PRACTICE: Preece In Championship Form
Points Leader Fastest In Thompson World Series Practice
THOMPSON, Conn. – If there’s one thing that NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship points leader Ryan Preece doesn’t have to worry about this weekend at Thompson Speedway, it’s finding speed.
Preece, from Berlin, Conn., enters the season finale Sunoco World Series 150 presented by Xtra Mart with a 26-point lead on defending champion Doug Coby. With a finish of 22nd or better in the event on Sunday, the 22-year-old would wrap up his first Whelen Modified Tour title.
In practice Saturday at the .625-mile oval, Preece and the No. 16 East West Marine/Sophie’s Rest Ford team proved that they’re ready for the challenge as they paced the 75-minute practice session with a fast lap of 18.610 seconds (120.903 mph).
Photo Galleries:
[October 19] by Paul Fohlin
[October 20] by Paul Fohlin
A four-time race winner this year, Preece will look for his first pole of the season in Coors Light Pole qualifying today at 2:30 p.m.
Defending race winner Bobby Santos finished second on the practice chart at 18.641 (120.702). He also won the Whelen Modified Tour’s previous event at Thompson in August.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award winner Cole Powell ranked third in practice at 18.656 (120.605) followed by Rowan Pennink at 18.679 (120.456) and Woody Pitkat at 18.690 (120.385).
Donny Lia, Mike Stefanik, Todd Szegedy, Timmy Solomito and Keith Rocco brought home the top 10. Coby finished practice 15th-fastest.
The Sunoco World Series 150 presented by Xtra Mart will go green on Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m.
PRACTICE RESULTS
NWMT Thompson 10/20/13 Practice
Submitted by jcunningham on October 19, 2013 – 1:02pm
Pos No. Name Sponsor Time Speed In Lap Laps Diff
1 16 Ryan Preece East West Marine/Sophie’s Rest 18.610 120.903 33 36
2 44 Bobby Santos Tinio Racing/Brendan Kelley Music 18.641 120.702 4 20 0.031
3 73 Cole Powell* Copps Buildall/Tricar Developments 18.656 120.605 29 30 0.046
4 93 Rowan Pennink Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner 18.679 120.456 30 43 0.069
5 79 Woody Pitkat Mr. Rooter/Coors Light/Hill Ent. 18.690 120.385 4 27 0.080
6 4 Donny Lia Circle Track Magazine 18.698 120.334 28 39 0.088
7 22 Mike Stefanik Robert B Our Co/Canto & Sons Paving 18.719 120.199 18 19 0.109
8 2 Todd Szegedy UNOH/Dunleavy Repair 18.749 120.006 39 40 0.139
9 89 Timmy Solomito* Eastport Feeds/Axel Anderson Truck Repair 18.782 119.796 45 46 0.172
10 46 Keith Rocco Cape Cod Agts/Petit Engines 18.792 119.732 4 29 0.182
11 64 Ron Yuhas Jr. Fast Track Electric/Hughes Motors 18.812 119.605 46 46 0.202
12 58 Eric Goodale Riverhead Building Supply 18.825 119.522 22 42 0.215
13 20 Max Zachem* Dunleavy Rpr/Hitchcock Pool Water 18.840 119.427 37 37 0.230
14 3 Ted Christopher Silver Dollar Const/Cape Cod Copper 18.847 119.382 11 19 0.237
15 52 Doug Coby Furnace & Duct/Seekonk Grand Prix 18.848 119.376 19 21 0.238
16 51 Justin Bonsignore M3 Technology 18.853 119.344 35 36 0.243
17 60 Matt Hirschman B.C. BrennenstuhlM1 Mod Manic 18.858 119.313 32 37 0.248
18 6 Ron Silk TS Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm 18.893 119.092 43 44 0.283
19 88 Bryon Chew Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East 18.904 119.022 13 29 0.294
20 15 Rob Fuller 15-40 Connection 18.934 118.834 23 23 0.324
21 72 Chuck Hossfeld Jerry Gradl Motors 18.961 118.665 16 32 0.351
22 11 John Beatty Jr.* Freeport Collision/N. Shore Recycling 19.041 118.166 28 59 0.431
23 71 Jimmy Zacharias Vista-PPO Automotive 19.051 118.104 20 20 0.441
24 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood/Mehner Racing 19.117 117.696 23 24 0.507
25 28 Ed Flemke, Jr. Ron Bouchards Auto Stores 19.119 117.684 13 38 0.509
26 99 Jamie Tomaino Supreme Mfg./Van Wickle NAPA 19.129 117.622 15 16 0.519
27 8 Glen Reen Sypher Construction/North I Steakhouse 19.418 115.872 8 8 0.808
28 38 David Salzarulo* Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s 19.430 115.800 23 27 0.820
29 33 Wade Cole Perf Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s 19.576 114.937 17 30 0.966
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR