MODIFIED MINUTE
Modified Minute - 100% devoted to the Modified Racing World
MODIFIED MINUTE
EPISODE 5
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This week, Jack visits with NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour Director, Gary Putnam. The former modified owner/driver shares his assessment of the “Tour” and some of the reasons for its resurgence.
SK Modified driver, Mikey Flynn. Flynn came up the racing ladder in an unconventional manner and he shares his journey as well as what he calls his most terrible night in racing.
Michael O’Sullivan comes from a racing family. O’Sully drops by and shares his journey in the modified world as well as memories of his good friend Teddy Christopher.
This week on the modified minute.
SPEAKER_00And finally, we've introduced some young kids who are really talented. I mean, you know, Polly Hartwood won your first tour of it and lose some ear right out of the box. I mean, that's unheard of.
SPEAKER_08You gotta ask this crap, huh? It was uh it still to this day affects me. It's worst thing that ever happened.
SPEAKER_04You know, like watching um those guys, you know, and that and that race and me being on pit road, and then even those when I was running around those laps with this water spraying in my face. Like I knew it was over, but you know, you're still trying.
SPEAKER_10All that plus hot dog of the week, radio replay, and either or don't tighten those belts because this week's modified minute is next. They're called the Mod Squad. Ground Pounders.
SPEAKER_03The men that live by the grace of God and stick to the court to the mod.
SPEAKER_10This is the modified minute. Go inside the world of modified rating with modified minute is brought to you by Model Minute. The official five time rating supplier for the mod. My mid time development. My humble brothers quality. 1933. Build smarter, built better, authorized above fuel and product, and by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925. Here's Jack.
SPEAKER_05Welcome to episode 5 of the only podcast 100% devoted to the world of modified racing, the modified minute. You know, the mod squad's attention is firmly focused on this weekend's 54th annual Napa Spring Sizzler at the Stafford Motor Speedway. But the MRS series did run their Northeast Classic at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and the Race of Champions Modified held their lid lifter at the Mahoney Valley Speedway. So let's get you up to speed.
SPEAKER_10Time to get you up to speed in the modified world. Up to speed is brought to you by Mid-State Site Development. Mid-State safety, knowledge, and innovation.
SPEAKER_06Green flags in the air, we are racing with the modified racing series. A great job by both Ronnie Williams and John McKennedy there, side by side, diving into the third number one. So side by side, it's Williams and McKennedy battling for the race lead. Down the back, straight away they go, John McKennedy. Once again, you new race into the fifth lead change of the event. The third time McKinney has led in this event. Every here comes Perry, side by side with Everling, battling for that second spot now. Perry on the inside, Emerling on the outside. Here comes Patrick Emmerling, diving to the inside of McKennedy. Emerling didn't come around to leave that loud. Side by side, battle out of turn number one. Williams gets the spot. Here comes Everling, he's gonna try the crossover move side by side out of two. Fumbling out of turn number four. Tech third flag in the air for the first time in his career. Patrick Emmerling, a core type modified winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Just uh absolutely incredible for us to uh come here and win out loud and it's uh pretty loud.
SPEAKER_05Race of Champions started their season with the running of the Spring Zing at the Mahoney Valley Speedway.
SPEAKER_03Out of round four, it's the Race of Champions modified series, Spring Zing 75 going green! All us up on the outside. And we got trouble, loose trolls gonna go for a spin! Point Blueprint's green flying is displayed once again. All is those wrong quarter X coming on the turn four. Trying to hold off Harkwick after strike. Green wide on the turn two, Jacob Crispin and Mick Hirstman on the inside. Big bunny splocking the car through turn two. Beats now wheel of the wheel of pull up from the first butt. And now Coshnark's gonna go around. And Beers now fits in behind Harkwick. He's gonna give him the tap of the duckets down the back stretch. Hershman's got the nod for second. He gets clear of Hawkins' beers, and now he'll go after Hartwig. Matt Hirschman is the inside of Bolly Art, but we got caution on the back straight away. And Herschman's gonna go to the whip here on the outside. Ely's backing him up on the hindside. And Herschman's got a big old run, and Matt Herschman grabbed the leader on the Herschman and Healy get a battle track, and now they're stacking up on the back straight away. Greating and defending ROC modified champion. Oh trouble in turn four! But Herschman to the outside, he will win the Spring Team 75 and capture his 66th career. Race the champions victory.
SPEAKER_10Let'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 NASDAQ. Steven Copstick's win at Thompson moved him into the top spot of the Wheel and Modified Tour. Defending Champ Austin Beers is seven points back, with the rest of the top five being Tyler Ripkema, Patrick Hammerling, and Justin Bonsignor. Next up for the tour is the Oxford Plains Speedway on May 2nd. In the Smart Tour, Danny Bone's win at Hickory gives him a nine-point edge over Ryan Newman. The rest of the top five are Jack Baldwin, Brandon Ward, and Burt Myers. The Smart Tour is 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 Speedbowl. Patrick Emmerling's victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway gives him the lead in the MRS stand-ins. Ronnie Williams is just two points behind, followed by Jacob Harry Anthony Nostella and John McKennedy. The MRS heads next to Lee USA Speedway on June 12th. Matt Hirchman's win at Mahonic Valley Speedway gives him the lead. Matt is followed by Polly Hartwig III, Jack Ealy, Blake Barney, and Gunner Ziner. The ROC heads next to Shangri-La Speedway on May 9th.
SPEAKER_05In this week's Racer Spotlight, we're expanding outside of the cockpit. For more than 11 seasons, Gary Putnam mixed his job as a NASCAR crew member with his passion for modifieds. Now he switched roles and serves as the director of the Wheel and Modified Tour.
SPEAKER_10It's Racer Spotlight time on the Modified Minute. Build smarter.
SPEAKER_05Well, Gary, welcome to the Modified Minute. So good of you to carve some time out for us to visit.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. Thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_05Look, I'm very interested because you kind of took the unconventional route to the directorship. You toiled for eleven years as a privateer on the Wheel and Modified Tour, and I wonder how that shaped your vision of what your role should be as the director of the tour. You know, to every driver that I've spoken to and every car owner on this podcast, they have all echoed the same sentiment. The very fact that you've been there, done that, got the t-shirt and the souvenir bumper sticker, that you have been able to at least transmit to them uh an understanding that some of your predecessors they didn't feel had. Um how has how has the first three races gone for you?
SPEAKER_00Um it's been a Drinking from a fire hose. Um I walked across the racetrack in New Savarna on Thursday morning. And I'm like what the hell am I doing? Um luckily enough, uh fuel cell inspected right away and kind of got my feet on anything and uh kind of went from there.
SPEAKER_05Where do you think that you were going?
SPEAKER_00Hopefully right where it's at. I think it's been a really good thing right now. Um I think uh quality rather than good. Um crowd thing pretty good here at the beginning of the year, so you know, even with Martinville and Randley, uh we had a pretty easy crowd.
SPEAKER_05You know, you you talk about where you're at in 2026. Um there seems to be a youth movement underway too. Last year they ended up with the youngest Wheel of Modified tour champion. You've got a kid that's on a roll now in Steven Kopsic. A lot of youngsters getting involved. What do you attribute that to?
SPEAKER_00Um just the change another guard. I mean, it it's it's finally happening, right? I mean we're all worried about well, where's the next Toby coming from? You know, and and finally we've introduced some young kids. Really calculated. I mean, Holly Hartwood won his first tour, and it used to heard right out of the box. I mean, that's unheard of. You know, we've especially meeting around, you know. It's really cool to be the kids. You know.
SPEAKER_05You know, one of the things that I attribute the the the health to is the fact that there are there there's a very, very healthy southern modified tour under the smart banner. And so if you if you're not if you're not ready, because look, when you go tour racing, you've gotta have you've gotta have some crew members that are gonna go over the wall and change tires. And in these controlled environments or like tour-type modified shows, uh, this allows people to put their toe in the water without having to go whole hog.
SPEAKER_00Oh, for sure. I mean you look at last weekend there was three really healthy touring series running at the same weekend. Um Saturday and Thompson had three cars, um and we had twenty-nine, and smart tour and Hickory had uh twenty-four, I believe, you know. That's really good for modified racing. And for each of our divisions.
SPEAKER_05Upcoming in just a few weeks, for the first time in thirty years, you're going down east into Maine, hey yuck, and uh compete at the Oxford Plain Speedway. What's been the what what's been the the the conversation about that? Because I've heard a lot of people, you know, really excited about going back to a track that has so much of a legacy.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, the last time I was there was in 88 on Rod Spaulding's car. So I mean I'm excited to go back. Um it's it's such a unique place, it's got so much history. Um and it usually provides superb race.
SPEAKER_05Why is that? Why do you think that is? Just the size, the layout?
SPEAKER_00You know, it's so different than every other racetrack that we go to. It's it's flat, it's round, no grip. Um kind of place. Yeah. For an older guy, it's it's my kind of place. Prototrol.
SPEAKER_05It's to me fun to see, as you say, the Paulie Hartwigs of the world or the Stephen Copsicks of the world. But I've also uh I think I've heard a lot of whispers about all right, Justin comes out, wins the first race, and now he's not even in the conversation. Ronnie Silk has to battle back from a crash. There's a lot of sub-stories in the early part of this season.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you look how Matt Herschman come out of the box. You didn't even see him at New Samurai. I mean, and he's finally he was strong at Tommy, and and that's not one of his strong places, so that's that's a good sign. John Kennedy has has improved every race, you know, it's great. And I think part of that is that because of the American race of the tire game you know, it's it's leveled up landing. Um they were really hard. So I think it's just level the playing field out and and everybody's fighting just to figure the tire out.
SPEAKER_05I think everybody's also still, they don't have the big black book for what the tire does, and I think we've seen it from New Smyrna all the way to Thompson. You've gotta take care of that right front, but yet when you go out to qualify, you've gotta make it angry so that you can make it stick.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. That's gonna make it complain to arms. When you look at the rest of the season, give me a couple of guys that I can run. Um look for big things for Michael Christopher in the next two months, probably.
SPEAKER_05Well, we gotta we gotta hope that he doesn't get a full-time Craftsman truck series ride then, I guess.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah, he does well in that too. I went to Rockin' him and watched him in that and you know, he he could do that too for a living.
SPEAKER_05Well, it's it's actually I had him on the show and that's what his goal is, to get there. So it'll be it'll be interesting. Gary, it it's modified's are the oldest division in all of NASCAR. When Bill France Sr. started NASCAR, it was modified races he was sanctioning. And yet the series has gone through so many iterations. Nowadays you've got spec motors, you've got you know manufactured chassis, and the and the crew chiefs tell me the box that you can operate in is much smaller. So that the most minute adjustments actually they they they they are much bigger in terms of result on the racetrack.
SPEAKER_00Oh, absolutely, and and you see that with the laptop. I mean you had three one hundredths of a second separating the top three qualified. That's crazy! The the front road tied each other. And the fun fact is they also tied each other in the first practice. For being a quick time. So but yeah, it's everybody's got the same stuff, right? I mean we all have the same motor, they all have the same chassis. Um their setups aren't far apart from each other, they all talk to each other. You know, and and they all are running on the same tire, so it's uh it's pretty awesome to to see the competition level there.
SPEAKER_05Well, it's pretty awesome to see the job that you're doing. Uh, I think there's an awful lot of us that are celebrating the fact that they went from within and you actually can connect with those people that are part of the Wheel and Modified Tour. And I appreciate your visiting with us and giving giving us some of your time here on the Modified Trail.
SPEAKER_00Oh, thank you. Pleasure to be here.
SPEAKER_05Austin Bears used consistency and top ten finishes to become the youngest NASCAR Wheel and Modified Tour champion last season. In this episode, we take you inside the cockpit of his Mike Murphy number 64.
SPEAKER_10It's time for radio replay. Radio replay is brought to you by Waddell Communications, your Northeast track side dealer for radios and repairs. This week you ride with Austin Beards at the News Myrna Speedway's Richie Evans 100.
SPEAKER_12I think we can take him now. There's only 45 to go.
SPEAKER_02I'll let you know what's weird too. Five, four, three, two, five, four. Outside door. Outside door, I'm up here. Outside, outside, outside, outside. We go with the line. All the way to the line here to go.
SPEAKER_10Check out more in-car footage at Fence Line Films on YouTube.
SPEAKER_05Mikey Flynn won his first SK modified race at Stafford back in 2024. Last season, he hit his stride, though, winning two more events and battling with eventual champion Jonathan Puglio for the 2026 track championship. He joins me here now on SK Soundings.
SPEAKER_10This is SK Soundings. News from the SK, SK Life, and 602. Modified World brought to you by Wheelers Auto Services, the finest and top-level service of Premier Automobile makes and models, specializing in European, Japanese, and domestic vehicles.
SPEAKER_05Well, Mikey, it's good to have you here today. Welcome.
SPEAKER_04Thank you. I appreciate being here. Thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_05Let's talk a little bit about how you got started in racing because it was, it was, I guess it would be safe to say, quite unconventional.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, for sure. So it's actually a uh funny story. Um, I didn't really have a family in racing. You know, most people nowadays like um their dad raced, their uncle raced, um, you know, but for me it was a little bit different. My dad um was really into snowmobiles. Um, we had a cabin up in Maine that we used to go to and uh ride up there. And um one day my dad got me a little 120 snowmobile to go ride with him, and we found a race up at a ski mountain. Um, and he thought it would be fun. So there we we went, we did it. And uh one day, um, after a few crashes on the snowmobile, um my mom was like, um, we need someone with a cage on it or something a little safer. So um we went to the Big E at Race Aramble one year, um, and we met um Wade Gagner from Wild Thing Carts. Um Stafford was 20 minutes from my house, so I ended up working out, um, got in the Wild Thing Karts, and the rest is history.
SPEAKER_05Let's talk for a moment about that time that you sat in that wild thing cart for the very first time. What went through your mind? How did you feel when you first went out and turned laps?
SPEAKER_04Oh, I felt like I was out of place. You know, I was used to the snow, the cold weather. Um, you know, I really knew nothing about racing at all. Um, you know, I was just going out there making laps, and then, you know, all of a sudden I started to pick it up. Um, started to get a little better each week, and then um, you know, we were able to get that first win that I ever won, and everything just kind of uh went on from there.
SPEAKER_05When you got that first trophy and that checkered flag, how excited were you?
SPEAKER_04Oh my gosh, it was like it's like people say it all the time. It's like that uh the drug that you'd always are looking for, you know. Um, but yeah, it gave me that itch, and uh, I guess that's why I'm still here now.
SPEAKER_05Well, you couldn't stay in wild thing carts for the rest of your career. So what was next?
SPEAKER_04Um, after that, we did um we did legend cars at Waterford at the New London Waterford Speedball. Um that was awesome. We raced with uh Jason and Jags Palmer. Um they're great people, and we did that for a couple years, um, ran some national events. Um, we were able to do really well, have success. And then after that, um we moved up. I think I was like 13, um, to the Act Lay model. And um, we did that for two years at the New London Waterford Speedbull. Um, did a few act tour races. Um, we went up to Vermont a couple times, Maine. And then um after that, there was just something I always knew I always knew I wanted to get in the modified. So um one day we were able to find a 602 for um sale, and then we started at Manadnock Speedway, um 602. Um, was able to get a win up there, and then um found my way to Stafford back to Stafford with the SK lights, and then uh here we are today.
SPEAKER_05Making the jump from a snowmobile, and albeit you were out, you know, you climbed up the ladder, but then to go to a 602 and then to an SK. What was was it like drinking out of a fire hydrant, or did it come naturally to you?
SPEAKER_04Um, definitely, definitely took some time, um, for sure. You know, um, I'm really lucky that uh my dad was a believer in racing as much as I could, um, as many laps as I could. Um, so I got really lucky in that aspect where like I always got a lot of laps, a lot of seat time. My dad also put me in a lot of different things. So um I feel like having that wide area of cars and knowledge also helps me. Um helped me for sure.
SPEAKER_05Well, what were the biggest hurdles that you had to jump over in terms of developing your racecraft?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, um probably just, you know, um learning by myself, right? Um, you know, like um we had to we were surrounding ourselves with great people, but at the end of the day, like I didn't have maybe that um racing knowledge to lean on or prior knowledge to lean on um that somebody with a racing family might have. So um I had to work extra hard um to be able to learn and grasp and build connections and um talk to people for sure.
SPEAKER_05Then you were consistently running in the top ten. You got the hang of the SK.
SPEAKER_04And it took you a while to go to Victory Lane, but when you did describe the emotions, yeah, it was like um I always say it was like a huge just weight off my shoulders, you know. For a while there it was like, oh, like is it gonna happen? When's it gonna happen? Um, and then it finally just did, and then um, you know, now it's in the history books, we're done with that, um, you know, but yeah, it's just a huge weight off my shoulders for sure.
SPEAKER_05How would you describe your driving style?
SPEAKER_04Um, I think the way that I would describe it is hopefully uh patiently aggressive, you know. I think um, you know, you gotta fill the whole, especially with the SK as a staffer, you know, people say all the time it's eat or be eaten. So you gotta, you know, fill gaps, you know, you gotta do that stuff, but you also have to be patient and let things open up a little bit. So I think I try to do a little bit of both and find that balance for sure.
SPEAKER_05You know, you mentioned the fact that you didn't have an uncle or a dad or somebody within the racing community to lean on, but then you hooked up with Keith Rocco. How valuable has that been for you?
SPEAKER_04Oh, I mean, it's extremely valuable. I mean, it's um it definitely changed um my racing career for so far, um, for sure. Like having just somebody um who I can bounce ideas off of, you know, somebody to watch and learn from, right? Like um getting to see what he does on the week-to-week basis, um, you know, how he operates is just um it's awesome. You know, I'm glad to have him in my corner for sure.
SPEAKER_05What's the biggest lesson you've learned from him?
SPEAKER_04Oh, I don't know. There's countless lessons. Um, you know, I've never seen a person work as hard as Keith Rocco in this racing um deal, you know. I think he just teaches you hard work and he teaches you that you gotta go all the time. And um, yeah, I mean he's just a just a hard worker. And you know, um I think he you learn a lot by watching him. Um, you know, he's not really a big talker, you know, he's not gonna talk your ear off, but um, if you watch him and watch him operate, you're gonna learn a lot.
SPEAKER_05Mikey, last year the season really turned around and it was fairly evident that you were gunning for the points championship. At least you wanted to be in the conversation. How did that dictate the way you raced throughout the season?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, being my first time in that kind of a situation and that big of a championship, I mean, obviously, like you're starting 15th every week, right? Because you're in the points lead and um you got to get to the front, but you know, you you don't want to end your night early. And um, so I think maybe um some aspects you're a little too cautious um trying to get through it. Um, you know, I think I did a good job managing, um, you know, finishing the best that I could every week, um, because that's what you have to do when you're starting 15th every week. Um, it's tough. So yeah, I think I managed it okay. Um, you know, getting through. Um, obviously I went into the last race with a points lead, so I think you know, that season before that, so like the whole C like races before that, like I think I managed it pretty well.
SPEAKER_05Uh I'll get to the get to that night, the night to forget in a moment. But the fact that you were in the hunt for the points, and yet I would think the average person outside of maybe your immediate family or the town of Hamden would not have been aware of the fact because you quietly flew under the radar. Was that by design?
SPEAKER_04Not really. Um, I don't know. I guess. Um, you know, I just show up and do my thing every week. Um, you know, and um I let the rest take care of itself. Um, you know, I like you said, like I do notice it. I think I do fly under people's radar a little bit. Um, you know, last year I was kept getting tagged on the underdog by the media and everything. I'm like, I don't think I'm an underdog, but like, you know, so just like that aspect, but not like I just do my thing every week and let the chips fall where they fall. You know, I'm not worried about it.
SPEAKER_05Well, we go into the championship night, the final race of the season. Mikey Flynn is atop the point standings. And then what happened?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I just I uh I honestly wrong place, wrong time. I just um got caught up in somebody else's mess. Um, had nowhere to go. Um, you know, it was kind of a freak accident where I hit somebody in the back in the back uh bumper and it popped a hole in my radiator, and I went around the next 20 laps and tried to hang on, and then we the engine blew up. So um, you know, it was a weird freak accident where we hit we hit another car, the bumper wasn't bent, the nose was pretty okay, and we just had holes all in the radiator. Um, so I mean it is what it is, it's racing, you know, it's gonna happen. Um, but yeah, definitely a tough time.
SPEAKER_05Well, we can see on the onboard camera that you were not only fighting trying to keep the car alive, but also that radiator was spraying you all over the place.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah. I mean, it was it was tough. I mean, I could barely see out out of the front windshield. Um, you know, I was just trying everything I could, right? Like, um, you know, I felt like my whole season was in those like 10 minutes, and you know, it was I wasn't gonna give up, you know. So um I'm proud of staying out there, um, you know, trying anything. Um you know, I don't look back on it and regret it. I mean, we lost a motor, um, it sucked for a while. Um, but I mean, hey, like, you gotta try. Like, that's what we're in this for. So um, who knows? They could have wrecked out and I could have been riding around in 10th and 20, you know, so you never know. So um, but yeah, it was a tough, it was a tough 15 minutes of um our whole season ending right there.
SPEAKER_05How emotionally scarring was it?
SPEAKER_04Um yeah, it's definitely about as emotionally scarring as it can get, um, for sure. Um, you know, like watching um those guys, you know, and that and that race and me being on pit road, and then even those when I was running around those laps with the water spraying my face, like I knew it was over, but you know, you're still trying. Um, and then obviously, you know, come down pit road, get out of the car. Everybody on pit road feels like they're staring at you because they know what just happened, and then you know, watching them um you know, race for a championship and I'm not in it, it was horrible. Um, and then the weeks after that, you know, I didn't really talk to anybody, kind of just kept to myself. Um, and then you know, I'm happy to have a support staff. Like I have like um, you know, talking to Keith about it, you know, talking to my family about it, you know. Um yeah, it helped. But I mean, I think about it every day. I'm still thinking about it. Um, you know, that but I'm happy, you know, there's gonna be more races. You know, that's the beauty of it. You get to show up next year, you know. Even if I won, I'm still gonna have to show up next year and do it all over again. So I think that's the beauty of the sport, right? Is there's always gonna be more races, you know. You don't know what's gonna happen, so you just gotta show up every week and do the best you can. And uh yeah, definitely learned a lot. Um you know, I'm I'm happy to say that I was it had a shot at it, right? Like you still have to take that into compare, like you know, comparison. Like we had a great season. Um, you know, we did very well. We probably exceeded our expectations a little bit, and you know, we're ready for this year. It just makes us more hungry for this year. So um, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, we appreciate your stopping by today and go get them here in 2026. I'll try.
SPEAKER_04That's the plan. That's the plan.
SPEAKER_05You know, Mike O'Sullivan has been twisting wrenches for a very, very long time. His work with Ted Christopher is legendary. The two earned wins and championships. But since TC's passing, O'Sully has helped a number of SK modified teams. Let's meet him.
SPEAKER_10Time 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_05So, Mr. O'Sullivan, what have you been up to?
SPEAKER_09Um, just trying to keep busy, you know, working here and there, working on race car stuff mostly, race cars, go-karts.
SPEAKER_05I want to go back to when you and Teddy were just absolutely decimated wherever you were, you were the team to beat. How did you get together with TC?
SPEAKER_09Uh, you know, my dad drove race cars forever. That's how I got involved in the sport. And for some reason, I I think Ted had given it to my father pretty good a couple times. And my father was a guy that he raced you the exact same way you raised him, and they gave it to each other pretty good. And for some reason, they came out really good friends. And um, I I am originally from Plainville, as everybody knows Ted was too. Um, and I was working for uh a heavy equipment company down the street from Ted's, and I just I used to work on equipment right next door to Ted's shop where he was building his brand new place, and he used to come over to the fence with that, you know, that irritating ass ass voice every week. Hey, when you come in and work for me, and you know, every what was it back then? I think it was on Tuesdays. We used to he used to go to this one particular place in Plainville for dinner, and he'd, you know, hey, come in to dinner, and we'd go out in his service truck, go to dinner with all his little hoodlums, and you know, eventually he talked me into working there at night. I I'd go over and take transmissions apart, and I learned quickly that I did not like it. Um, there's nothing worse than the smell of a burnt transmission. So um, I you know, fast forward, I eventually started being his RR guy, remove, reinstall transmissions. Um, and then the guy I was working for, well, he was a good guy, but just you know, paychecks when you got to catch up with the rubber biscuit paychecks here and there, and it was just a tough deal. So I finally went to go work for Ted full-time, and I kept the other job as a part-time job. Anyway, um, I was working for him full-time, and at this basically the same time I started working for him is when Jim Galante's car they had just crashed really bad. They just basically were switching over from raceworks to CD cars at the time, and they just crashed really bad at at the Sizzler. And uh he had me having uh Johnny Brighteny had me helping, had me helping Johnny Berghany fix a car in the back of his brand new shop. And from there, I just never stopped. You know, I I would help him at night, and I was at the time I was I was helping, I mean, some people probably remember Jamie Askler, who worked also worked for Ted building transmissions. I was helping Jamie Askler on his SK. I was helping Ted's guys during the day and at night work on his SK. Meantime, I was working either for Steve Park when he was racing on a tour car, and then after Steve left, I was working with Stefanic on his tour car. So Stefanik and Ted were button heads, and it was always a controversy, but we all got along. It was always, I don't know, it's just always a good time. And then um somehow I got suckered into start going on Friday nights with him, and he he was short on help, he was racing like Watkins Glen or something like that, and he I think he conned my wife into going with him more than anything. And next thing I know, I'm driving the truck and trailer to meet up with him at Stafford. So we go to Stafford, and basically it was just my wife and I. We get there, and he and the guys all show up and we go out and we win. That was the first race I ever ran with Ted. Um, then he says, What are you doing tomorrow night? So I drive the open trailer over to Waterford. My wife and I show up there. Some guy goes, You can't park here. I says, Why not? He goes, Oh, that's so-and-so spot. I'm like, Oh, I don't give a shit. I don't know who so-and-so is. I'll screw you. We're we're not moving. We go out and we win. Okay, that's two for two. So now he goes, Well, what are you doing tomorrow? We're gonna we're gonna go run Thompson tomorrow. I'm like, Well, who's going? He goes, Well, me, you, and your wife. Well, at the time, she wasn't even my wife, she was my girlfriend now that I think about it. So I said, All right, so we go up there, and uh this long, blonde-haired, skinny kid comes up and winds up being Billy Anderson. Billy Anderson helps us. We go up there, we win. Well, now we're three for three. The first three races I ever work with Ted, we win three races in a row, and basically it's you know, three or four of us working on a car and just started having fun. So, next thing I know, I'm I'm on his crew for Friday nights, and long story short, he had a little fallout with uh his crew chief, and the crew chief needed a little time off. And I'm sure we all remember him, Craig Regalia. He he and Craig had a little fallout, and then he comes over to me and he says, Hey, uh, you're my new crew chief. I go, Oh, thanks. And that's how that started.
SPEAKER_05But there was a period of time, Michael, when you two were inseparable, whether it was at Stafford or on the tour, or even when he decided to run a super modified, you were there at his side. Uh when Mike when when Teddy passed away, right? How did it affect you?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, you got ass is crap, huh? It was uh it still to this day affects me. It's the worst thing that ever happened.
SPEAKER_05It's hard. Yeah, very hard. Yeah. So nowadays you're kind of out there for hire. You just show up and you know bitch at what they're doing and say you ought to do it this way, or you know, are you?
SPEAKER_09No, I'm uh like uh right now I have right I have uh Dan Avery's car behind me. Right now we have his his older car that I built for him. I want to say I shouldn't say built because we don't build cars, we assemble cars at Ted's. We built cars. Um, this is just assembly. Uh I think I put this car together for him. Oh God, when did I do this? Actually, I did this right after Ted passed. I put two cars together for Dan and Glenn Reen. And this is the same car that I put together for him back then. Um, I have another car that is the one that I put together for Keith uh a couple years back. That's gonna be we're calling it the new car. It's gonna be the new car for Dan. So I'm still I'm still heavily involved. Um, my son, my son Casey, who's extremely heavily involved in with what we do, gives me a hand when he's not working. So uh, you know, it's it's all hands-on. It's not I don't just stand there and bitch. I do bitch a lot because I'm old and grumpy, but you know, I mean I'm extremely involved still, you know.
SPEAKER_05We're entitled, Michael. We're entitled at this age. But when you survey the scene these days, and you just brought it up, there was a period of time there were modifieds have transitioned from being home built to chassis companies designing the cars. No longer did you build the car like. As you said, you assemble it. It is rewarding when it's like putting together an erector set.
SPEAKER_09You know, it's it's funny because like I I tell this stupid story all the time. When I was when I you know, I've been working on race cars. You can go back, I I bring this up all the time. I'm not sure if a lot of people did this, but when I was, you know, when you're a baby, your mother goes and you make out this baby book. I don't know, people still do it. I never did it with my kids, but I could go and find in the house. I have a baby book. Obviously, when I was born, my mother filled it out my first outing. Uh I think I was a week and a half old. I went to Plainville Stadium. That's the first time I ever left a house. So racing's been in my blood my entire life. So being around race cars, you know how it is. You went to the junkyard, you got an old chassis, caught them up already, using scout, scout chassis and turning them around backwards and cutting them up and doing whatever. So all my life, I thought everybody built their race cars. Um my father had left racing for a couple years because he was told he wanted to be a pilot. So he was told he could either be a pilot or drive race cars. So he quit racing for a couple years, got his pilot's license, and then went back to racing. He showed her, you know, he figured out. So anyway, we get back into racing. And a good friend of ours um was gonna put an SK together as a horse deal. So we went there every Sunday to go work on his race car, and we built the chassis, we built the cage, we built the body, we built everything. Well, in my mind, I thought everybody did that. And when we got when we started racing, now I'm 14 years old and sneaking in the pits, you know. Don't tell anybody that, you know, sneaking in the pits and doing all this stuff. I'm thinking everybody's building their car. Well, now we're racing against Teddy and Mike and guys like this, and and for some reason, you know, I I was always shy, but I start talking to Ted, and he's you know, Troyer this and Troyer that, and I'm like, who the hell is I know who Maynard Troyer is from racing and everything, but um god, the battery low, you gotta be kidding me. But anyway, there's Troyer guy. I know who Troyer is, but I don't know he sells race cars, you know. I know who Richie Evans is, but I don't know he sells race cars. I'm thinking everybody builds their race cars. I didn't know I didn't know that nobody else was building their cars, you know. We're building our own spindles, we're you know, we're turning old Pinto spindles into wide five spindles. I didn't know everybody wasn't doing this, I had no clue. So yeah, it's it's way more rewarding. Like our cars, I haven't bought a body for a race car my entire life. I've always I still to this day take pride in building my own race car bodies. I I enjoy it, I absolutely enjoy building them, you know. To me, it's the best part.
SPEAKER_05Well, too, I think the entire modified racing community, you are a legend. Okay. That's funny. And I do appreciate your sharing some of your stories here. I loved it when I called you up and I said, Michael O'Sullivan. And you say to me, Do you want the old bald guy or the young one?
SPEAKER_09And I said, The old no bald guy, do you want the fat bald guy or do you want the race car driver? Because I think you got the wrong guy, man.
SPEAKER_05No, I didn't. And I'm glad you spent some time with us here on the modified minute.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, I'll quick story about that. I we're standing in your pit area one time, and uh a friend of mine and I are standing there talking to Mikey O'Sullivan when the pro stocks are still there, and and they they you know, Michael Sullivan just takes the lead in the pro stock guy. Looks at me and he goes, Is that you? I go, Yeah, I'm having an out-of-body experience, you chat. Yeah, it's me, you jerk.
SPEAKER_05Michael, it's always a pleasure. Be well. If you recall, we heard from Michael Christopher Jr. in last week's episode, but we convinced him to subject himself to our segment that we call either or.
SPEAKER_10It'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_05You are a brave man, Michael Christopher Jr., to submit yourself to either or. Are you ready? I'm ready. Alright, first question: either cheeseburger or chili dog? Cheeseburger. Why? Not a fan of chili dog.
SPEAKER_07Uh stomach issues.
SPEAKER_05Okay. Um, being an F1 fan the way you are. Lewis Hamilton or Max for stopping.
SPEAKER_07Oh man. I am a Lewis fanboy. Um that as you will, but um Max. No, you can't go, but he's just he's just the best I love, Max. Eric and Senna.
SPEAKER_05Yo, Senna was the greatest. In fact, you have the tribute helmet that I think stands out. It's awesome. Alright, Sidney Sweeney or Rachel Ziegler. Oh, sweetie.
SPEAKER_07All day. All day. No, not even I don't have to dispend on that. Boxers or the briefs. But I'm now 27 years old. So I'm starting to switch the briefs, but they can't be too tight, so. I like the Carhartt ones, they're like perfect. Yeah, you gotta leave your boys a little room, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05And finally, either Jay-Z or Kendrick Lamar.
SPEAKER_07I don't really like Jay-Z too much. I don't really like Kendrick either, but I like Money Trees by Kendrick, so. Um Kendrick. But can I expand on that? Absolutely. I like I I do like rap. Like, rap is great. 90s stuff. Um I Jake Hole is my favorite though. Jake Fole, absolutely. Well, unfortunately, he wasn't on the list. I just needed to say that because I I don't really listen to those other Jay-Z or Kendrick, so or they're too old for you. Yeah, I guess so. Jake Hole's new one. I listened to the 90s stuff, Naz.
SPEAKER_05Alright, Michael. You made it through unscathed. Congratulations. You are now a veteran of either or. I liked it. I'd do more. Well, that wraps up this week. Make sure that you come back next week, though, won't you? Because we will have coverage from the Spring Sizzler as well as more conversations with modified stars. Until then, I'm Jack Aroot. Thank you for joining me here on the Modified Minute.
SPEAKER_10This has been the Modified Minute. Modified Minute has been brought to you by Wadell Communications. The official track side radio supplier for the Mod Squad. By Mid-States Type Development, safety, knowledge, and innovation. By Wheeler's Auto Services, the finest in top-level service of premier automobile makes and models. By Hummel Brothers Quality Means. 100% quality since 1933. By Booster Tire East. Tires designed for champions. By Riverhead Building Supply. Build smarter. Build better. By New England Racing Fuel. New England's authorized distributor of Tuboko Fuels and Products. And by Market Contractors. Building Explance at 1925. Want to get in touch with us? It's easy. Email us with your comments and suggestions. Our email address is modifiedminute at email.com or you can instant message us at modified minute. Video versions of the modified minute are available on YouTube and Facebook. Be sure to subscribe to vote and grow the show. I'm Guy Abraham. We will see you again next week for another episode of the Modified Minute.