QUALIFYING: Lia On Point for Fall Final
Earns 18th Career Whelen Modified Tour Pole, Eighth At Stafford
STAFFORD, Conn. – Donny Lia earned his 18th career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Coors Light Pole Award Saturday at Stafford Motor Speedway in advance of the CARQUEST Fall Final 150.
Lia, from Jericho, N.Y., recorded a fast lap of 18.295 seconds (98.388 mph) to edge Bobby Santos for the pole. Santos, who was attempting to become the first driver in Whelen Modified Tour history to sweep a season of pole awards at Stafford, finished with a fast lap of 18.299 (98.366).
Season points leader Ryan Preece qualified third around the historic half mile at 18.413 (97.757) while Rowan Pennink was fourth at 18.426 (97.688) and Chuck Hossfeld fifth at 18.430 (97.667).
Todd Szegedy, Justin Bonsignore, Bryon Chew, Doug Coby and Cole Powell rounded out the top 10 qualifiers.
It was the second pole of the season for Lia, following his previous top-qualifying effort at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Aug. 21, and the eighth in his 36 career Whelen Modified Tour races at Stafford.
Santos had won the pole in the tour’s first three trips to Stafford this season. In coming up just short of the season sweep today, he’ll have to settle for being one of just four drivers that have earned three of four at the track in the 29-year history of the Whelen Modified Tour.
Coincidentally, Lia is also a member of that select group – he did it in 2005.
Ryan Preece, who brings in a 41-point lead in the season standings on the reigning champion Coby, will have a chance to clinch the 2013 championship tomorrow at Stafford. If Preece is able to gain seven points on Coby – by finishing position and potential bonus points – then the 22-year-old will secure his first Whelen Modified Tour title with one race to go on the schedule.
The CARQUEST Fall Final 150 is slated to take the green flag on Sunday at approximately 3:15 p.m.
NWMT Stafford 9/29/13 Qualifying
Pos No. Name Sponsor Time Speed
1 4 Donny Lia Circle Track Magazine 18.295 98.388
2 44 Bobby Santos Tinio Racing/Brendan Kelley Music 18.299 98.366
3 16 Ryan Preece Sanderson-MacLeod/East West Marine 18.413 97.757
4 93 Rowan Pennink Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner 18.426 97.688
5 72 Chuck Hossfeld Jerry Gradl Motors 18.430 97.667
6 2 Todd Szegedy UNOH/Dunleavy Repair 18.432 97.656
7 51 Justin Bonsignore M3 Technology 18.464 97.487
8 88 Bryon Chew Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East 18.494 97.329
9 52 Doug Coby Furnace & Duct/Seekonk Grand Priox 18.517 97.208
10 73 Cole Powell* Copps Buildall/Tricar Developments 18.546 97.056
11 79 Woody Pitkat Mr. Rooter/Coors Light/Hill Enterprise 18.567 96.946
12 3 Ted Christopher RB Leasing/Nash Road Motors 18.589 96.831
13 22 Mike Stefanik Robert B Our Co/Canto & Sons Paving 18.602 96.764
14 39 Richie Pallai, Jr. MAHLE Performance/Lucas Oil 18.611 96.717
15 46 Eric Berndt Cape Cod Aggts/North End Auto Parts 18.629 96.624
16 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood/Mehner Racing 18.633 96.603
17 6 Ron Silk TS Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm 18.641 96.561
18 07 Patrick Emerling Buffalo Auto Auction/Emerling Chevrolet 18.648 96.525
19 28 Ed Flemke, Jr. Ron Bouchard’s Auto Stores 18.687 96.324
20 64 Ron Yuhas, Jr. Fast Track Electric/Hughes Motors 18.715 96.180
21 99 Jamie Tomaino Supreme Mfg./Van Wickle NAPA 18.810 95.694
22 58 Eric Goodale Riverhead Bulding Supply 18.831 95.587
23 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscapte/TRC Electric 19.114 94.172
24 38 Dave Salzarulo* Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s 19.157 93.960
25 33 Wade Cole Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s 19.231 93.599
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR