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The old saying is "Behind every good man is an even better woman." For the women in the lives of the Chuck's Discount Foods UMP Modified drivers, that saying is also true.

While the drivers may get all the glory, it's the women who get help their men get to the finish line by making sure their tear-offs are on the helmets, getting the food ready on weekends, and watching the children.

To show more appreciation to their guys, the "Modified Girls" have stepped up the last four years to sponsor a $750 to win feature special in the modified class. Leading the organization of this race was Jeannie Robinson, wife of Rich Robinson Jr. No. 15 of Mt. Pleasant.

"All of us girls with the modified drivers get together and sponsor a feature for that one night," Jeannie Robinson said. "We also are adding extra to second and third place finishers and they get trophies and their picture taken with the girls."

The idea for the special race began when former modified driver Chad Bauer asked his wife and Robinson to get a modified wives race together and it took off from there.

"It's just to have the women acknowledged," said Mindy Miller, wife of Kevin Miller No. 43 of Mt. Pleasant. "They don't usually get acknowledged very often."

In the past the group was called the "Modified Wives," but Robinson said they are changing the name this year to "Modified Girls" because there have been more girlfriends, significant others and even mothers joining in.

Sporting purple tie die shirts at this year's special, which is Friday, June 5, the modified women have full control of the feature on that one night of the year.

"The night of the race we are in a vehicle as the pace car and then watch the race from the center of the track and give the trophy to the winner," Robinson said. "The most exciting part is to watch from the infield because you get a whole different view of racing watching it from the infield."

When the modified women first began sponsoring a race, Robinson said there would be about five of them invovled, but the group has steadily increased to where they now could easily get 10.

"I will usually start rounding up the girls after Betty (Crook) calls to see if we are going to sponsor the race again and then I get on the phone to check with the girls and see who wants to sponsor and who isn't going to race at Mt. Pleasant anymore and so on," Robinson said.

The usual group of women who can be counted on as part of the group are Robinson, Miller, Stacy Bauer, mother of modified rookie Cody Bauer No. 19 of Farwell, and wife of former driver Chad Bauer, Linda Robinson, mother of Rich Robinson Jr. and wife of Rich Robinson Sr. No. 79 of Shepherd, and Stacy Mandoka, girlfriend of Lawrence Sprague Jr. No. 81 of Mt. Pleasant. However, over the years the group has expanded to include among others Diane Hilliker, wife of Steven Hilliker No. 21 of Midland, Stefanie Powell, wife of Chuck Powell No. 95 of Harrison, Misty Easlick, wife of Darrin Easlick No. 71 of Farwell, J. Vance, wife of Craig Vance No. 42 of Midland, and newcomer this year Charlotte Galgoci, mother of modified rookie Andy Galgoci No. 13 of Mt. Pleasant.

"We're not nervous anymore," Mindy Miller said. "We're just ready and excited. We really enjoy doing this (sponsorship)."

So the next time your favorite modified driver pulls into victory lane, don't forget to look behind them and see the woman who helped him get there.

Look for the "Modified Girls" at the Mt. Pleasant Speedway this Friday, June 5, when it's also Police and Fireman Appreciation night and a full show of racing.