Christopher Captures Spring Sizzler at Stafford
Veteran Earns 28th Career Victory
Stafford Springs, CT — Ted Christopher captured the second event of the 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season when he drove to victory Sunday in the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway.
Christopher moved to the front on lap 172 following the 10th caution of the day and never relinquished the lead.
“We worked on the motor program this winter,” Christopher said. “The motor is good. It’s got a lot of power. That thing comes off the bottom and never stops pulling.”
[Fri. Photo Gallery] by Adam Fohlin
[Sat. Photo Gallery] by Adam Fohlin
The victory was the 28th of Christopher’s career and his eighth at Stafford.
Runner-up Eric Beers was followed by Chuck Hossfeld, Mike Stefanik and James Civali. With his second top-five finish, Hossfeld has assumed a 21-point lead over Christopher in the standings.
Rowan Pennink, Richard Savary, Jamie Tomaino, Todd Szegedy and Glenn Tyler rounded out the top 10.
Ryan Preece, who became the youngest Coors Light Pole Award winner on Saturday, led 64 laps in the event but exited the race on lap 91 with engine failure.
Prior to the race NASCAR honored past Modified champions Ernie Gahan (1966) and the late Red Byron (1948) as part of the season-long celebration of 60 years of Modified champions. Gahan was on hand to participate in the ceremony.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return to Stafford for its third event of the season on May 23 with the TSI Harley-Davidson 150.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR-Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Results
Sunday
At Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (5) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 200 laps, 56.057 mph, $8,320.
2. (4) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 200, $4,820.
3. (8) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Dodge, 200, $3,320.
4. (10) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 200, $3,320.
5. (12) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 200, $3,020.
6. (18) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 200, $2,620.
7. (19) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 200, $2,720.
8. (11) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 200, $2,920.
9. (23) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 200, $2,220.
10. (22) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200, $2,020.
11. (9) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200, $1,920.
12. (29) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200, $2,245.
13. (34) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 200, $1,450.
14. (6) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 200, $1,899.
15. (17) Anthony Sesely, Matawan, N.J., Dodge, 200, $1,050.
16. (28) Danny Sammons, Hamilton, N.J., Chevrolet, 199, $1,760.
17. (33) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich, Conn., Chevrolet, 196, $1,025.
18. (14) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 193, $975.
19. (35) Sean Patterson, Wading River, N.Y., Pontiac, 193, $950.
20. (2) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire, Conn., Chevrolet, 185, accident, $925.
21. (21) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 185, $1,620.
22. (25) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N.J., Dodge, 184, accident, $1,595.
23. (3) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 179, accident, $1,670.
24. (16) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 174, accident, $825.
25. (24) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 156, $800.
26. (26) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 153, suspension, $1,200.
27. (30) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 109, $1,620.
28. (13) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Pontiac, 103, $1,620.
29. (7) Ryan Preece, Kensington, Conn., Chevrolet, 91, engine, $2,120.
30. (27) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 60, oil pressure, $1,520.
31. (20) Joe Hartmann, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 59, accident, $1,520.
32. (31) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn., Ford, 54, ignition, $1,520.
33. (1) Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 50, drive shaft, $800.
34. (15) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., 26, timing chain, $1,520.
35. (32) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 11, accident, $1,200.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 47 minutes 2 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.719 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: R.Preece (99.684 mph, 18.057 seconds)
Caution Flags: 13 for 71 laps.
Lead Changes: 7 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: R. Summers 1-5; J. Blewett 6; R. Summers 7-26; R. Preece 27-90; E. Beers 91-92; T. Christopher 93-142; E. Beers 143-171; T. Christopher 172-200.
Standings: 1. C. Hossfeld, 335; 2. T. Christopher, 314; 3. J. Civali, 305; 4. R. Pennink, 288; 5. T. Szegedy, 284; 6. T. Abele, Jr., 267; 7. E. Flemke, Jr., 262; 8. G. Tyler, 255; 9. E. Beers, 249; 10. A. Sesely, 248.