New Smyrna World Series
MODIFIED HISTORY
New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, FL started their World Series event in the late 1960’s to showcase their track in a series of races prior to the Daytona 500, which was held 12 miles from the track. New England native Pete Hamilton was crowned New Smyrna World Series Champion in 1974 and 1975, winning 5 of the 8 races during those two seasons.
The Modifieds were added to New Smyrna Speedway’s World Series for the 1976 season under the direction of Bill Slater. The event attracted the biggest names from the northeast to compete and expanded the World Series to 9 nights of racing. However, since the 2010’s the Modifieds now typically are on the World Series schedule for 6 nights.
The marquee event for the modifieds is the Richie Evans Memorial 100, held each year since 1986 (the first season after Evans’ passing in 1985). Richie Evans was a 6-time champion and won 38 races at the World Series events. At the time of his passing, it was 28 more wins than any other modified competitor. Matt Hirschman has won the Evans Memorial race a record 7 times. Ted Christopher won it 5 times
In 2008, they also added a 76 lap race in memory of John Blewett III. Fittingly enough, his brother Jimmy Blewett won the inaugural race. Hirschman has won this race 4 times.
Ted Christopher has been crowned Modified Champion at New Smyrna Speedweeks a record 9 times, including 4 straight from 1998-2001. He also passed Richie Evans as the all-time Modified wins leader with 43 victories. 3-time champion Reggie Ruggiero has 28 wins at the World Series. Tom Baldwin earned 4 Modified championships. Bill Zacharias (1991), Baldwin (1996), Andy Seuss (2006), Chuck Hossfeld (2019) and Jimmy Blewett (2022) all won the championship without the benefit of a feature win.
Every New Smyrna World Series Modified Champion has racing roots from New England, New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania. Jim Bickerstaff (1977), Jay Hedgecock (1990), Mike Fitch (1999), Tony Stewart (1997), Ryan Newman (2009) and Daniel Hemric (2012) are the only 6 drivers without northeast roots to win a modified race throughout the entire history of the New Smyrna’s World Series event – and each of them only won once.
MODIFIED WORLD SERIES STATS
| NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY WORLD SERIES MODIFIED WINS LIST |
RICHIE EVANS MEMORIAL 100 FEATURE WINNERS |
NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY WORLD SERIES MODIFIED RESULTS LOG |
NEW SMYRNA WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
TOUR TYPE MODIFIEDS
| YEAR | CHAMPION | CAR OWNER | STARTS | WINS | TOP 5 | TOP 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | MAYNARD TROYER | Maynard Troyer | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1977 | RICHIE EVANS | Gene DeWitt | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 1978 | RON BOUCHARD | Bob Judkins | 9 | 1 | 7 | 9 |
| 1979 | RICHIE EVANS | Gene DeWitt | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| 1980 | RICHIE EVANS | Gene DeWitt | 9 | 4 | 8 | 8 |
| 1981 | RICHIE EVANS | Gene DeWitt | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| 1982 | GREG SACKS | Ernie Wilsberg | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| 1983 | RICHIE EVANS | Gene DeWitt | 8 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| 1984 | RICHIE EVANS | Gene DeWitt | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 1985 | JIMMY SPENCER | Jimmy Spencer | 8 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
| 1986 | REGGIE RUGGIERO | Mario Fiore | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
| 1987 | REGGIE RUGGIERO | Mario Fiore | 8 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| 1988 | TOM BALDWIN | Ralph Solhem | 8 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| 1989 | REGGIE RUGGIERO | Mario Fiore | 9 | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| 1990 | TONY JANKOWIAK | Bill Potts | 8 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| 1991 | MIKE EWANITSKO | Mike Ewanitsko | 9 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| 1992 | STEVE PARK | Joe Brady | 9 | 3 | 8 | 9 |
| 1993 | STEVE PARK | Joe Brady | 5 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 1994 | TOM BALDWIN | Debe Mariella | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 1995 | TIM CONNOLLY | Bob Fuller | ||||
| 1996 | TOM BALDWIN | Debe Mariella | 9 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 1997 | TOM BALDWIN | Tom Baldwin | 9 | 3 | 9 | 9 |
| 1998 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Bill Calicchio | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 1999 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Joe Brady | 9 | 4 | 8 | 9 |
| 2000 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Joe Brady | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| 2001 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Joe Brady | 9 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 2002 | ROB SUMMERS | Bill Calicchio | 8 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| 2003 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Joe Brady | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 2004 | ERIC BEERS | Eric Beers | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 2005 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Joe Brady | 8 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| 2006 | ANDY SEUSS | Andy Seuss | 7 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| 2007 | ERIC BEERS | Eric Beers | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 2008 | JIMMY BLEWETT | Eddie Partridge | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 2009 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Joe Brady | 8 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| 2010 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Joe Brady | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 2011 | TED CHRISTOPHER | Joe Brady | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 |
| 2012 | CHUCK HOSSFELD | Chuck Hossfeld | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 2013 | WOODY PITKAT | David Hill | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 2014 | RON SILK | Eddie Partridge | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| 2015 | RYAN PREECE | Eddie Partridge | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016 | RYAN PREECE | Eddie Partridge | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | RYAN PREECE | Eddie Partridge | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 2018 | MATT HIRSCHMAN | Matt Hirschman | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 2019 | CHUCK HOSSFELD | Chuck Hossfeld | 5 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 2020 | MATT HIRSCHMAN | Matt Hirschman | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 2021 | MATT HIRSCHMAN | Matt Hirschman | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | JIMMY BLEWETT | Tommy Baldwin Jr | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | MATT HIRSCHMAN | Matt Hirschman | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 2024 | MATT HIRSCHMAN | Matt Hirschman | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
