Pitkat Secures Second Thompson Pole

On Point For Sunday’s Whelen Modified Tour Season Finale

THOMPSON, Conn. (Oct. 18, 2014) – Woody Pitkat’s breakout campaign continues in the season finale as he secured the Coors Light Pole Award for the Sunoco World Series 150 presented by Xtra Mart in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour action at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

Without a pole or a race win in his first seven years on the tour, Pitkat now has two of both after Saturday’s top qualifying effort. The Stafford, Connecticut, native posted a fast lap of 18.816 seconds (119.579 mph) to make it 2-for-3 in qualifying at Thompson this year. He also earned the pole for the season-opening Icebreaker on April 6.

Ryan Preece qualified second at 18.846 (119.389) followed by rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. at 18.893 (119.092). Championship leader Doug Coby was fourth-fastest at 18.984 (118.521).

The rest of the top 10 qualifiers included: Donny Lia, Bobby Santos, Keith Rocco, Ted Christopher, Patrick Emerling and Justin Bonsignore.

The qualifying session was delayed in progress as rain started falling after just 11 of the 36 cars had taken time. The session resumed two hours and 15 minutes later.

Coby takes a 28-point lead on Christopher in the championship standings into tomorrow’s finale. A title for either would make them just the fifth multi-time champion in 30 years on Whelen Modified Tour competition. Christopher’s first came in 2008 and Coby earned the title in 2012.

Racing action begins on Sunday at Thompson at 1 p.m., and the Whelen Modified Tour Sunoco World Series 150 presented by Xtra Mart will go green at approximately 3:45 p.m.

Qualifying Results
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – Sunoco World Series 150 pres. by Xtra Mart Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying Saturday
at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Thompson, Conn.
Lap Length: 0.625 miles
1. (88) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 119.579
2. (16) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 119.389
3. (22) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 119.092
4. (4) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 118.608
5. (2) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 118.521
6. (44) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 118.465
7. (48) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 118.365
8. (13) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 118.160
9. (07) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.098
10. (51) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.048
11. (75) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 117.931
12. (6) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 117.635
13. (8) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 117.530
14. (15) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Chevrolet, 117.524
15. (79) Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, Ga., Pontiac, 116.841
16. (93) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 116.768
17. (58) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 116.707
18. (35) Derek Ramstrom, West Boylston, Mass., Chevrolet, 116.490
19. (20) Max Zachem, Preston, Conn., Chevrolet, 116.327
20. (99) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 116.285
21. (64) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 116.141
22. (17) Kyle Ellwood, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 116.105
23. (3) Troy Talman, Oxford, Mass., Chevrolet, 115.932
24. (52) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 115.914
25. (14) John Beatty, Jr., Merrick, N.Y., Chevrolet, 115.598
26. (29) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 115.479
27. (5) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 114.878
28. (18) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 113.861
29. (36) Frank Vigliarolo, Jr., Mt. Sinai, N.Y., Chevrolet, 113.613
30. (33) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 75.470
31. (43) David Calabrese, Toms River, N.J., Chevrolet, 113.413
32. (69) Jason Agugliaro, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 113.020
33. (82) Danny Watts, Jr., Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 112.601
34. (38) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 111.951
35. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 111.868
36. (01) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 103.955

Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR