PAIR OF MODIFIED CHAMPIONS TO BE
HONORED AT NEW HAMPSHIRE
NASCAR to Recognize
McLaughlin, Szegedy On Sept. 13
As part of the season-long celebration of 60 Years of Modified
Champions, 1988 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titlist Mike McLaughlin
and 2003 winner Todd Szegedy will be honored at the New Hampshire
100 on Saturday, Sept. 13 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
McLaughlin, who was a consistent contender for the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour crown in each of the series’ first five years of
existence, broke through in 1988 for a 155-point margin of victory
against Reggie Ruggiero in the final standings. Szegedy, who has
been a consistent title contender for most of this decade, was able
to capture the 2003 title following a tight battle with Chuck
Hossfeld that resulted in a 32-point margin of victory.
Originally from Waterloo, N.Y., McLaughlin wasted no time becoming
a championship contender. During the inaugural season of the NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour in 1985, McLaughlin finished as the
championship runner-up to the legendary Richie Evans. He finished
sixth and third, respectively in 1986 and 1987 before his title run
in 1988.
McLaughlin was able to compile five wins, 15 top fives and 20 top
10s in 24 starts in 1988 while driving the No. 12 Sherwood
Industries car for owner Billy Corazzo. The title campaign was
highlighted by wins in Martinsville, Va., Indianapolis, Ind.,
Oswego, N.Y., Oxford, Maine and Owego, N.Y.
In his last full season in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
McLaughlin finished fourth in the 1989 title standings. After making
a few more starts in the early 1990’s McLaughlin closed out his
Modified career with 16 wins and 15 Coors Light Pole Awards to his
credit. He went on to record six wins and 110 top 10 finishes in 314
NASCAR Nationwide Series starts and twice finished third in the
division’s points standings.
Today McLaughlin works for Joe Gibbs Racing in various capacities,
including driver development and as a test driver.
Szegedy is one of four past NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champions
that still compete on a full-time basis. Currently sixth in the 2008
season standings, Szegedy has been a competitive threat for the
title in of his six full-time seasons in the series.
The Ridgefield , Conn. , native made an immediate impact in the
series. In his first full season in 2002, Szegedy won at Richmond (
Va. ) International Raceway and finished seventh in points to earn
Rookie of the Year honors. In his second year, at the age of 27,
Szegedy became the youngest driver to ever win the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour title, and in the process became the first driver to
earn Rookie of the Year honors and the series championship in
back-to-back seasons.
Szegedy earned the 2003 championship on the strength of four wins,
11 top fives and 14 top 10s in 18 starts when he drove the No. 50
Haynes Materials Ford for owner Don Barker. He made trips to Victory
Lane in Lake Erie , Pa. , Beech Ridge , Maine , Adirondack, N.Y.,
and Stafford, Conn., but it was an eighth place finish in the season
finale in Thompson, Conn., that clinched the title in a close battle
with Hossfeld.
Szegedy has finished fifth and second, respectively in the two
seasons prior to 2008. Currently the driver of the No. 2
Wisk-Snuggle Ford for owner Mike Smeriglio, Szegedy has 13 wins and
63 top 10s in 105 career starts and won this past Sunday at Thompson
( Conn. ) International Speedway.
New Hampshire, the site where McLaughlin and Szegedy will be
honored, has significant history for both. McLaughlin is fifth on
the track’s all-time wins list with six victories across
three-different series, and he won the inaugural NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour and NASCAR Camping World Series races at the track in
1990.
“I think it’s awesome that they [NASCAR] are honoring all of the
past champions,” McLaughlin said. “I’m definitely looking forward to
going back. Loudon was like Daytona to us, it was the highlight of
the year to race there. Looking back on it, it was definitely my
favorite race track.”
Szegedy won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at New Hampshire
on this date last year and has consistently been a contender at the
“Magic Mile” throughout his career.
“It’s pretty cool to be honored there,” Szegedy said. “It’s one of
our premier tracks, so it’s definitely an honor.”
The New Hampshire 100 will be the 12th of 16 races on the 2008
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule. The green flag is set to drop
in Loudon, N.H., on Saturday, Sept. 13 and 1 p.m. For ticket
information please visit New Hampshire ’s official Web site (nhms.com).
THE END