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BRP Modified Tour Opens the 2026 Racing Season at Lernerville Speedway

 

By: Pam Baker

 

Marble, PA…….The BRP Modified Tour had a perfect 2026 season opener at Lernerville Speedway on Friday, May 15th. There were 34 cars registered in the pit area and the shiny new cars and some color changes looked great on the track, some for the first time this year.

 

The feature was a barn burner, and no one knew who the winner would be until the finish line of the final lap. The 35-lap event found Will Thomas, Sharpsville, PA and Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, NY on the front row of the 24-car field with Thomas taking the lead on lap one. Thomas had command of the front of the pack for the first four laps, before Rudolph took over the lead. Behind Rudolph was Thomas, Colton Walters, Rex King, Jr. and a battle for fifth between Tyler Willard and Dalton Slack.

 

The pack continued to follow Rudolph around the circuit and by lap eleven the leaders started working through lapped traffic. Thomas held on for second until lap fifteen when Colton Walters was able to make the pass for second with Rudolph extending his lead through the traffic.

 

The first and only caution of the race flew on lap twenty-three for Ayden Cipriano who jumped the cushion in turn three and came to rest on the outside of the fourth turn. With a double file restart, the drivers used this to their advantage, and it set the stage for the final twelve laps. Garrett Krummert, who started thirteenth in the field, used the restart to gain positions coming from fourth to second and then the race was on for the first position.

 

Rudolph and Krummert ran door-to-door for several of the final laps and coming off of turn four on lap thirty-four at the flag stand Krummert inched ahead of Rudolph for the lead. The final lap found Rudolph trying to regain the lead, but Krummert was too strong and was able to get the lead at the line to collect his first checkers of the season, and his first BRP Modified Tour race since 2023. Rudolph finished second with Rex King, Jr., in his throwback car this season in honor of his father, Rex King, Sr. capturing third.

 

A very happy Garrett Krummert said in victory lane, “I was going as hard as I could. I didn’t know exactly where I was before the caution with all the lapped cars. I figured Rudolph was leading, and I knew my car was pretty good as I was passing some good cars. That was a crazy race, and I have to thank Brandon Plank and Will Thomas Motorsports, those guys help me out. That is probably the best car I ever had”.

 

Rounding out the podium was Rudolph and King, Jr. Finishing fourth with a fantastic run was Colton Walters who won the final BRP Modified Tour race in 2025. Walters ran second for six laps during the race and was able to finish in fourth position. Fifth place went to Canadian driver, Dalton Slack.

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Finish: Garrett Krumert, Erick Rudolph, Rex King, Jr., Colton Walters, Dalton Slack, Brad Rapp, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Dave Murdick, Will Thomas, Rick Regalski, Jr., Austin Eyler, Tyler Willard, Ayden Cipriano, Mike Kinney, Kyle Fink, Shawn Kozar, JC Boyer, Rob Kristyak, Tom Holden, Macey Adamik, Brayden Beatty, Tyler Dietz, Cameron Miller, Rodney Beltz.

 

Heat Races wins went to Brad Rapp, Erick Rudolph, Jeremiah Shingledecker, and Dave Murdick. The B-Main was won by Kyle Fink.