QUALIFYING: Silk Leads Field at NHMS
Defending Whelen Modified Champ Wins First Pole Of Season
Loudon, N.H. – The last time Ron Silk was at New Hampshire Motor Speedway he picked up a win from the pole on the way to winning the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship. It appears Silk wants a repeat this weekend at the New England track.
Silk won his second consecutive pole at New Hampshire and sixth of his career during qualifying for the Town Fair Tire 100 Friday. The Norwalk, Conn., driver outdistanced the field with a lap of 29.492 seconds (129.147 mph) around the 1.058-mile oval to take the top spot for the first time this season.
The Town Fair Tire 100 is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. The tour will have a final 45-minute practice session Saturday morning from 8:15 a.m.
Saturday 07/14:
[Photo Gallery] by Adam Fohlin
[Photo Gallery] by Nathan Teto
Ryan Preece qualified second at 29.842 (127.632), followed by points leader Doug Coby at 29.880 (127.470). Eric Berndt and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular Ryan Newman completed the top five.
Silk qualified next to last in the field of 34 cars and improved one spot from morning practice where he was second fastest behind Donny Lia.
Keith Rocco was sixth in qualifying, followed by Bryon Chew, Rowan Pennink, Mike Stefanik and defending race winner Todd Szegedy.
Ryan Blaney, making his first start in the NASCAR Whelen Modiifed Tour driving for Heinke-Baldwin Racing, qualified 11th.
QUALIFYING RESULTS
NWMT New Hampshire 7/14/12 Qualifying
POS CAR DRIVER TEAM TIME SPEED
1. 6 Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn. Reynolds Auto Wrkg/Schnitzer Chevrolet 29.492 129.147
2. 16 Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn. Diversified Metals/R.B.Enterp/Wales Irish Pub Ford 29.842 127.632
3. 52 Doug Coby, Milford, Conn. Reynolds Auto Wrecking Chevrolet 29.880 127.470
4. 46 Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn. Cape Cod Agts/North End Auto Parts Chevrolet 29.940 127.214
5. 7 Ryan Newman, South Bend, Ind. Menards/Aggressive Hydraulics Chevrolet 29.944 127.197
6. 3 Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn. * Cape Cod Copper/Silver Dollar Const. Chevrolet 29.969 127.091
7. 93 Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet 30.034 126.816
8. 88 Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y. Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East Restaurant Chevrolet 30.034 126.816
9. 66 Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I. Canto & Sons Pvng/Robert B Our Co Ford 30.070 126.664
10. 2 Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn Dunleavy Repair/A&J Romano Const. Ford 30.071 126.660
11. 98 Ryan Blaney, High Pointe, N.C. * Mohawk Northeast Inc Chevrolet 30.080 126.622
12. 45 Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa. Horwith Freightliner/John Blewett Inc Ford 30.109 126.500
13. 25 Zane Zeiner, Bath, Pa. ATC/ Spacefitters Dodge 30.135 126.391
14. 39 Richie Pallai, Jr, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. CARQUEST Filters Chevrolet 30.141 126.366
15. 70 Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H. Rockingham Boat/Summit Signs/Lee Vinyl Exczv 30.144 126.354
16. 58 Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y. Perimeters for the Home Chevrolet 30.150 126.328
17. 44 Bobby Santos III, Franklin, Mass. Imperial Cars/Tinio Corp. Chevrolet 30.155 126.307
18. 11 Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn. Spectro Oils of America Ford 30.160 126.286
19. 4 Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y. Mystic Missile Racing Dodge 30.169 126.249
20. 28 Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn Ron Bouchard's Autos/Raceworks TV Chevrolet 30.243 125.940
21. 64 Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn. DreamRide.org/Hughes Motors Chevrolet 30.282 125.778
22. 07 Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y. Emerling Chevrolet Dealership Chevrolet 30.337 125.550
23. 76 Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J. John Blewett Inc./Ling Trucking Chevrolet 30.338 125.546
24. 36 Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn. Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet 30.367 125.426
25. 71 Rob Fuller, Boylston, Mass. Draco Spring Ford 30.373 125.401
26. 79 Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass Hill Enterprises/Coors Light/LaBleu Water Pontiac 30.392 125.322
27. 51 Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y. M3 Technology Chevrolet 30.477 124.973
28. 33 Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn. Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil,/Ryan's Chevrolet 30.879 123.346
29. 38 Johnny Bush, Huntington Station, N.Y. Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil,/Ryan's Chevrolet 30.992 122.896
30. 26 Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Lakeland Landscape /TRC Electric Pontiac 31.149 122.277
31. 99 Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J. Supreme Manufacturing Chevrolet 31.205 122.057
32. 18 Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y. Buoy One Seafood/ Green Island Distributors Ford 31.283 121.753
33. 19 Steve Dickey, Londonderry, N.H. * Harold Estes Lumber/Old School Choppers Chevrolet 31.357 121.466
34. 82 Mike Christopher, Plainville, Conn. Connecticut Trailers Dodge 31.441 121.141
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate
Sources: Tim Southers/NASCAR WMT PR