Christopher Climbs Win List With Dominant Run at Mansfield
Leads Wire-To-Wire For 29th Career Victory
Mansfield, OH — Ted Christopher took sole possession of fifth place on the all-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins list when his No. 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet took the checkered flag Saturday night in the Whelen 150 at Mansfield Motorsports Park.
Christopher, who qualified sixth fastest but drew the No. 1 bead in the post-qualifying re-draw to sit on the front row, never trailed in the 157 lap race that went to a green-white-checker finish following a late caution. The win was his second of 2008 and the 29th of his career, which moved him out of a tie with Mike Ewanitsko on the all-time list.
In the process Christopher became the first driver to lead a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race wire-to-wire since Todd Szegedy did it in the 2006 Fall Final at Stafford (Conn. ) Motor Speedway.
Jimmy Blewett (No. 19 United Crane/Ling Trucking Chevrolet) finished as the runner-up in the race and was followed closely to the line by Ryan Preece (No. 3 Mizzy Construction/Reynold’s Auto Wrecking Chevrolet), Coors Light Pole Award winner Eric Beers (No. 46 Reynold’s Auto Wrecking/Sunoco Chevrolet) and Ronnie Silk (No. 79 Hill Enterprises/Coors Light/Sunoco Pontiac). Matt Hirschman, Erick Rudolph, Mike Stefanik, Kevin Goodale and Glen Reen rounded out the top 10.
It was a big points night for Christopher as well. He trailed Chuck Hossfeld in the season standings by 41 points heading into the event, but left with a 60-point advantage after Hossfeld suffered a broken axle and finished 28th.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will have the Labor Day weekend off before moving on to Thompson International Speedway for the Sunoco Modified Mania 150 on Sunday, Sept 7. For ticket information for please visit Thompson’s official Web site (thompsonspeedway. Com).
Sources: Jason Cunningham, NASCAR Public Relations, (704) 201-6658 or jcunningham@nascar. com.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Whelen 150 Results
Saturday
At Mansfield Motorsports Park
Mansfield, Ohio
Lap length: 0. 5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 157 laps, 79. 471 mph, $7,100.
2. (7) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N. J., Chevrolet, 157, $3,200.
3. (5) Ryan Preece, Kensington, Conn., Chevrolet, 157, $2,650.
4. (2) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 157, $3,700.
5. (12) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Pontiac, 157, $2,300.
6. (6) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 157, $2,100.
7. (15) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N. Y., Chevrolet, 157, $1,800.
8. (20) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R. I., Pontiac, 157, $2,625.
9. (14) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N. Y., Chevrolet, 157, $1,625.
10. (21) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 157, $1,600.
11. (4) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N. J., Dodge, 157, $1,575.
12. (22) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 157, $1,525.
13. (8) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 157, $1,600.
14. (19) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N. H., Chevrolet, 157, $1,095.
15. (25) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N. J., Chevrolet, 156, $1,490.
16. (23) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N. Y., Ford, 156, $1,480.
17. (24) Joe Hartmann, Calverton, N. Y., Chevrolet, 156, $1,425.
18. (11) Danny Sammons, Hamilton, N. J., Chevrolet, 156, $1,400.
19. (18) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., 155, $1,375.
20. (17) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N. Y., Chevrolet, 155, $1,350.
21. (26) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 154, $1,325.
22. (3) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 151, suspension, $1,300.
23. (9) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 147, accident, $1,375.
24. (10) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 95, $1,350.
25. (28) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich, Conn., Chevrolet, 83, ignition, $1,240.
26. (30) Darrel Krentz, Huntersville, N. C., Chevrolet, 72, head gasket, $800.
27. (27) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 59, clutch, $1,200.
28. (13) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N. Y., Dodge, 57, axle, $1,300.
29. (16) Dion Ciccarelli, Crofton, Md., Chevrolet, 38, overheating, $800.
30. (29) Jeremy Stoltz, Walkertown, N. C., Pontiac, 9, suspension, $800.
31. (31) Jamie Tomaino, Jr., Howell, N. J., Ford, 7, vibration, $800.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 59 minutes 16 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0. 177 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: E. Beers (117. 501 mph, 15. 319 seconds)
Caution Flags: 7 for 40 laps.
Lead Changes: 0 among 1 drivers.
Lap Leaders: T. Christopher 1-157.
Standings: 1. T. Christopher, 1504; 2. C. Hossfeld, 1444; 3. M. Hirschman, 1418; 4. M. Stefanik, 1378; 5. R. Silk, 1338; 6. T. Szegedy, 1329; 7. E. Beers, 1313; 8. J. Blewett, 1269; 9. E. Flemke,Jr., 1229; 10. R. Pennink, 1224.