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MODIFIED MINUTE
EPISODE 12 - I BELIEVE I MAY HAVE JUST SHIT MYSELF
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Episode 12 is packed with great conversation and insight from three competitors making their mark in Modified racing.
This week, Eddie Flemke, Jr. joins the show to reflect on his outstanding racing career and discuss his current role with John Hummel's iconic No. 11 Modified. Eddie shares memories, lessons learned, and his thoughts on the state of Modified racing today.
You'll also meet one of the sport's rising young talents, Riley O'Keefe. After making the jump from Legends Cars to the ground-pounding SK Modifieds, Riley explains how he landed the opportunity and why he believes Modifieds are actually easier to drive than Legends Cars.
Plus, Alexander Pearl stops by to discuss his racing journey through the local ranks and the path that led him to his current ride in the SK Modified division. Alexander shares the experiences and challenges that have helped shape his racing career.
All that and more is coming your way this week on Modified Minute!
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This week on the modified minute.
SPEAKER_09I would I'd love to run the outside. I feel like in the SK lights, that's where I did a lot of the passing just because people funnel to the bottom. Um with the SK right now, the track, it the outside isn't completely there yet. Um, I like it a little bit better. Uh, usually if you get up there for a while, you you burn the right rear off tire off.
SPEAKER_06So there'd be a line of people waiting to talk to my father to ask questions. Bull gunning, Teddy Christopher, Bob Potter, blah blah blah. I'd have to get in that line because there was no take a number. I had to get in that line, wait my turn, and when it was my turn, I would ask my question. He'd reach up, pat me on the shoulder, and he'd go, figure it out, kid.
SPEAKER_13I got X at Thanksgiving, believe it or not.
SPEAKER_12Thanksgiving dinner? Yeah, yeah, it was before dinner. It was before dinner on the couch.
SPEAKER_13But uh, yeah, they asked me if I wanted to turn a few laps and they said if it goes good, we'll do a few races. And I I mean, I guess you could say it went well.
SPEAKER_05All that plus either or hot dog of the week and throttle down. I say it, I say it.
SPEAKER_15Good job, good job. Fire right here.
SPEAKER_05So tighten those belts because this week's modified minute is next. They're called the Mod Squad. Ground Pounders. The men that live by the grace of God and 600 horsepower. Here they come to the strike, down to the finish, checkered flag in the air.
SPEAKER_03Monsignor up the hell, here comes Donavino to the inside. Here comes John Beatty Jr.
SPEAKER_05And off the corner to the line they come! This is the Modified Minute. Go inside the world of modified racing with Jack Aroot. Modified Minute is brought to you by Waddell 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 Riverhead Buildings to Fly. Build Smarter. Build better. By Mr. Reuter Plumbing. Expert plumbing contractors you can trust. By SignPro, exceeding your expectations. And by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925. Here's Jack.
SPEAKER_02This is where you go when you need your modified racing fix. And I'm glad that you are here. Now this week, Eddie Flemke Jr. stops by and shares his reflections on his career as well as his current role with John Hummel's number 11 Modified. You'll meet a young driver who jumps directly from Legends cars to the ground pounding SK Modified. Riley O'Keefe will explain how he got the ride and why he believes that modified, are you ready for this? Are easier to drive than a Legends car. And Alexander Pearl drops in and shares his journey through local racing disciplines on his way to his current ride in the SK Modified. That's all coming your way this week. But first, let's get you up to speed.
SPEAKER_05Time 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_02Mother Nature interrupted the Friday card at Stafford, but not before Sammy Anderson took out her very first SK Light feature at the track.
SPEAKER_04She's giving it a roll! And Sammy Anderson will be in Napa victory lane here at Stafford.
SPEAKER_01One more laptop for Roger Durbis.
SPEAKER_02Meanwhile, at Waterfurf, Nick and Tubby went back to back in detective S game eight. Then it was time for the Monaco modified drive back. Waterbirth went on. I'd intended to pass onto it, but at the last minute, he showed up and he died.
SPEAKER_10So we know the problem's not the driver of the car, and it's not the crew either.
SPEAKER_02So the major title chases remain relatively unchanged with the exception of the Tri-Track Championship Chase.
SPEAKER_05Here's a look at the championship chases. Brought to you by SignPro, exceeding your expectations.
SPEAKER_02With his second place finish at Waterford, Jonathan McKennedy jumped into the top spot in the Monaco Tri-Track Series standings. He's followed by Kyle Bonsignor, Ronnie Williams, Michael Christopher Jr., and Tyler Chapman. The Monaco Brigade moves to the Thompson Speedway for their third event of the season this coming Wednesday night. Now the Wheel and Modified Tour postponed their race at the White Mountain Motorsports Park to July 18th due to impending inclement weather this weekend. Next up is a second stop at the Sea Kong Speedway on July 1st. Round two of the Sign Pro Triple Crown takes place at the end of July at the Stafford Motor Speedway, while the Smart Modified Tour cranks back up on July 4th at the Caraway Speedway. Competitors and race fans refer to him as the Professor, but when he straps into his SK Modified, Alexander Pearl is a beast.
SPEAKER_05This is SK Soundings, news from the SK, crate and SK Lights. SK Soundings is brought to you by Wheelers Auto Services, the finest in top-level automobile makes and models specializing in European, Japanese, and domestic vehicles.
SPEAKER_02Well, Alexander, welcome to the modified minute. I'm so happy you decided to join us. I'm happy to be here. Tell me a little bit about how you got started in this circus that we call auto racing.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, so I I guess you could say I was born into it. Obviously, um my dad my dad and my grandfather both raced. And uh so I guess you'd say it was in my blood, right? Um so I started racing uh pr at a pretty young age, um, not as young as people are nowadays. Uh just got started in the wild thing cart program at uh age eleven and uh just progressed through the ranks from there.
SPEAKER_02You know, you're so you're like so many of your generation. Wild thing carting has really ensured, I think, the future of modified racing, late model racing, you name it. Albeit you were an old man at age eleven because they've got some five and six year olds. But from your perspective, having gone through that program, how important was that to begin to develop some racecraft?
SPEAKER_09Well, I think it's really important, and um both Wade and Stafford both continue to do a great job um working with each other to continue developing um young young stars into Friday night stars. So um it definitely taught you the ins and outs of racing. Um and especially I've raced with a lot of my competitors I compete with on Friday night. I've been racing with them for 10 years, you know. Uh we've both gone our separate ways and then we we find our way back and uh yeah, just happy to happy to continue that tradition.
SPEAKER_02So did you make the jump from carts directly to SK Lights?
SPEAKER_09No, so my dad always told me that going from carts to modified generally didn't work out too well. So he wanted me to get my feet wet in other divisions, so um moved up to the young guns divisions division at the Manana Knox Speedway, which was a four-cylinder uh front-wheel drive car. Um had sex in that for raised that for about a year, then moved on to the uh the um the mini stock division up there. Uh got got my feet wet driving a rear-wheel drive car, and then we moved to the SK Lights at Stafford ever after we won the championship. So um definitely progressed with the rankings to where I am today.
SPEAKER_02What would you say all that that you progressed through what you did in terms of developing your racecraft?
SPEAKER_09I think each I think each car you drive um teaches you different things and it allows you to be a well-rounded driver, right? Um the young guns car didn't really, you know, not much translates to the modified per se, but it gave me the feel of being behind the wheel of a full-size car for the first time. Um then the mini-stock, you know, rear-wheel drive, no power steering. Um, a slower car, but you still learned, you know, how to get the thing on the right rear um and drive off of that. So like I tell everyone, you know, everything that you drive, it's it's gonna teach you something that you can use at the next level, and I'm really thankful for that.
SPEAKER_02How big of a jump was it to go from SK lights to SK?
SPEAKER_09I thought it was a pretty big jump. Um the biggest thing was just the competition level. I mean every it's controlled chaos, as I call it. Everyone is super, super aggressive, but everyone knows uh their car their car, their car control. Um, so watching the SK lights and then watching and being part of the SKs, there's there's some times where I watch the SK lights where I'm like, oh that's a big wreck, but if that were to happen in the SKs, you know, everyone, everyone can hang on to it and it's just it's chaos, but I'm so glad to be part of it and be part of the show.
SPEAKER_02It it's it's from my perspective, I tell people all the time. With the SK lights, as you say, chaos, especially you look at it, you think, wow, but people forget that's an entry-level division. People forget you're developing your skill set there.
SPEAKER_09For sure. I mean, I I definitely think Stafford with the SK Lights there is one of the not only is the SK division one of the toughest in the country, but the SK lights as well. I mean, 20 laps, uh, no radio, just so many cars, and they're all everything happened so quickly when a modified. So um definitely the SK Lite division has grown into what it is today, and I'm really appreciative of the time I spent in that division and everything that I learned that I can apply to the next level.
SPEAKER_02All right, now I want to move to your career in SKs. Uh quoting or uh paraphrasing Charles Dickens, it's been the best of times and the worst of times for Alexander Pearl. Uh from your standpoint, what's it been like in uh, you know, in your racing in the SK mods, especially at Stafford, as you say, uh as tight as the competition is.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, I mean I've been going to Stafford ever since I was a kid, right? So watching watching my heroes race and now being a part of that field, you know, and elbows up racing with the best of them, it's it's definitely a surreal experience. Um and it's it's definitely been a learning curve for sure. Last year was our rookie year, and right um I would say we definitely exceeded our expectations, getting a win, getting a couple podiums, but the consistency really wasn't there. Um so this offseason we really worked hard on that, getting the car more comfortable for what I wanted. Um and this year haven't really gotten all the finishes that I that I would like. Um we've struggled at times, but we I think we've stepped up our program all in all, you know, gotten two podiums to start in the first six or seven races. So that's that's definitely something we're marching towards. Um just putting ourselves in good positions and hopefully we can get another win soon.
SPEAKER_02Let me ask you this question because every driver has basically a specific thing they want to feel inside a race car. For you, where what is that feel?
SPEAKER_09I'm a big stability guy, so I I like the feel of being able to drive hard onto the right front um and having that stability under the car. Even though I drove a mini stock, I'm not much of a you know, get the thing on the right rear and hang it out um kind of guy. So just getting stability in the car, but not giving up uh corner speed, you know. Um with the modifieds, everyone is so close and the restarts are super important. So you can't give up too much on a restart. That's where a lot of the passing happens. So that's definitely something we're still working towards. And uh yeah, just driver comfort is the number one goal.
SPEAKER_02You know, it's it's not something that you can, you know, go to your local hobby store or get on iRacing to develop that. It just takes plain old seat time. Are you feeling more comfortable in the car?
SPEAKER_09For sure. I think uh last year we were on defense a lot. Um the car was more in control than I was. Um and I I could it it dictated where where it would put itself. So this year we really worked on the stability of the car and the driver-to-car connection. Um, and this year I feel like we've been on offense a little bit more, making passes going forward, even when getting shuffled back, um, still working forward on long runs.
SPEAKER_02It's it's interesting to me that every year the outside comes in, then it goes away, then it comes back in. Are you a bottom feeder or do you like to venture where no people really want to go and try your hand at the outside?
SPEAKER_09I would I'd love to run the outside. I feel like in the SK lights, that's where I did a lot of the passing just because people funnel to the bottom. Um with the SK, right now the track it the outside isn't completely there yet. Um I'd like it a little bit better. Uh usually if you get up there for a while, you you burn the right rear tire off. So you gotta be really careful. I'd like it to come in a little bit better and then uh just work on making passes on the outside.
SPEAKER_02What's on your bucket list, my friend?
SPEAKER_09Uh bucket list for racing. Yeah. Um I obviously I would love to win as many SK races as possible. We'll get a championship, um, join my my father and my grandfather in that uh in that c in that accomplishment list. Um I would love to move up the ladder, try my hand at open modified racing. Um so definitely continue working on my racecraft and hopefully the opportunities arise where I can uh do some open modified racing.
SPEAKER_02Well, there is no doubt that the professor, as they call you, is going to get the handle on it, and that dream, that bucket list will be good. Appreciate you, my friend. Thank you, Jack. You know, until this season, Riley O'Keefe had never raced with a spotter in his ear. But on Friday nights, his co-pilot is his spotter, Tyler Alkis.
SPEAKER_05This is throttle down time, where you get to ride along inside a modified brought to you by Waddell's Communications, your Northeast trackside dealer for radios and repair. You are on board with Riley O'Keefe and his GAF number 58.
SPEAKER_14Ready, ready, ready, ready, ready, forever. Keep up the walk, keep coming. Keep up the wall. Keep coming. We're good, we're good. Okay. Keep going.
SPEAKER_15Back in front of the 82. Keep stopping. Back to front of the 82. I say it. I say it. Good job, good job.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I may have just shit myself.
unknownAnd uh probably just.
SPEAKER_02You know, it's not easy growing up in the shadow of a modified icon, but that's what my next guest did. Let's meet Eddie Flemkey Jr.
SPEAKER_05Time to drop into the race shop and get the dope from the guys that twist the wrenches. It's crew call. Brought to you by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925.
SPEAKER_02Well, answering the crew call for Modified Minute in this episode is a guy that I've known literally his entire life. In a lot of ways, we grew up together. But he went in one direction, I went in the other direction, but both of us have an abiding passion for modified racing. We're talking about Ed Flemkey Jr. And Eddie, we're gonna talk a little bit about your past in a moment, but 2026 has not been kind to you and John Hummel in the 11. Uh, you got back together with Matt Basser, and then lo and behold, a 35 mile an hour crash puts him out of commission. Tell me what happened.
SPEAKER_06Well, it's one of those deals. Um, there was a a big uh I messed up on one of the restarts, uh restart that didn't go. And everybody stacked up, and of course, you know, as it always is, the farther back you are, the worse it gets. And we had just come out of the pits, and uh Matt was in, you know, in the right spot, listening to the spotter, and then I guess because they had the um the the the the the wreck fest the week before, uh you know, the infill was messed up. So when a couple cars got in the dirt, dust was flying, so he had to rely totally on the spotter. He did exactly what he told was told to do, line up the bumper. So when he was in, you know, he was ready, everything was good, and um uh somebody came out of the dust, no power, no, no fault of theirs, and and got him in the right front and just you know broke his wrist. So that's the way it goes, you know.
SPEAKER_02Scary at such a low-speed crash. All right, let's talk, let's talk a little bit about uh raceworks, your relationship, your relationship with John Hummel. And then number 11, you serve in a variety of capacities. Uh can you detail it for my listeners?
SPEAKER_06Uh yeah, I guess I guess so. John Hummel owns the car. That's it. You know, first and foremost. Uh and John Hummel uh funds the team out of his pocket. It's not a Hummel factory car, so to speak. Um this the family helps out a little bit here and there, but he mostly does it out as out of his pocket, and uh the drivers help fund it. They get you know sponsors also. But um my my job is I build, maintain, repair, um, coach, um, sometimes as like this weekend fill in as uh a substitute driver, which I think that's coming to an end. Um well that's a whole different story, but anyway, um uh John relies on me to be the crew chief, the uh decision maker. Um he leans on me a lot, and um and and I understand why because they've been around a long time. So um and John and I. Or if I guess if I had to pick a best friend, I would say he's probably my best friend in life. So you know, so it's it's it's cool. You know, it's it's a good relationship. I drove for him for seven years. Then he took off, um, I think he took off 15, 18 years from racing because he wanted to uh get his business, the family business, you know, because they were going from second generation to third, and he wanted to pay attention and stuff, so we did take some time off, and then he came back and here we are.
SPEAKER_02By the way, when I saw you getting out of the car after practice, first of all, uh, next time somebody put a sheet up so that they don't see how you struggled, but someone told me, a little birdie told me, yeah, that you also split open your fire suit.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah, I know. And this is embarrassing. You know, I've always prided myself being physically fed. You still are, you look great. Well, thanks. I uh but I do know, I mean, you step on a scale that says please one at a time, but uh, you know, but you know, I have gained a little bit of weight, and I and I know that, but um, I never I never really realized it for real because you don't I don't sit there and look at myself in a mirror and stuff, but um a couple as you know, a few weeks ago I went to Puerto Rico, yeah, and one of our friends took a picture of Chris and I standing in the surf in the water from behind. And I I said to Chris, Who's that fat gray-haired guy standing next to you? And he looks at me, you idiot, it's you. I'm going, what? But you know, you don't see yourself for the back. But anyway, um, in all fairness, this fire suit that I was getting in was 21 years old. Um, so um so it was worn out. Let's just leave it. Well, it was more I think it shrunk.
SPEAKER_02Right. Okay, I'll buy into that. I'll buy into that conspiracy, conspiracy against it.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, you know, you can I do like my Oreos, I'll admit. There you go. With milk.
SPEAKER_02With milk. Yeah, coffee coffee. Oh, you're a coffee Oreo. I'm a milk Oreo. Oh, there you go. Okay. There you go. Hey, different strokes for different folks, exactly. That's it. Yep, yeah. You know, the name Flemkey is has been around for for for two generations. Your father absolutely, I know your father and my father, and the Garudi brothers, and and and that group after World War II got together at Riverside Park, and the next thing you know, they're racing modified all over the place. Yeah, um, so literally, you are the definition of what a track brat is. Because from day one, you were at the racetracks.
SPEAKER_06Absolutely. Yeah. Actually, it's funny, my mom tells uh told you my I lost my mom a few years ago, but um, she always said uh when she was pregnant with me, some of my father was in the service and stationed in Kentucky. So she wanted to be home to have to deliver, you know, have the have me. So they finally went home and she thought she was gonna have the me on the way home. But my father, the only reason they came home that weekend is my father had a race at Riverside. So they raced Saturday night. My mother was there. She went home, got up in the morning, went to church. Her mother, her and her mother went to church. She came home from church, she felt a little funny. She called her mother back. I think you better take, you know, come get me. I think I'm having contractions. Off to the hospital to go an hour later. I was born. So I was almost born at Riverside Park, kind of, but not really. Exaggeration. But anyway, so that I've been around a while. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well what was it like uh growing up in the shadow of a true legend? Your pop was exactly that.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, well, thank you. Um, I I agree. I happen to feel the same way. Um, you could probably relate somewhat, and um uh it was an honor most of the time, um, but it also was a burden, and it came with it came with a hefty price. And and um uh my father was very wise, not because he's my dad, um, but he was very wise. He let me um swim. He let he threw me in the water, and um I laughingly tell a story many, many times as I was, you know, you know, never mind life, but let's get into the racing thing. Um, when I started, we'd be at Stafford on a Friday night, for example. Real true story, there'd be a line of people waiting to talk to my father to ask questions, bow gunning, teddy Christopher, Bob Potter, blah, blah, blah. I have to get in that line because there was no security. I had to get in that line, wait my turn, and when it was my turn, I would ask my question. He'd reach up, pat me on the shoulder, and he'd go, figure it out, kid, and he'd walk away because he wanted me to learn it the right way, my way. So, and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he never helped me. I I would be lying to say he never helped me, but he let he threw me in the water, let me swim. Sink or swim.
SPEAKER_02And swim you did. I mean, you were no slouch behind the wheel. Now, granted, it took you a while to get to get the skill set together, but then you went on a tear. I mean, I I I I remember what is it, 17 or 18 wheel and modified two or something.
SPEAKER_06I think I think it's 17, I think, I believe, but not that I lost count, but but um, I don't, you know, winning once was enough for me. I'll be honest. I remember sitting at a banquet one time at a NASCAR banquet before we won our first race. I was driving for Hummel. And I just at the banquet, you know, the better you do, the farther up front you sit. So we're sitting way back there. And all the crew, oh, next year we're gonna, next year we're gonna. I said, I just want to be up there farther. Yeah, that's that's our goal. Up farther, you know, whatever. And I'm looking at the list of all the winners, so many winners, so many. I said, I just want my name on that list once. And now I'm I think I'm 14th overall, you know, something like that. I I don't look at it.
SPEAKER_02You're also one of the 40 greatest drivers in modified history, which I think is quite an honor.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, that's quite an honor. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Anything. Listen, I you know, um anything, any honor, uh any, no matter what it's I I still believe, and I truly mean this from the bottom of my heart, I still believe I'm trying to get there. I've never made it. You know, I'm I'm not uh Ed Flemkey Sr. I'm not a Freddie Decera, I'm not a Mike Stefanic, I'm not uh I'm not a Reggie Ruggero, I'm not I'm still trying to get there, you know, and when I say that to people that look up to me or appreciate what I've done, they go, What are you crazy? You but I I mean I really mean it. I've never felt I'm the man. Come see me, you know what I mean? I don't feel that way.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And and look, that humility has earned you a great reputation. Well, thank you. But by the same token, I wonder because you've seen the growth like me, you know, from from the 454 fuel injected cars to the Pinto Revolution, you know, to all that we've got. Are you comfortable where the modified racing community is now and where it's headed?
SPEAKER_06Um hey, uh that's a loaded question. No. Um, if I have the blanket answer, no.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_06We never are. Because we're not stuck, but we're stuck. We're stuck in our generation. We we think the race then um was better than. I have I will say this. I I'm I'm like between three uh three generations. I have my father's generation, then mine, my career, and then now. And of course, mine's better than now. That's the way I feel. But I look back at my father's, his was better than mine. So is it getting worse or is it just these eyes? I don't think it's getting the things are a lot better now in a lot of ways. But um is the product itself um what we had? No, because I think there's too many distractions in life. You can go bowling, you can go do a space shuttle simulator, you could do so many things. We didn't have that when we were kids. Yeah, all right. We didn't we didn't think about it, Jackie. We never had a Friday. That was Stafford. We never had a Saturday, that was Riverside or Waterford or Norwood or whatever. Sunday, Thompson, Utica, and so on. We didn't even think about Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
SPEAKER_02No, they were off they were off the calendar, yeah.
SPEAKER_06Right. We we just you know, it was it was Stafford. It wasn't Friday, it was Stafford, then it was Stafford on Saturdays for a while. But um, so uh we grew up in a beautiful time. I I but we're looking through these classes.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yeah. That makes sense. I will I will tell you this. Uh you can you can rest assured you're part of the family, and you always will. Oh thank you.
SPEAKER_06I know I know that. Next question.
SPEAKER_02No, we've run out of time, but I appreciate visiting and we'll do it again real soon. Okay, no problem. Anytime. You know, doctors will tell you that crit and determination play a critical role in recovery from an accident. That certainly was apparent with this week's Hot Dog of the Week.
SPEAKER_05It'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_02Demi Anderson has been chasing a win at the Stafford Speedway for a handful of years. She never stood on the top rung of the podium, although she had several very inviting podium finishers. But last year in mid-season, Anderson was involved in a highway accident that left her unable to walk and quite possibly putting an end to a racing career. That's where the grit and determination came in. She attacked her physical therapy and was back behind the wheels of her SK life on her opening day at Stafford. Then once again, it was grit and determination. It earned her a career-first victory at the Connecticut Oval, fulfilling her dream.
SPEAKER_04White flag is up, one left to go coming up.
SPEAKER_03Sammy Anderson has the lead looking for her first Stafford win. She's a card length and a half ahead of Dylan Houghton. Gets a bit of a bad exit coming off of two. Houghton closes in with two turns to go.
SPEAKER_04Down into turn number three. Sammy Anderson is dreaded this moment. She's given it a roll, and Sammy Anderson will be in Napa victory lane here at Stafford.
SPEAKER_03Oh, and here she comes, Sammy Anderson.
SPEAKER_00We've been trying for a long time for this one, and I cannot thank all of the people behind me enough. Thank you so much to my dad, my brother, my mom, my sister, Stash, especially. You know, we've had a couple of tussles this year, to be honest with Stash, but this is what makes it worth it. Absolutely worth it.
SPEAKER_02Congratulations, Sammy. You are this week's hot dog of the week. Talk about jumping into the deep end of the pool. That's what Riley O'Keefe did this year. After winning the Riverhead Raceway Legends car title, as well as tons of feature events in Legends Cars, this guy was offered the chance to turn some laps in an SK modified. Now he still races Legends at Riverhead, but on Friday nights, he's strapped into the GAF roofing modified, duking it out with some of the SK's best. His name? Riley O'Keefe.
SPEAKER_05It's Racer Spotlight Time. Brought to you by Riverhead Building Supply. Build better. Build stronger.
SPEAKER_02Well, this is a bit of a unique Racer Spotlight. Because this guy has gone from Legends Cars to modifies. He didn't pass go, he didn't collect $200, he didn't run into crate mods. Basically, he wins a track championship that you're not. He said, you know what? I think I can tackle the half mile at Stafford Speedway. Riley O'Keefe joins me now. Riley, what in God's name possessed you to make that big of a jump?
SPEAKER_13Um, you know, I to be honest, I don't really know. It was the opportunity came across my desk, and it was just it's one of those things. You can't you can't say no to that. You know, I got asked to turn a few laps, and it and you know, you never know if you're gonna have that chance again. So you gotta say yes. And I took the chance and we ended up doing pretty good. And uh we have some good momentum so far, you know, see what the future holds.
SPEAKER_02Let's talk a little bit about your uh records and your resume in Legends cars. You literally dominated, made it to the Nationals. Uh you won the track championship at Riverhead. When you and I visited last week at the track, you you said racing a modified is a hell of a lot easier than twisting and turning on those Legends cars. Explain yourself.
SPEAKER_13Yeah, you know, the Legend cars, they got uh such a short wheelbase, they only weigh 1200 pounds and make like 140 horsepower. The modified, you got you know 15-inch tires. They're they're a lot longer, a lot wider. Yeah, they got more power, but you they're they're nice and smooth to drive, whereas the Legend car, you've car you're sewing on that wheel all the time.
SPEAKER_02You are you still running Legends cars or are you devoting your all of your efforts to the mod squad?
SPEAKER_13Yeah, we sit I'm still running Legend cars. I drive for a guy at Riverhead, and uh we won three out of four, three in a row to start the year. We finished second to fourth race, so we're leading the points at Riverhead. And uh I run my own car at Evergreen Raceway in Pennsylvania on some Sunday shows, and I won the opener and the uh second race there this year. So we got we're on a hot streak in the Legend cars. We've been doing pretty good.
SPEAKER_02How about in the modified? Uh how's your how's your skill set improving?
SPEAKER_13I would say it's definitely that one thing that I do like about the legend cars, you know, you know spotters, so you're always looking down the track, and that's that's one thing that helps me out big time with the modified is you know, I'm always I guess you I guess you call me a smart racer. I'm not forcing an issue, you know. Um it definitely definitely uh it's definitely a lot stuff happens a lot faster in the modified, which you're gonna have because you're going a lot faster, but definitely uh a big learning curve still. There's still things I don't know and I have to learn, you know. It it takes time, it doesn't happen overnight. Like what like uh what's on your what's on your list.
SPEAKER_02You know, I said so.
SPEAKER_13As the run goes on, you know, you got uh you got tools in the car, you know. With the legend car, you don't really touch the bias. You know, in a modified, you're touching a brake bias. The legend car, you know, you don't got to worry about burning the tires off because you get them too hot, you run them through the the marbles up top when they're cautionally cool down the modified. You you smoke the right rear, you're screwed. You you're it's over. You know, you're hanging on the rest of the race.
SPEAKER_02Earlier in this episode, we featured you in throttle down with your spotter and an in-car radio. A couple of weeks ago, uh he's yelling at you to you know, back it down, back it down, back it down. You avoid a big time accident, and then you said, I nearly shit myself.
SPEAKER_15I say it, I say it. Good job, good job.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I may have just shit myself.
SPEAKER_13Yeah, that I uh that I did say because I thought I thought it was all over there, but uh we got actually we I think we would have checked up in time. We definitely would have hit with the front end, but we got hit from behind, and it actually picked the back of the car up and felt and and got us jacked up sideways there. And I was hanging off a dear life through that grass. I thought it was over, and then there's another car coming across the track into the grass. I thought we were gonna get hit by him. That was that was one of the uh probably scariest moments in a race car, and it felt like we were going in slow motion.
SPEAKER_02And who says days of thunder isn't real? Right?
SPEAKER_13Yeah, you got a good point.
SPEAKER_02Let's talk a little bit about what's on your hit list, where you're at in your career. Is is the ultimate to run in the wheel of modified tour, or do you have higher aspirations?
SPEAKER_13I don't know. I I I don't know if that would do it for me. I feel I feel like in my beliefs, it it would be more of an accomplishment to go say win the Monaco race at Waterford. Like, look at those big names you had there this past weekend. There was a every single one of those guys have won a lot and something. Like, I feel like that is more of a challenge, in my opinion. These are the stars and cars of the Monaco Monified Chi track series. Who's to say? You know, you don't know. I I don't know. I just I like the Monaco races. There's they just always put on a good show and it's always the the best of the best.
SPEAKER_02So that's number one on your bucket list. What's number two?
SPEAKER_13Number two? I don't know. I always I always I always watch the cars to a race because those are uh those guys beat the hell out of each other over there, mandates. Well they don't have open wheels. Yeah, yeah. I it's funny I actually I actually raced Late Law for the first time at Riverhead and I finished second, but it gets hot in those cars. There is no air moving in those things.
SPEAKER_02You're a true racer. How did you come about this? Where where did the all where did the where did the itch begin?
SPEAKER_13Um I was like five years old, and my grandfather always sponsored people at the racetrack. You know, my dad did demo derbies all the time. You know, he was always lots of trophies, always was around it. But I remember one time my grandfather brought me out there. Oh boys would go every Saturday, he'd pick me up, we'd go watch, I'd fall asleep in the backseat of his car, get a little power nap in. And then one day they asked me if I wanted to race a go-kart, and uh ended up racing the go-kart. We had a lot of a lot of fun with that. And we actually have some of the panels hanging up in the garage here. But uh had a lot of fun with that, won a lot of races, raced, raced, raced, and then my grandfather unfortunately passed away. We took a little step back and then came back a little part-time for a few years, and then we've really been hitting it since probably 2022, full-time. You know, we've been racing a lot, and I've been hooked ever since. So my grandfather definitely is the one who started it all.
SPEAKER_02Tell me a little bit about how the deal came together for you to run the GAF guitar.
SPEAKER_13I got X at Thanksgiving, believe it or not.
SPEAKER_12Thanksgiving dinner? Yeah, yeah, it was before dinner. It was before dinner on the couch.
SPEAKER_13But uh, yeah, they asked me if I wanted to turn a few laps and they said if it goes good, we'll do a few races. And I I mean I guess we could say it went well.
SPEAKER_02So far. Yeah.
SPEAKER_13So far, knock on wood, knock on wood.
SPEAKER_02Well, listen, uh, when do you when do you want to make your debut in the Monaco modified tour?
SPEAKER_13When a chest of a lot of money comes falling from the sky and lands in my lap.
SPEAKER_02Well, we'll put the call out right now. Okay. Send the checks and money orders to Riley O'Keefe.
SPEAKER_13Yeah, unless we win the lot of tonight, you know. Who knows? You never know.
SPEAKER_02Listen, uh, we uh you really are a true racer. AJ Foyt once said there are drivers and there are racers, but watching you operate not only in the Legends cars, but at Stafford, uh, you've got a bright future ahead of you, and uh you seem unfazed by it all. And uh I wish you the very best of luck, and I appreciate your sharing some of your stories with us. Go get them Friday night.
SPEAKER_13I appreciate you, thank you.
SPEAKER_02This week Andrew Mueller takes his turn in the either or hot seat. Let's take a look.
SPEAKER_05It's either or where our guest must choose one or the other. Brought to you by Mr. Rooter Plumbing, expert plumbing contractors you can trust.
SPEAKER_02For Mr. Rooter either or, I've enlisted the help of the Wheel of Modified Tour ace by the name of Andrew Moller. Andrew, so good of you to participate in this but somewhat humorous uh segment of our modified minutes.
SPEAKER_11I'm gonna work this.
SPEAKER_02Here's how it works. I give you two choices. You have to choose either or. So let's get right down to it. Either slaw dogs or chili dogs.
SPEAKER_11Um, I'm gonna go with the uh Man, I gotta pick one of those two. I guess I'll go with the chili. I guess.
SPEAKER_02You know, you better you better remember that's great if you're running Martinsville. But if you go to Bowman Gray for some reason, make sure you gotta get the slaw dog, or they'll know you're one of those damn Yankees.
SPEAKER_11True.
SPEAKER_02Alright, I gotta try and blend in if I go there, then championships underway. In two sports, so choose one, either the NBA or the Stanley Cup.
SPEAKER_11Stanley Cup for sure. Not can't can't beat some uh some good old hockey, no, no doubt.
SPEAKER_02I always said that hockey was like playing football, but they gave you a stick.
SPEAKER_11That's right, imagine.
SPEAKER_02Okay, staying close to home. Cup or the Craftsman Truck Series.
SPEAKER_11Cup cup? Cup series or Craftsman Truck Series? Um, I mean, gotta go all the way. Gotta go all the way like Cup Series for sure. Gotta be cup series.
SPEAKER_02See, I I would agree with you, but then both of us would be wrong. What I love about the Craftsman Truck Series is yes, it's an entry rung, but also so many opportunities for young men like you, young women, to make a name for themselves.
SPEAKER_11Yeah, the racing is very good. I mean, I'll tell you what, there are guys that run in the truck series that are just uh the races of their craft. I mean, they're they're unbelievable, so there's uh there's a lot of talent.
SPEAKER_02And they're braver than Dick Tracy.
SPEAKER_11Netflix or Prime I'll tell you what, Prime is awesome lately. I mean, their broadcasts of of the NASCAR Cup series races have been like awesome. So I'm going Prime. I'm giving them the credit. I'm going Prime.
SPEAKER_02Give them the kudos. And finally, Rock and Roll. Is it ACDC for Andrew Moller or Pitbull?
SPEAKER_11Yeah, definitely, definitely AC DC. I tell you what, I get pretty hyped up with Pitbull too, but on a race day, AC DC, I mean that that helps me get locked in for uh for a long race though now.
SPEAKER_02Love it. Good choices. Thanks for playing, man.
SPEAKER_11Thank you, Jack.
SPEAKER_02Well, I hope that you enjoyed this week. I know that I did. Thank you to my guests, Riley O'Keefe, Eddie Flemkey Jr., and Alexander Pearl. And of course, my thanks always goes out to you as well. Until next week, I'm Jack Aroot. Be sure to tune in when we bring you another episode of the Modified Minute.
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