QUALIFYING: Top Spot For Silk
Wins Coors Pole For Whelen Modified At New Hampshire
Loudon, NH — Ron Silk, looking to get his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points lead back, will start on the point for Saturday’s New Hampshire 100 after winning the Coors Light Pole Award Thursday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Silk had a top lap of 29.764 seconds (127.967 mph) around the 1.058-mile oval. It was the fifth career pole for the Norwalk, Conn., driver, who won at the ‘Magic Mile’ in 2009.
The New Hampshire 100 will be carried by SPEED Saturday at 1 p.m., prior to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.
Silk finished 15th at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., last week to drop 12 points behind Todd Szegedy in the championship standings. Szegedy, who won at Lime Rock and earlier this season at New Hampshire, qualified eighth Thursday.
Eric Beers, who was fastest in Thursday’s practice, qualified second with a lap of 29.793 (127.842), followed by Justin Bonsignore at 29.799 (127.816). NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman, the defending race winner, and Erick Rudolph rounded out the top five.
Rowan Pennink, Matt Hirschman, Szegedy, Woody Pitkat and rookie Patrick Emerling completed the top 10.
The New Hampshire 100 is set to go green Saturday at 12:45 p.m.
QUALIFYING RESULTS | AUDIO: TOP THREE QUALIFIERS
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR WMT PR
NWMT New Hampshire 9/24/11 Qualifying
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POS CAR DRIVER TEAM TIME SPEED
1 6 Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn. T.S. Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm Chevrolet 29.764 127.967
2 45 Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa. Horwith Frghtlnr/John Blewett Inc. Chevrolet 29.793 127.842
3 51 Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y. M3 Technology Chevrolet 29.799 127.816
4 77 Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind. Aggressive Hydraulics/Menards Chevrolet 29.892 127.419
5 98 Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y. Tempo Graphics/Original Pizza Logs Chevrolet 29.996 126.977
6 93 Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet 30.002 126.952
7 3 Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa. Cape Cod Copper/Nash Road Mtrs Chevrolet 30.028 126.842
8 2 Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn. Wisk Detergent/A&J Romano Const. Ford 30.035 126.812
9 28 Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn. Ramar-Hall Chevrolet 30.039 126.795
10 07 Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y. * Emerling Chevrolet Ford 30.055 126.728
11 52 Doug Coby, Milford, Conn. Reynolds Auto Wrkng/NEAJS.com Chevrolet 30.065 126.686
12 16 Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I. Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises Ford 30.075 126.643
13 79 James Civali, Meriden, Conn. Hill Enterprises/Coors Light Pontiac 30.091 126.576
14 10 Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn. Ron Bouchard’s Autos/Roush Yates Chevrolet 30.095 126.559
15 71 Rob Fuller, Boylston, Mass. Draco Spring Ford 30.130 126.412
16 40 Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn. Mizzy Const./Logan Steel Chevrolet 30.214 126.061
17 58 Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y. Perimeters for the Home Chevrolet 30.236 125.969
18 46 Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn. Cape Cod Agts/North End Auto Parts Chevrolet 30.273 125.815
19 8 Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y. Jayfor Chevrolet 30.314 125.645
20 25 Zane Zeiner, Bath, Pa. ATC Dodge 30.318 125.628
21 88 Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y. * Buzz Chew Chevrolet/GT Vodka Chevrolet 30.469 125.006
22 39 Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Bosch Spark Plugs Chevrolet 30.485 124.940
23 14 Ken Woolley, Jr., Howell, N.J. Ling Trucking/Atlantic Sprinkler Chevrolet 30.566 124.609
24 99 Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J. Supreme Manufacturing Chevrolet 30.937 123.115
25 18 Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y. Buoy One Seafood/MacLad Drywall Chevrolet 31.093 122.497
26 33 Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn. Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s Oil Chevrolet 31.102 122.462
27 38 Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn. Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s Oil Chevrolet 32.288 117.963
28 36 Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn. Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet No Time
29 4 Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass. “Mystic Missile” Dodge No Time
*Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender