QUALIFYING: Bonsignore Nabs Stafford Pole
Second Coors Light Pole Award For Long Island Rookie
Stafford Springs, CT — Justin Bonsignore stole the show in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour qualifying Saturday afternoon at Stafford Motor Speedway.
The last car to go out during time trials, Bonsignore registered a fast lap of 18.355 seconds (98.066 mph) to earn the second Coors Light Pole Award of his rookie season. The Holtsville, N.Y., driver’s first career pole came earlier this year at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Bonsignore’s top run knocked favorite Eric Beers off the pole. Beers, who was the fastest car in morning practice, was the 29th of 31 cars to qualify and he promptly moved to the top of the chart with a lap of 18.387 (97.895). Following a fast run by Eric Berndt, Bonsignore closed qualifying with the top run.
All was not lost for Beers, however. He pulled the No. 1 starting position for Sunday’s Fall Final in the post-qualifying redraw of the top eight. Pole winner Bonsignore will start seventh.
Following Bonsignore and Beers in qualifying was Mike Stefanik, Berndt and Preece in the top five. Ed Flemke Jr., Rowan Pennink, Ron Silk, Erick Rudolph and Bobby Santos rounded out the top 10.
Stefanik, who trails Santos by just seven points in the season standings with only the Fall Final and the season-capper at Thompson International Speedway remaining, will start one row ahead of Santos on Sunday in the eighth position.
The CARQUEST Fall Final is scheduled to take the green flag on Sunday at 3:15 p.m.
NWMT Stafford 10/3/10 Starting Lineup
POS CAR DRIVER TEAM TIME SPEED
1 76 Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa. Horwith Freightliner Chevrolet 18.387 97.895
2 10 Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn. Ron Bouchard’s Autos/Kleer Lumber Chevrolet 18.454 97.540
3 6 Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn. T.S. Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm Chevrolet 18.520 97.192
4 3 Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn. Davidson Co./Mizzy Construction Chevrolet 18.452 97.550
5 54 Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn. North End Auto Parts Chevrolet 18.440 97.610
6 93 Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet 18.486 97.371
7 51 Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y. * M3 Technology Chevrolet 18.355 98.066
8 16 Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I. Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises Pontiac 18.427 97.680
9 98 Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y. Mohawk N.E./Original Pizza Logs Chevrolet 18.520 97.192
10 4 Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass. “Mystic Missile” Dodge 18.525 97.166
11 1 Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn. Frasco Fuel Oil/Merrill Electric Chevrolet 18.548 97.046
12 59 Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y. Ed Bennett Properties Chevrolet 18.551 97.030
13 36 Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn. Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet 18.575 96.904
14 58 Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y. JT’s Lumber/Perimeters for the Home Chevrolet 18.585 96.852
15 14 Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J. Ling Trucking/Atlantic Sprinkler Chevrolet 18.593 96.811
16 8 Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y. Sypher Construction Chevrolet 18.610 96.722
17 2 Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn. Wisk/Snuggle Ford 18.633 96.603
18 99 Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J. Supreme Manufacturing Chevrolet 18.638 96.577
19 90 Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn. Union Insurance Group/SFI Chevrolet 18.644 96.546
20 28 Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn. Ramar-Hall/TSI Harley-Davidson Chevrolet 18.648 96.525
21 50 Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y. Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet 18.653 96.499
22 17 Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass. “The People’s Car” Chevrolet 18.700 96.257
23 05 Joe Hartmann, Calverton, N.Y. USPA Nationwide Security Chevrolet 18.703 96.241
24 46 George Brunnhoelzl, III, W. Babylon, N.Y. Cape Cod Aggregates/Viveiros Ins. Chevrolet 18.714 96.185
25 39 Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y. * Bosch Spark Plugs Chevrolet 18.738 96.061
26 52 Dale Quarterley, Westfield, Mass. Furnace & Duct Supply Chevrolet 18.763 95.933
27 5 Tom Rogers, Jr., Patchogue, N.Y. Frankie’s Towing Chevrolet 18.829 95.597
28 18 Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y. Buoy One Seafood Ford 18.867 95.405
29 33 Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn. + Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s Oil Chevrolet 18.922 95.127
30 26 Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. + Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electric Chevrolet 19.265 93.434
31 38 Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn. + Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s Oil Chevrolet 19.592 91.874
* Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
+ Provisional Starter
NOTE: Top eight qualifiers redrew for starting position
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR