MODIFIED MINUTE

The Modified Minute | Episode 15 | “ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE”

• Jack Arute

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 51:32

Kenny Barry • Dylan Izzo • Chase Dowling

Three great stories. Three unique perspectives. One action-packed episode of Modified Minute.

This week, we welcome Kenny Barry, Dylan Izzo, and Chase Dowling for an in-depth look at life in the world of Modified racing.

🏁 Kenny Barry discusses his family's racing heritage, following in the footsteps of his father as a second-generation racer and chassis builder. He also talks about mentoring his son, Tyler, as he develops his own career in Stafford Speedway's highly competitive SK Light division.

🏁 Dylan Izzo recounts the terrifying Lap 1 crash at Stafford Speedway that left his Modified upside down. Hear Dylan describe the moments leading up to the accident, what happened from inside the race car, and his determination to get back on the track.

🏁 Chase Dowling, a rising talent on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, shares the story of his racing career, his approach behind the wheel, his goals for the future, and the special person who has supported him every step of the way.

Whether you're a longtime Modified racing fan or just discovering the sport, this episode is packed with stories, insight, and passion from three competitors who live and breathe short-track racing.

Subscribe to Modified Minute for weekly interviews and coverage featuring the biggest names in Modified racing.

👍 Like this video
💬 Leave a comment with your favorite interview or moment.
🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

Follow Modified Minute
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• iHeartRadio

#ModifiedMinute #ModifiedRacing #StaffordSpeedway #StaffordMotorSpeedway #SKModified #SKLights #NASCARWhelenModifiedTour #WhelenModifiedTour #ShortTrackRacing #ShortTrack #RaceDay #KennyBarry #DylanIzzo #ChaseDowling #Modifieds #RacingPodcast #OvalRacing #NASCAR



SPEAKER_03

This week on the modified minute.

SPEAKER_06

Basically, the rep was over. And uh I was sliding to a stop, and next thing I know, I just I I feel like a Mac truck hit me, and uh I'm on my lid.

SPEAKER_13

And we chose the lake because that's where we feel we can run and try to run our best.

SPEAKER_11

I mean, I always just think about Teddy Christopher. Um when we ran the SKs together, and my spotter, Randy, now is um was Teddy spotter. So, you know, we'd be in tech and the screaming and the shouting and the yelling and this and that. But the biggest thing I got from that, we race for respect.

SPEAKER_03

All that plus hot dog of the week, radio replay, and either or. So 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.

SPEAKER_02

Here they come to the strike, down to the finish, tackle flag in the air.

SPEAKER_03

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 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 Riverhead Building Supply. 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.

SPEAKER_12

Here's Jack. Hey there. Welcome to another episode of The Modified Minute. Now, this week, you're going to hear from a second-generation racer and chassis builder by the name of Kenny Barry, who carries on the legacy of his father Art while schooling his son Tyler in Stafford's SK Lights Division. Killenizo is going to stop by, and he's going to share his recollections of that lap one crash at Stafford last Friday night that left him upside down. And the part-time wheel and modified tour driver, Chase Dowling, steps in and talks about his career, driving style, and a very special person that has always had his back. But before we get to all of that, let's recap all of the action from this past weekend with this week's Up to Speed.

SPEAKER_03

Time 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_12

Last Wednesday, the Wheel and Modified Tour was back in action at Seacon Speedway. It was their second visit to the Cement Palace.

SPEAKER_04

Car number 60 moves to the inside as Jonathan McKennedy's car starts to loosen up. Herstman takes over the lead. We've got the third different leader of the event.

SPEAKER_05

Found his groove here tonight. Looked pretty good in practice earlier today, qualified well, and is out front now, coming to the white flag.

SPEAKER_04

Nope. The Bar Harbor Bank of Main Machine is back in winning form here at Seacon. He'll take down the win.

SPEAKER_10

Part of uh the nickname Big Money Matt Hirschman came from uh winning this race on this Wednesday night here at Seacon. So uh no better place to get back in wheel and modify tour victory lane than uh here tonight, and just gonna thank this whole PD Motorsports team. I mean, we got the America 250 uh uh car here leading into the 4th of July weekend. Hope everybody enjoys that and uh got Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, uh the best sponsor in the business uh with me. And uh none of those people uh got down on me or gave up on us at all this year, even though our results here in this series haven't been uh up to par. But uh we put it together tonight. I don't know how, maybe we got lucky.

SPEAKER_12

Friday night, Nick Anglais Guardian fifth SK Light with the Connecticut Half Mile Stafford Speedway.

SPEAKER_05

And Nick Anglais wins tonight's SK Light modified feature event.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, I mean every week I just I know if we can avoid the wreck, we're gonna have a really good fan tragedy car.

SPEAKER_12

When the SK modified took to the half mile though, it was chaos before the first lap was even completed.

SPEAKER_05

Oh, Trouble! Couple of cars into the outside wall, and one car up and over Dylan Izzo upside down, front straight away, and they'll put the red flag out immediately. Right toward the front, left side of your screen, Owen a little out of shape, some contact from Izzo, and then Izzo is okay, but then all of a sudden.

SPEAKER_04

There's where it all came in. It set the Izzo car up and over, and it was the eight-car.Zech.

SPEAKER_12

Once the 76 was turned over, Dylan Izzo emerged uninjured.

SPEAKER_05

And it was the pride of Italy, Marcello Refrano that took the top honors in the main and to make a move on Marcello Refrano, who takes the checker flag in his second win of the SK modified season.

SPEAKER_07

This thing was on rails. Uh just can't take all my guys enough, man. It was a lot of hard work, unnecessary work that we had to do this week after last week's crazy incident, but we won't even go with it. I'm just happy we were here in Victory Lane. My family.

SPEAKER_12

The river had raised while you ran a special program on Friday night.

SPEAKER_00

It'll be the real deal! Visiting Victory Lane again. Mark Stewart gets it done.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's a good battle between me and Owen with yo. When they put these bumps here, it's really hard to pass. You know, you really either gotta uh book him someone up and get them, and uh he did a great job. You know, he didn't do anything dirty, he you know, hit me, which is the same thing I would have done or anyone would have done.

SPEAKER_12

Um Saturday at the Waterfront Repo, rookie Vinny Rapocio scored his first career victory in the SK Lights. When it came time for the SK modified, Mother Nature stepped in. The Caraway Speedway hosted the Smart Modified Tour for a special 4th of July Revolutionary 99.

SPEAKER_02

White flag will be displayed for Carson Lofton this time by phone second, third and first minor, fourth, Newman and fifth, Carter McMurray. Tonight we celebrate America's 250th birthday, but we also celebrate a great run by Karsten Lofton. He's the winner in the Revolutionary 99. Carsten Lofton does it again at Naraway Speedway, the winner of the Revolutionary 99. Lots of cheers going on here. Lofton, congratulations to you. Dominant, you look yourself up in that word in the dictionary. You'll see your picture after tonight's performance.

SPEAKER_08

Yeah, man, I can't say enough about this group, man. They gave me a really good race car and uh, you know, I was looking at the whole steering wheel, you know. Um luckily I drew the full burger good. Kind of made my job easy tonight, but uh it's always fun recently out of our uh lottery stuff in here in the air clean, I trust him a lot, so uh we learned really fun recent in the uh guys enough uh Steve Sire and Auto, L and R transition, good left I don't know electronic solutions, uh 22 position engines or a hell top districts.

SPEAKER_12

And there you have it, all of the modified action. So we've gotten you up to speed.

SPEAKER_03

Here's a look at the championship chases. Brought to you by SignPro, exceeding your expectations.

SPEAKER_12

With Seacon in the book, even Coptic remains atop the standing. Ten points ahead of Austin Beers, with Patrick Emmerling, John McKennedy, and Eric Goodale, rounding out the top five. Next up is this Friday at Claremont Motorsports Park. The Monaco Tri-Track Series standings remained unchanged with their next event on July 15th, with the running of the modified masters with the Stafford Speed Butter. There's no change in the Sign Pro Triple Crown standing with their next event, the CBYD Senators Cup at the end of July. The Garaway race for the smart jewelry is in the books, but unfortunately, their standings have not been updated. Chase Dowling has been chasing modified victories for almost a decade. Currently, he's the driver of the Tinneo Brothers number 44. He's the focus of this week's Racer Spotlight.

SPEAKER_03

It's Racer Spotlight time. Brought to you by Riverhead Building Supply. Build better. Build stronger.

SPEAKER_12

Chase, how long have you been involved in this modified madness?

SPEAKER_11

Uh for a while now. I think uh I ran legend cars when I was twelve years old, thirteen. I think SK lights were fourteen as Sanford, so fourteen years old to twenty-eight now, so fourteen years of uh trying, I guess.

SPEAKER_12

Well, you you have had some victories and you know probably the one that was was most memorable was on uh you know on the the big mile at uh at Loudoun. What do you recall of that afternoon?

SPEAKER_11

Uh it was hectic. Um I felt like like the race itself didn't uh play out like we wanted, like we got the poll and a ton of laughs and had a spoiler break and came through the field, and like the only thing you see us win is like everyone racking and we win. But it's like the whole day overall, we had a really good car. Even that whole year in 2018, we had a really, really good runs of staffer and Thompson and pretty much every reason we went, so that was a really good year.

SPEAKER_12

What about this season? Chasing the Wheel and Modified Tour at a podium. Uh looks like uh you and the Tenio brothers are on the rise when it comes to scoring points and providing consistent runs to keep you in the hunt.

SPEAKER_11

Yeah, it's such a uh team effort. Um, I gotta think obviously the Tennio's and everyone crew member wise, it's so, so hard to put a good crew together, a good team together, and to go execute with the tour itself with these teams that are doing it, some people doing it for a living. It's just very, very difficult to be part-time. So very proud of our efforts lately, and we're all kind of gelling well together. So looking forward to the rest of the season doing some part-time race home. What's your secret shot? Um, like everyone doesn't realize how hard it is. Like, you know, the car's gotta be prepared. So, like Danny Gamachi and the guy Tim are in the shop, they're playing just countless, countless hours and every week just working and working and working on it. And you know, you get to the racetrack, and that's the only eight hours that everyone sees you perform. So it's like you get the crew together, and we got some more crew guys together, and everyone just has to gel, like one little mistake, you know, a bad qualifying run. Like, we kind of had that at Seekonk, but we knew how to fix it and had you know had our adjustments ready to go, and we kind of had to be patient in a race and just come through. But um overall, it's just it's such an effort. I mean, you could have people in the past talk about the tire situation, have a bad tire, ruin your day, or just like the littlest thing could make you from a top five car to a 15th place car.

SPEAKER_12

As you mentioned, you're not full-time, you're running a part-time effort. Um what what how does that how does that set you back when you're not attending each and every race?

SPEAKER_11

It's very difficult. I mean, I'm not an excuse person. I don't like making excuses, but it's it's very hard. It's no different than any sport, baseball, football, basketball, whatever you're doing, if you can do it every day and you're a the biggest thing like I say is your mental space. If you're thinking about your race car every single day, you're gonna think about how to make it better, how to do more stuff, how to do whatever. I mean, you're gonna get your crew guys more involved. You're just gonna be so much more headspace into it. And I think that's the hardest thing, and especially driving-wise, you take me that runs once a month compared to a guy that's running staff around Friday nights on SK and jump in an open car and go on a tour race. I'm not making excuses, but it's they're playing a lot more uh reps, to say, and they're just you know, it's more natural at that point.

SPEAKER_12

Yeah, I mean, look, if if Tom Brady wasn't playing every week for the New England Patriots, it would have been probably a little bit more of a challenge for him when you don't get the reps. You've gotta kinda rely on muscle memory, but that's challenging. Alright. I've watched your career, and I think you're as smooth as STP. Okay. You you just take what the race car will give you. Is that how you would describe your style of driving?

SPEAKER_11

Absolutely. I mean, I um I talked to my buddy this week and he's like a Sea Kong. He's like, Man, you were good on the top on the outside. You must have been pretty tight. I was like, No, I was dead sideways. And I just I'm not gonna show boat, I'm not gonna be mad and drive it tight and show it, or if I'm loose, I'm not gonna be sideways and just I just try to be smooth and give what we can. And when our car is good, I'm gonna get aggressive. Like at Sea Kong. I know we had a good car, and the outside we found a lot of grip, and I was just I'm just committed. Like, I'll get aggressive at that point of the race and get going, but at times, like I will not I don't sleep, I don't chill, but I just know I feel like I've been doing a little bit, even though I'm young still, just to give get what the car gives you, race with some respect, and then when it is your time when everything is young correctly, goes around.

SPEAKER_12

Have there been any modified drivers from the old days that you look at and say, Did they inspire me to be a style or swagger or what have you?

SPEAKER_11

I mean, I always just think about Teddy Christopher. Um when we ran the SKs together, and my spotter, Randy, now is um was Teddy's spotter. So, you know, we would be in the tech and the scream and the shout and then the yell and this and that. The biggest thing I got from that we raced for respect. There's not one time we hammered each other, three grooves up on the white flag, we like just really ran each other hard, but there's one big difference that I see nowadays. We both finish. And I think that's a lot of it. Like, you can respect each other, you can be mad at each other, but I hate seeing these things get torn up. Like, this isn't people's lifestyle. So if you can race hard and you can get to the finish line, people are finishing one, two, three, and that you're racing up front all day. I like that stuff. I like being aggressive. I like to see other people. I mean, people are putting their heart and soul into it. It's a very expensive sport, and you want to win. So everyone kind of leaves it on the table, but just just wrecking the stuff nowadays and just coming from a background and working on it myself. I just don't really agree with destroying race cars.

SPEAKER_12

Before I let you go, um, you and I share a very good friend. Someone that was really instrumental early in your career. He is he has worked virtually every possible job in the world of modified racing. Uh he's the voice of the staff for speedway, the voice of the wheel and modified tour. Give me your description of Bandit.

SPEAKER_11

He's uh someone that's always had my back to say. Um I mean, the guy has just obviously put his heart and soul into racing. I mean, from this, you know, growing up as a kid, and his parents just being such a big role model to him, and you know, he loves it. And uh you know, we had a car together and we had a lot of success together, a lot of good memories together, and just you know, life changes on my end. So like I get married, build a house, just do stuff, and like we just talked about earlier, like racing takes so much time to do a correct, and you know, that just came up. Uh I mean, obviously we still talk and um check in with him, but he's just he's a guy to have on your side. Like he's just gonna back you, have your back, he's gonna yell at you when he knows you can do better. Um just overall great great uh person to have on your side.

SPEAKER_12

It it certainly is beneficial to have Ben Dodge pulling to you. He's been doing that for a number of years. Well, we wish you the very best of luck in your part-time. And uh you are the epitome of what I think is the backbone of modified racing. That's a guy that goes out there and displays his passion, but realizes that it's not about you, it's about the team.

SPEAKER_11

Yeah, absolutely. I'm I'm the first one on that. I I always say like we run good, and you know, it's yeah, it's I'm holding the steering wheel. There's a lot of, lot of, lot of great talent in the Northeast, racing modifieds, and at the end of the day, it comes down to decisions, your tire guys, your crew guys, you know, the financials, make sure you have the right stuff. So it's it's all a major, major factor. So I do appreciate everyone that's been racing with me, especially you just talk about them, you know, people that got me to this point and uh couldn't do it all from.

SPEAKER_12

Chase, I appreciate your visiting with us. Good luck for the rest of the season.

SPEAKER_11

Thank you. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_12

On Friday, July 3rd, the SK modified feature was marred by a massive crash on the front stretch at the end of the very first lap. In this week's throttle down, you get to relive the crash from an assorted number of different angles and in-car cameras.

SPEAKER_03

This is throttle down time, where you get to ride along inside a modified. Brought to you by Waddell's Communications, your Northeast track side dealer for radios and repair.

SPEAKER_05

Trouble! Couple of cars into the outside wall, and one car up and over Dylan Izzo, upside down, front straight away, and they'll put the red flag out immediately.

SPEAKER_12

The number seventy-six, but Zentec never lifts, and chaos ensues. The good news is everyone walked away, including Dilber Nizzo.

SPEAKER_06

I don't know, the 71 got the 81, got everyone bobbled up on the outside. I kind of had nowhere to go. I tapped Owen, kind of got me squirrely. I got hit on the inside. Next thing I know, I was in the wall and just thing got caught up, and it whoever hit me, I don't know, it sounded like they were still in the throttle because they just pushed me all the way down the front stretch. Uh, just a bad situation. I've never been upside down before, so that was not cool. Um, but uh the safety guy said I was probably the most chill person upside down he's ever seen, so I'll take that.

SPEAKER_12

You know, Kenny Barry is carrying on the legacy that his father Art forged. A chassis builder, Barry is also in charge of mentoring his young son Tyler. Let's meet him in this week's Crew Call.

SPEAKER_03

Time 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_12

Kenny, it's good of you to join us here on the modified minute. Let me jump right into the deep end. Your experience certainly uh learning from one of the all time great. Your late dad, Artberry. And what, in your opinion, did he instill in you vis a vis quality, craftsmanship, and the things that go into continuing Spapco?

SPEAKER_13

Oh, definitely the work ethic. That man worked harder than anybody I know. Um, even at my age now, I still wonder how he did it all the years he did it. It's crazy. Um, but it was like he always pounded in the do it, do it right, do it once, and don't don't mess it up.

SPEAKER_12

You know, I I remember the quality of the cars and the the great drivers that drove and used to have spear point auto on the side. Now that you are the the head of SPAFCO and Tyler, you know, working beside you, you're also now kind of like your dad in terms of as it applies to Tyler, the way your dad was to you when you ran on the modified tour. What did you learn when you were a race car driver that you're trying to impart in on Tyler's career now?

SPEAKER_13

Uh just trying to teach him patience is the biggest thing. Nowadays, there's not much of that going around.

SPEAKER_12

Yeah, it's it's a it's definitely a uh a commodity that's very, very low on the list.

SPEAKER_13

Yeah, I'm I'm pretty proud of the way he's done this year. He's he's shown quite a bit this year that we haven't had the absolute fastest race car. And I mean, we're quick, but we're not a hundred percent there yet. And he's he's working hard to get there and we're spending a lot of hours on the car, but he's also done a really good job this year of let's bring it home and find out what we're missing instead of having to fix the car every week, you know. What do you think of my dad? My dad's biggest thing was don't wreck it going backwards. If we wrecked it going backwards, we were gonna be in trouble.

SPEAKER_12

What do you think you have been missing?

SPEAKER_13

Uh, we just can't put all three phases of the corner together a hundred percent. Um, beginning of the year, I think we were down a little bit of power. Um, we kind of figured it out after he crashed that one night. We took the backup car out with the older motor, and way, way better than the newer motor was. Um, so it's uh I think we got that straightened out now. And um like I said, we keep messing with the car, trying to get the whole corner together, but we just haven't been able to put all three phases of it to where he gets in good, gets it rotated, and can clamp the throttle down without having to either be a little tight or a little loose. It's just these this SK Light division is tough, man. It's you can't give anything up. You have to be perfect if you want to win.

SPEAKER_12

Let me ask you a question. You and I had a long extended conversation last week at the track about tires, but more importantly, um your approach to being a crew chief. You're talking about wanting to get all three parts, the the three legs of the stool called a corner together. Um you know, with with engineers and uh, you know, artificial intelligence and slide rules and everything else. Do you consider yourself more of an old school type?

SPEAKER_13

Yeah, definitely to a detriment sometimes. I I I tend to not want to want to read or ask questions. I'm I'm I I like to try to figure it out. And nowadays there's so much information out there and so much availability to be able to pick up a phone and call somebody. And I just I don't that's not me. We we want to spend the hours in the shop and try to figure it out ourselves.

SPEAKER_12

Well, what's what's what's the formula when you sit down and you're trying to figure it out yourself? Because I thought it was fascinating to me that you you kind of look at the big picture, but it's more about data points. It's more, it's almost like a all right, A plus B is gonna equal D.

SPEAKER_13

Right, right. We've got a a series of things that we watch, you know, like shock travels and and air pressure growths and stuff, and that kind of tells me, I mean, I look for a very balanced race car, um, which is some of this newer stuff that they're doing when you can get into the tour levels and stuff with the shocks they can run and get into the coil bind and the you know platforming packages and stuff. That's one thing I like about the license that kind of takes that out of the equation because we're on garbage shocks. Um, and we're limited to what we can do. This is the shock you got, so you got to make it work. So it puts a whole lot of other stuff into the equation. Um, you know, so it we're kind of old school in this division, which is what I like. You know, it's it's your car will is a book. It's if you read it correctly, you're gonna be fast, you know.

SPEAKER_12

Listen, you've been around this for a very long time, and it's a big hot topic of conversation at the tour level. And even in the pits at Stafford, in the SKs and the SK lights, are tires. And yet, um, from my perspective, that's always been the key. Those are the four patches that attach your race car to the ground. It's what provides you with the traction. Uh, you mentioned air pressure. Tell me a little bit about how you look at that in during the course of a uh of a racing event.

SPEAKER_13

Well, we've Mike Stevanik taught me that a long time ago. When he came to drive for us, he asked, we had a little crew meeting in the shop. Um, and I had stepped out of the car to crew chief that year. Um and he asked me when we walked in the shop and introduced the guys, he says, Who's the tire guy? And we pointed to the guy Darrell, who was going to be doing the tires. He says, You got the most important job in the shop outside of these. And he says, There's four little patches on this race car that touch the racetrack. And everything I do as a driver or the crew chief does as a crew, crew chief doesn't mean anything unless those four patches are correct. So that kind of set me down the road of how important it is to get a hold of the tires. And there again, like I mentioned, as far as like reading a book. If if you read your race car, it'll tell you what it's doing. If you've got four more pounds of air pressure growth in one tire than the other, then your car isn't very balanced. Um and most times balance is fast. Um like I said, the tire guy is a very important part of racing nowadays. And I mean, I listen to all these people and read about it on Facebook bitching about the American racers and the Hoosiers and this and that. I I don't see the complaint. It's if you're as good as you think you are, figure it out. You know, it's the the the fast guys are gonna be fast because they're gonna figure it out. And you know, I you you can name six or seven guys that have winning or fast enough to win on the tour, whether they're on Hoosiers or American racers, they're just they're figuring it out. It's you gotta just because what something worked with a Hoosier doesn't mean it's gonna work with an American racer. And if you're stubborn and don't want to change, then of course you're gonna hate the tire. But figure out what the tire wants, give it to it, your car will be passed, you know.

SPEAKER_12

Tyler's been doing very well in the SK lights, I get the impression, because he does make occasional starts, you know, in the in the Monaco tour or in the what I call the tour-type modified series races. But it sounds to me like the Barry family wants to stay in the SK lights because of the purity of the competition.

SPEAKER_13

Well, I think my own personal opinion, I know this this will start an argument with a lot, but I think the SK Lights, the most competitive division at the racetrack this year, um and for years past. I mean, I think they get a bum wrap with the wrecks a lot of times. Um, my own personal opinion is the wrecks, if you watch the handicapping system, can kind of control how the wreck goes for the night. Um, when a certain few cars don't make the handicap, it tends to be a lot nicer evening going on than nights that they start up from. That's a very polite way.

SPEAKER_12

That's a very polite way to put it. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_13

But that's the downs of racing weekly racing. You can't start the fast cars in the front every week. It'd be a boring race. Um, you know, Tyler mentioned something in his interview after the race last week about it's not easy coming from 10th place to the front three spots at Stafford anymore. It's it's a chore. Um and we chose the SK Lite because it's more affordable. Um we tried to go SK racing up there and uh the budget we had to do it and the amount of time I can devote to the car, people don't understand how much more time it takes to run an SK than an SK Lite. It's it's it needs more people, needs more effort. Um and we chose the light because that's where we feel we can run and try to run our best. And then, like I said, he drives for Wes Gilbert on the the open cars and we do what fits our schedule and his, and we do that to have fun. I'm not we don't run the tri-track races much because I feel it's not as much fun. It's almost like a third job trying to qualify now. That's just as hard doing that as it is the wheel and tour. And we we're doing that to have fun, and if it's not gonna be fun, don't do it, you know.

SPEAKER_12

You know, Waterford allows the SK lights radios. My brother Mark has been vehemently against it. In fact, he and I have been at odds over the use of radios and spotters. Where are you gonna train your spotters if you don't allow radios in the SK lights? What say you, Ken Barry, as as a car owner and a big proponent of the SK lights?

SPEAKER_13

I'm with you, brother. I think it is no place for radios. Yeah, really. I myself personally, I don't see but maybe a handful of wrecks throughout the year that a radio would have stopped. Okay. Um I feel a race car driver should be paying attention to more than the back of his air cleaner. Um and if you would if the other drivers would drive with the same respect as needed without radios, I don't think there'd be half as many wrecks. You look at a supermod and a midget, they don't have radios. The winged outlaw cars are the most crazy racing you'll ever watch, and they don't have a radio in the car. But you don't see them drivers hanging on a left rear tire thinking the other guy's gonna give them room. It's not your group. You can't see him, he's not there, you know. And Stafford's a perfect example. A lot of the wrecks that happen going into turn three, people say, Oh, he chopped me. Well, you were at his left rear tire. He don't know you're there if you don't have a radio in the car. And the natural groove is from the wall to the apron. Uh I mean my biggest thing with radios is go stand in the grandstands at the tracks that give them and listen to what is being said. And I just don't like, you know, the the he's coming in long, block him, block him, block him. You know, that type of stuff. I know that that's not good spotting.

SPEAKER_12

That's not good spotting. No. I stand what's going on. I stand verbally corrected. I stand verbally corrected. Okay.

SPEAKER_13

What you hear on Sunday afternoon isn't mostly what goes on in the grandstands at the local short tracks when it comes to radios.

SPEAKER_12

Okay, Kenny. I appreciate you being you correcting me. I'll go and apologize to my brother Friday night, all right. It's always a pleasure to hook up with you, my friend. We go way back, and uh, as I say, um your dad was very special to me, too. As uh, you know, we we go all the way back, and I always thought his stuff was just primo. Just primo.

SPEAKER_13

Appreciate it. Yeah, not a problem. Thank you for having me on.

SPEAKER_03

It'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_12

Nick and Glaze has been on a roll in the SK Lights to be. Took top honors in his pre-testler duel, and then back that up with win number two, and then win number three. Over the last two weeks, and Glaze added to his 2026 win total.

SPEAKER_05

Side by side into turn three at the front of the field, and glaze to the bottom, shorter way around, and May get to the line first. He does by a half car length, and Nick and Glaze wins tonight's SK Life modified feature event.

SPEAKER_09

Yeah, I mean, every week I just I know if we can avoid the wrecks, we're gonna have a really good finish for a good car.

SPEAKER_12

For his efforts, Nick and Glaze is this week's hot dog of the week. You know, Dylan Izzo has been wheeling Tommy Bowles SK modified number 76 for a number of years now. And lately, the team has put together some impressive drives. But on Friday, July 3rd at Stafford, he found himself in the eye of chaos and a storm.

SPEAKER_05

Couple of cars into the outside wall and one car up and over. Dylan Izo, upside down, front straightaway, and they'll put the red flag out immediately.

SPEAKER_03

This is SK Sounding. News from the SK, SK Lite, and 602 Modified World. Brought to you by Wheeler's Auto Services, the finest and top-level service of Premier Automobile makes and models, specializing in European, Japanese, and domestic vehicles.

SPEAKER_12

Well, I'm joined by Dylan Izzo, who drives for Tom Bowles, who we visited with one week ago, who, by the way, was involved in a real chaotic accident last Friday night at Stafford. Dylan, we'll get to that in a moment. I really want to start with how did you get hooked up with Tommy?

SPEAKER_06

So God, probably I would say somewhere around the end of 23. Him and I had a conversation through uh, you know, Mike Pettit kind of recommended me to for driving that car. We had a brief conversation, nothing really developed. And then uh Austin Beers drove it in 24. And then about the day before open practice last year, he called me and asked if I could practice the car. I was like, Yeah, sure. So I ran up there, ran it. I mean, right off the bat, we all kind of just gelled right together. And then I think that Wednesday leading up to the sizzler, he's like, Well, do you want to race? I'm like, Yeah, I'm I'm for it. And that's how it all happened.

SPEAKER_12

Well, you know, I think a lot of people when they sit in the stands, they don't pay enough attention to just how important you said, well, we hit it off. How important it is for a race team to have that kind of chemistry.

SPEAKER_06

Oh, I mean, that's that's basically everything. You know, I've driven for a lot of people. I've uh a lot of teams in open cars, SKs, kind of all over the place. And, you know, something about you know, with Tom, Sandra, you know, Ron, everybody on that crew, like we're it almost became like a family to me, you know. And uh like I said, this is our second year working together, and you know, we until last week we were really off to a good start. I mean, we've been competitive, and uh, you know, it took a lot of work to get there. But uh, you know, I mean, like I said, racing with them is awesome. Tommy's such a good guy, and you know, that whole team.

SPEAKER_12

Yeah, you talk about you know the uphill struggle. Look, you finished fourth at the Sizzler, you finished fourth again on the 22nd of May, then a strong second behind Keith Rocco on June 26th, but then it all went to hell in a handbasket last week. Uh in fact, uh, I've kind of broken it down on this week's throttle down from a lot of different in-car cameras. Tell me what you recall as it unfolded.

SPEAKER_06

So, what actually started that was there was contact between the 71 and the 81.

SPEAKER_12

Right.

SPEAKER_06

And, you know, like on flow, it doesn't really show that. So when that started, it kind of sent the 81 up the hill and he got in the marbles. So the second I saw him go up, I started to check up and kind of bring my car down because it almost looked like he was going in the fence. And then right, he must have clipped the marbles bat and really checked up. And you know, like I said, I can't check up any faster than that. We tapped tires, got me sideways, then I got hit in the back from Tallman, which that kind of finished me off. And uh I hit the wall. I remember, you know, I basically the wreck was over, and uh I was sliding to a stop, and next thing I know, I just I I feel like a Mac truck hit me, and uh I'm on my lid.

SPEAKER_12

Well, we captured that in uh throttle time. You can see Josh Zentat coming from left field wide ass open and just drilling you and giving you upside down. So now you're hanging upside down in the race car, and I'm not trying to make light of it because you're also not sure. What about the fuel cell? What about the oil leaking out, hot headers and everything else? How in the hell did you stay so calm, cool, and collected?

SPEAKER_06

You know, so it's funny. So, like the safety, you know, when it when I first got on my roof, I actually for a second I'm like, there's no way that just happened. Like, there's no way. Like it's like I said, I was convinced the wreck was over, you know, and uh next thing you know, I'm hanging there upside down within like eight or ten seconds, the uh safety crew is there, and I'm like, listen, like I'm good, like, you know, don't worry, because you know, when you're upside down like that, first of all, you can't unbuckle because you'll just break your neck. And number two, you know, you're you're at the mercy, you're just there. Nothing you can really do about it. And uh, you know, so I was everything was calm, I was cool, everything. And then about I don't know, three or four minutes of me upside down, then I smell fuel. And I had already shut the power, the fuel off, everything, and then I saw the fuel running down the body into you know, into the car. And that's when I said to the safety guy, yo, listen, you know, uh, I'm good, everything, but do not let me burn in this car. You know, and uh that was the scary part, was just that. But you know, I gotta give a shout out to the staff or safety crew. I mean, you know, they had me flipped over, you know, within 10 minutes, you know, whatever, and uh they put me down soft and they were great through the whole thing. Because I mean, it it's a you know, let's be real, it's a scary situation, you know. I've been in hard wrecks, I've done all that, but that is just a scary knowing that you can't get out.

SPEAKER_12

Yeah, I gotta tell you, as I watched it unfold from Pit Road, they get you out of the car, and then you I don't know what you were going back to the car for. Well, it was your hands Hans device or your helmet. It's like, dude, you've been upside down for 10 minutes, walk away.

SPEAKER_06

Well, you see, the helmets are expensive, Jack. Oh, I see. Okay. And they get the problem is you leave it in there, sometimes they get wrecked. So that was just like that was one of those things, like another thing where it's like, you know, you almost feel like it didn't happen because just because I've never flipped in a race car. So it was so unfamiliar to me and everything. And then, like, I don't know, I just went back for the helmet. But it was weird when I got out of the car, it was basically like dead silent in the stands, and then you know, the second you get out, give the wave, they all go knots, and you know, so that felt good. It was like, all right, I'm good. I got all my body parts that were good.

SPEAKER_12

All right, let's shift gears to what lies ahead for the rest of the season for Dylan Izzo and for Tommy Bowles. Um, that car I think has gone to the junkyard. So uh, you know, what's on the agenda? You know, Tommy's got a ton of cars.

SPEAKER_06

So yeah, so you know, that car, I mean, it's killed. Um, you know, it's more than killed. I mean, I mean, I think the only thing left that was good on it was the gauge cluster. I think that's about it. Um, you know, and which was a shame because like in the original part of that wreck, like the car would have maybe needed part of a front clip or whatever. It really wasn't bad. And then when you get blindsided like that, um, you know, it just killed the car. And uh so at first, uh like I talked I talked to him um Saturday night, kind of just like touching base, seeing how bad it was. And uh then I was like, you know what, I want to see this car for myself, so I went up there Sunday and uh kind of checked and it was already stripped. I mean, you know how Tom is, I mean that dude doesn't sleep. So uh, you know, he he had it all stripped. I looked at everything, and you know, of course you have the thoughts like, man, like you know, when I was upside down, I'm like, do I even want to do this? Like, this is insane, you know? And then uh the second I got there Sunday, he pointed at the at the you know, our his backup car that Beers ran at the beginning of 24, right? And he's like, you know, we have that car there. I'm like, all right, let's do it. And uh, you know, so I was up there on Tuesday night, I believe. We put the you know, we had the seat in the car, you know, got it all my belts done, everything, and kind of helped him, you know, put some parts and pieces back together on it. And he did a lot of rebuilding on that car. Um, because you know, when a car sits like that, you know, there's a lot of stuff that could go bad, rust up, whatever. So, like master cylinders, everything. And when it comes to number one safety in the car, maintenance, I mean, Tom Bowl's is top of the list. I mean, ever since I've been racing with him, that car is spotless, never leaks anything, nothing ever falls off. So, like, I have a pure confidence in that car. It's just gonna be, you know, working the bugs out because it's a shame. That other car, we had it, we were really competitive.

SPEAKER_12

Yeah, so now it's like you had it figured out. Now you're back, now you're now you're back to square one again. Exactly. What about Dylanizo? Is he back to square one or are you?

SPEAKER_06

Yeah, I'm totally good. I you know, I was like I said, like Saturday, I was like, I was like, man, like, because I was sore, like my neck hurt, my back, everything. Like I'm a hundred percent now. And uh, you know, as I've gotten older, you know, the hits kind of feel harder, you know, but uh I really feel like I'm good to go, I'm ready. Um, you know, it's like one of those things. You just gotta get right back on the horse. And you know, I've been in way worse wrecks where you know you're hitting head on a hundred and fifteen and a three there. So this to me it's kind of just like hop back out there and let's get it.

SPEAKER_12

You know, the this year it's been very, very competitive at Stafford. We've had just a couple of repeat winners, but it's been well distributed. And one of the things I'm wondering about, is that due to the competitive nature or does the tire rule come into play? Because I know you all play a few games in terms of tire management.

SPEAKER_06

So I think, you know, as a someone who's always been like a low buck team, like renting my own car and everything, it it's tough doing three tires a week. But I think that leveled the playing field so much because you can't bang tires, you can't, you know, you can't do all that. So one week one guy's on one tire and another guy's on three. So then he'll just blow through the field now that we all have three tires. I mean I think the first 12th is probably a 10 to 80 to 10. Like you can't even go off practice or anything, and um with SKs with you know only four to sixty, four seventy horse, whatever they have, it's almost like a pack racing. So in order to pass somebody, you gotta be a ten to a tent and a half after them, or you gotta move them out of the way, which we've seen a little too much this year. But um, you know, it's just so competitive. Any anybody in that top eight to ten cars really have a shot to win, as you see with seven or eight different riders.

SPEAKER_12

Right.

SPEAKER_06

You know.

SPEAKER_12

Well, listen, we're we're so happy that you're happy. We're so happy that you survived, and that everybody walked away. But more importantly, you're on the brink of a really great relationship right there with TB. And uh couldn't be happier for the both of you because you know, it was hard. He was emotional when he explained why he had to step out of the car and stop driving. But I think but I think between you and now his protege, Connor Christmas, what a great name, huh? Yeah, I know, right? It's like Will Power, you know. It's just but now do you mentor Connor or is he like a totally separate entity?

SPEAKER_06

No, so I try to help him as much as I can. My biggest thing with him is like, you know, I've I have screws all through my hands and my wrist from from the steering wheel in these cars. So the biggest thing I always try to tell him is like, if you know that you're not gonna get through this wreck, you gotta get your hands off the wheels. Not get your thumbs out. A lot of guys do that, you know, they run the dishes or whatever, which you know, with I all I run the plant and the raising product, you know, S C D and uh you know, I do that, and a lot of times it's kind of like you know, feel in the car, like, okay, you know, oh it's loose here, tight air, you know, how to how to dissect it and what to do. You know, what adjustment should you be thinking when you're out there to make it better? And just getting consistent, staying out of the trouble, and you know, trying to bring the whole thing home with four tires on it every week.

SPEAKER_12

Well, good luck to you guys for the rest of the season. Can't wait to see you back at the track, my friend.

SPEAKER_08

I appreciate it, Jack. Thanks.

SPEAKER_12

You know, before we close out this episode, it's Troy Talman's turn to take on our either or segment.

SPEAKER_03

It's either or special cities edition, where our guest must choose one or the other. Brought to you by Mr. Rooter Plumbing, expert plumbing contractors you can trust.

SPEAKER_12

All right, sitting in for either or today is Troy Talman. You heard from him a couple of episodes ago. Now, Troy, this is what I call the special cities edition. Now, you don't necessarily have to have visited these cities, they could be on your bucket list, but you have to choose between one or the other. Are you ready for the game? Okay, I'm ready. All right, either Vegas or Nashville.

SPEAKER_14

I have to go to Vegas.

SPEAKER_12

Oh, because what goes on in Vegas stays. Stays in Vegas.

SPEAKER_14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_12

New York City or Los Angeles.

SPEAKER_14

Oh, that's a tough one. Uh I don't know. I've never been to Los Angeles, so maybe we'll go there.

SPEAKER_12

Okay. This one I think I already know the answer, but we'll ask it anyway. Indianapolis or Daytona Beach, Florida. Daytona Beach. I figured as much. A little closer to home, Martha's Vineyard or Block Island.

SPEAKER_14

Uh I don't know. I exposing myself here. I don't know much about either of those places, so I don't know. Why don't we just say Martha's Vineyard?

SPEAKER_12

Well, that way you could wave to Brax President Obama. You know, because he has his big mansion there.

SPEAKER_14

Okay. I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_12

Yeah, so you could go up to the door and knock on the door and say, Hi Michelle, can I talk to Barack?

SPEAKER_14

Okay.

SPEAKER_12

And finally, Miami Beach or Orlando, Florida.

SPEAKER_14

Let's go to Orlando.

SPEAKER_12

Oh, yeah, and then you're gonna go to Universal, you're gonna go to Disney, you're gonna do all that stuff.

SPEAKER_14

Yeah, it's not too far from Daytona, New Smyrna, you know.

SPEAKER_12

That's true. New Smyrna is important. I should have asked that question. Troy, we appreciate your play in the game, and uh best wishes to you. Thank you. Thanks for having me.

unknown

All right, man.

SPEAKER_12

Well, that's a wrap for this week. Special thanks goes out to Kenny Berry, Dylan Izzo, and Chase Stowling. Now, I'm going to be taking next week off for a quick vacation, but I assure you that I'll be back the following week for yet another episode of the Modified Minute.

SPEAKER_03

This has been the Modified Minute. Modified Minute has been 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 Humble Brothers Quality Means. 100% quality since 1933. By Riverhead Building Supply. Build smarter. Build better. By Mr. Luther Plumbing. Expert Plumbing Contractors you can trust. By design product, exceeding your expectations. And by first contractors, building experts since 1925.