Santos Scores First NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Win In Season Finale At Thompson
Thompson, CT — Twenty-two-year-old Bobby Santos III scored his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory at the track he grew up watching racing.
Reggie Ruggiero (No. 14 Atlantic Sprinkler Chevrolet) finished second, followed by Matt Hirschman (No. 59 Ed Bennett Properties Chevrolet).
“The young guys are coming,” said the 56-year-old Ruggiero of Santos and Hirschman, 24. “It’s just going to happen. But we can still be competitive with them.”
Ted Christopher and Ronnie Silk were fourth and fifth. Kevin Goodale, Ryan Preece, Mike Stefanik, Tony Hischman and Renee Dupuis rounded out the top 10.
It was his win Sunday that put the biggest smile on his face.
“The car was just unbelievable,”
Richard Savary (No. 21 Superior Oil Chevrolet) finished 13th to earn the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors by one point (96-95) over Bobby Grigas III (No. 09 Triple G Scaffolding Chevrolet). Grigas was 25th in Sunday’s race.
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR-Xtra/Mart 150 Unofficial Results
Sunday
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (7) Bobby Santos, III,
2. (25) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill,
3. (6) Matt Hirschman,
4. (11) Ted Christopher,
5. (12) Ronnie Silk,
6. (30) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $3,000.
7. (23) Ryan Preece,
8. (26) Mike Stefanik,
9. (8) Tony Hirschman, Jr.,
10. (27) Renee Dupuis,
11. (19) Dick Houlihan,
12. (1) Anthony Ferrante, Jr.,
13. (21) Richard Savary,
14. (20) Rowan Pennink,
15. (28) Jamie Tomaino,
16. (24) Eric Beers,
17. (16) Jerry Marquis,
18. (18) Glen Tyler,
19. (22) Eddie Flemke,
20. (3) Doug Coby, III,
21. (2) Billy Pauch, Jr.,
22. (13) Anthony Sesely,
23. (31) Wade Cole,
24. (33) Rick Fuller,
25. (14) Bobby Grigas,
26. (9) Jimmy Blewett,
27. (5) Todd Szegedy,
28. (4) Donny Lia,
29. (32) Joe Hartmann, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 71, accident, $1,325.
30. (10) Ron Yuhas,
31. (15) Woody Pitkat,
32. (17) James Civali,
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 12 minutes 26 seconds
Margin of Victory:
Fastest Qualifier: A.Ferrante Jr. (120.656 mph, 18.648 seconds)
Caution Flags: 7 for 35 laps.
Lead Changes: 5 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: A. Ferrante Jr. 1; B. Santos III 2-78; M. Hirschman 79; D. Lia 80-84; M. Hirschman 85-118; B. Santos III 119-150.
Standings: 1. D. Lia, 2471; 2. T. Szegedy, 2291; 3. M. Hirschman, 2260; 4. R. Silk, 2257; 5. T. Christopher, 2187; 6. J. Civali, 2178; 7. M. Stefanik, 2077; 8. J. Blewett, 1883; 9. J. Tomaino, 1872; 10. E. Flemke, 1851.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR WMT PR
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