Newman Holds Off Christopher For New Hampshire Victory
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Earns First Whelen Modified Tour Win
Loudon, NH — Ryan Newman passed Ted Christopher in Turn 3 of the final lap and held off New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s winningest driver to earn his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory Saturday afternoon.
Newman, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular, made his fifth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start for car owner and 2010 Daytona 500 winning crew chief Kevin Manion. Newman and Christopher put on a memorable show in the closing laps of the New England 100. They came to the white flag side by side, and after Christopher nosed into the lead on the backstretch, Newman used the outside to make the winning pass.
Newman’s margin of victory was .125 seconds. Newman won the Coors Light Pole Award in Thursday’s qualifying. He led three times Saturday for 28 laps.
[NHMS 06/25/10 Photo Gallery] by Nathan Teto
[NHMS 06/26/10 Photo Gallery] by Nathan Teto
Christopher, who led six times for a race-high 40 laps, has 10 career wins at New Hampshire – five in the Modifieds and five in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Newman’s best finish in a Modified prior to this weekend was eighth in Sept. of 2009.
Ryan Preece followed across the line in third to tie his previous career-best finish in Loudon, while points leader Bobby Santos came home fourth. Ron Silk rounded out the top five. Ed Flemke Jr. was sixth, followed by James Civali, Doug Coby, Woody Pitkat and Eric Beers.
There were 15 official lead changes between six drivers, although as typical for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at New Hampshire, there were often multiple swaps for the lead in single laps.
Despite a season-low finish, Santos distanced himself in the season standings on Saturday. He now has 900 points through five races while Christopher moved into second with 771. Todd Szegedy is third with 758, while Mike Stefanik fell from second to fourth with 728. Both Szegedy and Stefanik were involved in separate incidents; Szegedy finished 15th, while Stefanik was 27th and 38 laps down.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return to the track Saturday, July 3 with its inaugural event at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn.
Sourcs: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT 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) Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind., Chevrolet, 100 laps, 84.509 mph, $15,800.2. (8) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $11,800.3. (12) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $8,800.4. (2) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Dodge, 100, $7,400.5. (7) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $4,800.6. (17) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $4,050.7. (11) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 100, $3,950.8. (6) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $3,200.9. (27) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $4,250.10. (23) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 100, $3,350.11. (22) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $3,350.12. (15) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $3,450.13. (16) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $2,950.14. (29) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $3,025.15. (3) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 100, $2,900.16. (26) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $3,375.17. (28) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 100, $2,350.18. (24) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 100, $2,725.19. (34) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $2,700.20. (35) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 100, $2,543.21. (31) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100, $2,125.22. (32) Danny Knoll, Jr., Buffalo, N.Y., Chevrolet, 99, $2,500.23. (19) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 83, $2,375.24. (25) L.W. Miller, Dushore, Pa., Pontiac, 83, $1,947.25. (18) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 83, $2,300.26. (30) Johnny Bush, Huntington Station, N.Y., Chevrolet, 74, $2,200.27. (13) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 62, $2,300.28. (4) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 58, $2,300.29. (21) George Brunnhoelzl, III, W. Babylon, N.Y., Chevrolet, 49, accident, $2,200.30. (10) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Ford, 46, $2,300.31. (5) Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 37, engine, $1,800.32. (36) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 37, overheating, $1,800.33. (33) Joe Hartmann, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 13, engine, $1,800.34. (20) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 3, $1,800.35. (9) Rob Fuller, Boylston, Mass., Ford, 2, accident, $1,800.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 15 minutes 7 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.125 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: R.Newman (128.402 mph, 29.663 seconds)
Did Not Start: Richard Savary, Mike Christopher
Caution Flags: 7 for 26 laps.
Lead Changes: 15 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: R. Newman 1-8; T. Christopher 9-40; E. Goodale 41-44; D. Coby 45; B. Santos 46-58; T. Christopher 59-60; D. Coby 61-64; T. Christopher 65; B. Santos 66; T. Christopher 67; B. Santos 68-69; T. Christopher 70-72; R. Silk 73-79; R. Newman 80-98; T. Christopher 99; R. Newman 100.
Standings: 1. B. Santos, 900; 2. T. Christopher, 771; 3. T. Szegedy, 758; 4. M. Stefanik, 728; 5. R. Preece, 719; 6. J. Bonsignore, 643; 7. R. Silk, 627; 8. R. Pallai,Jr., 601; 9. W. Pitkat, 597; 10. J. Civali, 596.
[Photo Gallery] by Nathan Teto
[NHMS 06/25/10 Photo Gallery] by Nathan Teto
[NHMS 06/26/10 Photo Gallery] by Nathan Teto