Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Monadnock 200 At Monadnock Speedway
The first appearance for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Monadnock Speedway in two decades is set for this Saturday, July 17 with the Monadnock 200 in Winchester, N.H.
At Monadnock:
History
• Monadnock Speedway opened Aug. 13, 1971.
• Monadnock played host to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour five times previously, from 1986-90.
Notebook
• There have been 67 NWMT races all-time in the state of New Hampshire … 51 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, five apiece at Lee USA Speedway and Monadnock, four at All-Star Speedway and two at Twin State Speedway.
• The return to Monadnock in 2010 will mark the longest period in NWMT history between races at a facility.
• Ken Bouchard won the inaugural NWMT race at Monadnock on May 18, 1986 … Bouchard also earned the first two poles at the track.
• Current competitors Mike Stefanik (1988) and Jamie Tomaino (1990) have earned wins at Monadnock.
• In addition to Stefanik and Tomaino, only Wade Cole and Ed Flemke Jr. have previous NWMT experience at Monadnock.
• The NWMT will visit two quarter-mile tracks in 2010, Monadnock and Riverhead Raceway … This will mark the first time since 1999 (Riverhead, Riverside Park Speedway) that the NWMT has visited two quarter-miles.
Monadnock Speedway Data
Race: #7 of 14
Track Layout: .25-mile oval
Banking: 18 degrees in Turns 1 & 2, 16 degrees in Turns 3 & 4
Race Length: Main – 175 laps/43.75 miles
Qualifying/Race Data
2009 pole winner: N/A
2009 race winner: N/A
Track qualifying record: R. Ruggiero (132.743 mph, 12.399 sec., 6-10-90)*
NWMT Win Leaders at Monadnock
1986 … Ken Bouchard
1987 … Jimmy Spencer
1988 … Mike Stefanik
1989 … Reggie Ruggiero
1990 … Jamie Tomaino
NWMT Pole Leaders at Monadnock
1986 … Ken Bouchard
1987 … Ken Bouchard
1988 … unknown
1989 … Mike McLaughlin
1990 … Reggie Ruggiero
* qualifying records incomplete
Up to Speed:
• Bobby Santos opened the 2010 season with a win in the Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway on April 11 … He established a track record in qualifying as he earned the pole.
• Santos also set the track-record in qualifying at Stafford Motor Speedway for the Spring Sizzler on April 24 … The race was postponed to May 1, and was won by Ted Christopher.
• Santos was back in Victory Lane in the third race of the season on May 28 at Stafford … Prior to the race Santos also earned the Coors Light Pole Award.
• Santos earned his third win in four outings when he captured the Martinsville Speedway checkered flag on June 6 … Mike Stefanik was the pole winner.
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman captured the pole and the race win in the New England 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 26.
• Todd Szegedy earned the pole and led all but four laps in the inaugural race at Lime Rock Park on July 3, but Dale Quarterley wound up with the checkered flag.
• Santos leads Szegedy by 74 points in the season standings.
• The next race will be the annual stop at Riverhead Raceway July 31.
Selected Driver Highlights:
Justin Bonsignore (No. 51 M3 Technology Chevrolet)
• Has four top 10s in eight career starts … A runner-up effort at Martinsville Speedway is his best career finish.
• Is sixth in the standings with a pair of top 10s in six races.
• Is competing for 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors against Richie Pallai Jr.
• Got his racing start at Riverhead Raceway, a quarter-mile track like Monadnock Speedway.
Ted Christopher (No. 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet)
• The 2008 NWMT champion … Has 35 wins and 21 poles in 286 career starts … His 35 wins are tied for third all-time and his 21 poles are ninth … Has at least one win in 12 straight seasons.
• Is third in points after six races with four top fives, highlighted by a win at Stafford on May 1.
• Has three wins and two poles and the Riverhead quarter-mile.
Ed Flemke Jr. (No. 10 Ron Bouchard’s Auto/Kleer Lumber Chevrolet)
• Has 17 wins and 16 poles in 387 career starts … Has made a record 330 consecutive starts … The last time he did not start a race was on July 22, 1992 at Riverside Park Speedway.
• Is 11th in points after six races and is coming off two top-10s in a row.
• Finished 15th and 16th in his two previous NWMT starts at Monadnock.
Chuck Hossfeld (No. 59 Ed Bennett Properties Chevrolet)
• Has seven wins, eight poles and 69 top 10s in 119 career starts.
• Is ninth in points after six races … Best finish was sixth at Stafford on May 1.
Richie Pallai Jr. (No. 39 Bosch Spark Plugs Chevrolet)
• Has made seven career starts … A ninth-place effort at Martinsville is his best career finish.
• Is 10th in the standings after six races.
• Is competing for 2010 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors against Justin Bonsignore.
• First experience at Monadnock came on May 22 when he finished 10th in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified feature.
Rowan Pennink (No. 93 Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet)
• Has 21 top 10s in 49 career starts.
• Has slipped to 17th in points after six races … Best finish was fourth at Stafford on May 1 … Has three-straight finishes of 22nd or worse.
• Has an average finish of seventh in four Modified Racing Series starts at Monadnock.
Ryan Preece (No. 3 Mizzy Construction/Reynold’s Auto Wrecking Chevrolet)
• Has four poles, three wins and 25 top 10s in 49 career starts.
• Is fourth in points after six races … Has finished in the top five in 12 of his last 15 starts.
• Has a pole and a win in three starts at the Riverhead quarter-mile.
Bobby Santos (No. 4 “Mystic Missile” Dodge)
• Has four wins, three poles and 17 top 10s in 35 career starts.
• Leads in points after six races … Has three wins, a second and a third … First result of the year outside the top 10 was a 17th place finish at Lime Rock Park.
• Became the first driver in NWMT history to win three of the first four races of a season.
• Also earned the pole for the first three races of the year … Set track records during qualifying in the first two races of the season.
Ron Silk (No. 6 T.S. Haulers Chevrolet)
• Has four wins, two poles and 33 top 10s in 73 career starts.
• Moved from 10th to sixth in points with top fives in the last two races … Season-best finish of third came in his road course debut at Lime Rock last time out.
• Competed in the NWAAS Modified feature at Monadnock on May 22 and finished ninth.
Mike Stefanik (No. 16 Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises Pontiac)
• The 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2006 NWMT champion.
• Has 70 wins, 43 poles and 269 top 10s in 399 career starts … Holds NWMT records for most championships, wins, poles, top fives and top 10s.
• Slipped from second to fifth in the season standings in the last two races … Has finished in the top 10 in five of the first six races in 2010.
• Has an average finish of eighth in five NWMT starts at Monadnock, highlighted by a win in 1988.
Todd Szegedy (No. 2 Wisk/Snuggle Ford)
• The 2003 NWMT champion … Has 13 wins, seven poles and 83 top 10s in 129 career starts.
• Is up to second in points after six races with five top fives … Best finish was a runner-up effort last time out at Lime Rock.
• Practiced for the NWAAS Modified feature at Monadnock on June 19, but did not start.
Jamie Tomaino (No. 99 Supreme Racing Chevrolet)
• The 1990 NWMT champion … Has three wins, six poles and 237 top 10s in 517 career starts.
• Has missed only five of the 522 races in the history of the NWMT (1985-present) and is currently the only driver to record starts in each of the 26 years of the NWMT.
• Is 20th in points after six races … First top 10 of the year came last time out at Lime Rock.
• Has an average finish of fifth in five NWMT starts at Monadnock, highlighted by a win in his championship season of 1990.