PRACTICE: Lia Tops Speedbowl Chart

Fastest In Whelen Modified Mr. Rooter 161 Session

WATERFORD, Conn. – The only two-time New London-Waterford Speedbowl winner in tonight’s Mr. Rooter 161 field has a fast start on attaining win No. 3.

Donny Lia posted a fast lap of 14.031 seconds (96.216 mph) around the venerable .375-mile oval in his No. 8 Sypher Construction/Bardahl Chevrolet to top the 33-car NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour field Saturday evening.

Lia’s previous wins at the Speedbowl came in 2005 and 2006 in his family-owned car.

Keith Rocco, newly minted as the all-time winningest driver in Speedbowl history with two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series triumphs last week, finished second on the speed chart at 14.053 (96.065) while reigning tour titlist Doug Coby was third-fastest at 14.099 (95.751).

Defending Mr. Rooter 161 winner Bobby Santos, Woody Pitkat, Eric Goodale, Todd Szegedy, Derek Ramstrom, Jon McKennedy and Dave Sapienza brought home the top 10.

Coors Light Pole qualifying is slated for 6:30 p.m. and the Mr. Rooter 161 will get the green at approximately 9 p.m.

PRACTICE RESULTS
NWMT Waterford 5/30/15 Practice
Submitted by jcunningham on May 30, 2015 – 4:47pm
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Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed In Lap Laps Diff
1 8 Donny Lia Sypher Construction/Bardahl 14.031 96.216 45 46
2 22 Keith Rocco Canto Paving/Milton Caterpillar 14.053 96.065 22 23 0.022
3 2 Doug Coby Dunleavy’s Repair/HEX Performance 14.099 95.751 50 52 0.068
4 44 Bobby Santos Tinio Corp./Dan Kelley/Curb Records 14.102 95.731 39 40 0.071
5 88 Woody Pitkat Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East 14.116 95.636 28 38 0.085
6 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing/Supreme Skylights 14.118 95.623 48 49 0.087
7 4 Todd Szegedy Mystic Missile Racing 14.125 95.575 70 71 0.094
8 35 Derek Ramstrom* Matthew’s Truck Svc/Seekonk GP 14.149 95.413 42 43 0.118
9 29 Jon McKennedy EXIT Realty 14.157 95.359 45 46 0.126
10 36 David Sapienza* Frankie’s Towing/Wine Country 14.169 95.278 43 50 0.138
11 16 Timmy Solomito Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises 14.169 95.278 53 56 0.138
12 6 Ryan Preece TS Haulers/East West Marine 14.176 95.231 60 62 0.145
13 28 Brandon Bock* Pro-Systems Brakes 14.179 95.211 53 54 0.148
14 51 Justin Bonsignore M3 Technology 14.197 95.091 28 41 0.166
15 79 Spencer Davis Hillbilly Racing/Coors 21 Means 21 14.207 95.024 38 39 0.176
16 14 Max Zachem* Lu-Mac’s Package Store/Broadbrook 14.220 94.937 30 38 0.189
17 64 Anthony Nocella* Nocella Relamation/Complete Const. 14.221 94.930 42 51 0.190
18 13 Ted Christopher Mr. Rooter/Cape Cod Aggregates 14.231 94.863 3 33 0.200
19 75 Shawn Solomito Eastport Feeds/Axel Anderson Inc. 14.262 94.657 37 38 0.231
20 46 Jeff Goodale* Riverhead Building Supply 14.263 94.650 54 55 0.232
21 07 Patrick Emerling Buffalo Auto Auction 14.266 94.631 23 37 0.235
22 9 Chase Dowling* S&S Asphalt Paving/Dunleavy’s Repair 14.372 93.933 6 20 0.341
23 3 Troy Talman* Cape Cod Copper/B&G Toys & Trains 14.405 93.717 63 71 0.374
24 31 Steve Masse* El Gee Products/Dunleavy’s Repair 14.421 93.613 19 46 0.390
25 93 Rowan Pennink Van Wickle Auto Supply 14.443 93.471 37 45 0.412
26 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood 14.464 93.335 27 35 0.433
27 63 Tom Rogers, Jr. East End Statuary 14.472 93.284 50 53 0.441
28 37 Dave Salzarulo Brickenmore Bricks 14.534 92.886 22 50 0.503
29 99 Jamie Tomaino Dunleavy Truck Repair/Atlantic Sprinkler 14.615 92.371 5 13 0.584
30 38 Wade Cole Performance Engines/Kendall Oil 14.677 91.981 16 17 0.646
31 33 Johnny Bush Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s 14.686 91.924 21 23 0.655
32 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscaping Supply/TRC Electric 14.811 91.148 21 53 0.780
33 01 Melissa Fifield Big Moose RV 15.349 87.954 36 37 1.318

Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR