For the first time since 2002, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour visited the historic .526-mile Martinsville Speedway (Martinsville, VA) during the Labor Day weekend running of the ‘Made in America Whelen 300’ – the first ever combination WMT/Southern WMT event.

Boasting an impressive 25,000 spectators on hand, Speedway officials announced the largest stand alone (non-Cup weekend) crowd in the 58-year history of the storied facility. The ‘Made in America Whelen 300’ also marked the very first night race at the famous oval. Prior to the 250-lap main event, a 50-lap non-qualifiers race was run (hence the ‘300’ in the race title).

Under the lights, smack in the middle of it all, Renee started the feature 24th in the 43-car field. Following a pit stop (after slight contact on lap 19), Renee fell all the way back to 37th (a race low). However, by the 100th lap, the No. 90 team was running well inside the top-20.

After the halfway mark, just before lap 140, Renee was running in the 8th position (a race high). Just a short while later, on lap 157, Renee got caught up in an incident when oil soaked the bottom groove. The team pitted several times repairing a bent wheel, spindle and lower control arm; and broken tie-rod. In all, they lost just five laps in the pits.

Despite being several laps down, the No. 90 car continued to run strong – both passing and pulling away from several lead-lap cars. In the end, Renee crossed the finish line in the 22nd position. The team remains 17th in the seasonal point championship (76 different drivers are ranked).

The Martinsville event was taped and will be broadcast by SPEED – at a date and time yet to be announced. In the meantime, the annual Thompson Sunoco 300 looms large on the horizon – with its scheduled running on Sunday, September 11.