MODIFIED MINUTE
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MODIFIED MINUTE
🏁 The Modified Minute - Episode 18 — Three Guests. Three Perspectives. One Passion: Modified Racing! 🏁
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In this week's episode we go behind the scenes and inside the cockpits with Anthony Flannery, Dale “Super Dale” Hedquist, and two-time Whelen Modified Tour Champion Ron Silk!
🔥 SK Soundings — Anthony Flannery
Anthony Flannery has been steering Modifieds since 2019 and has already built an impressive resume. In 2024, he captured the Waterford Speedbowl Track Championship, and now he’s chasing championship number two at the Shoreline Oval.
Earlier this season, Flannery made a dramatic last-lap pass on Keith Rocco to score his eighth career SK Modified feature win.
What makes Anthony one of the drivers to watch at Waterford? We find out in this week’s SK Soundings.
🔧 Crew Call — Dale “Super Dale” Hedquist
They call him Super Dale, and for good reason.
Dale Hedquist is one of the most respected wrenches in Modified racing. He was part of Jonathan McKennedy’s 2022 Whelen Modified Tour Championship run, and today he’s turning the wrenches on the USNE Power Energizer #1 of Patrick Emerling.
What does it really take to build and set up a winning Modified? Dale Hedquist gives us the crew chief’s perspective in this week’s Crew Call.
🏆 Racer Spotlight — Ron Silk
For nearly 25 years, Ron Silk has been one of the sport’s most consistent winners.
A two-time Whelen Modified Tour Champion, Silk has won just about everywhere he’s raced — and he’s still adding to the resume.
Just this past weekend, Ron took top honors at Monadnock Speedway in the Open Modified Dash for Cash.
From go-karts to ground-pounders, Ron Silk just keeps finding his way to Victory Lane.
We’ll talk about his career, his success, and what keeps him coming back for more in this week’s Racer Spotlight.
🔥 Three Guests. Three Different Perspectives. One Passion — Modified Racing.
If you love Whelen Modifieds, SK Modifieds, Open Modifieds, short track racing, and the people who make Modified racing happen, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
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We are an hour.
SPEAKER_03This week on the modified minute.
SPEAKER_14There's more times than not that we go to the racetrack on Saturday solely because my kids wouldn't know what to do with themselves. I enjoy being with my racing family more than driving the car 90% of the time.
SPEAKER_09I don't know. That's the secret sauce right there. Like if somebody wanted the secret, you know, what what is the secret nut or bolt or magic nut and bolt? I think it's just him and I hit it off really early with uh with trusting each other. He trusts what I do and I trust what he does. And and a lot of times, 97% of the time, they align.
SPEAKER_10We've been fortunate to win a lot of races. I don't know when this. I have so much fun racing with this team. The owners are my friends. You know, I when this deal, whenever it does end, that'll probably be the end for me, too.
SPEAKER_03All 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_06Here they come to the strike, down to the finish, checkered flag in the air. Monsignor up to hell. Here comes Tolamino to the inside. Here comes John Beatty Jr. And off the corner to the line they come.
SPEAKER_03This 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 Meets. 100% quality since 1933. By Riverhead Building Supply. Build Smarter. Build better. By Mr. Ruder Plumbing. Expert plumbing contractors you can trust. By SignPro, exceeding your expectations. And by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925. Here's Jack.
SPEAKER_08Welcome to another edition of the Modified Minute. Now this week we've got three great guests who represent three different sides of the world of modified racing. The driver, the crew chief, and one of the sports proven winners. First up in SK Soundings, we're putting the spotlight on Anthony Flannery. Anthony has been steering modified since 2019. And in fact, in 2024, he captured the track championship at the Waterford Speed Bowl. Now, he's chasing championship number two at the Shoreline Oval. And earlier this season, Anthony pulled off a last lap pass on Keith Rocco to score his eighth career SK modified victory. We'll find out what makes Flannery tick and what it takes to race and win at Waterford. Then it's time for crew call, and this guy needs very little introduction. They call him Superdale, Dale Hedgequist, one of the most respected modified crew members in the business. Dale was a key part of Jonathan McKennedy's 2022 Wheel and Modified Tour Championship run. And today, the wrenches on the USNE Power Energizer number one for Patrick Emmerling. We'll get the crew chief's perspective on what it takes to make a modified go fast. And finally, our racer spotlight shines on a guy who's been winning on modified tracks for nearly 25 years. His name? Ron Silk. He's a two-time wheel and modified tour champ, and just this past weekend, he added another win to his resume, taking the top honors at Manadinoch Speedway in their open modified dash for cash. From go-karts to ground pounders, Ron Silk just keeps finding a way to make it to Victory Lane. Three guests, three different perspectives, but one passion: modified racing. But before we get to all of that, we need to get you up to speed.
SPEAKER_03Time 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_08The action got underway at Stafford Speedway Friday night. First up was the SK Lights, where the field tried to stop Nick Banglays from winning his seventh of 14 events.
SPEAKER_04Here they come off turn number four. Good start. Pretty much even as they hit to the bottom of turn number one.
SPEAKER_02Why? The top eight cards bunched together as they continue to race for the top spot. Bloxham, then Holton, then Anderson. Final time down the back stretch. Final chance for Holton to get that first win. Trying to make a move, but Bloxham protects.
SPEAKER_05Bloxham protects the bottom of the racetrack. Here comes Dylan Ho in one final shot off of turn number four.
SPEAKER_13I've lost him before from uh dive bombs. Um, so you know, you learn to watch your mirrors, and um, Dylan did an awesome job. Um, I know he had some issues with those restarts a couple weeks ago, but the kid's getting really good.
SPEAKER_08Then it was the SK modified turns before he turns it around the half mile.
SPEAKER_0540 laps to instant for the SK modified because we go under the green flag. Side by side to the corner, but it's though for the lead.
SPEAKER_04Split got a little bit loose, but here's Rocco with the bottom side. Rocco does the move in his past in the number two. On four, we've got a brand new leader. It is Keith Rocco.
SPEAKER_05Mikey Flynn's gonna go. He has heavy two laps in R24 with two laps to go.
SPEAKER_02That being said, Flynn is able to close the gap, it's down to three cards lane. The leader keeps Rocco, they're closing it on the last card of Kurt Rainer.
SPEAKER_04Here they come up on heavy lap graphics they come off turn number four. The white flag is out one lap to go.
SPEAKER_02Keith Rocco leads the way, they're gonna laugh at Kurt Rainer coming off with turn two and down the back stretch. If Rocco can get there, that might be helpful for him. He's trying to use that 96 as a pick, but he's still well ahead of him, heading into three.
SPEAKER_05Brainerd will pull that car to the bottom of the racetrack, leave the leaders plenty of room to the outside lane. Keith Rocco comes off with turn number four, and for the 77th time in his SK modified career, takes the win. Here's the Stafford Motor Speedway.
SPEAKER_00We're uh we're building here. We're not done. Um man, uh I uh I love the Nazi caution here. You know, I was choosing on the other foot a few weeks ago where I was forced and had a car to win. Wanted to caution, but man, it's nice not to have one when you're up front.
SPEAKER_08Also on Friday, Riverhead Raceway hosted their duet type modified for a 50 let go.
SPEAKER_07He'll head towards the newsday, goes to three flags in the air. Rogers move on a slip on the initial start. You broody. And he's closing in. To the go! Tootico, whatever Grunin's down on that lap, you might want to use it again. It's down now under three cents a second. White flag! One more left to go here. And Chris Rogers, hold on! Chris Rogers with the lead. Oh, and Grunin right behind us. They have to turn number three. One last gas by Gruddon won't be enough. I'm gonna turn four Chris Rogers to Victory Lane!
SPEAKER_01No, it's been a long time. We uh you know getting hurt last year didn't help, but uh you gotta come back and uh yo come back and finally put this thing back in victory lane. Uh no, it's there's no words for it. There's nothing better than being the victory lane perfect.
SPEAKER_08Saturday night, water produced to the state for a 25-lap SK light date. And Robert Block to the third doubled down on the weekend, taking the feature. And in the 35-lap SK modified feature, it was Jonathan Julio who took the lead with 12 laps to go and cruised to the 35-lap SK victory. It was JP's third in a row and fourth to speed. Todd Owen took seconds with Nick Hubby finishing third. And finally, Madmax Blay hosted their open modified event for a $10,000 to win 100 lapper. Coming out on top, it was Braun Silk. Finishing right behind silk with Joey Cipriano and Anthony Marcella. There you have it, the ground pounding action from this past weekend. All the touring series were idle this past weekend, so I thought we should take a look at the current track point standings for the weekly tracks.
SPEAKER_03Here's a look at the championship chases. Brought to you by SignPro, exceeding your expectations.
SPEAKER_08At the Thompson Speedway, Keith Rocco holds a 12-point margin over Todd Owen and a three-point lead over Danny Cates. While in the SK Lights, Kevin Davis holds a 14-point lead over Austin Goff. RJ Marcot rounds out the top three. In Stafford's SK Lights division, Nick Anglais enjoys a 22-point lead over Tyler Barry and a 60-point lead over Dalton McCarthy. Keith Rocco's win in the SK modified event Friday night, coupled with Jonathan Puglio's 15th place finish, lengthened Kid Rock's margin to 38 points. Len Reen occupies the third spot. At Riverhead Raceway, AJ DeSantis holds a six-point margin over Michael Berner and an eight-point lead over third place Richard Davinovich in their Crate Modified series. While Owen Grennan is up by six over Mark Stewart in their Tour type modified standings. The Waterford SK Lights leaderboard shows Robert Flox from the third out front over Kevin Cormier by 40 points and ahead of third place Kevin Davis by 43. While the SK points show Anthony Flannery leading Todd Owen by just nine points. Nicholas Humpy is third, 13 points back, with Timmy Jordan and Keith Rocco rounding out the top five. You know, Anthony Flannery has been steering modified since 2019. He took the track title at Waterford Speedbowl back two years ago. But this season he's chasing his second championship at the Shoreline Oval. He's in focus in this week's SK Soundings.
SPEAKER_03This is SK Soundings. News from the SK, SK Life, and 602 Modified World. Brought to you by Wheelers Auto Services. The finest in top-level service of Premier Automobile makes and models, specializing in European, Japanese, and domestic vehicles.
SPEAKER_08We moved from Legends cars to dirt cars to full-bodied cars and now to the SK modifieds. We're talking about Anthony Flannery. Anthony, you kind of came up the normal way. As a kid, you were in go-karts and you were in, you know, in the Tiger Cub type cars. So uh when did you first say to yourself, you know, I really want to do this?
SPEAKER_14Well, I was uh I was probably seven. Oh well I wasn't probably I was seven. My father uh bought my first go-kart and uh we were racing corner midges down at Silver City and Meriden. I mean I I mean any any little kid, little boy at that time would love to drive a race car, right? And uh I had success. I like doing it. Um you know, I liked meeting the people and hanging out with the with the families and the friends, and um, you know, I would say I was probably seven, eight years old when I decided this is something that I want to do as long as I can.
SPEAKER_08So who did you always imagine yourself to be when you were in that quarter midget or that go kart or even that legends card?
SPEAKER_14Oh, I was always gonna be Dale Earnhardt. I mean that's that's that's just the thing, right? Everybody wanted to be Dale Earnhardt. Um as I gotten older, um I realized that's not as easily done as as I thought of when I was seven years old. Um, you know, now I I look at myself as a hometown hero and some of my kids look up to and my friends like to talk about, and uh it means just as much to me as racing on Sunday.
SPEAKER_08You know, I I don't think a lot of folks at Waterford or at Stafford know the fact that when you went away to college, uh your first modified ride was on the dirt. Tell me about that.
SPEAKER_14It was an awesome school. I had a great time at a lot of awesome people, and uh they ran dirt out there. There's uh, you know, if you're from New England, you know other than Lemon Valley, there's no dirt racing out here. Um I moved out to Ohio to the Midwest and they uh paving racing wasn't a thing. They they looked down on pavement racing out there. Um so my first year at school, I ran a dirt street stock. Um had great success doing that with the school for my first time, and then uh my second year at school, I ran the modifier, and um I I wouldn't train for anything. I had an awesome time. Um I learned so much about car control, driving, um, setup. You know, there's there's so much that that goes back and forth between dirt and pavement that a lot of people don't know, and they see it on Sunday, they see the guys that run dirt cars, that ran dirt cars, Kyle Larsons, Christopher Bells. Um, you know, even uh Jeff Gordon. Um great, great drivers that came from dirt racing. Um there's something to be said about that. There's a lot of amazing drivers that have never raced dirt that probably would do good there. Um but it was an experience that I couldn't have couldn't have skipped life with.
SPEAKER_08Alright, let's move to the SK modified. Uh you had a certain degree of success at the third mile shoreline oval we all know as new London Waterford Speedbowl. In fact, you won a championship there, and now you are leading in the points. When did you decide that you were gonna move up to the big ass half mile at Stafford?
SPEAKER_14You know, it um I hate to say it wasn't my decision, but uh, I got hooked up with Todd Owen and Chassis Pro. Um about my it wasn't even a full season. I it was probably my first half season I ran an SK modified. And um I was struggling, but I was trying like hell. And uh and Todd noticed that. Todd came over, he tried to help me out, and he could see that um I was trying as hard as I could and he knew I was getting more out of it than I should have because I didn't have the right setup, the right deal. Um, you know, we were just doing it on our own. And uh I got hooked up with Todd and started running one of his cars at Waterford, and he had a car that opened up about halfway through the season at Stafford, asked if I wanted if I was interested. Um, so I jumped into the car. My first race was the was the Senators Cup. Uh it's gotta be five years ago now, four years ago now. And we finished sixth. And from then on, it was just it was over. I I had to race there. Um Stafford has this this aura to it that every local short track racer wants to win a race at Stafford. Um there's just something about it, and it's something I haven't been able to accomplish. I I really want to. I want that more than anything, but uh I couldn't I couldn't be happier racing there. Um, you know, the the competition level in SK Modified racing in general is the highest it could be. And at Stafford, especially, you go to some tracks and there's five cars that can win a race. You go to Stafford, there's 15 cars that could win that race. Um, so you gotta be on your game every night, and um, it just forces you to be better.
SPEAKER_08I had a moment, Anthony, the other night when I was watching you, and I was trying to find your pitch crew. And then all of a sudden I realized because you're part of Todd's pit crew, you only literally on pit road had one pit crew member and he was in charge of the signboard.
SPEAKER_14That's right. Yeah, no, that's right. We uh we share we share a crew. Um, you know, it's uh we're a big family, and uh I I wouldn't change it. It's it's a great time. It gets a little hectic if we all pit at once. Um they gotta decide who they're gonna who they're gonna help out.
SPEAKER_08Well, I think the boss goes first, don't you?
SPEAKER_14Well, sometimes, unless he unless he's being unless he's being a jerk that day, then they might leave him back, but no, it's um there's a little bit of strategy there. Um we do our best to not have to pit together or not have to pit at all, really. Um all those guys on a pit road there. Um you know you talk about I have one one pick, right holding the holding the pit sign, right? I mean there's there's a small group of people that make everything happen at Jassy Pro, and they do a lot for us, for me, for Todd, for all of the rental cars, all of the cars that have been sold out of Jassy Pro to give them the best foot forward. And I I I rely on those guys more than anything. Um I have a small family, I have a business, and a lot of stuff going on. Um without those guys, I definitely couldn't race two nights a week, and I could probably barely race the one night a week on my own car. Um so hats off to all those guys that put in all the time. Um, you know, 99% of it is volunteer. Um just just to be there and to be helpful and and do what we gotta do, and that's the only way to make this deal affordable, really.
SPEAKER_08You know, it's beyond affordable. One of the things I noticed um, you know, on your Facebook page is just like so many other racing families, and you've got a growing young family and it keeps getting bigger and bigger, you know, and and yet they're gonna be offered the same opportunity you were, and that's to grow up in what I call the modified racing community. How important is that to you and your wife?
SPEAKER_14That's very important. Um, there's more times than not that we go to the racetrack on Saturday solely because my kids wouldn't know what to do with themselves. I enjoy being with my racing family more than driving the car 90% of the time. Um it it was a great thing for me as a small kid, uh growing up, seven years old, to be involved in an adult sport, right? There there were children racing, but you were around adults, you you learned respect, you learned manners, um, you learned how to talk with adults. Uh, and I I I love that my children are comfortable with adults, that they know how to talk with people. Um they don't write from wrong. Um, and and the racing community is 99.9% amazing people that you would never meet unless you were there on a Saturday night.
SPEAKER_08Listen, I appreciate you carving some time out of a very, very, very busy schedule. I I know you're getting ready for another uh weekend this weekend. And who knows, Anthony, now that you've been on the modified minute, it may be Victory Lane at Stafford Speedway on Friday night in the SK5K. You never know.
SPEAKER_14That's it. And if I am there, I sure hope you're staying at Victory Lane with me, Jackie.
SPEAKER_08I'll join you, my friend, for sure. Thanks so much, Anthony. Thank you. Whenever the SK lights take the Stafford's half mile, you can always be assured that the action will be fast and furious. And this week was no different, and for one driver, it was the continuation of a dream season.
SPEAKER_03It'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_08Robert Bloxham III has had a very good 2026 campaign. A win in May and another in July streaming at the Great Event. Two weeks ago, Bloxham unveiled a new partner in Payne Ski for his number 32. Mohawk Northeast. Joined forces with Robert Bloxham III. And then, this past Friday, Robin started in the 12th spot.
SPEAKER_02Two wide, the top eight cards bunched together as they continue their race for the top spot. Bloxham, then Houghton, then Anderson. Final time down the back stretch. Final chance for Houghton to get that first win. Trying to make a move, but Bloxham protects.
SPEAKER_05Bloxham protects the bottom of the racetrack. Here comes Dylan Houghton. One final shot off of turn number four. Pulls up alongside, but it's not enough. Robert Bloxham III picks up another SK Lite modified win here this season. His third of 2026.
SPEAKER_13Between these guys and a little experience, I think that's all that got these guys because I mean they're very fast and it was it was a lot of fun to race with them.
SPEAKER_08Congratulations, young man. You are this week's hot dog of the week. They call him Superdale, and he is indeed considered one of the top modified wrenches in all of modified racing. He was in charge of Jonathan McKennedy's Wheel of Modified Tour Championship run back in 2022. And now he calls the shots and twists the wrenches for Patrick Emmerling and the USNE Power Energizer number one. He is this week's Crew Call guest.
SPEAKER_03Time to drop in at the race shop and get the inside dope from the guys who twists the wrenches. It's Crew Call. Brought to you by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925.
SPEAKER_08So I'm at Stafford on Friday night, just kind of hanging out, watching the cars go by, and who do I run into? My next guest. Dale Hedgequist was out there either A, trying to gather intel, or B, just doesn't have a life, or C just loves modifies regardless of where they're running. So what's the story, my friend?
SPEAKER_09Uh a little bit of bowl, all three, actually. So um I don't know. I just I'm a huge fan of racing. I'm a huge fan of modified racing, obviously, right? I've been around it my whole life. Um I like talking to a lot of different guys and seeing like a lot of different views on you know, maybe changes or adjustments or you know uh stuff like that. And then I just I don't know, I have uh I guess a soft spot for some of these younger modified guys and just want to try to help them package. Or if I can give them you know a tidbit of knowledge or you know help, then yeah, that's that's really all it was for.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I saw you out there working with some of the young studs and offering up your assistance. All right, it's been an incredible July for you and the USNE Power Energizer number one. Uh you sweep the Granite State Bull Ring Circuit, you go back to back to back. That's all in the rearview mirror now, Superdale. We're back up on the big tracks now, which, oh, by the way, in case nobody uh remembers, uh, you and uh Patrick are the defending champions for the last two years of the Thompson Wheel and Modified Tour race that's coming up this week. So what what is involved in making the transition from the little bull rings, the quarter miles, the third miles, etc., to the big tracks, like a 5/8 mile, a half mile, and sandwiched in between the magic mile at New Hampshire?
SPEAKER_09So I think just strategy is really the only thing that kind of changes our game plan or our outlook, right? Um you know, we've been fortunate, like you said, to win the last two August races there. Our our car runs really good there in August. Um you know, so our mindset is still the same as it was in February when we went to New Saberna. We go to every race wanting to win and preparing to win and trying when we even when we can't win, we want to try to make the best finish we can out of it. Um and sometimes strategy plays a lot of role in that, you know. So the two past Thompson August races, we sat on the pole at every lap, and then we started dead last, and yeah, we came back in one. So um, but that's all strategy driven. So you know, one of the things that I think work in our favor is Pat and I, and not so many words are on the same page of we're never in panic mode. Like okay, we're gonna roll with the punches and and adjust on our car as we need to, and uh and run our race, not somebody else's race. And I think that's that's what's got us where we are.
SPEAKER_08It takes a great amount of trust though, doesn't it? He and you and you and he.
SPEAKER_09Absolutely. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_08How do you build that?
SPEAKER_09Oh yeah, I don't know. That's the secret sauce right there. Like if somebody wanted the secret, you know, what what is the secret nut or bolt or magic nut and bolt? I think it's just that him and I hit it off really early with uh with trusting each other. He trusts what I do and I trust what he does. And and a lot of times, 97% of the time, they align. Very seldom does he come on the radio and say, I think we should have gone this way and not this way. So and a lot of times I can see the car, and I'll before he even says it, I'll ask him if what I'm seeing is what he's feeling. And um, and that's also paid huge dividends for us.
SPEAKER_08You know, he's been at this, as you have, for quite some time. But the thing that I notice is yes, he's always been one of the top runners at the Wheel of Modified tour, but he also was out there gathering intel, gathering experience, increasing his racecraft by driving on the super speedways, be it trucks, be it O'Reilly, whatever might come his way. When you see that in a driver, the desire to try and improve, not just in a specific discipline, Dale, but overall as a race car driver, does that allow you to do things maybe a wee bit differently?
SPEAKER_09It does. And sometimes him and I, like if if people could be a fly on the wall for some of the conversations that we have, like you know, the text message chain that goes back and forth with pictures, like we'll send pictures of Formula One cars and what they did in a Formula One race or an indie race or you know, uh an SECA race. Like, you know, did you see the way that this worked? And did you see the way that that worked? And and I think his love for racing and my love for racing um are really all we're really doing. So all the rest of it, the mechanical end of it is almost an oversight for us because we both we both study a lot of things, we study a lot of races, like him and I on no set schedule will watch. Like I watched Thompson, you know, icebreaker the other night. I watched last August's race, I watched the World Series race, you know, all over the past few nights. And he texted me and he said, Hey, you know, I just watched Thompson and did you see, you know, so and so did this, and did you see the reaction to that? And you know, this guy was leading and came in, took a tire, and made this adjustment and then fell off. And you know, so we kind of both see that and understand it, and I think that comes from his years of driving all the modified stuff, the ROC, the wheel and modified tour stuff, um, you know, and then going down south and driving all the national series stuff and just collecting all of that data and and mind power, right? And racecraft. And and that's the biggest thing is he never panics when the air cleaner broke, he broke off at White Mountain. Oh, yeah, he literally came on the radio. It was kind of funny because he literally came on the radio with a chuckle in his mouth and he said, Did you see that? You know, and I'm like, Yeah, bring it to me. We have an air cleaner in a stud ready to go. So um there's just never any panic. And and I've worked with a lot of guys and and help a lot of guys, you know, in weekly stuff. And sometimes you can hear the panic in their voice because they spent three days building up the race in their mind of how they want the race to go. And when it doesn't go that way, they they backpedal a little bit or or they think of they can't think of it on the fly. Um and that's one of the huge assets in Patrick is he never there's never panic. It's just in even when we have a bad race car, he just comes on the radio and he's like, Man, we just write this in the notes that we can't come back with this. Like this is probably where we needed to change it. Um But there's never panic.
SPEAKER_08Well, most fans may not realize this. The flow racing coverage is outstanding. But in the Wheel of Modified Tour, uh, as they say, there's a little known rule. While weekly tracks and Monaco modified and all the open modified series encourage the use of in-car cameras, NASCAR prohibits it. Does that limit you in terms of debrief looking and being able to see? Or is there enough coverage vis-a-vis the flow racing that you can have those text exchanges or those phone call exchanges with Patrick and come up and uh you know generate some ideas?
SPEAKER_09So yeah, the the use of in-car cameras are we do look at some of that. Um I'm I'm kind of uh I don't know, I'm not not that technologically advanced, right? So um a lot of times I I watch it on a 75-minute screen TV and I just know pause, I know rewind, and I know slow-mo, right? Okay, so with like the tri-track stuff, and you know, in fence line films does a great job putting in car things and and I like to watch hand placement and all that kind of stuff, but a lot of it is more like car attitude that I'm looking for, right? So um Patrick's hands, he knows where his hands want to be and where he wants them to be on the steering wheel. So to me, watching it can be cool, but it's not as important as seeing like an oncoming shot of a car and seeing the attitude of a front end or how the car lays down on the racetrack, um, you know, or a side shot and seeing if the car is hiked up in the back or if it's squatted down, making drive. You know, that kind of stuff to me is a little more um educational than than watching his hand placement, which at times is cool, like the new Smyrna stuff. Yeah, um Tom Capuano from Fence Line Films and I have a kind of a running joke. Like sometimes I'll put stuff in the car just to see if he sees it.
SPEAKER_08He does an outstanding job. He does it it's funny. Could did you ever imagine when you got started that you as a as a chief mechanic or Patrick as a driver, that during the week you'd be engaged in film study?
SPEAKER_09No, not at all. Although, you know, I have I have a younger guy here that works in the shop with me, um, TJ Tomasi, right? So he's uh 18 years old and he's he's been around me since or us really since he's been five or six years old. So um one of the things we laugh and joke about is like, how do you remember all of this information? Like you you have a conversation with some of the older guys or you know, that come in and they'll have old conversations about Evans and Jazambac and all of the greats, right? And and a lot of those stories I remember being a little kid, right? And being a part of them, but what's lost in our sport is like when I was a little kid, I came home every Friday and I read the Speedway scene from cover to cover, flipped it over, read it upside down, went back and forth. Like I used to love reading the classified in the Speedway scene and seeing who was selling a car and Rolly Limblad selling a kit. You know, we used to pr promote his kit cards back in the day. Um and we don't have that anymore. So now what we have is film study, and we have everything's on online, it's at the you know, in our pocket and our on our phone. Um so and the photographers are great, right? You know, like Tommy Morris and a bunch of the photographers that we in Canfield, like when we go to their races, they like I ask them like I really want shots of my car in the corner, middle of the corner, exiting the corner, like you know, if you can get me those. And every time we race, my phone is just texting because I'll get 30 or 40 pictures a race from the photographers, which is great because a lot of times you can't really notice or pick up on tire scrub or you know, fine fine-tuning the race car is a visual thing as much as it is just grabbing a wrench and going to town.
SPEAKER_08Well, listen, it's a real treat. You kicked off the modified minute season with episode one. Good luck as we hit the big tracks, especially to go back to back, and now back again at Thompson Speedway. And uh, you're the very best. Super Dale, you are, and I appreciate your visiting with us.
SPEAKER_09No problem. Thank you, Jack.
SPEAKER_08You know, sometimes a driver has to refocus after an early brush with disaster. That's the case for Glenn Reen's first lap two weeks ago. But he persevered and he finished on the podium, and now you get to ride with him.
SPEAKER_15I want to tell community, be ready for it.
SPEAKER_11Good job, but I know he gave you the best shot. You took your only opportunity, it just didn't work out. Gotta get it just a tick better for you.
SPEAKER_08Ron Stilk has been winning on the modified circuits. He's a two-time wheel and modified tour champion, and just this past weekend, he took the top honors at Menadnock Speedway in their open modified Dash for Cash. From go-karts to ground pounders, Ron Stilk just keeps winning. Let's visit with him on this week's Racer Spotlight.
SPEAKER_03Time 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_08Hey Ron, thanks for jumping in and uh being part of Modified Minute. Welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, thanks for having me on. I'm glad to be here.
SPEAKER_08All right, before we talk about your incredible modified racing career, I want to go as Chris Berman used to say on ESPN Sports Center, back, back, back, back, back to your karting days, where a very good authority informed me many years ago that you and Danica Patrick had some real throw down karting events against each other. Tell me the rest of the story.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, we did. Um there were a lot of great kids that ran go-karts back then. Um but we had a lot of good races. Danica, we were close with her family. It was uh amazing to see what she accomplished in auto racing. But um race carts with Justin Bonsenor, although we were a little different in age, we didn't really race against each other, but um a lot of great lot of really people that made it far in motorsports we got to race with all over the country. It was a lot of fun racing go-karts.
SPEAKER_08All right, let's move to the modified. Can you believe that you've been turning left for 23 years? No, I can't.
SPEAKER_10It's something it doesn't seem like it's been that. I mean, in some ways it seems like it's been that long, and other other times it uh seems like it's only been a few years, you know. You uh something I really enjoyed doing. I'm glad I've got the opportunity to do it for this long. It's it's been a lot of fun.
SPEAKER_08Where do you think, Ron, your racecraft has improved over those two decades?
SPEAKER_10Well, it's improved a lot. You know, when I first started racing SKs, um, Stafford, Waterford, Thompson. Yeah, all I had driven was a go-kart up to that point and got pretty good at ripping the right front off of uh a modified when I first started. Um, but you just pick up a lot as you go. Um luckily when I was younger, I got to race against a lot of great car drivers, Ted Christopher, Mike Stefanic, uh Tony Hersch and Hirschman, Jerry Marquis. The list goes on and on. But those guys were so talented and and so good at what they did, it was hard to uh not learn stuff from them.
SPEAKER_08So you then move up the ladder, and over the course of the last, I would say, ten years or so, you have absolutely dominated any tour-type modified event held at the Stafford Motor Speedway. What's your secret?
SPEAKER_10You know, I don't know. I I've always run good at Stafford. That was one of the places I I started at and and learned to race at. Um, but we've I went a long time um, you know, not having that kind of success there, too. Um I would say a big part of it's Filmoran. I mean, he had he had lots of success there with Doug Covey prior to me and and Todd Zeggetty prior to Doug. So um just knowing that the car is gonna be good every time we go. My car owners give us great equipment to be able to do this, and that's what it takes. It takes the whole team effort. You know, you gotta have the right equipment, the right people working on it that know what's going on, and then uh it makes the job as a driver a little bit easier.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, you talk about your ownership. Uh it it it is one of the more well-heeled and more committed to modified racing, HYR. And uh I've had Phil on this show, and he's mentioned that you you guys don't want for anything. If all of a sudden there's some new thingamajig, they say, well, go get it because we want to go to Victory Lane.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, they do. Um they're you know, they're in it full force. Uh we try not to, you know, just get everything, a bunch of stuff that we don't need, but um if we need something or lacking in some department, their their commitment, Tyler Hayden, Joey known, is uh it's been 100%.
SPEAKER_08All right, let's talk a little bit about this season. At the beginning of the season, you were gonna go back. You already have two uh championship wheel and modified tour trophies in your trophy case, but you and Phil and uh and the team were going to chase for the title, and then you decided to step away. I've got a new nickname for you because they can talk about big money Matt Hirschman. I think Ron Silk and this team, you're the bounty hunters. You just go where the big paychecks are.
SPEAKER_10Well, we've been trying to do it this year. Matt Hirschman's been doing it for a lot of years, so it's uh it's working good for us this year. We're having fun doing it. It's a little uh less stressful trying to chase like one championship. You know, that that kind of becomes all consuming, and uh it's nice to not be doing that.
SPEAKER_08You know, Ron, you I remember when you were just a kid at Stafford, and in fact, when you first signed up to be an apprentiter, uh a plumber's apprentice, you've had that blue-collar attitude, not just to racing, but what you've done with the business and where you're at as a businessman. How do you how do you get 26 hours out of a 24-hour day?
SPEAKER_10Well, I mean, I'm lucky at work, you know. It was it was a family business that I grew up uh, you know, being a part of and taking it over. Um it's all the same employees from when my father took it over. So have a good group of guys there and you know, having a guy like Phil Moran here in the race car shop, uh Bob Tullipani, who who is totally committed to this deal too. Um you know, I can kind of focus on both and and not get pulled too hard in one direction.
SPEAKER_08You know, it's it's fascinating to watch the chemistry between you and Phil. Uh and I I've always believed that that's the thing that most race fans sitting in the stands don't doesn't appreciate to the level that you, as a race car driver, does. He can complete your sentences before you even speak them.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, I mean that's what it takes. You gotta be on the same page. Uh, you know, I really enjoy working with Phil. Like I said, i the cars are Prepared flawlessly. Um, very I don't know that we've had very any m mechanical problems, but beyond that, just the speed that they have, um you know, it's it's it's a great position to be in. It's makes racing a lot of fun.
SPEAKER_08How much longer do you think you're gonna stay at it?
SPEAKER_10I don't know. I mean, I we've been fortunate to win a lot of races. I don't know when this I I have so much fun racing with this team. The owners are my friends. You know, I when this deal, whenever it does end, that'll probably be the end for me too.
SPEAKER_08When you survey the modified racing scene, and I asked Phil this earlier this season on the modified minute, there's an there seems to be an abundance of what I call tour type modified races. You've got the Wheel and Modified Tour, you've got the just what you want at Monadnock with the Dash for Cash and they're open modified, Stafford's open modified, the Monaco modified. It's there's such an abundance of them. Are there too many?
SPEAKER_10I would say probably there are too many. I think it stops the big draw from any one series getting it. Um you know, when I first started racing, it was if you wanted to race a tour modified, you ran uh wheeling modified tour. I I know there's a Riverside Park and Riverhead. Not many, there weren't many other options outside of the tour. So um I think it's good to have options. People can do what they want and and go race where they want closer to home, but it does stop. The days of 50 cars at one race are pretty much over. There's too many options.
SPEAKER_08Um you and Thompson, maybe not as his title of affair as it's stabbed, but you do like the big track.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, I mean Thompson's been great for me. Um I've won like, I think, nine tour races at Thompson, so it's it's been a good one for me, but that was one we were planning on going back to, but we're actually not gonna go on Wednesday. Uh I know we're on the entry list, but we won't be there Wednesday. We'll be at Star on Saturday for the Tri-Track race.
SPEAKER_08Oh, okay. News break right here. How many more championships do you want to chase?
SPEAKER_10I don't know that I'm too concerned with uh chasing anymore. Like I said earlier, Chasing championships is is fun, but it it it brings a different level of stress to the season. Um it's much more fun to go try and just win the race and not think about points. Um I mean I'd love to win another one, but I don't know that that's like uh uh a goal for me at this point.
SPEAKER_08Well let's see, you've got a white master's coat from Stafford. Down south at the Smart Modified Tour, you were given a crown, a robe, and and a scepter as the king of the modified down there. You've got some pretty unusual hardware up there on the shelf behind you.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, um it's been a good year between uh um King of the Modified. That was a great race. It was fun. South Boston's a great racetrack. It's fun to go race with smart. Um I got two of those white jackets now, so I'm getting a uh closet full of them, hopefully. But yeah, it's been a it's been a good year, and and uh definitely have a lot of cool trophies and hardware to show for it.
SPEAKER_08Ron, good luck to you in the future, and uh we appreciate you uh joining us here tonight on the Modified Minute.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, it's great being on. Thank you.
SPEAKER_08It seems as if Robert Bloxon III has been all over this episode. What with his double wins over the weekend and his hot dog of the week award. So we might as well not stop there. We sat him down in the hot seat for this week's either or segment.
SPEAKER_03It'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. This week it's a special foods edition.
SPEAKER_08Joining me is Robert Bloxham III. He has agreed to sit down to either or the special foods edition. Here's how it goes, Robert. I'm gonna give you two choices. You pick one, and if you want, give me the reason why. First up, either Dairy Queen or Friendlies.
SPEAKER_12Definitely Dairy Queen. I just grew up with it, so I'm used to it, and I don't like change, so dairy queen. Alright, moving on. Either ribs or wings. Wings all day long. Hot, mild, Chernobyl. Uh I like I like all kinds. Uh I'm not afraid of spice, but I'm not afraid of flavor, so we we dabble in different things, so.
SPEAKER_08Alright. How about in the hamburg department? Big Mac or a Whopper?
SPEAKER_12Um, I actually had my big my first Big Mac this year, so um, but I'd I'd have to go with a whopper.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_08Going a little more high class, alright? Going down to the steak department. Texas Roadhouse or the Outback Steakhouse?
SPEAKER_12Uh Texas Roadhouse. It's always a staple with me and my friends. We go there all the time, so yeah, Texas Roadhouse.
SPEAKER_08Well, maybe by endorsing it, maybe they'll send you a gift certificate. You never know, right? Somebody's gotta pay for this racing too, so. Amen. And finally, just a straight-up milkshake or a Wendy's frosty.
SPEAKER_12Milkshake for sure. Really? Yeah, I I don't know, that's a hard one because I I grew up uh uh you know being a little poor, so me and my friends always had the free frosty keychains. So we were always we were we were at uh Wendy's getting free frosties all the time. So I might have I might have had too many of them before I'm tired of them now.
SPEAKER_08Okay. Well, I appreciate your visiting with us and participating in the special food edition of Either Or. Awesome, thank you. And that's a wrap for this week's Modified Minute. A big thank you to Anthony Flannery, Dale Hedgequist, and Ron Silk for joining us and sharing their stories and their passion for modified racing. If you enjoyed this episode, do us a favor, hit that subscribe button. We're working hard to grow Modified Minute as a channel, and every subscriber helps us bring you more interviews, more stories, more racing, and more of the people who make modified racing so special. And don't just subscribe, share the show, send an episode to a modified fan, a crew member, a driver, or somebody who needs a little more modified racing in their life. You can find the modified minute right here on YouTube, on Facebook, and on your favorite podcast platforms. I'm Jack Aroot. Thanks so much for watching, thanks for listening, and thanks for supporting the Modified Minute. We'll see you next time, and until then, keep the RPMs up on that modified so we can pound the ground. So long, everybody.
SPEAKER_03This has been the modified minute. Modified Minute has been brought to you by Quadell Communications, the official track side radio supplier for the Mod Squad by 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 Hubble Brothers Quality Made. 100% quality since 1933. By Riverhead Buildings Club. Build smarter. Build better. By Mr. River Plumbing. Building X2 1925.