Santos Off to Record Start
Breaks own track mark in qualifying for NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener
Thompson, CT — Defending champion Bobby Santos shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, the Franklin, Mass., driver is getting faster.
Santos broke his own track record in qualifying Saturday for Sunday’s Icebreaker, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour opener at Thompson International Speedway. Santos posted a lap of 18.237 seconds (123.376 mph) around the .625-mile oval for his fifth career Coors Light Pole Award.
Santos also posted the fastest lap in Saturday morning’s practice for the Icebreaker. He is the defending race winner, too.
He was not the only one to get off to a fast start – the top four qualifiers eclipsed Santos’ previous record lap set last year at 18.418 (122.418). Ted Christopher qualified second at 18.374 (122.456), followed by Justin Bonsignore at 18.386 (122.376) and Ryan Preece at 18.399 (122.289).
Todd Szegedy rounded out the top five.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Ron Silk was sixth fastest, followed by Rowan Pennink, Eric Beers, Doug Coby and Eric Berndt.
The Icebreaker is scheduled to start at approximately 3:15 p.m. Racing at Thompson, which includes its NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly divisions, begins at noon.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR
Qualifying Results
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – Icebreaker Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying Saturday
at Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, Conn.
Lap Length: 0.625 miles
1. (4) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Dodge, 123.376
2. (36) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 122.456
3. (51) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 122.376
4. (11) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 122.289
5. (2) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 121.951
6. (6) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 121.925
7. (93) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 121.727
8. (45) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 121.517
9. (52) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 121.471
10. (46) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 121.444
11. (50) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 121.085
12. (9) Tom Rogers, Jr., Patchogue, N.Y., Chevrolet, 120.974
13. (64) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 120.656
14. (16) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 120.553
15. (8) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 120.501
16. (3) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 120.353
17. (58) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 120.231
18. (98) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 120.154
19. (18) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 120.077
20. (10) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 120.006
21. (59) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.981
22. (71) Rob Fuller, Boylston, Mass., Ford, 119.802
23. (79) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 119.579
24. (07) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.516
25. (31) Tony Ferrante, Jr., New Hyde Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.452
26. (28) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 119.338
27. (88) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.338
28. (38) Dave Etheridge, Portland, Conn., Chevrolet, 119.287
29. (99) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 118.210
30. (33) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 117.420
31. (44) Rick Gentes, Woonsocket, R.I., Chevrolet, 116.938
32. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 115.848
33. (39) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet, No speed