of the younger guys come to sport, they got some speed, but they don't, you know, like the racecraft, that's the hard part, right? And um that's one thing, um, especially hanging out with Jan Leedy for all these years. And Jan was my crew chief, he really uh helped me out in that department. And I feel like um, you know, I don't know, I feel like myself, every time I get into the car, I'm better. So anytime I get more experience, um, I just feel like um, yeah, I just feel more prepared and better um throughout the years. And um yeah.
SPEAKER_14Patrick, you call it racecraft. Drivers always address that. We all in the media also kind of try to put it under the microscope. Is how do you acquire that racecraft? How do you improve upon it? Is it something that consciously you have to work on, or is it somewhere where it's kind of akin to muscle memory?
SPEAKER_06A little bit of everything. Like you can study it, uh, you can study what other guys are doing. Um, I feel like a lot of things that a lot of it that really helped me was just racing against, you know, if you race against the best, you know, eventually you're gonna, you know, you're gonna you're gonna figure it out. You pick up if you get beat by them, right? Yeah, you have guys, uh, you know, I I raced a lot. For example, Matt Hirschman. He was, you know, he's everyone knows he's one of the best in the game when it comes to modified racing. So it's like I feel like I learned a lot from him.
SPEAKER_14You know, it's funny you bring up big money, Matt. I I I think about your style in extra distance races. And while you're you're you're very fast, there's a lot of times where you just let the race come to you, and that is so Hirschman-like.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, so that yeah, that is one thing. Like uh, I guess that's the way I kind of approach it is I don't really care about short run speed. I don't really um like when we go out and practice, you never see that we're like, yeah, sometimes we're close to the top of the charts, and but our goal is okay, what's our uh what's our speed? 10, 20, 30 laps on tires, 30 laps into the run. Um what's our speed there, right? What's our fall off looking like? Um, does the car feel like it's gonna be a good race car? Because it's um because yeah, sure, we could show up and get the right front to fire really good and drive it off the right rear. Um, you know, that's not that hard to bust off a lap, but to bust off laps uh 20, 30, 40, 50 laps into the run, that's the uh that's the hard part, I think.
SPEAKER_14There's another part of your racecraft that your crew chief Dale addressed, uh and saying and sharing a conversation that he said he had with you in the audience.
SPEAKER_09Anybody that knows Patrick and myself, um, we don't like to race that way um at all. And and one of the things last year on the tour with a few tour races, we had we got kind of bullied a little bit, and I'll call it bullying. And that was one of the things Patrick and I kind of talked about over the offseason was we got to dig our heels in the mud a little bit when some of these guys when they run you hard is one thing, but when they run you out of racetrack, it's another thing.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, that that is a thing I was kind of working on because um I think a lot of the guys who run against me, like I normally run people pretty darn good on average. And um, you know, in in return, I feel like a lot of the guys that run on like the tour specifically, I run with a lot, like there's a lot of respect there between us, right? And sure, yeah, there's times where um yeah, there's times when you know it doesn't happen. And that's one thing is uh yeah, uh that's one thing I was gonna try to do a little bit more is like, all right, stick up for myself on the racetrack a little bit more and um yeah, you know, just kind of run some other uh you know, some other racers, uh yeah, the way they can race me sometimes.
SPEAKER_14So is you have a unique relationship. Dale comes on board, and I'm interested in how you were able to snare the bearded one based in Rhode Island to twist the wrenches on your race car.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, so it was like it it was a long story. Um so anyway, when it came together, um, because the the 79 car, the Tim Lupino and 79 car was kind of um, you know, and long story short, um, not really a car owner uh anymore. Um but uh then the Fleetworks number one was coming about. Um yeah, Rich Gatreau and the Fleetworks team uh was forming, and I put my name in the hat to be a driver for it. And me and Del, we were kind of we're we're just kind of just talking back and forth about stuff, and then Dell goes, uh I want Pat the car, right? And so uh so he vouched for me to be able to, you know, to have that opportunity driving the Fleetworks number one, and um yeah, and the rest is hit history. So just really fortunate um to talk to Dell and uh and it's we became like versus a driver and a crew chief thing. Um, you know, it's our friendship is tighter than what the driver-crew chief relationship, you know what I mean? We're we became really good friends over it.
SPEAKER_14So um well, I would think that that's gotta pay dividends when in the heat of the battle, he's gotta make a call atop the the pit box. Absolutely. Absolutely. He knows what you mean, not necessarily what you're saying. So in that friendship, do you do do you sometimes have some exchanges that maybe you don't want to hear let other people hear? Because you know, like siblings, we're not afraid to argue, we're not afraid to bark. Are you and he comfortable barking at each other?
SPEAKER_06A little bit, but we don't um we're both pretty, we're both well, I'm I'm a really laid-back dude. And so, and Dell is also really, really good, really easy to work, uh, good to work with. Sometimes he gets a little up there, but no, no, no, we we never have like uh we don't normally have arguments. And you and if and if something happens out on the racetrack, whether it was my mistake or anything that happens, you know, we're you know, we're a team, we're not uh you know, there's no fingers being pointed. There's you know, nothing like that. We're a team, we're in it together, we'll work together, and that's uh uh yeah, and that that's kind of like our relationship of how we approach racing.
SPEAKER_14Before we run out of time, I want to go back to Martinsville, Virginia. You set on the pole, you lead like the first 60 laps. In fact, even when you come in in the pits, you come back out and you're leading, and then in your second pit stop, you create what they called a pit entrance violation.
SPEAKER_02Pit road is open and pit stops are underway, and Patrick Emmerlin will go to the rear of the field after leading so many laps early in this event due to a commitment line violation.
SPEAKER_06I knew so. It was funny. I was kind of studying that in practice, and so at Martinsville, so our cars are more offset, they're wider, right? So if you um if you're naturally driving into the pits at Martinsville, now this is that because they they offset that box a couple feet inwards and outwards, and it's pretty far outwards. So in a modified, if you're naturally just driving off into the pits, you're running that over with your right front all day. Like if that wasn't there, you're running over it that location, right? And so um so that was but I knew it was there, and it was just an audible on my part. Um, if normally if you have the fastest car, you want to stay on strategy. And so we were going to stay out, which at the end it probably would have been just as good as or better, but I chickened out. Um I called an I called an audible on it and I saw everyone dip behind me, and I thought I was gonna be good on that. Um because normally if the guys usually you want to pit with the field. If you're the dominant car, which we were at that point, um, you want to pit with the field. So I uh um yeah, then I just I I thought I thought I could make it, but then just yeah, I just caught it. So if I was like a half a car length farther back, it would have been fine, but um but yeah, that is, you know, that's a rule, and uh, you know, and that's in the wheel modified tour. I don't think those orange boxes are at the you know, at some of the tracks were going outside the pits, right? So it's only at your national series weekends at like uh Martinsville or Louden is where that's even going to be a factor, right? So like I said, I knew it, I broke the rule, I caught I called an Audible, I pitted, and um and uh you know, hindsight, like yeah, like I thought I, you know, it's one of them things like I thought I would have been clear of it, but it's just the radius I couldn't quite turn the car sharp enough in.
SPEAKER_14Well, it still turned out even though you had to use the car up coming from the back, you were there in that final green final restart, and uh the car ended up fading. But so far this season has been very, very kind to you if you're chasing for a championship. Listen, we wish the very best of luck throughout the remainder of not only the Wheel of Modified Tour, but also when you make those forays into the tour type modified open events, and of course on the Monaco Ford uh try-track series as well. Thanks a lot for joining me. Thank you, Jack. You know, in baseball, batting 300 likely earned you a spot in the Hall of Fame, right? In racing, winning averages are even lower, but that's not the case for this week's Hot Dog of the Week.
SPEAKER_15It's now time to reveal this week's Modified Minute Hot Dog of the Week. Someone who stood above the rest. Brought to you by Hummel Brothers, quality meets. The top dog in modified racing. 100% quality since 1933.
SPEAKER_14John McKennedy goes to Thompson Speedway crowd. He has unlocked the secret of the 5.8 mile high tech. Last season, he won all three of the open modified events, and in the Profane Plus 75 for the Monaco modified drive-tack series, the Dunstur, Massachusetts driver continues that domination.
SPEAKER_02Inside Christopher! What's up a bit the fact? It's out of here.
SPEAKER_14He started from the ninth spot, but quickly moved to the front and scored his fourth consecutive tour type win at the track. On Sunday, McKennedy earned the outside bolt for the Icebreaker 150, wheeling modified tour rate, and led every lap in the first half of the race. A late race caution, brought the field to get road, and a bobble cost McKennedy to lead. Steven Koptic scored his second straight win, while McKennedy eventually finished fourth. His weekend, however, earned him this week's designation as our hot dog of the week. You know, Mike Christopher Jr. has gained a lot of attention lately. From his appearance on the Ram Race for the Sheet to his Craftsman Truck Series run at Rockingham, Christopher is building his racing resume. This is SK Sounding.
SPEAKER_15News from the SK, SK Lite, and 602 Modified World. Brought to you by Wheeler's Auto Services. The finest in top-level service of Premier Automobile makes and models, specializing in European, Japanese, and domestic vehicles.
SPEAKER_14Well, Michael Christopher Jr., thanks so much for joining us. Welcome to the Modified Minute.
SPEAKER_11I'm happy to be here. I haven't seen you in a while, so it's through here at least.
SPEAKER_14Listen, you've gained such notoriety, and I want to go back to in the offseason and how you kept a lid on it so that everybody had to watch on TV the Ram race for the seat.
SPEAKER_01This competition is about character, about fortitude, and about the old-fashioned giving a shit. Are you here to fight and win for colleague? Win for Ram, and change your lives forever.
SPEAKER_10There's no friends on the racetrack.
SPEAKER_16Oh, we're gonna spin.
SPEAKER_11Tell me what that experience was like. I kept the lid on it because I signed like a five million dollar NDA. Um obviously to to keep uh you know everything fresh and whatnot. Um it was crazy, Jackie. Like uh, you know, we spent three weeks down there, uh, no phones, no TV, no nothing. And I I heard about it um probably like a month or so before um that something like this was gonna be possible. Talk to Ty Norris. Tommy Baldwin actually set me up with all this, so um he knew about it, but also didn't tell me it was a show or anything. It was just something. I don't know. So it was all kind of confusing until uh around late August, September. Uh I kind of heard that I was gonna be a part of it. Um not exactly sure what it was 100% yet, but like October rolled around and they were like, We're um, you know, we're we're buying flights and whatnot, and you're coming down to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for three weeks. Um don't worry about your phone. Don't contact anyone or you know, don't tell anyone that you're doing this. Uh if people ask, you know, to come up with some kind of story they told us. So um you were in the witness protection plan. Yeah, pretty much like one of the options they said was you know, tell everyone you're going to jail. Then like obviously you can't do that, but um, I I kept it hush-hush as much as I could. Um, obviously, my immediate family knew what I was doing and and whatnot, and work had to know, but work is Mohawk Northeast with with Al Hankeys, so he was very understanding of it. Let me go for three weeks plus, and uh yeah, we went down there, uh, met all the guys. I knew Austin was gonna be a part of it. I didn't know anyone else uh was going to. Um, but you know, from going going from not knowing any of those guys until three or so weeks later, they're like, you know, it it was we created a bond through that show that I don't think you know we could ever recreate with anyone else. So we were uh me and those guys are always gonna have some kind of connection uh from that show. So it was it was awesome. Uh three weeks of freedom, basically. You know, we're just hanging out, just the boys, basically. That's what it turned into. And uh driving race cars every other day and competing for something, and all the food was free, all the clothing was free. It was awesome, you know, for three weeks. You just didn't have to worry about anything. And uh obviously didn't come out with it with uh the win, uh, although that would have been nice. But I think we I think I did a really good job at showcasing who I am, how I drive, where I come from, all that stuff. So um overall.
SPEAKER_14I loved it. I loved it. Yeah, there's no question, you and Austin Bears represented the modified racing community very, very well. I'm wondering with that situation and the bonding that you made with fellow race car drivers but from dis different disciplines, you know, back and forth and being in the seat every other day, as you say. How did that make you a better race car driver? Or did it?
SPEAKER_11Well, you definitely learn from people, and um that's one thing. And we're always talking about, you know, I think we heard the night before or so where we were going, what we were driving, and we knew um it was gonna be they didn't the guys down south knew everything. Uh I don't know what it is, but like the legend cars were all built down south by a southern team. The late models were all built down south by a southern team. Some of the guys raced for that team that built this, you know, the late models and stuff. So those guys knew where we were going, when we were going there, what cars we were driving. Austin and I showed up, like not knowing nothing about it. So um, but you know, being in different cars and whatnot, you definitely, yeah, you you I haven't been in a legend car in a long time. They're a little bit different now, but uh still felt the same, like you know, out of control. Uh the late models were different. Uh I've never driven actually I did bump stops. So like I would say the late model stock car um is the closest representation to a truck, honestly. Not that I have a ton of experience in that either, but it had the same feel, like the the bump stops and and the heaviness in the wheel and all that, especially when we went to South Boston, high grip racetrack and and whatnot. Um I mean going back to your question about like what did we learn and you know, bounce ideas or you know, whatever. Um honestly it I yeah, the racing was one thing and it was fun and we competed and we did the best we could, but it was just a good time overall. Yeah, like it all the stuff back at the house, which they didn't really show too much of, and I wish they did, but I understand why they couldn't um you know, just time slot-wise um content with racing. Racing, we just we raced a lot. So um I understand they couldn't put it in, but that's where the fun really was and and where our personalities really showed. So um the racing was one thing, but man, the time at the house and the time traveling to the racetrack and in the vans with different people almost every day. And uh, some people you were in the van the whole time with uh throughout the two or three weeks of racing. So um just growing the bond with those people is the was the best part. Racing was racing was racing.
SPEAKER_14You brought up the trucks. Um you certainly created a relationship with with Stuart Freason last year that resulted in you making your first start at at Loudoun, but now you're hot off of the high banks of Rockingham. And according to your dad, although he didn't want to spill the beans, it probably is going to result in some more truck races this year. Can you fill us in?
SPEAKER_11Yeah, we're definitely gonna do more. Uh I I can 100% say that we're doing New Hampshire. Um the other stuff is just it's week by week, day by day basis, and I hate it like that. And I wish I could just come out with like, hey, I'm going here, I'm going there, but it's it's just doesn't really work like that um in my situation. Um and that's gotta you've gotta raise the money, right? Oh yeah, of course. But um and and that's part of it, you know, that's a huge part of it. But um I'm in talks and and I I learned a lot at Rockingham, and the only reason I really went there was um to learn arrow and and you know what the truck does behind people in a pack, not in a pack, uh high speed. That was the fastest I've ever felt in a race car. Like maybe I've gone faster, maybe not, I don't know. Um, but just the sense of speed of like, man, we're in the turn and we're in the throttle. That's it's it was different. And it took me a while. Like, I'll I'll be humble about it. I and I I love being humble about it to like tell people the true experience and you know that I'm not some Kyle Larson, I'm trying to figure it out. But like it was um it was demanding and it took me a while. Um, but I feel like I I did gain the confidence eventually, it was just too late. Like you get whatever it is, 50 minutes of practice, got cut short a little bit, um, and it just wasn't really enough for me. And qualifying, they taped the thing off and tell you to go even deeper and get in the front even earlier. And it's like I just wasn't there yet. But it took me like the first stage to really get confident with it. Um, and I I eventually did, and I felt really good. The truck was really good. I mean, sometimes we were running lap times comparable to the leaders top five, like obviously.
SPEAKER_00And he does it. Christopher Bell wins his eighth career race at Bristol.
SPEAKER_11But they just won last week, and the week before that, I drove it to three laps down. But um, I mean, it was circumstantial, you know. Yeah, we didn't catch yellows, blah blah blah. You could say this or that, but I think the whatever finish is finish, but I learned a lot. Like I was there to learn arrow and learn the all that other stuff, and I feel like I did. So now, um, going back to your question, I'm hoping to apply that at another bigger racetrack. Well, you I understand you're gonna get the opportunity to test at Nashville. Uh, I don't know. It's it's it's not really looking like that because they're the trucks are going on a pretty big uh streak of I think like six races in a row leading up to Nashville. Nashville is like circled on the calendar, not 100% yet. Should probably make some phone calls this week to to see, but it was like a yes and maybe, and I don't really know. I will I really wish I knew what was going on, but um it's a lot of just it's just communication and hearing yes, we're going. And even Rockingham, like I didn't have that on my calendar at all, but um it popped up like I don't know, three weeks before the race. So um yeah, whatever. If they call me tomorrow to to run Wednesday night, I'm there. You're there, yeah.
SPEAKER_14Have the helmet and the fire suit packed and ready to go. Let's talk more about your bread and butter, and that's your modified efforts. This past weekend in the Monaco Tri-Track and then in the Wheel and Modified Tour, you you had you scored two podiums, a second and a third. It's like it's coming together for Michael Christopher Jr. when it comes to these tour type modified.
SPEAKER_11So far, yeah. Um it's been pretty good. Uh obviously racing for a new team in the modified tour with Alan Daring and the and the boys from Long Island. Um started off a little rocky, like and again, the car has speed, and we had some you know racing incidents at New Hampshire, uh, New Smyrna, Martinsville, uh motor problems uh which hurt us, uh whatever. Just circumstantial stuff. But obviously, we came out to a home track of mine at Thompson. I knew this would really be a sign of like you know what's to come because uh I love this racetrack. I'm really good at this racetrack. I should run well here, especially after Saturday, um, because we ran second in the tri-track race with Jimmy Page's double zero. So um the tour racing is is difficult. Um why I I knew it was difficult, but it's just people, obviously. Like um you gotta hit on everything. Um and and these teams that compete on the tour, like the top ten or whatever, they got full-time crew chiefs and uh you know, pit stop practice and whatnot. And to go from you know what we are, which is basically a rookie team, um, it's difficult to compete with people like that and t teams like that. So um we're getting there. Uh we we have a great crew. I got most of my people from Stafford to help me go over the wall. I mean, hell, even my dad carries. So um, you know, we got a 60 year 68-year-old guy jumping over the wall carrying the tire that kind of shows like it's a little uh uh encompassing of what our team is. Um and Alan um Alan's Alan wants to win races, and I think yesterday kind of proved that we have the chance to. I think that was a winning race scarf. We just didn't have issues on pit road. Um but you know, it is what it is. We showed up and showed out in a good run, and I think it's good momentum for um you know summer months, which are starting pretty soon. But yeah, modified racing um it's kind of crazy. Like last year I had my SK and the double zero, and like the double zero was like my echelon, right? And and I still love racing for those guys, love racing for those guys, but like after the show and the New Hampshire truck race last year, so New Hampshire truck race in September, the show was all November, December. I got the call about um racing for Allen uh and on the tour, so I'm like, okay, now I'm going full-time tour racing. I really want to go truck racing. I'm working on this all winter long, trying to put deals together and do more for this year. Um that like all of a sudden, this all this stuff is happening. The show comes out in January, and oh shit, we're racing New Smyrna in February. Um, and now, you know, oh, we still race SKs. Oh, I still race for the Double Zero, right? Like, I don't want to make it sound like I forgot about them because I didn't, but it was just like so much other stuff was going on that um you know you kind of just get sidetracked with it. But um, it was great to come back to home track, you know, back to Connecticut for the first time since the show and all that, because that was in November, so um talked to a lot of people and um a lot of people watched the show, which was good.
SPEAKER_14But a lot of things going on, Jackie. Yeah, there's no question. And we haven't even mentioned you've got your SK ride, which is your family run operation. And I was kidding your dad because I said that you were on the verge of surpassing him in the number of career wins, and he was very quick to point out, and I'm paraphrasing, well, the only way he's gonna do that is with me.
SPEAKER_11Yeah, yeah, we're gonna get to uh win 27. Uh, you know, with uh God willing this year. We'll get to win 27, he's 28, and he said after we get to 27, he's uh taking everything out of the car and leaving it to me. So I think we're gonna stop right there. Um it'd be great. Uh it's it is on my mind. It honestly is. Like it would be awesome if I could get to that number. I don't even want to surpass it, it doesn't matter to me, you know. But um just to um it we got a lot of wins and in the sh you know, the time that I've been racing, and um I really started to look at it, I guess, the past year or so. With I mean now we had five or six last year, and and four the year before, or something like that. Like we've been picking them off. And the really what that comes down to is my dad's dedication to it. It's very similar to those, you know, top ten tour teams where they have a full-time crew chief, um, you know, always working on a car all day, all night, and that's what my dad does, except he doesn't get paid for it. So um he his dedication is uh unmatched. I I will die on that hill, and it shows in the results.
SPEAKER_14The Christopher name is synonymous with Stafford Speedway and with SK racing, your Uncle Ted, your your dad, a three-time champion, and and now you there. Uh what does Stafford Speedway mean to the Christopher family?
SPEAKER_11I mean, it's everything, it's where they started, it's where I started and and picked my teeth, or you know, um whatever that phrase is.
SPEAKER_13Cut my teeth. Cut my teeth, sorry. If you pick your teeth, we're in trouble.
SPEAKER_11Yeah, I I haven't eaten yet today. So um the I mean it's everything, you know, it's uh that's where I mean my dad and I talked about it today, like the the aggressive style that you need pretty much at every stage of racing. Like we were talking about it specifically um for the tour race yesterday, where it's like you have to be aggressive and take every spot after that uh pit stop. It's like you can't waste any time. And then I was like, you know, it's the same thing. Like Christopher Bell was saying, I gotta get to the lead because whoever leads this race is uh you know has a better shot at winning. Um but our point is you learn that stuff at Stafford with the with the aggressive style of SK racing. It's like I gotta get this guy, I gotta get to the lead, I gotta get the next guy right away, right away. You know, it's only 40 laps, and when you're starting 13th, 15th, whatever it is, with the handicap system, which is great, um for the most part. You know, you gotta have that, you gotta have that aggressive style, and that's what Stafford teaches you, and I'm gonna use that for the rest of my career, however long that is. So um, but it's you know, not only that, but the facility is just top notch now, like it's unbelievable. Uh so anybody that wants to go to short track racing, you know, I always tell them top of the list is Stafford. So um the roots have always treated us right, uh, which is always great. Um you know, my uncle had a great relationship with um uh Lisa and the whole family, all that. So, and me and my dad do too.
SPEAKER_14So Well, I'll share with you a story. Your uncle Teddy, as you know, liked to wear the black hat. He just went with the territory. And my dad came to me one night and said, You know what? I like Teddy Christopher, I'm gonna adopt him. He's gonna be my seventh son. I went and told your uncle Ted that, and he just threw his hands up in the air and goes, ah, great. And they were very close. So you're right, there's a great relationship there.
SPEAKER_11They did have a really good relationship, and I've I've always heard about that. Like in in Victory Lane, whether it's my dad or my uncle looking at old videos, I always say, you know, thank you to uh Jack and Root and um the track and all that, and it's true, the everyone treats us right, and it's a great racing facility. So yeah, Stafford's uh never forget Stafford.
SPEAKER_14Well, we'll never forget you, just don't stop racing the outgate until you get that full-time crap, okay? That's the goal now. Okay. Thanks so much for joining us, and good luck. We got the titler couple of weeks, a couple of weeks away, and uh it will be back full-time racing.
SPEAKER_11Uh I appreciate it. I like I like talking like this. Uh uh, sometimes I get rambling, but it's uh I think it's all worth it.
SPEAKER_14Thanks for having me. I know you've already heard from Patrick Emmerling, but we forced him to play either or, and here it is.
SPEAKER_15It's either or where our guest must choose one or the other. Presented by Hoosier Tire East, where we fuel passion, pride, and success with our tires designed for champions.
SPEAKER_14Well, I can't believe I found another victim for either or. He really didn't volunteer. I forced his volunteer, but we're talking about Patrick Emmerling. And Patrick, it's real simple. We ask a series of questions, you answer either or, and if you care to make a you know further explanation as to your choice, feel free, okay, my friend. All right, this may be a little touchy as a Dyde in the wool, Buffalo Bills fan. Either the New England Patriots or the Miami Dolphins.
SPEAKER_06Miami Dolphins.
SPEAKER_14Why? Oh, come on. Don't pull my legs because you know you can beat them.
SPEAKER_06So I I wasn't really around much for the old rivalry rivalry. I was only around for the uh New England rivalry, so that's why I would say Dolphins.
SPEAKER_14Yeah, because you can beat beat them. You you know, they're they're like, you're the hammer, they're the nail, okay? The Patriots the other side, it's the other way around sometimes. Right. Either or when it comes to your choice of Buffalo Wings, hot or mild. Um, so uh, yeah. I mean, scorching hot? Gotta drink milk hot, or is it just Buffalo Wings style, you know, kinda semi-hot?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, like uh in Buffalo we call them medium hot. Yeah, and the medium hot is what like the rest of the country calls is a hot, right?
SPEAKER_14Oh no. You've never I've had the Buffalo Hot Hot, the Chernobyl's. They're they're they're the best.
SPEAKER_06Yeah. Oh really?
SPEAKER_14Yeah, they're the best. That's when you have to go for the quart of milk. Okay.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_14Alright, this is this is the sartorial question. Either sweatpants or blue jeans. Sweatpants. I'm surprised. I thought you would have gone the other way, but alright. Bonsignor or silk?
SPEAKER_06As far as.
SPEAKER_14It's your call. Tell me what. Um you gotta race one.
SPEAKER_06I mean that yeah, they're they're both they're both really good competitors.
SPEAKER_14Um you're going mano a mano against one of them. Bonsignor or silk?
SPEAKER_06Um, yeah, I'll go against Ronnie.
SPEAKER_14And finally, from the music department, either Drake or Florida.
SPEAKER_06Um, probably Drake on the one.
SPEAKER_14Listen, it's been a real treat. I uh I hope uh you know it wasn't too harmful to you, even though I started with a very questionable topic, the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins, to a true Dod in the wool, Bill's Mafia guy. But thanks so much for being part of this week's Either Or. Thank you. Many thanks to Mike Christopher, Sr. and Jr., to Patrick Emmerling, and of course to each and every one of you as well. I'm Jack Aroot, hoping that you'll join me again for yet another episode of the Modified.
SPEAKER_15This has been the Modified Minute. Modified Minute has been brought to you by Quadell Communications, the official track side radio supplier for the Mod Squad by midstate type development.