Modified Tour returning to Martinsville

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will join the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville Speedway next year.

With the NASCAR Cup Series competing on Saturday night at the "paperclip" on Mother’s Day weekend, the modifieds will run under the lights the night before on May 8, 2020. The MaxPro Window Films 200 be the first race for the modifieds at Martinsville since 2010.

“We get asked a lot about the modifieds -- from fans, from drivers, from media,” said Martinsville president Clay Campbell. “Now, we can say, ‘Yes, we will have them back next year.’ These cars are such an important part of Martinsville Speedway history and the time is right to bring them back.”

Martinsville needed a companion event for the Spring Cup Series race after the traditional Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at the track was moved off the weekend. In the fall, the Xfinity Series will return to Martinsville alongside the Cup Series.

The modifieds previously ran at Martinsville from 1960-2002.

“The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Martinsville Speedway are a perfect match,” said Brandon Thompson, NASCAR managing director, touring series. “When you talk history and legacy -- names like [Richie] Evans, [Jerry] Cook and [Geoff] Bodine are synonymous with Martinsville. The Modified division and Martinsville Speedway are the cornerstone on which the sport was built. We’re excited about adding names like [Doug] Coby, [Justin] Bonsignore, and maybe even [Ryan] Preece -- a new generation of Modified racing stars to the half-mile and look forward to being part of an incredible race weekend.”