QUALIFYING: Silk Carries Momentum To Martinsville Speedway
New Hampshire winner fastest for Whelen 300
Martinsville, VA — Ron Silk gave up his full-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour ride a month ago, but after missing one race, he’s turned his season around, if only temporarily.
Silk laid down a fast lap of 18.994 seconds (99.695 mph) during Sunday’s qualifying session in advance of the Made In America Whelen 300 at Martinsville Speedway. It marked the second Coors Light Pole Award of his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour career.
Silk, of Norwalk, Conn., started the 2009 campaign in the No. 79, but team and driver parted ways after the eighth race of the year. After missing the ninth event, Silk hooked up with team owner Ed Partridge and captured the New Hampshire 100 checkered flag on Sept. 19 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. One week later he is sitting on the pole at Martinsville.
Silk ran a second Partridge car at New Hampshire to teammate Keith Rocco. Rocco is not in attendance at Martinsville, so Silk is filling in.
Donny Lia, the pole winner last week at New Hampshire, qualified second at 19.062 seconds (99.339 mph), followed closely by Mike Stefanik at 19.083 (99.230).
Brian Loftin was the fastest NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour driver in qualifying, and earned a Coors Light Pole Award for that Tour with his effort. Fourth overall, Loftin’s fast lap was 19.115 seconds (99.064 mph).
The rest of the top 10 qualifiers were: Rowan Pennink, Burt Myers, Erick Rudolph, Ryan Preece, George Brunnhoelzl III and Chris Pasteryak.
Following a re-draw of the top six qualifiers, Loftin and Pennink will make up the first row of the 200-lap feature. Myers and Silk will start in the second row.
Current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points leader Ted Christopher, who was fastest in Sunday morning’s final practice, qualified 14th.
The annual Whelen Modified and Whelen Southern Modified Tour combination race is scheduled to go green at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a 50-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Limited Sportsman race. Limited Sportsman qualifying heats began following Modified qualifying.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour PR