Whelen Modified Stat Advance: Thompson
Analyzing The Sunoco World Series 150 At Thompson Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will conclude the 2013 season and crown a champion in the Sunoco World Series 150 presented by Xtra Mart on Sunday, Oct. 20 at Thompson (Conn.) Speedway. Below is a statistical look at the performance of tour and selected drivers at the track:
Thompson Race Setup:
• Ryan Preece enters the season finale at Thompson Speedway with a 26-point lead on defending champion Doug Coby. Preece can clinch his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title with a finish of 22nd or better.
• Ted Christopher has a record four victories in the World Series, and 13 overall at Thompson.
• Bobby Santos has won two of the last three NWMT races at Thompson, and is a two-time World Series victor.
• Preece is one of three NWMT drivers, along with Mike McLaughlin and Chuck Hossfeld, across the previous 28 editions of the World Series that has at least three runner-up finishes in the event without a win.
AT THOMPSON SPEEDWAY:
History
• Opened on May 26, 1940 as the largest and first entirely-asphalt track in New England at the time.
• Held NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in 1951, 1969 and 1970.
• Was an inaugural member track of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, which recently completed its 32nd season. Keith Rocco is the 2013 track champion out of the Sunoco Modified division.
Notebook
• Thompson has played host to 122 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races, the most in the tour’s 29 seasons.
• There have been 32 different race winners at Thompson, led by Mike Stefanik’s 15 victories.
• There have been 41 different pole winners at Thompson, led by Tony Hirschman’s 13.
• The Sunoco World Series 150 is expected to have 11 drivers entered who have won at Thompson during their careers: Stefanik (15), Christopher (13), Ed Flemke Jr. (4), Ron Silk (4), Bobby Santos (4), Donny Lia (3), Todd Szegedy (3), Justin Bonsignore (1), Doug Coby (1), Chuck Hossfeld (1) and Glen Reen (1).
Thompson Data
Race: #14 of 14 overall, #3 of 3 at Thompson
Track Layout: .625-mile asphalt oval
• Race Length: 150 laps (93.75 miles)
• Banking/Corners: 26 degrees
Qualifying/Race Data
2012 Pole Winner: Eric Berndt
2012 Race Winner: Bobby Santos
Qualifying Record: Bobby Santos (18.237 seconds, 123.376 mph – 4/10/11)
ACTIVE CATEGORY LEADERS AT THOMPSON:
Wins
1. Mike Stefanik … 15
2. Ted Christopher … 13
3. Ed Flemke Jr. … 4
Bobby Santos … 4
Ron Silk … 4
Poles
1. Mike Stefanik … 9
2. Ted Christopher … 7
3. Ed Flemke Jr. … 4
Ryan Preece … 4
Bobby Santos … 4
Laps Led
1. Mike Stefanik … 1,853
2. Ted Christopher … 1,723
3. Donny Lia … 531
4. Ed Flemke Jr. … 450
5. Todd Szegedy … 434
Starts
1. Jamie Tomaino … 122
2. Mike Stefanik … 107
3. Ed Flemke Jr. … 94
4. Ted Christopher … 81
5. Wade Cole … 77
CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES:
If Ryan Preece Wins
• He would be the youngest champion in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour history at 22 years, 11 months and 25 days. Bobby Santos holds the current mark at 25 years, 14 days.
• It would mark the fourth year in a row that the NWMT would produce a first-time champion, and the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
• It would be the second championship for the No. 16 Flamingo Motorsports team, which also won in 2006 with Mike Stefanik as the driver.
If Doug Coby Wins
• He would be the first driver to win back-to-back titles since 2004-05 and the fourth different driver in NWMT history to accomplish the feat. The other three are: Jimmy Spencer (1986-87), Tony Hirschman (1995-96, 2004-05) and Stefanik (1997-98, 2001-02).
• He would become the fifth different driver to earn multiple NWMT championships. The other four are: Stefanik (7), Hirschman (5), Donny Lia (2) and Spencer (2).
RACE MILESTONES:
• This will be the 100th career start for Rowan Pennink and the 125th for Ron Silk.
• Ed Flemke Jr. will extend his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour record for consecutive starts to 382 races and it will mark 21 consecutive seasons of competing in every race.
• Jamie Tomaino will keep his record perfect at Thompson Speedway by competing in all 123 of the NWMT’s all-time events there.
SELECTED DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS:
Justin Bonsignore (No. 51 M3 Technology Chevrolet)
• Has three wins, three poles and 32 top 10s in 59 career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts.
• Ranks seventh in points with eight top-10 finishes, highlighted by a win at Monadnock Speedway.
• Has a win (2012), four top 10s and an average finish of 17th in 13 career starts at Thompson Speedway. Has finishes of eighth and 20th in the two previous races there this year.
Ted Christopher (No. 3 Silver Dollar Construction/Cape Cod Copper Chevrolet)
• The 2008 NWMT champion. He has 42 wins, 24 poles and 181 top 10s in 334 career starts. His 42 wins rank third all-time and his 24 poles are eighth.
• Is 10th in the season standings with six top-10 finishes in 13 outings. The runner-up finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July is his best result of the season.
• Is looking to end a 28-race winless drought. It’s his longest such streak since the beginning of his career when his first win came in his 94th start.
• Has 13 wins, seven poles, 33 top fives and 43 top 10s in 81 career NWMT starts at Thompson. Also won the non-points UNOH Showdown at Thompson in 2012. Has finishes of seventh and fourth there this season.
• Has a record four victories in the Thompson World Series (2001, 2008, 2009 and 2010).
• Is a four-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track champion at Thompson out of the Sunoco Modified division and unofficially has 98 overall career victories at the track entering this week’s events.
Doug Coby (No. 52 Furnace & Duct Supply/Seekonk Grand Prix Chevrolet)
• The 2012 NWMT champion has nine wins, four poles and 65 top 10s in 143 career starts.
• Ranks second in points with two wins and nine top 10s in 13 races.
• Has a win (2011), 19 top 10s and an average finish of 12th in 38 career NWMT starts at Thompson.
• Has that win, nine top 10s and an average finish of seventh in 11 races at Thompson since joining forces with the No. 52 team. The team also won the non-points UNOH Showdown at Thompson in 2011.
Chuck Hossfeld (No. 72 Jerry Gradl Motors Chevrolet)
• Has seven wins, nine poles and 78 top 10s in 137 career starts.
• Has four top fives in five NWMT races this season.
• Has a win (2003 Icebreaker), a pole, 15 top fives and 22 top 10s in 33 career starts at Thompson. Finished ninth in this year’s Icebreaker.
• Has the most runner-up finishes in World Series history with four (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008). Has eight runner-ups overall at Thompson.
Donny Lia (No. 4 Circle Track Magazine Dodge)
• The 2007 and 2009 NWMT champion. He has 17 wins, 18 poles and 71 top 10s in 140 career starts.
• Is up to third in points after 13 events with a win – last time out at Stafford – and seven top 10s.
• Has three wins, three poles and 13 top 10s in 31 career starts at Thompson. Has finishes of 23rd and second there this year.
Rowan Pennink (No. 93 Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet)
• Has a win and 48 top 10s in 99 career starts.
• Ranks sixth in the points with seven top 10s in 13 outings. Best season finish was second in the Thompson opener.
• Has six top fives, 15 top 10s and an average finish of 12th in 26 career starts at Thompson. Has finishes of second and 18th there this season.
Woody Pitkat (No. 79 Mr. Rooter/Coors Light Pontiac)
• Has 34 top 10s in 77 career starts. Best career finish is second, recorded twice.
• Ranks ninth in points and is tied for the NWMT lead with nine top 10s in 13 races. Best finish of the season was fourth at Riverhead Raceway in September.
• Has five top 10s, an average finish of 17th and a best result of fifth – in the last race there – in 21 career NWMT starts at Thompson. Finished 11th in this year’s Icebreaker.
• Recorded two wins in the NWAAS Modified division at Thompson this year and tied for the points lead, but lost the championship to Keith Rocco in a tiebreaker.
Ryan Preece (No. 16 East West Marine/Diversified Metals Ford)
• Has nine wins, 12 poles, 24 podiums, 41 top fives and 53 top 10s in 94 career starts.
• Is the season points leader with four wins and top-five finishes in nine of 13 races.
• Has four poles, 12 top 10s, an average finish of 13th and a best result of second (four times) in 24 Thompson starts. Has finishes of third and 13th there this season.
• Was the 2012 NWAAS Sunoco Modified division champion at Thompson where he recorded 11 wins in the last two seasons.
Keith Rocco (No. 46 Cape Cod Aggregates Chevrolet)
• Has seven top 10s in 13 career NWMT starts with a best finish of third in the 2013 Stafford Spring Sizzler.
• Made his debut at Thompson in the 2008 World Series. Has three top 10s, an average finish of 12th and a best result of fifth in five career Thompson starts.
• Finished in the top four in the NWAAS national standings for the seventh year in a row on the strength of 14 wins and 39 top 10s in 48 points races. Earned five wins at Thompson en route to his fourth NWAAS track title there.
Bobby Santos (No. 44 Tinio Racing/Brendan Kelley Music Chevrolet)
• The 2010 NWMT champion has 10 wins, 12 poles and 42 top 10s in 79 career starts.
• Ranks 13th in points with two wins, four poles and six top-five finishes in 11 starts.
• Has four wins, four poles, 11 top fives and 16 top 10s in 27 career starts at Thompson.
• His first NWMT win came in the 2007 Thompson World Series and he also won the event last year.
Ron Silk (No. 6 TS Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm Chevrolet)
• The 2011 NWMT champion has nine wins, eight poles and 71 top 10s in 124 career starts.
• Ranks eighth in points this season with a pole and nine top 10s in 13 events. Best finish was second at Stafford in June.
• Has four wins, 20 top 10s and an average finish of 11th in 33 career NWMT starts at Thompson. Has finishes of fourth and sixth there this season.
• Has won the Icebreaker, June, August and September dates at Thompson through the years, but not the World Series.
Mike Stefanik (No. 22 Robert B. Our Co./Canto & Sons Paving Ford)
• The 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2006 NWMT champion.
• Holds NWMT records for most titles (seven), wins (74), poles (48), top fives (223) and top 10s (300).
• Sits fourth in points this year with eight top 10s in 13 events, highlighted by wins in the Thompson opener and Bristol.
• Leads all drivers at Thompson with 15 wins, 52 top fives, 67 top 10s and 1,853 laps led across 107 races.
• Won the Thompson World Series in 1998 and 2004. Has finishes of first and 11th at the track this year.
Todd Szegedy (No. 2 UNOH/Dunleavy Repair Chevrolet)
• The 2003 NWMT champion has 18 wins, 10 poles and 112 top 10s in 180 career starts.
• Ranks fifth in points after 13 events with a win and six top 10s. Won at New Hampshire in September to end a career-long winless drought at 28 races.
• Has three wins, three poles, 12 top fives and 21 top 10s in 42 career starts at Thompson. Last win there came in 2008, 18 races ago. Has finishes of 16th and ninth there this year.
UP TO SPEED:
• The 2013 season is the 29th for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
• The 2013 schedule features 14 races at seven different tracks across four states.
• The competition season began with the non-points UNOH Battle At The Beach on the short track at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Feb. 19. The Modified feature was won by Steve Park.
• Mike Stefanik won from the pole in the season-opening Icebreaker at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on April 14.
• Bobby Santos matched Stefanik’s feat from the opener when he won from the pole in the second race of the season on April 28 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.
• At Stafford on June 14 it was Santos on the pole, but Ryan Preece rallied from the rear for the victory. The race was postponed twice – on May 24 and June 7 – due to rain.
• Preece made it two-in-a-row when he took the checkered flag following a thrilling green-white-checkered finish at Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl on June 22. Todd Szegedy was the event’s pole winner.
• At Riverhead on June 29 Preece made it three victories in a row when he took yet another checkered flag. Ron Silk was the pole winner prior to the event.
• Doug Coby earned his first win of the season on July 13 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Jimmy Blewett was the event’s pole winner.
• Eric Goodale captured his first career pole and Justin Bonsignore earned his third career victory at Monadnock Speedway on July 27.
• Santos made it 3-for-3 in poles at Stafford on the year, but it was Coby who went on to take the checkered flag at the historic half mile on Aug. 2.
• Santos won from the pole at Thompson on Aug. 15.
• In the fifth annual combination race with the Whelen Southern Modified Tour at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 21, Donny Lia set fast time but it was Stefanik that drove to his first victory at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile.”
• On Sept. 14 Preece earned his third straight victory at Riverhead and part-time rookie Timmy Solomito was the pole winner.
• Todd Szegedy ended a career-long winless drought at New Hampshire on Sept. 21. Ryan Newman was the pole winner for the event.
• Lia won from the pole at Stafford on Sept. 29.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR