Lia Wraps Up Championship
Stafford Springs, CT — Donny Lia’s 2007 season has been so successful, he was able to clinch the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship with a race remaining on the schedule.
Lia, with six wins and 11 top fives in 15 races, finished seventh in Sunday’s Fall Final at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway. Combined with Todd Szegedy’s 22nd-place finish, Lia improved his points lead over second-place Szegedy to 183 and earned Lia his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship.
“Numb – just feeling numb,” said Lia of his reaction. “I’m just so happy we won the championship for my race team.”
Defending Whelen Modified Tour champion Mike Stefanik won his first race of the season. He led the final 59 laps to finish ahead of runner-up Tony Hirschman and third-place Ted Christopher. Matt Hirschman and Ronnie Silk were fourth and fifth respectively.
Following the race, Stefanik stopped by Lia’s celebration in Victory Lane to congratulate the new champion.
The Whelen Modified Tour finishes its season with the World Series of Speedway Racing Oct. 14 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.
Lia entered Sunday’s race needing a finish of ninth or better to clinch the title by starting the World Series. But when Szegedy spun on lap 97 while running in the top 10, the door opened for Lia to wrap up the title early.
In the process, he earned the first NASCAR Modified title for long-time car owner Bob Garbarino. Garbarino has running a Modified since 1961.
“What makes me so proud is to win the championship for Bob Garbarino,” Lia said. “The guy is just an amazing person.”
Garbarino said it didn’t sink in until he started getting congratulations from some of the people that he’s competed against for years, like fellow car owner Art Barry and Stefanik.
“You start to get that ‘This is really something’ feeling,” Garbarino said. “You start to understand, to really really it.”
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR-Carquest Fall Final Results
Sunday at Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (14) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 150 laps, 63.395 mph.
2. (3) Tony Hirschman, Jr., Northampton, Penn., Chevrolet, 150.
3. (9) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
4. (5) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Dodge, 150.
5. (6) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
6. (10) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (2) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 150.
8. (16) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., Pontiac, 150.
9. (17) Bobby Santos, III, Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
10. (25) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
11. (11) Eddie Flemke, Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
12. (19) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
13. (13) Bobby Grigas, Marshfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
14. (27) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 150.
15. (1) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 150.
16. (12) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 150.
17. (20) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
18. (8) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater, Mass., Chevrolet, 150.
19. (7) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 150.
20. (31) Joe Hartmann, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 149.
21. (18) Anthony Sesely, Matawan, N.J., Chevrolet, 149.
22. (33) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 148.
23. (28) Eric Berndt, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 147.
24. (30) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 146.
25. (23) Charlie Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 140.
26. (26) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 136, clutch.
27. (32) Glen Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 121.
28. (22) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, Conn., Pontiac, 108, suspension.
29. (24) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N.J., Dodge, 106, accident.
30. (15) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn., Chevrolet, 68, accident.
31. (4) Ryan Preece, Kensington, CT, Chevrolet, 18, accident.
32. (21) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Pontiac, 5, accident.
33. (29) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Ford, 2, engine.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 10 minutes 59 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: Eric Beers (98.538 mph, 18.267 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 42 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: T.Szegedy 1-10; D.Lia 11; T.Szegedy 12-60; M.Hirschman 61-91; M.Stefanik 92-150.
Standings: 1. Lia, 2392; 2. Szegedy, 2209; 3. Civali, 2111; 4. Silk, 2102; 5. M. Hirschman, 2102; 6. Christopher, 2095; 7. Stefanik, 1935; 8. Blewett, 1795; 9. Tomaino, 1754; 10. Flemke Jr., 1745.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR WMT PR