PRACTICE: Veterans Lead Field At Thompson
Stefanik And Christopher On Top Of Speed Chart
THOMPSON, Conn. – Two long-time veterans of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour topped the speed chart at Thompson International Speedway on Thursday during practice for tonight's Budweiser King of Beers 150.
Seven-time tour champion Mike Stefanik lapped the high-banked .625-mile oval in 18.687 seconds, at an average speed of 120.405 mph.
The Coventry, R.I., driver was followed closely by Ted Christopher, who turned a fast lap of 18.707 seconds (120.276 mph).
Doug Coby, who has a 41-point lead in the championship standings, was third quickest in practice – followed by Bobby Santos and Rowan Pennink. Donny Lia, Eric Berndt, Ron Silk, Todd Szegedy and Justin Bonsignore completed the top 10 on the chart during the one-hour practice session.
Stefanik, driver of the No. 66 Barnyard Raceway/Sunoco Race Fuels Ford, will be making his 104th start at Thompson. He leads all drivers with 14 wins, 63 top 10s and 1,769 laps led there. He also has eight poles and an average finish of 11th. His last win there came in the 2006 Icebreaker.
Christopher – who is second to Stefanik in terms of wins, poles and laps led at Thompson – is behind the wheel of the famed “Ole Blue” for the first time in his career. The 2008 tour champion is filling in for the injured Keith Rocco in the Boehler Racing Enterprises No. 3, after Christopher's former full-time team closed operations in July. Christopher is the defending pole and race winner of the Budweiser King of Beers 150, and has won seven of his last 12 starts at Thompson.
Qualifying for tonight's 150-lap event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET, with the race set to go green at 9 p.m.
The Budweiser King of Beers 150 is the first race in the second half of the 2012 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule and the second of four events this season at Thompson International Speedway.
NWMT Thompson 8/9/12 Practice
Pos No. Name Team Best Speed Best Tm In Lap Laps Diff
1 66 Mike Stefanik Canto & Sons Paving/Willy's Towing 120.405 18.687 7 13
2 3 Ted Christopher Cape Cod Copper/Silver Dollar Const 120.276 18.707 17 19 0.020
3 52 Doug Coby Reynolds Auto Wrkg/Furnace & Duct 120.218 18.716 23 23 0.029
4 44 Bobby Santos Imperial Cars/Tinio Corporation 120.115 18.732 13 13 0.045
5 93 Rowan Pennink Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner 120.102 18.734 25 25 0.047
6 4 Donny Lia Mystic Missile Racing 120.064 18.740 34 35 0.053
7 46 Eric Berndt North End Auto Parts/Cape Cod Agts 120.013 18.748 19 21 0.061
8 6 Ron Silk Calvertson Tree Farm/T.S. Haulers 120.013 18.748 34 35 0.061
9 2 Todd Szegedy Dunleavy Repair/ A&J Romano Const., Ford 119.942 18.759 26 28 0.072
10 51 Justin Bonsignore M3 Technology 119.910 18.764 28 29 0.077
11 76 Jimmy Blewett John Blewett Inc/Ling Trucking 119.891 18.767 24 25 0.080
12 79 Jon McKennedy Hill Enterprises/Coors Light 119.776 18.785 30 31 0.098
13 88 Bryon Chew Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East 119.420 18.841 30 38 0.154
14 16 Ryan Preece East West Marine 119.319 18.857 21 28 0.170
15 07 Patrick Emerling Emerling Chevrolet Dealership 118.846 18.932 27 28 0.245
16 11 Woody Pitkat Spectro Oils of America 118.608 18.970 34 36 0.283
17 58 Eric Goodale Riverhead Building Supply 118.540 18.981 30 30 0.294
18 28 Ed Flemke Jr. Ron Bouchard's Auto/Raceworks TV 118.365 19.009 26 26 0.322
19 45 Eric Beers Horwith Freightliner/John Blewett Inc. 118.265 19.025 28 28 0.338
20 64 Ron Yuhas Jr. DreamRide.org/Complete Construction 118.203 19.035 30 31 0.348
21 99 Jamie Tomaino Supreme Manufacturing 117.586 19.135 12 14 0.448
22 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood/MacLad Drywall 116.980 19.234 17 24 0.547
23 71 Rob Fuller Draco Springs 116.738 19.274 14 17 0.587
24 33 Wade Cole Perf Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan's 114.486 19.653 10 17 0.966
25 38 Johnny Bush Perf Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan's 112.663 19.971 3 5 1.284
Sources: Kevin W. Green/NASCAR WMT PR