Berndt Captures Thompson World Series Pole
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Points Leader Coby Qualifies Ninth For Finale
THOMPSON, Conn. — Eric Berndt earned the second Coors Light Pole Award of his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour career on Saturday in advance of the season finale Sunoco-Town Fair Tire World Series on Sunday at Thompson International Speedway.
Berndt, from Cromwell, Conn., toured the .625-mile, high-banked oval in 18.607 seconds (120.922 mph) for his first pole since 2009 at Stafford Motor Speedway.
Season points leader Doug Coby qualified ninth with a fast lap of 18.771 (119.866). Seventeen points back, Ryan Preece qualified fourth at 18.648 (120.656) while defending champ Ron Silk – who is 18 behind Coby – will start alongside Preece in the second row after qualifying third at 18.632 (120.760).
Berndt will be joined on the front row for Sunday’s finale by Bobby Santos, who won last time out at Stafford. The 2010 Whelen Modified Tour champion, in a part-time role this year, posted the second-fastest qualifying lap of the 32-car field at 18.624 (120.812).
Following Preece and Silk among the top-10 qualifiers were Justin Bonsignore, Mike Stefanik, Eric Beers, Jimmy Blewett, Coby and Andy Seuss.
The green flag for the Sunoco-Town Fair Tire World Series is slated for approximately 3:15 p.m. ET on Sunday. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series features will begin at 12 p.m.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR
Qualifying Results
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR – Sunoco-Town Fair Tire 150 Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying Saturday
at Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, Conn.
Lap Length: 0.625 miles
1. (46) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 120.922
2. (44) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 120.812
3. (6) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 120.760
4. (16) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 120.656
5. (51) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 120.540
6. (66) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 120.186
7. (45) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Ford, 120.019
8. (76) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 119.923
9. (52) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 119.866
10. (11) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 119.827
11. (79) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Pontiac, 119.598
12. (4) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 119.490
13. (88) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.376
14. (2) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn, Ford, 119.155
15. (10) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 119.054
16. (71) Rob Fuller, Boylston, Mass., Ford, 118.708
17. (50) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.671
18. (07) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.627
19. (3) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 118.596
20. (64) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 118.483
21. (9) Tom Rogers, Jr., Patchogue, N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.458
22. (99) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 118.247
23. (82) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Ford, 118.203
24. (93) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 118.092
25. (28) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn, Chevrolet, 117.776
26. (73) Cole Powell, Mount Brydges, Ontario, Chevrolet, 117.746
27. (58) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 117.524
28. (33) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 115.284*
29. (18) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 117.297*
30. (68) Johnny Bush, Huntington Station, N.Y., Chevrolet, 111.359*
31. (38) Steve Dickey, Londonderry, N.H., Chevrolet, 112.793*
32. (57) Shawn Solomito, Islip, Chevrolet, 113.322*
* Provisional starter