Hossfeld Edges Christopher in Photo Finish at New Hampshire
Earns His Seventh Career Victory
Loudon, NH — Chuck Hossfeld led just one lap in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race Saturday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but it was the one that counted the most as he took the checkered flag in a photo finish in the New England 100.
Hossfeld battled Ted Christopher for a number of laps down the stretch, making the pass for the lead in Turns 1 and 2, but falling back to second in Turns 3 and 4. On the final lap, he made a move entering Turn 3 on Christopher and won the drag race out of Turn 4 to the finish by .001 seconds.
“I knew I had to be patient,” Hossfeld said. “With Teddy (Christopher), you’re racing one of the best racers here. I would have been a happy either way with the finish, but I was glad to come home first. I’m just so thrilled.”
The victory was the seventh of Hossfeld’s career, his third at New Hampshire and his second of the season.
“This car is brand new and this team is just so good, I really have very little to do with it,” Hossfeld said.
Christopher, who led 93 laps but was denied an opportunity to extend his own track record for victories, registered his fourth top-five finish of the season and second runner-up in as many outings. He leads all drivers at New Hampshire with nine all-time victories at the track, but was denied the opportunity to extend his record by the slimmest of margins.
Ed Flemke Jr. tied his previous career-best finish at New Hampshire when he came in third. Eric Beers and Reggie Ruggiero rounded out the top 10.
After leading the race on lap 68, Bobby Santos finished sixth. Todd Szegedy, Ryan Preece, Jeff Fuller and Ronnie Silk completed the top 10.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will move to the Empire State for its sixth race of the 2008 season. Spencer Speedway in Williamson, N.Y., will be the venue for the Mason Farms 100 on Saturday, July 12.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR PR
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR-New England 100 Unofficial Results
Saturday
At New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, N.H.
Lap length: 1.058 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Dodge, 100 laps, 96.675 mph, $15,600.
2. (2) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $11,700.
3. (9) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $9,200.
4. (6) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 100, $6,700.
5. (29) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn., Ford, 100, $4,200.
6. (22) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 100, $3,550.
7. (3) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 100, $3,950.
8. (12) Ryan Preece, Kensington, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $3,500.
9. (38) Jeff Fuller, Auburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 100, $3,750.
10. (15) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Pontiac, 100, $3,250.
11. (36) Brian Loftin, Lexington, N.C., Chevrolet, 100, $2,650.
12. (8) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 100, $3,050.
13. (21) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 100, $2,940.
14. (23) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., 100, $2,425.
15. (34) Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $2,300.
16. (7) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 100, $2,775.
17. (11) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $2,650.
18. (35) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., 100, $2,225.
19. (37) L.W. Miller, Dushore, Pa., Pontiac, 100, $2,200.
20. (26) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N.J., Dodge, 100, $2,443.
21. (24) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 100, $2,425.
22. (17) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $2,400.
23. (28) Danny Sammons, Hamilton, N.J., Chevrolet, 100, $1,850.
24. (18) Joe Hartmann, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 99, $2,225.
25. (20) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 99, $2,200.
26. (4) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 98, $2,300.
27. (32) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Chevrolet, 98, $1,800.
28. (30) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 96, $1,800.
29. (5) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 79, overheating, $2,300.
30. (19) Anthony Sesely, Matawan, N.J., Dodge, 56, carburetor, $2,200.
31. (10) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 54, rear end, $2,300.
32. (31) Dale Quarterly, Westfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 42, ignition, $1,800.
33. (33) Sean Patterson, Wading River, N.Y., Pontiac, 22, axle, $2,100.
34. (27) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn., Ford, 20, transmission, $2,200.
35. (25) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 12, accident, $2,200.
36. (13) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 6, accident, $2,200.
37. (14) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 5, accident, $2,400.
38. (16) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich, Conn., Chevrolet, 5, accident, $2,200.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 5 minutes 10 seconds
Margin of Victory: .001 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: Field set per rule book, rain
Caution Flags: 4 for 20 laps.
Lead Changes: 9 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: T.Christopher 1-23; T.Szegedy 24; T.Christopher 25; T.Szegedy 26; T.Christopher 27-29; T.Szegedy 30-32; T.Christopher 33-67; B.Santos 68; T.Christopher 69-99; C.Hossfeld 100.
Standings: 1. C.Hossfeld, 855; 2. T.Christopher, 819; 3. T.Szegedy, 750; 4. E.Beers, 685; 5. E.Flemke,Jr., 662; 6. M.Hirschman, 643; 7. R.Pennink, 639; 8. M.Stefanik, 634; 9. R.Preece, 604; 10. J.Civali, 602.