The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season is nearing its crescendo as the series prepares for the 13th of 16 events this Saturday night at New York’s Oswego Speedway.

Jon McKennedy enters the event, the 15th in Tour history at the popular New York speedway, with a narrow, three-point edge on Ron Silk in the battle for the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship.

The Tour’s return to Oswego could be good news for Silk, as he is the defending race winner at the 0.675-mile oval. He dominated at Oswego last season, winning the pole and leading 111 laps en route to his most recent Tour victory.

Silk is one of 10 drivers to earn Tour victories at Oswego dating back to 1988, when Brian Ross won the first two Tour events in track history. Other victors at Oswego include Justin Bonsignore, Matt Hirschman, Ryan Preece, Doug Coby, Tony Hirschman, Mike Stefanik, George Kent Jr. and Mike McLaughlin.

Below is everything you need to know about Saturday’s Toyota – Bud Mod Classic 150 at Oswego Speedway.

Toyota – Bud Mod Classic 150 at Oswego Speedway

What to watch for:

Silk has been among the most consistent competitors all season with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. His 6.8 average finish is equal to that of his championship rival McKennedy. The only difference between the two is McKennedy has a victory, which came at Claremont Motorsports Park.

Silk is hopes a return to Oswego will be a good omen since he is the defending race winner. A victory would be a vital piece of the puzzle as he looks to claim his second Tour championship.

There will be plenty of competitors looking to deny Silk and McKennedy in Saturday’s event. In addition to Silk, there are three other previous Oswego winners entered in the Toyota – Bud Mod Classic 150. They include the Tour’s most recent winner, Coby, who triumphed at Oswego when the Tour returned to the track in 2016 after a 17-year absence.

Bonsignore, a two-time Tour winner this year who is still trying to get back in the championship hunt, triumphed at Oswego during the 2019 season. Part-time competitor Matt Hirschman, a winner already this year with the Tour at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, is back as he searches for his second Oswego triumph with the Tour.

Bobby Santos III, who was forced to miss the race at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park due to a scheduling conflict, will look to get back on track at Oswego. He’ll once again pilot the No. 44 fielded by the Tinio family. Patrick Emerling also returns to Tour competition in his own No. 07.

Donny Lia continues his comeback season with Boehler Racing Enterprises with a visit to Oswego this weekend. His only previous Oswego start came in 2016 and resulted in a 15th-place finish.

Eric Goodale, currently third in the Tour standings, continues his quest for his first victory of the year in the No. 58 Modified. Austin Beers, fresh off a career-best third-place run at Langley Speedway, will also look to be a contender Saturday evening.

Additional entrants for Saturday’s race include New York’s own Tommy Catalano, Craig Lutz, Tyler Rypkema, Kyle Bonsignore, Kyle Ebersole, Brian Robie and Mike Leaty, among others.

The complete entry list for the Toyota – Bud Mod Classic 150 is available here.

RACE FACTS

Schedule: Saturday, Sept. 3: Garage opens at 11:30 a.m. … Final practice from 2-3 p.m. ET … Single-car qualifying (two laps) at 4:30 p.m. ET … Race at 7:30 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 Toyota – Bud Mod Classic 150 is limited to 28 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 Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is four (4) tires, any position. To utilize the fourth (4th) change tire, the team will have to take a practice tire purchased at Oswego Speedway and turn in by the conclusion of practice.