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MODIFIED MINUTE
EPISODE 20 - PERSEVERANCE: WHEN GIVING UP IS NOT AN OPTION
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This week on The Modified Minute, we look at three incredible stories of perseverance—and how refusing to quit can lead to success.
🏁 Sami Anderson fought through a devastating highway accident that left her unable to walk, determined to return to her SK Light Modified and continue her family’s racing legacy.
🏁 Ed Puleo spent countless late nights searching for the edge that would help his son JP become a winner—and together, their family effort paid off.
🏁 Geoff Bodine turned a record-setting 55 NASCAR Modified wins in 1978 into motivation when his Daytona 500 dream seemed out of reach. He never quit—and eventually won the Daytona 500 and became a NASCAR Cup star.
Three stories. One powerful message: NEVER GIVE UP.
👉 Watch this week’s episode of The Modified Minute!
#ModifiedMinute #ModifiedRacing #NASCARModified #SKModified #SKLightModified #SamiAnderson #EdPuleo #JPPuleo #GeoffBodine #NASCAR #Racing #ShortTrackRacing #DirtToDaytona #NeverGiveUp #Perseverance #RacingFamily #Motorsports #NewEnglandRacing
We're out this week on the modified minute.
SPEAKER_16The act of the physical therapy itself, as well as um the chiropractor and just regular doctor's appointments. The actual appointments themselves, not a thing about them felt motivating. Um and it's especially difficult when they're measuring, okay, we're gonna see how far you could bend this week, and you know, can you can you move just a little bit more?
SPEAKER_17And you know, his stuff didn't take a lot of time, you know, compared to my stuff. But as he started getting more serious, then you know, I I found myself like really torn because I didn't want to miss something on his car or cart or whatever he was racing because I was working on my car. Um, and so I had a spotter at the time, Chuck Madigan. Um, and we were talking one day, and I was telling him about one of JP's races, and I was telling him about um it was a wild thing race that JP almost won, and I was I was so excited talking about this race and what a job he did. And Chuck looked at me, no mind you was my spotter, and he said, you know, I wish you had that much excitement when you talk about your own racing as as you you do when you talk about JP's racing.
SPEAKER_21Right away, I said, This is where I want to be. This is what I want to do. And you know, we won all those races in '78, and I didn't get the phone call. I thought Richard Petty, oh, he was old, he's gonna retire. Nobody called.
SPEAKER_10All that. Along with Hot Dog of the Week and Throttle Down. 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. They are open-wheeled race cars, flung low to the ground and ready to rumble. 100% quality since 1933. Build smarter, build better, by Mr. Ruder Fleming. Expert Fleming contractors, you can trust by SteinPro, exceeding your expectations. And by Ferguson Contractors, building excellence since 1925. Here's Jack.
SPEAKER_03Welcome to another episode of the Modified Minute. Now, this week, we take a look at perseverance and how it can result in success. For Sammy Anderson, it was perseverance that drove her to rebound from a terrible highway accident that left her unable to walk. Through her very painful recovery, Sammy focused on returning to her SK Lite modified and continuing the Anderson family racing legacy. Fred Julio, perseverance was the key to his son's rise in the modified ranks. Late nights and hours looking for the edge that would make his son JP a winner, made this a family affair and a winning one that provides inspiration. In 1978, Jeff Podine won 55 NASCAR modified events. It's a record that still stands to this day. His dream was to race in the Daytona 500, but no one called after that historic performance. But Podine persevered and kept racing and winning modified races. He eventually did realize his dream and did win the Daytona 500 and became a superstar on NASCAR's cup level. All three are here on this episode, and all three have compelling stories to tell. But before we get to them, we need to get you up to speed.
SPEAKER_10Time to get you up to speed in the modified world. Up to speed is brought to you by Mid-State Site Development. Mid-State, safe time, knowledge and innovation.
SPEAKER_03Weekend action kicked off with the time for a double crowd at Dapper. A heavy rain delayed the program to force a change in the event world. So first up, the SK5 deck, one of the richest SK modified races to be.
SPEAKER_02Here they come on turn number four. They fire the engines wheel up to speed here at Stafford. File him on turn number one. Side by side and wheel to wheel, it is the 10 of Reed in command.
SPEAKER_07Reed has to lead Christopher in second, but he is not gonna waste any time going for the wheel. Green throws the block over, corrects, and goes head on into the wall on the first black of the three split. Our bullshitter crashes out of the race. On the turn three, we have a stack up in the middle of the pack.
SPEAKER_18You got a guy that's only good at winning races by token tire. That clears himself, going down in a three, drives in the tide at 57, drives into my right front, knocks us into the weeds, we got sideways, and everybody else is stacked into there, and I got stuffed in his fence. Uh, you know, they call Tato and uh, you know, a nice guy, but he ain't nothing nice and not. I joke me to show my displeasure when I get my hands on him after the race.
SPEAKER_02Anthony Bellows has a rocket, and he is not afraid of showing the powerhouse there, because he's running on rails, setting it second.
SPEAKER_07Close pole in turn one, flamia and pearls make contact right for the polar and Christopher. Thankfully, nothing worse happened there. Christopher's able to get my both bullets, lambia on the outside.
SPEAKER_02White flag is out, one lap to go.
SPEAKER_07Mike Christopher Jr. leads the way, and he has been dominant with the start. A close ball with the first lap of play three, but then it has been smooth sailing at 82 car with two turns to go before another SK5K.
SPEAKER_13Started on the front row, will lead all 100 laps in route to his second win in the Napa SK5K off of turn number four. Michael Christopher Jr. takes the checkered flag and the win here tonight.
SPEAKER_12Man, we deserve this. Uh uh, we've been fast all year and just, you know, things just haven't gone our way. Last week we had the fastest car in practice, fastest car in the heat race, and and it gets rained out. And you know, we haven't run a full schedule this season, haven't won yet, so I just feel like things are just not really going our way, but it did tonight.
SPEAKER_03With the checkered flag on the SK5K, the Stein Pro Triple Crown winner stood in the spotlight.
SPEAKER_06And it's a third place triple crown 2026 champion for Keith Rocco. Keith, congratulations. Great runs, all three legs of this triple crown.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, this was uh this was great, you know. Uh much rather be in victory lane, but uh doing the triple crown, I gotta thank SteinPro. They got one heck of a business and one heck of an operation. I appreciate them doing this, and uh, man, that's one heck of a trophy, but then it was time for the 20 lap SK Light made event.
SPEAKER_13So the start of the 20 Lap SK Light feature event, we are underway, and it's R. Carey that gets the dump to go to turn one for the first time. To go, here comes Fritz Matthews to the inside of the sandwich for second Matthews trying to take advantage of that good track position to start.
SPEAKER_07He pulls even with a full bar to bar that second spot behind him and Tim Handers inside of our carry, two by two from second on back.
SPEAKER_02Meanwhile, back into the runner-up spot. Here comes Matthews, he'll put the pressure on Matt Brewer. They cost the strife, but it's still brewer, like it just down to one.
SPEAKER_07Matthews had a really good three and four, got by to take second and then got under Brewer, and he's gonna complete the pass coming off of two. Matthews takes the lead with Brewer jumping him, going into three.
SPEAKER_03But a heavy box settled in on lap 10, and the race was declared official, with Chris Matthews being the winner.
SPEAKER_14Yeah, the car was great, uh, it just kept getting better. Unfortunately, we didn't get to finish the thing out, but uh uh we had a real quick start spot, which obviously that means everything here. Uh but it was just fun.
SPEAKER_03Meanwhile at Riverhead, their modified racing program was interrupted while the great modified were qualified.
SPEAKER_10Oh, there it's right on the crackers, right?
SPEAKER_03Saturday night, it was Todd Owen scoring his first win of the team at the Waterfront Depot, which came after his horse battle with Anthony Planner. Jonathan Julio scored another podium finish in the third spot. Also, on Saturday, the Monaco modified tri trackers with back in action on Speedway for the first of the two appearances of the tour at the cement power. Ron Dilk brought the field to three, but it came down to the final five laps of the race. Jonathan McKennedy started deep in the field, but put on a late race charge and gone fast, deep and optic for the league with just two laps to go. Coptic held on for a second, and Ron Tilk ended the 125 lapper, finishing in third.
SPEAKER_04We've got really fast cars everywhere, just honestly just some bad luck. I mean, Tom suddenly blew a transmission coming up the green. Um race to go there with the staff green, uh piece of debris and the yellow one's got all the funny spectrum to both meet up. So yeah, it's good to get the monkey back up. Uh today was just uh a real up and down day, but we had a strategy, we stuck with it. Um with it about sixty to go and it was still back around eighteenth or twentieth, and um we drove through the field and chased down the top three cars with about five to go and was able to get by himself. So now you are true.
SPEAKER_03If you recall back on episode 17 when Dan Avery was on our crew call segment, he advocated for NASCAR or indie car drivers to take a turn behind the wheel of a modified somebody like from the cup series or whatever, maybe you know, come in and give it a shot and just have a little fun with it.
SPEAKER_20Or he even uh even the indie car series, right? Well, let me interrupt you.
SPEAKER_03Let me interrupt because uh I have been working on a deal with my good friend Tony Canon, the 2013 Indy 500 champion, and it's now that he's so deeply immersed as the team principal at McLaren, his available days are quite limited. But uh he's gonna come to Stafford over the course of the next two years, and he's going to drive an SK modified. Well, we have an update on that story.
SPEAKER_19Uh message for everyone at Stafford Speedway. I'll try to make the race at some point. Uh Jack and his family uh organized the car and everything, but obviously my duties with uh Aaron McLaren uh, you know, this is the busiest time of the year for five races in a row, so uh hopefully I'll make it. One day, I promise, I'll make it. Thank you guys. Stay tuned.
SPEAKER_03So, folks, stay tuned. You will see TK in an SK. With all the action this past weekend, there's been some changes to the track series standings, so let's take a look at them. With Ronnie Williams falling to second and Ron Silk in third. Next up for the series is September 6th at the Waterford Speedbowl. The Wheel of Modified Tours back in action at the New Hampshire Speedway, and Patrick Emmerlin hope to maintain his lead over Austin Bears and Steven Tobson. For the smart modified tours, Danny Bone, Ryan Newman, and Gabe Crumb occupy the top spots. Thompson Speedway standing. Show Kevin Davis atop the SK Lights Division, with Austin Goff in second and R.J. Marcot in third. Keith Rocco sits atop the track Sinoko SK Modified Standing, followed by Todd Owen and Danny Cate. At the Stafford Speedway, their SK Light standings show Nick Ann Glaze on top, while Tyler Barry is just 26 points bigger. In the SK Modified, it shows Keith Rocco with a sizable lead over defending track champion Jonathan Julio with Todd Owen sitting in third. With the rain out at Riverhead Raceway, their great modified standings remain unchanged with Michael Byrne enjoying a seven-point lead. In the tour type standings, it's John Beatty Jr. sitting atop the standings with a ten-point lead. Waterford's SK lights were idle last weekend, so Robert Fox in the third hold on to the top spot, followed by Kevin Cormier and Kevin Davis. And finally, the Tracks SK standings show Anthony Flanner holding a nine-point lead over this past weekend's winner, Todd Owen. Nicholas Hubble is in third. Most people think that the 1970s was the golden age of modified racing. The cars were bound by limited rules that allowed teams to tinker and create unique and very fast designs. Legends like Richie Evans, Bugsy Stevens, Ron Bouchard, Jerry Cook, Maynard Troyer, Ray Hendrix, Satch Worley, and Eddie Flemkey filled the fields of the Northeast short tracks. But the one driver that took them all on and set a record of 55 wins in just one year was Jeff Bodine. He's here with me now on this week's Racer Spotlight. Well, Jeff, it's been more than a minute. It's good to see you. You're looking good.
SPEAKER_21Well, thanks. You're looking good too. It just seems like uh we were at Stafford Speedway just last uh Saturday night.
SPEAKER_03You know, it's well documented and it's been it's been reported over and over and over again. Your incredible accomplishments at the upper levels and and specifically with Hendrix Motorsports and your your cup career. I want to go back and talk a lot about what got you there. Let me take you back to Shimung Speedrome that your family owned and built and operated. And as I understand it, your very first modified ride there, I didn't know this was in a coop.
SPEAKER_21Yeah, yeah, it was. And uh actually I I was a friend of my uncle's and I became his great friend of the week of my car. And then uh he came the cane in the cane, uh local uh car owner. We drove a few races every year, and then the final year he was the team owner.
SPEAKER_03And you had some terrific success, specifically in the race of champions, but it wasn't until you showed up with that Plymouth Valiant at what I called the epicenter of modified racing back then, and that was the Stafford Speedway, where everybody, every star convened, and you showed up as the new kid on the block. Tell me how you were greeted.
SPEAKER_21Not very well. You know, that car was way ahead of its time, it had an open two rear axle way offset. The engine was down on the ground, had this small quartermaster clutch so you can lower down and all the four-wheel independent, uh I mean rollovers, power steering, you name it, it had it. What I learned uh I give God all the credit for all that I've done and learned all the good stuff. I take credit for bad. But he gave me this talent to design and build things to make them better. And uh we had rules, but you can go around the rules and uh find ways to make it better, and that's what we did. And that car is way ahead of his time. People uh we went there and they were booing booing and I think move loud enough to move power! The more you boo, the faster I go! They move. We had a lot of fun with the fans there.
SPEAKER_03But then things changed. When uh entering into your life was uh Dick Armstrong, who owned new style jewelry, and his group of rowdy crew members. Tell me how you got the call to take over the drive in the number one, the big red machine.
SPEAKER_21We're at uh North Carolina, met uh Metropolitan racetrack north of North of the Streetway, turn around. And my modified broke and I was talking with Ray Henrik, who was driving for Jake back then, and Ray was a great, great, great driver. And he said, hey, you know, you need to talk to Jake. He wants to run all these races, and I don't want to run all the races, I live down in Virginia. So I went over and he introduced me to Jake, and that's how the introduction started. And uh we formed a deal. I borrowed I this is true, I brought Jackie Fresher, Fresher back in those days, but a trailer, and from Shimon to uh Ellen has I told uh 24 or 5 trailer that my wife Kathy and my one son that Matthew lived in for a while, and that's how the relationship started with uh with Derek. Trailer lived in his backyard, and the rest is history is to say Well, it wasn't historic union.
SPEAKER_03You won all kinds of races. But the one thing that I remember is that one year when you went on a tear over fifty races, you guys combined to win. How do you get on a roll like that?
SPEAKER_21Well, 1978, yeah, that's uh I'm I'm fortunate enough to be the only NASCAR winning driver in one year, 55 races, no other NASCAR. They're all NASCAR races. 84 stars. And Billy Taylor was my crew chief. And we just worked our tails off, and Randy. Uh Dick's son-in-law helped us. Uh we just in Hop Harrington. He was in the shop, he helped build the cars. Uh we just built a great car and had a great setup, and uh boy, we just cleaned up our jack tan engines.
SPEAKER_03It was a special time for you because you were making a national name that eventually would result in you going down south. Did you ever when you were enjoying all of this, I guess, uh publicity and all of these wins, uh what were did you begin to think about, look, I'm enjoying this, I'm making good I'm making good bank, but what I ultimately want to do is go cup racing.
SPEAKER_21Ray drove it uh several races and then when I got full time. Uh we went to Caladega, our first race together. Um And uh right away I said, This is where I want to be. This is what I want to do. And you know, we won all those races in '78, and I didn't get the phone call. I thought Richard Petty, he was old, he's gonna return. Nobody called me. We ever had two Troyer cars, and he asked me to uh put three links and scratch in it, and the Troyer usually switched. So I did that, and we took we had a big block and a small block car. We took the big block to test it at C Cong. And everybody laughed when we pulled in with this big block modified on a little boring track. I kicked your butts, and so I put it on a small block car, so then we tested it, we won with that. And he said, Well, pick what car you want. I said, No, no. Sash Woolley, a great friend of mine, was driving part-time for him. I said, No, that's Sash. The car he wants, and I'll take the other one. He picked a small black guy and a big black guy. We won every race we were in with that car, just tremendous.
SPEAKER_03Modified racing was always near and dear to your heart. Uh, I know how you feel because you're a true modified racer. So take me back to last year when uh Superdale Hedgequist decided, along with Patrick Emmerling, to uh come out with a tribute car. You were up there and they had refurbished your original new style jewelry, big red, and then they they start in the back of the pack. Okay, for the Thompson 150, and they looked like Jeff Bodine coming to the front, and they eventually won.
SPEAKER_11It's painted like the big red machine, Dick Armstrong, and Jeff Bodine that made it famous. Tonight, history in the making 750th race for the NASCAR Wheeling Modified Tour. And as he guides the car through turns three and four, that race number 750 is gonna go to Patrick Emmerling. He wins tonight at Thompson Speedway.
SPEAKER_21Yeah. Yeah, you know, that car uh he called me up and he probably from Bob Cunio, who he, Bobby V and I, we built that car together, Chief Gardy, and you know that was an awesome piece of Bodon chassis, we'll call it. Kind of like the Bodon Bob says, Bodon chassis modified. And he found out I had that car. And uh it was it was restored, but not a hundred percent. And he came down, he made a deal on the phone, he came down and bought it. Before he left, I gave him all the grandfather clocks that I had left that I won with that car, all the trophies that I won with that car, went with the car. He couldn't believe it. And I didn't know the guy. I really didn't know him. I didn't call him, I should have called, but I didn't ask who he was, but he turned out to be a great, great man, loved racing, loved race cars, and Bill made that a tribute car for uh Thompson, which is really great. And I got to drive the original car at a case line. It was so cool. We could talk for hours about Captain Springs, Thompson, Westbrook, you name it, all those tracks, and all the modified days, Martinville, and even Daytona we ran modified. So yeah, that was but that was another thing that got me. I want to be here, I want to do this. You know, it was way before it happened, but uh that that put the seed in me. I said, ah, I want to do this for a living. We used to go down there and watch the races in weartime when I was just a little kid, my sister and I and our parents, and on the way home, I'd always say, Ah, my dad, I'm going down to Daytona, I'm gonna race and win that race against my hero, Richard Petty, and win at 500. And of course, they all laughed. It took us two days to drive from Daytona to Chamong, New York back in those days. But it happened, and thank God it's uh a lot of hard work. We went a lot of races modifiers, and we did a lot of really neat things, but man, I'll tell you, we were 24-7. You know, I don't think I've ever been in a clubhouse at Stafford Springs because after the race, all the other guys went up there, right? To have a brewski and talk and da-da-da. I hauled my butt home and worked out of my car to get it ready the next night so I could win again. And that's how we one reason we run 78 races, we didn't party after the races. Uh, I missed that, but I'm glad I did it the way I did it.
SPEAKER_03Well, we're glad you did too, and I'm especially honored to have you here on the modified minute. Be well, my friend.
SPEAKER_21Jackie, I want to come up there and do an autograph thing at Stafford Springs. Come on, you got my number now.
SPEAKER_03I got your number. I'll go talk to the boys. Okay. Yep. Thanks, Jeff.
SPEAKER_10It'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_03Anthony Bello was the mainstay of the Northwest modified circuit until he decided to move to North Carolina in hopes of pursuing his dream of a career in motorsport. He returned to Stafford Friday night behind the wheel of an SK modifier. He had to start at the back of the field because he was not at the track the previous week when the starting grid was determined. With 100 laps in the event, he set about meticulously moving through the field.
SPEAKER_07Anthony Bellow just made a pass on the 179 to beat the Deroster Bellows on the move, guys. He started way back at the very back of the field because he wasn't here last week.
SPEAKER_13Anthony Bellow, car number 47, now up to the fourth spot.
SPEAKER_03With 20 laps left, he was firmly in second place. Michael Christopher smoked the field, leaving every lap of the SK5K. But when they dropped that checkered flag, Bellow's homecoming earned him a well-deserved second place pinnacle.
SPEAKER_01Listen, this team's amazing. Timmy Jordan and the crew, man, you know, just it's great when we can just show up and run good, you know, and especially coming from the back. That must have been fun for all you guys in the stands tonight.
SPEAKER_03By the accomplishment, Anthony, you have earned this week's Hot Dog of the Week Award. For the Pulios, modified racing is a family affair. It started with Ed wheeling his very own Modified, but when his son JP expressed an interest in a driving career, Ed stepped out of the ride and charted his son's rise up the racing ladder. He did it from the pits, where with the support of their owner Vinny Beadle, they oversaw JP's rise to one of the top rungs of the SK modified scene. Let's meet Ed Puglio in this week's Modified Minute Crew Call.
SPEAKER_10It's Crew Call. Brought to you by Wattell Communications, your Northeast trackside dealer for radios and repairs.
SPEAKER_03All year, you have ridden with the drivers inside their cockpit and saw what they saw. This week, however, we mounted the camera on the right side Nerf Bar to get an up close look at the suspension of Keith Rocco's 09 SK modified at the Waterford Speedbowl.
SPEAKER_10Ride on the right side Nerf bar of Keith Rocco at Waterford Speedbowl and watch the front suspension. 35 laughs there, buddy. Good luck.
SPEAKER_08Green green green.
SPEAKER_09No point. Great job, drivers. Great job. Good job. Good job, Brian. Good job, guys.
SPEAKER_00That's what it's all about. I'll give it up.
SPEAKER_03There are some victories in racing that are about a lot more than a trophy. They're about perseverance. They're about getting knocked down and getting back up and refusing to give up on a dream. And that's exactly what makes Sammy Anderson's story so special. She's our guest on this week's SK Soundings. This is SK Soundings.
SPEAKER_10Brought to you by Wheelers Auto Services, the finest and top-level service of Premier Automobile makes and models, specializing in European, Japanese, and domestic vehicles.
SPEAKER_03Well, Sammy, it's so great of you to join us here on the Modified Minute. Welcome.
SPEAKER_16Thank you very much for having me.
SPEAKER_03All right. There is no question in my mind when you look at racing legacies and specifically your racing legacy, it's loaded both on your father's side and on your mother's side as well. Was there ever any doubt that you were going to get behind the wheel of a race car?
SPEAKER_16I began racing at Stafford in 2018 in the street stock division. And a lot of my sponsors who helped me in 2018, they're still with me to this day. I never mastered the street stocks, so it was an enormous jump for me. Um I guess, in a way, you know, kind of like pushing somebody into the deep end. Um, we kind of just went into it knowing that hey, this is probably not gonna go very good for a little while, and we're just gonna have to figure it out. Um looking back at it, there's things that took me longer to figure out than others. Uh throttle control for sure was something that I mean, even to this day, sometimes I stop I struggle with it. Um, I grew up in pageants, I grew up in dance class, uh, I grew up as a ballerina on my tippy toes. So getting behind a race car. Um I certainly I didn't even drive in the snow until after I began racing at Stafford because my mom would not let me. So driving-wise, my ability was basically at a zero uh when I first began racing. And I'm extremely grateful for my dad, my family, all of my crew guys, which by the way, most of my crew guys they were on my dad's crew in the early 2000s, and now over 20 years later, they're still with us. So that's incredible. Yes. Um, but yes, my dad, my crew guys, Corey, uh, there's a lot of people who've helped me greatly, and I'm excited to learn even more.
SPEAKER_03What do you think you want to learn next?
SPEAKER_16I would like to learn in a car with more horsepower, of course. Um, I really would love to move up in divisions. That's something that I really wanted to do this year. In 2025, uh, in August of 2025, I was involved in a motor vehicle accident on 384, and that certainly set back a lot of the goals that we had in mind for the offseason of 2025 going into this year 2026. Um, I wasn't even sure if I was gonna get back in a car again. So we had to pivot for sure, and um even my first lapse back at Stafford, it was the day before the Stafford open test. We went to a private test with the um with the Hummel team, and I was very surprised at how impacted my hand-eye coordination was uh getting back into the race car just because I pretty much was stuck in slow-mo for months uh from the motor vehicle accident. So that was the the most that I had moved literally um since the accident. So I I was very shocked like the first two laps of me going wide open, um, everything felt super delayed. Like I knew that I was going into the corner, but I couldn't see it until I was halfway into the corner. It was very, very, very strange. But it after two laps of it, it completely went away. Um and I didn't lift at all. And I was like, okay, we're either gonna figure this out or or we're not, and the only way to do that is is just to go for it.
SPEAKER_03Well, let's go back uh to when you were taken out of the car uh and the rehab that you went through in the winter. Um how motivating was it? Because I've been told that as as painful as the rehab was, the one motivation was you were going to make it back to race in the spring sizzler. Tell me a little bit about that.
SPEAKER_16So I would say that the the act of the physical therapy itself, as well as um the chiropractor and just regular doctor's appointments, the the actual appointments themselves, not a thing about them felt motivating. Um and it's especially difficult when they're measuring, okay, we're gonna see how far you could bend this week, and you know, can you can you move just a little bit more? And there's the doctors are excited because I can move just that much more. And I'm in my head thinking, I grew up in dance class, like I normally can do way beyond this. Um so it it was extremely difficult, and they definitely the doctors were trying to help me refrain from that mindset, and they were saying, Hey, like you're you're actually gonna hurt your progress if if that's the mindset that you have going into this. Um and they they certainly they kicked my butt a little bit when it came to that and said, you know, you need to you need to readjust how how you're looking at this because you have to just take the baby steps, um, no matter how painful and slow it feels. Um but for sure the spring sizzler was the only thing that I could think of during that time. And I so terribly wanted to win the spring sizzler. Like that was something that I wanted to do so badly. And if you go back and watch the duel at the Spring Sizzler, I was about three or four tenths off, and I don't think I've ever blocked so bad in my life. I was in the lead, and I was just like, I have a shot to actually make this happen. And I had a blast racing Dalton McCarthy that race, and you know, we were laughing afterwards because I I was teasing him saying, Hey, it almost took you 20 laps, well, you finally figured out what I was doing. So that was a really fun race, but I I just I terribly wanted to win the very first race back at at Stafford, even if it was uh a duel, a heat race, whatever it was.
SPEAKER_03Well, a little bit later uh after April, you did get back in the winner's circle at your other home race track Waterford Speedbowl. Yes. So I would have to think when you when you took that checkered flag, it made you even more motivated to finally check the box at Stafford.
SPEAKER_16Yes, yes, for sure. Um I've I've been racing at Stafford for years now and trying to have a win at Stafford for a very long time, and I can finally say that we checked that box off. Um some sometimes it felt like maybe we just aren't going to figure it out here. Maybe it's just not meant to be. Um and we definitely shifted our mindset. I would say that the Waterford win certainly helped with that, um, just because it was something that a lot of people in racing, as well as on social media and within I I guess like my circle. Um a lot of people were saying, you know, we don't think that she should be back in race car. This isn't this isn't how it's supposed to be. Um, so to finally have that win at Waterford certainly felt like it propelled us into the Stafford win, I would say.
SPEAKER_07Green flag is out, we are underway, and it's Sammy Anderson with the jump taking the lead in the first turn.
SPEAKER_02Sammy Anderson turning in the run of her career, down into turn number three. Sammy Anderson has dreamt of this moment, she's given it a roll, and Sammy Anderson will be in Napa Victory Lane here at Stafford.
SPEAKER_03You started on the pole, you led every lap, and when you came into Victory Lane, do you even remember anything about it?
SPEAKER_16I remember every single stitch of that. There's not a single thing about that particular race. I mean, even from it who exactly I pulled up to before that race when you go out back to lineup. I I could almost recite every car in the order in which you know you you get into your position and then you go out back and uh the race itself and the first face that I saw after the race um of course was in the on the back stretch when they were doing the tech for the ride height, um and they were laughing at me because I went the wrong way. So um everything about that. I that's a very, very, very good memory at Stafford that I'll cherish.
SPEAKER_03Let me tell you, let me tell you, it's a golden moment in Stafford history as well. And we all celebrated it, we continue to celebrate it, but we want more. Exactly. We want more. Yes, we hope that before the end of the season you taste victory lane again. And if not, well, then let's take the offseason and decide whether you go you go up a notch or you stay in the SK lights. I will tell you one thing. You're one of the most popular drivers out there, you're affable, you have you have time for everybody. Always have a smile on your face, and we need more people like you, and that will ensure that modified racing will continue to grow generation after generation. Thanks so much for being with me today.
SPEAKER_16Thank you very much for having me.
SPEAKER_03Well, it's Kurt Brainerd's turn to take a swing at our weekly either or, so let's get to it.
SPEAKER_10Either or where our guest must choose one or the other. Brought to you by Mr. Rooter Plumbing, expert plumbing contractors you can trust.
SPEAKER_03Alright, Kurt, it's your turn in the hot seat. We call it either or, where you get to choose between two choices. Here we go. First, either or tacos or burritos.
SPEAKER_05All Mexicans was the same.
SPEAKER_03Burritos. Okay. An Apple Watch or just a plain old wristwatch. Plain old wristwatch. I like the way you think. Paddle shift or a conventional shifter on the floor.
SPEAKER_05Come on. Shifter on the floor.
SPEAKER_03See, you're old school. I love it. I love it. You're just like me. I'm answering the questions the same way. Outside of the Mexican side, because I do like Mexican. Um hardtop or convertible.
SPEAKER_05Hardtop.
SPEAKER_03I disagree with you. I I love I love convertibles.
SPEAKER_05Well, they have their advantages, but you know, it's like I guess I like the feel of a hardtop. You know, nice solid.
SPEAKER_03Okay, yeah. And you don't have to worry about the the wind messing up your hair. Oh, you're like me. You don't have to worry about that.
SPEAKER_05That's why I have the hat on.
SPEAKER_03And finally, for guys our age, a rocker or a recliner?
SPEAKER_05Is there a right answer there? Uh I'll go with recliner. That sounds younger.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it does. Alright, Kurt, we wish you the very best, and I appreciate you participating in our weekly either or. Okay, thank you. Well, that's a lid on this week's show. My thanks goes out to my guests, Ed Puglio, Sammy Anderson, and Jeff Bodine. I think that you will agree that each of their stories, while unique, shared the common threads of passion and perseverance. Please make sure that you subscribe to the show so that we can continue to grow its audience as we all share a passion for modified racing, and that passion fuels this show. So until next week, I'm Jack Arut. Thanks for joining me here on the Modified Minute.
SPEAKER_07Excel Xtreme.
SPEAKER_10This 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 Psych Development, safety, knowledge, and innovation. By Wheelers Auto Services. The finest in top-level service of premier automobile makes and models. By Hummel Brothers Quality Mead. 100% quality since 1933. By Riverhead Building Supply. Build smarter. Build better. By Mr. Rooter Plumbing. Expert plumbing contractors you can trust. By DesignPro. Exceeding your expectations. And by Ferguson Contractors. Building excellent since 1925. Video provided by NASCAR. Monaco Tri-Traft. Email us with your comment at Twitter. Our email address is modifiedminute at mail.com before you can install just at modified minutes. Video versions of the modified minutes are available on YouTube and Facebook. Be sure to subscribe to us and grow the show. I'm Guy Abraham. We will see you again next week for another episode of The Modified Minute.