Historic return to Stafford Speedway awaits the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

Historic return to Stafford Speedway awaits the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

August 26, 2027

By Adam Fenwick

For the NASCAR Wire Service

For the first time since 2021, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is returning to historic Stafford Speedway this Friday night for the running of the GAF 150 (8:45 p.m. ET on FloRacing and the NASCAR Channel).

Located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, Stafford Speedway has hosted more than 100 Modified Tour events since the series’ inception in 1985. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans triumphed in the first two Modified Tour events at the track, and another Hall of Famer, Mike Stefanik, leads all drivers with 20 series victories at the legendary facility.

Other notable drivers to earn wins at Stafford through the years include Ted Christopher, Doug Coby, Ryan Preece, Reggie Ruggiero, Tony Hirschman, Bobby Santos III, Jeff Fuller, Rick Fuller, Donny Lia, Jerry Marquis, Todd Szegedy, Eric Goodale, Justin Bonsignore and Patrick Emerling, among others.

Below is everything you need to know about the 13th race of the 2026 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

GAF 150 at Stafford Speedway

The event that every NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team has been looking forward to is finally here.

For the first time since 2021, NASCAR’s oldest division returns to one of New England’s most historic race tracks this Friday for the running of the GAF 150. As if that weren’t big enough, the battle for the Modified Tour championship couldn’t get any tighter.

Following Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, defending series champion Austin Beers holds a one-point advantage on Patrick Emerling with just four races left in the season. Emerling is a winner at Stafford (2021), something he’ll attempt to replicate Friday to regain the championship lead.

Two other Stafford victors, Justin Bonsignore and Doug Coby, will also be in the field Friday night. Bonsignore won the most recent Modified Tour at Stafford that closed out the 2021 season, while Coby is a 12-time Stafford winner with the Modified Tour. Both drivers should be contenders when the green flag waves Friday night.

Jon McKennedy, fresh off his third victory of the season Saturday at New Hampshire, is just 25 points behind Beers in the championship hunt. A win Friday night at Stafford would further bolster his championship odds as the season nears its end.

Mike Christopher Jr., a regular competitor in Stafford’s weekly programs, will be back in the Elite Racing No. 31 after competing in his family-owned No. 13 last weekend at New Hampshire. Matt Swanson will rejoin the fray aboard his family-owned No. 89, and Chase Dowling will again pilot the No. 44 for the Tinio family.

Other notable entries for Friday’s event include Matt Hirschman, Stephen Kopcik, Tommy Catalano, Tyler Rypkema, Eric Goodale, Ronnie Williams, Trevor Catalano, Paulie Hartwig III and Teddy Hodgdon, among others.

Race: GAF 150

Date: Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

Track: Stafford Speedway

Layout: Half-mile asphalt oval

Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut

Start Time: 8:45 p.m. ET

Laps: 150

Posted Awards: $117,881

How to Watch: FloRacing / The NASCAR Channel

SCHEDULE: Friday, Aug. 28: Practice from 3 to 3:40 p.m. ET … Final practice from 3:40 to 4:10 p.m. ET … American Racer Pole Award qualifying at 5:45 p.m. ET … Start of the GAF 150 (150 Laps / 75 Miles) at 8:45 p.m. ET.

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the GAF 150 is limited to 30 starters including Provisional Positions.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is eleven (11) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by NASCAR Officials, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. The same four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. A maximum of three (3) tires of the allotment may be used as change tires.