QUALIFYING: Bonsignore Repeats
Third Career Whelen Modified Tour Coors Light Pole Award
Bonsignore, from Holtsville, N.Y., posted a fast lap of 18.427 seconds (97.683 mph) to earn his third career Coors Light Pole Award and second in a row in Stafford’s season-ending race weekend. The second-year driver will look for his first win at the half mile on Sunday.
Staring alongside Bonsignore for Sunday’s 150-lap race will be fellow Long Islander Donny Lia. The two-time Whelen Modified Tour champion from Jericho, N.Y., posted a fast lap of 18.478 (97.143). A part-time driver this year, Lia has three career wins at Stafford and came just shy of what would have been his eighth career pole at the track.
Ted Christopher, Eric Beers, Kevin Goodale, defending race winner Bobby Santos, points leader Ron Silk, Ryan Preece, Eric Goodale and Mike Stefanik brought home the 10 fastest cars in Saturday’s qualifying session.
Todd Szegedy, who trails Silk by just eight points in the season standings with two races remaining on the schedule, qualified 15th.
Raceday for the CARQUEST Fall Final will begin with the CARQUEST Belts & Hose Pit Party on the track at 11 a.m. The Whelen Modified Tour green flag is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
NWMT Stafford 10/2/11 Qualifying
POS CAR DRIVER TEAM TIME SPEED
1 51 Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y. M3 Technology Chevrolet 18.427 97.683
2 11 Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y. Spectro Performance Oils Ford 18.478 97.413
3 36 Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn. Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet 18.555 97.009
4 45 Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa. Horwith Frghtlnr/John Blewett Inc. Chevrolet 18.573 96.915
5 50 Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y. Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet 18.574 96.91
6 4 Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass. “Mystic Missile” Dodge 18.604 96.753
7 6 Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn. T.S. Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm Chevrolet 18.622 96.66
8 40 Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn. American Lamp Recycling/Mizzy Cst. Chevrolet 18.634 96.598
9 58 Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y. Perimeters for the Home Chevrolet 18.649 96.52
10 16 Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I. Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises Ford 18.711 96.2
11 46 Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn. North End Auto Parts/Cape Cod Agts Chevrolet 18.723 96.138
12 52 Doug Coby, Milford, Conn. Reynolds Auto Wrecking Chevrolet 18.726 96.123
13 98 Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y. Mohawk N.E./Original Pizza Logs Chevrolet 18.728 96.113
14 9 Tom Rogers, Jr., Patchogue, N.Y. * MissMarianaLee.com Chevrolet 18.736 96.072
15 2 Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn. Wisk Detergent/A&J Romano Const. Ford 18.75 96
16 3 Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa. Cape Cod Copper/LI Mod Maniac Chevrolet 18.766 95.918
17 39 Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Bosch Spark Plugs Chevrolet 18.773 95.882
18 93 Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet 18.776 95.867
19 99 Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J. Supreme Manufacturing Chevrolet 18.823 95.628
20 88 Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y. * Buzz Chew Chevrolet/GT Vodka Chevrolet 18.898 95.248
21 10 Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn. Ron Bouchard’s Auto Stores Chevrolet 18.904 95.218
22 8 Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y. Jayfor/Gallagher Enterprises Chevrolet 18.907 95.203
23 07 Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y. * Emerling Chevrolet Ford 18.942 95.027
24 18 Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y. Buoy One Seafood/MacLad Drywall Chevrolet 19.086 94.31
25 17 Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass. Silberman Heating & Cooling Chevrolet 19.092 94.28
26 33 Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn. Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s Oil Chevrolet 19.166 93.916
27 38 Glenn Griswold, Vernon, Conn. * Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s Oil Chevrolet 19.217 93.667
28 79 Chris Kopec, Palmer, Mass. Hill Enterprises/Coors Light Pontiac 19.334 93.1
29 26 Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electric Chevrolet 19.844 90.708
30 22 Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y. Jerry Gradl Motors Chevrolet No Time
*Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR