NASCAR's Grassroots Modified Tour Sees Stacked Field for 2026 Season

The revitalized NASCAR Modified Tour is gaining real momentum with an elite roster of veteran and up-and-coming drivers committed to the 2026 season.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NASCAR's grassroots revival is gaining real traction through a stacked Modified Tour field ahead of the 2026 season. Under the leadership of NASCAR's managing director of weekly and touring racing, Joey Dennewitz, and partners Whelen Engineering and FloRacing, the Modified Tour has seen a multi-year effort to rebuild and strengthen the series. The 2026 field is filled with defending champions, past titleholders, race winners, and talented rookies, creating what insiders are calling an all-time roster. Structural changes like a new tire supplier and schedule adjustments have also helped drive the series' resurgence.

Why it matters

The strength of the Modified Tour field signals a bright future for NASCAR's grassroots racing. The blend of veteran talent and rising stars, combined with strategic leadership and economic realism, is helping the Modified Tour reclaim its identity as a premier NASCAR touring series and a key part of the sport's foundation.

The details

The 2026 Modified Tour field is stacked with top talent. Defending champions Austin Beers and KLM Motorsports are back, as are past champions like Justin Bonsignore and Ron Silk. Race winners from 2025 like Jon McKennedy, Matt Hirschman, Craig Lutz, Tommy Catalano, Kyle Bonsignore, and Tyler Rypkema have all committed to full-time seasons. The rookie class is also strong, with Mike Christopher Jr., Teddy Hodgdon, and Paulie Hartwig III joining the series. NASCAR, FloRacing, and Whelen Engineering have increased purses and made structural changes like switching to American Racer tires based on competitor feedback. The schedule has also been adjusted to keep more races in the New England region where most teams are based.

  • The 2026 NASCAR Modified Tour season opens in February at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida.
  • The first Northeast race on the 2026 schedule is in March at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

The players

Joey Dennewitz

NASCAR's managing director of weekly and touring racing, leading the effort to rebuild and strengthen the Modified Tour.

Austin Beers

Defending NASCAR Modified Tour champion with KLM Motorsports.

Justin Bonsignore

Five-time NASCAR Modified Tour champion with Kenneth Massa Motorsports.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Iron sharpens iron. At the end of the day, having some of the greatest ever in a Tour Modified go up against new drivers to the series or younger drivers ultimately makes the product and the show that much better.”

— Joey Dennewitz, NASCAR's managing director of weekly and touring racing (profootballnetwork.com)

What’s next

The 2026 NASCAR Modified Tour season will kick off in February at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, followed by the first Northeast race in March at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.

The takeaway

NASCAR's grassroots revival is gaining real momentum through the stacked 2026 Modified Tour field, which features a blend of veteran champions, race winners, and talented rookies. Strategic leadership, economic realism, and a strong grassroots identity are helping the Modified Tour reclaim its status as a premier NASCAR touring series and a key part of the sport's foundation.