by

Facebook Twitter

Dave Sapienza (Photo: Shawn Courchesne/RaceDayCT)

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Dave Sapienza is always one quick with the funny lines.

And even despite facing the reality of a 10-week recovery thanks to a broken back, Sapienza was still in a joking mood Thursday afternoon.

Sapienza sustained his back injury in a last lap crash during Saturday’s Whelen Modified Tour Jersey Shore 150 at Wall Stadium in Wall, N.J. Sapienza joked Thursday that he was coming back from The War at the Jersey Shore.

Sapienza confirmed to RaceDayCT that he fractured his L-1 and L-2 vertebra Saturday.

“It’s a clean break where it’s a straight break,” Sapienza told RaceDayCT. “None of my vertebrae is out of alignment. I don’t really have any compression fractures, nothing like that.”

Sapienza said he called former Whelen Modified Tour driver Rowan Pennink Wednesday for some advice on dealing with the injury.

Pennink had a similar back injury in 2017 that eventually led to him making the decision to retire from racing last year.

“He’s a pretty sharp guy,” Sapienza said. “His injury was a little bit different. He was good to talk to with everything he’s been through.”

Sapienza’s doctor’s have told him he should stay out of the car for at least 8-10 weeks.

“I’m not sure if I’m going to sit out the whole season or not,” Sapienza said. “I’m kind of bummed out. But I’m going to have some fun and we’ll make the best of it.”

Sapienza’s team will sit out the June 1 event at Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway. The team will return to action with Burt Myers behind the wheel for the Thompson 125 on June 5 at Thompson Speedway.

Sapienza said he will likely announce another driver next week to run his car for other selected events while he recovers.

A wreck filled night at Wall Stadium came to an ugly end for Sapienza after taking the checkered flag.

A full-contact battle for third place over the closing lap between Sapienza and Timmy Catalano ended with the pair crashing across the finish line and Sapienza’s car then hitting head-on with an infield wall just past the start/finish line on the inside of the track. Catalano ended up being scored fourth and Sapienza fifth.

Do you enjoy what you’re reading and seeing here at RaceDayCT? Would you like to see continued coverage of New England short track racing? Your support can help ensure that professional coverage of short track racing can continue at RaceDayCT, and you can get some great rewards for that support. Patreon allows readers to make small monthly contributions to RaceDayCT that support the ongoing coverage of short track racing. Your pledge comes with exclusive tiered reward programs for offering that support. For just a $5 a month pledge fans can have access to the weekly Unmuffled podcast. For more information click the link here.



