Archive for April 11th, 2010

Santos Dominates Thompson Icebreaker

Published at April 11, 2010 in NASCAR WMT and Thompson. 0 Comments

Takes NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Opener For His New Team

Thompson, CT — Bobby Santos completed a dominating weekend in his first race with his new team.

Santos was fastest in practice, won the Coors Light Pole Award with a track record, and then led the most laps in the 150-lap Icebreaker to kick off the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

In the offseason, Santos took over the ride in the No. 4 “Mystic Missile” Dodge after 2009 champion Donny Lia departed for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Santos, from Franklin, Mass., had run part-time on the Tour since 2004, making 29 previous starts and recording one win – at Thompson in the fall of 2007.

Icebreaker Saturday
[Sat. Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin

Icebreaker Sunday
[Photo Gallery] by Adam Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Dave Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
[Photo Gallery] by Matt Wiernasz

Continue reading ‘Santos Dominates Thompson Icebreaker’

Santos Makes Missile Debut Victorious in WMT Opener at Thompson; Christopher Tops in Sunoco Mods

Published at April 11, 2010 in NASCAR WMT and Thompson. 0 Comments

Ramstrom Completes Sweep SLM; Gentes, Sullivan, Monahan & Defevers Icebreaker Winners

Thompson, CT — Bobby Santos III of Franklin, MA, took over the reigns of the potent Mystic Missile to score a victory in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener at Thompson International Speedway for the running of the Icebreaker 150 on Sunday. Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT, had to use his prowess on restarts to score a victory in the Sunoco Modified feature event on Sunday. Defending champion, Derek Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, swept the twin bill for the Super Late Models while Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, scored Late Model honors.

Shawn Monahan of Waterford, CT, bested a strong field of Limited Sportsman competitors to score the victory. Another champion, TIS Modified ace Brian Sullivan of S. Windsor, CT, made a statement with an opening day victory. Leo Defevers of Brooklyn, CT, opened Day Two of the Icebreaker with a victory in the Mini Stock Division.

Bobby Santos III of Franklin, MA, set fast time in Coors Light qualifying with a new track record on Saturday and redrew the pole position. He set sail at the start of the race; led from the drop of the green flag until heading down pit road for a scheduled stop at lap 58. The young driver was able to work his way back into contention by methodically moving through the field. Santos made the winning move when he took the lead for the final time on lap 120. He held off the chargers of Ryan Preece in the waning laps of the event to score the victory. Preece came home second followed by Mike Stefanik. Ted Christopher, who pitted out of sequence with the leaders, came back to finish fourth ahead of Todd Szegedy.

Icebreaker Saturday
[Sat. Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin

Icebreaker Sunday
[Photo Gallery] by Adam Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Dave Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
[Photo Gallery] by Matt Wiernasz

Continue reading ‘Santos Makes Missile Debut Victorious in WMT Opener at Thompson; Christopher Tops in Sunoco Mods’

Yuhas, Thomas, Galvin Win First Races of Season at Waterford; Field Atop Mini Stock Win List

Published at April 11, 2010 in Waterford. 0 Comments

Waterford, CT — A five division race program was completed at Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday night, the third NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event of the 2010 season. Bruce Thomas Jr. edged the competition by the slimmest of margins in an exciting Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature, Josh Galvin trumped a competitive Street Stock field and Dan Field continued his hot streak in the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stocks to become the division’s all-time winningest driver. Ron Yuhas Jr. ended up the victor in an SK Modified® race marred by numerous cautions.

Tom Abele Jr. and Kyle James brought an overanxious field of SK Modified® competitors to green for a race scheduled to go 35-laps in distance. Abele jumped to the lead ahead of a pack jockeying for position behind. Trouble broke out off turn four as the field came to lap two. Mike Finkeldey was running in the front pack of cars when he bobbled in the high groove, causing the charging field behind to jumble. Jeff Pearl was bumped out of the bottom lane into the damp infield sending his machine for a ride. As the field continued to take evasive action down the front stretch into turn one, Pearl’s car re-entered the track and made hard contact with Keith Rocco. Pearl was eliminated while Rocco’s machine went pit side for repairs that would place him laps down to the leaders. Todd Ceravolo was also collected in the melee and eliminated.

From there the caution flags mounted, taking their toll on what started as a full field of racers. Abele faded following one restart attempt, spinning off turn four handing the lead to Joe Perry before the field could complete lap five. Perry was at the pin until contact with second place Mark Bakaj sent those two leaders crashing into turn one as the field tried to complete lap seven.

[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto

Continue reading ‘Yuhas, Thomas, Galvin Win First Races of Season at Waterford; Field Atop Mini Stock Win List’