In 2012 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Ted Christopher needed a part-time ride and Boehler Racing Enterprises needed a driver to fill their seat.

Ted Christopher will run full-time in the Boehler Racing Enterprises ride in 2013 on the Whelen Modified Tour (Photo: NASCAR)

The circumstances for both sides blossomed into a relationship that saw Christopher behind the wheel of the familiar BRE Ole Blue for four of the final seven events of the Whelen Modified Tour season.

Now they’re making the relationship official. Christopher, of Plainville, will join BRE full-time in 2013.

“It’s going to be a good deal,” Christopher said. “I’m really excited about this one.”

Christopher replaces Wallingford’s Keith Rocco in the ride. Rocco won Whelen Modified Tour Rookie of the Year honors driving for the team in 2012.

Christopher’s 2012 season on the Whelen Modified Tour turned upside down when his longtime team owner Ed Whelan shut down his operation suddenly after six events of the 14-race schedule. It left Christopher scrambling for a way to close out his season. Christopher ran the seventh race of the year for car owner Joe Brady before teaming up with BRE to make his debut in Ole Blue at Thompson International Speedway on Aug. 9.

BRE was in need of a driver after Rocco sustained a left wrist injury in an SK Modified practice crash at Thompson in late July.

Christopher finished fourth in his debut with BRE at Thompson. The high point in burgeoning relationship came back at Thompson on Sept. 9 when Christopher won the non-points UNOH Showdown. The event came with a $15,000 first place check.

“Those guys are really down to earth people to race with,” Christopher said. “The best thing I liked was [crew chief Scott Richards] never tells me how to drive. He never once told me I was driving it in too deep or doing anything else like that. And I really enjoyed how that car handled for me at [Bristol Motor Speedway] and [New Hampshire Motor Speedway]. I’m really looking forward to going back to those places. We ran good at Thompson with that car, we won that big race there. Unfortunately we were never able to run Stafford [Motor Speedway], but I’m really looking forward to going to Stafford with them.”

Christopher said he expects the team to participate in the non-points Whelen Modified Tour UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 19.

The Whelen Modified Tour season opens April 14 at Thompson International Speedway.