QUALIFYING: Preece Takes Pole at SNMP

Whelen Modified Tour Veteran Nabs First Southern Modified Pole

KENLY, N.C. – Ryan Preece grabbed his first career pole in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour with a quick lap in qualifying at Southern National Motorsports Park on Saturday, as the field was set for the KOMA Unwind Relaxation Drink 150.

Preece, making just his fourth tour start and his first at the .4-mile track, turned a lap of 14.313 seconds at an average speed of 100.608 mph. The Berlin, Conn., driver is a veteran of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – where he has five wins and 12 poles in 81 starts.

Three-time Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion George Brunnhoelzl III was second quick, with a lap of 14.369 seconds (100.216 mph). He was followed by Burt Myers, Tim Brown and Andy Seuss. Rounding out the top 10 in qualifying were John Smith, Jason Myers, Ted Christopher, Danny Bohn and Brandon Ward

The green flag for the KOMA Unwind Relaxation Drink 150 is slated to wave later today at 3:30 p.m. ET.

[Photo Galleryby Brad Newman

This race marks the second event of the 2013 season for the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. Jason Myers won the season opener at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C., last weekend.

Sources: Kevin W. Green/NASCAR PR

NWSMT Southern National 3/23/13 Qualifying
Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed
1 41 Ryan Preece East West Marine/NAPA 14.313 100.608
2 28 George Brunnhoelzl III Epoxz, Oval Speed 14.369 100.216
3 1 Burt Myers Citrusafe BBQ Cleaner/Adams Towing/ Ford 14.380 100.139
4 2 Tim Brown Hayes Jewelers/T & C Motorsports Chev 14.408 99.944
5 11 Andy Seuss Ideal Racing/Danny Glad Engines 14.522 99.160
6 25 John Smith Havoline Express Lube/G-Oil 14.534 99.078
7 4 Jason Myers West Bend Vineyards 14.547 98.989
8 00 Ted Christopher M & T Enterprises 14.559 98.908
9 65 Danny Bohn Cedar Peaks Ent. /Rustoleum/ 14.570 98.833
10 44 Brandon Ward Crane & Rigging Corp, KP Moto 14.575 98.799
11 02 J R Bertuccio Gershow Recycling 14.583 98.745
12 59 Renee Dupuis Space Fitters, John Blewett Scrap and Waste 14.609 98.569
13 40 Luke Fleming Koma Unwind /Autos By Nelson.com 14.618 98.509
14 79 Woody Pitkat Hill Enterprises/Coors Light 14.631 98.421
15 23 Brian Loftin L & R Trans/QMF Metal & Electrinic Solutions 14.692 98.013
16 5 Kyle Ebersole Ebersole Excavating Inc 14.705 97.926
17 77 Gary Putnam Stock Car Steel 14.740 97.693
18 71 Jimmy Zacharias Floyd’s Used Clothing Cheverlet 14.764 97.535
19 58 Eric Goodale Heritage Wide Plank Flooring 14.779 97.436
20 80 Mike Speeney Presto Tape/MRI Wall Graphics 14.815 97.199
21 97 Bryan Dauzat O B Builders Chevrolet 14.841 97.029
22 12 Mike Norman Perfection Exhaust/ Lewisville Motor Company 15.030 95.808
23 04 David Calabrese Diamond Back Towing 15.146 95.075
24 70 Jeremy Gerstner GMR Complete Lawn Care/Fountain Motorsports 15.403 93.488