PRACTICE: Santos Leads At Stafford
Fastest In Whelen Modified Spring Sizzler Session
STAFFORD, Conn. – Bobby Santos picked up right where he left off in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s last visit to Stafford Motor Speedway when he led CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler practice Saturday afternoon.
Santos, winner of the CARQUEST Fall Final last September at Stafford, posted a quick lap of 17.938 seconds (100.346 mph) during the 75-minute practice session. A winner of the Coors Light Pole Award three times in his career at Stafford, Santos’ lap was just behind the track qualifying record established by Ryan Preece in this event last year at 17.924 (100.424).
Santos was followed on the speed chart by Justin Bonsignore at 17.946 (100.301) and Donny Lia at 17.971 (100.161). They were the only three to top the 100 mph mark.
Santos, from Franklin, Mass., will look to regain the record that he held prior to Preece’s run a year ago in qualifying later today.
Rowan Pennink, Todd Szegedy, Eric Berndt, Eric Goodale, Mike Stefanik, Ron Silk and Jimmy Blewett rounded out the top 10.
Defending race winner – and tour champion – Doug Coby was 12th-fastest. Ted Christopher, the record-holder for the most Whelen Modified Tour Spring Sizzler wins with five, ranked 19th.
Coors Light Pole qualifying is set to begin at the historic half mile at 2:30 p.m.
NWMT Stafford 4/28/13 Practice
Submitted by jcunningham on April 27, 2013 – 1:00pm
Pos No. Name Sponsor Time Speed Diff In Lap
1 44 Bobby Santos Curb Records/Brendan Kelley Music 17.938 100.346 16
2 51 Justin Bonsignore M3 Technology 17.946 100.301 0.008 42
3 4 Donny Lia Circle Track Magazine 17.971 100.161 0.033 28
4 93 Rowan Pennink Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner 18.036 99.800 0.098 4
5 2 Todd Szegedy Dunleavy Truck & Trailer 18.062 99.657 0.124 41
6 46 Eric Berndt North End Auto Parts/Cape Cod Aggts 18.073 99.596 0.135 32
7 58 Eric Goodale Riverhead Building Supply 18.094 99.480 0.156 36
8 22 Mike Stefanik Robert B Our Co/Canto & Sons Paving 18.114 99.371 0.176 3
9 6 Ron Silk TS Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm 18.117 99.354 0.179 4
10 76 Jimmy Blewett John Blewett Inc/TS Haulers 18.120 99.338 0.182 21
11 16 Ryan Preece East West Marines/Diversified Metals 18.133 99.267 0.195 31
12 52 Doug Coby Reynolds Auto Wrecking & Furnace & Duct Supply 18.149 99.179 0.211 37
13 64 Ron Yuhas Jr. Hughes Motors/Complete Construction 18.152 99.163 0.214 49
14 39 Richie Pallai Jr. MAHLE Performance/Lucas Oil 18.159 99.124 0.221 56
15 73 Cole Powell* Copps BuildAll/Tricar 18.206 98.869 0.268 46
16 72 Chuck Hossfeld Jerry Gradl Motors 18.209 98.852 0.271 37
17 88 Bryon Chew Buzz Chew Chevrolet/GT Vodka 18.213 98.831 0.275 35
18 07 Patrick Emerling Emerling Chevrolet Dealership 18.232 98.728 0.294 29
19 3 Ted Christopher Silver Dollar Const/Cape Cod Copper 18.241 98.679 0.303 19
20 79 Woody Pitkat Hill Enterprises/Coors Light 18.280 98.468 0.342 32
21 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood/Mehner Racing 18.326 98.221 0.388 24
22 99 Jamie Tomaino Supreme Manufacturing 18.357 98.055 0.419 15
23 28 Ed Flemke, Jr. Ron Bouchards Auto Stores 18.503 97.282 0.565 15
24 38 Brian Schofield* Perf Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s 18.602 96.764 0.664 19
25 33 Wade Cole Perf Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s 18.744 96.031 0.806 16
*Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR