[August 12, 2011] Rumors Of Driver Changes Abound On Modified Tour Tweet LOUDON N H, Aug 12, 2011 (The Hartford Courant - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Whelen Modified Tour begins the second half of the season with the Granite State Classic Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As we enter mid-August, the rumor mill surrounding driver changes for next season is in full gear. The hottest rumor involves seven-time series champion Mike Stefanik leaving his current Eric Sanderson-owned Flamingo Motorsports ride to take over the Ed Whelan-owned car being driven by 2008 series champion Ted Christopher. "It's all rumors," Whelan said Thursday. "I wouldn't do anything to disrupt our team. We're just trying to work hard and win a championship. We've had some bad luck at some races this year, but every team has that." Christopher, 53, has three victories in eight events this year, including a win in Town Fair Tire 150 last Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway, and sits third in the standings. Christopher, of Plainville, said friction between himself and his team's crew chief, Brad LaFontaine, has been overblown. LaFontaine and Stefanik work together part-time on the Valenti Modified Racing Series, fueling rumors that the two want to work together on the Modified Tour. "I've had my problems with Brad, but things are getting better," Christopher said. "We're making some changes and the stuff is working." Said Whelan: "I can see where it's coming from, they don't see eye-to-eye all the time on everything, but that's a driver/crew chief thing that happens sometimes. But Teddy is my driver. I think he's doing a great job for us and nothing is changing." Stefanik's last series title came in 2006, his first full season driving for Sanderson. Since then Stefanik, 53, of Coventry, has three victories in his last 67 starts, with the last coming in 2009. He finished seventh in the standings three consecutive years from 2007-09 before finishing second last year. He comes into the race Saturday ninth. Stefanik addressed the rumors last week. "I signed up to run [for Sanderson] this year and that's what I'm going to do," Stefanik said. "We're struggling and when that happens, people start talking. But right now I'm driving this car until the end of the season. "Every year is a new year in my life, it always has been. Every year Eric and I sit down and talk about next year and shake hands and it's just a handshake deal. That's what it was last year. It usually happens in September. I always feel like, for the last 20 years, every year I have to go out and prove myself. I never just sit back on my laurels and think I can do this every year and things are just going to be rosy." Waterford, Stafford Races On Saturday, the Waterford Speedbowl hosts what is quickly becoming one of the marquee short track events of the season, the Wings and Wheels show. It's where three touring divisions come together to share the track with the Speedbowl's own premier division, the SK Modifieds. The event features a 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series feature, a 50-lap race for the ISMA SuperModifieds, a 25-lap event for the NEMA Midgets along with a 35-lap feature for the Whelen All-American SK Modifieds. Before heading to Waterford, the Valenti Modified Racing Series has some unfinished business at Stafford on Friday night. On June 24, the first 32 laps of the VMRS Lincoln Tech 80 were run until rain halted the race. It will resume Friday with Whelen All-American national champion Keith Rocco leading the field back to the green flag. Rocco is looking for his first career VMRS victory. In addition to closing out the VMRS event, Stafford will also have a regular Whelen All-American Series racing card, featuring a 40-lap SK Modified feature, 30-lap Late Model feature, 20-lap features for the SK Light Modifieds and Limited Late Models and a 15-lap DARE Stock event. To see more of The Hartford Courant, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.courant.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Hartford Courant, Conn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]