Goodale Gets First Win at Home
Long Island Driver Scores Whelen Modified Victory At Riverhead
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — It was happy homecoming for Eric Goodale.
The 28-year-old from Riverhead scored his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win Saturday night in the Hoosier Tire 200 at Riverhead Raceway.
Goodale powered the No. 58 GAF Roofing/RBSCorp.com Chevrolet past Ted Christopher shortly after a Lap 170 restart and led the final 25 laps en route to the victory.
Goodale’s previous best finish in 77 starts was second at Riverhead last June. He also finished runner-up in the inaugural UNOH Battle At The Beach at Daytona International Speedway.
[Photo Gallery] by Paul Fohlin
Christopher held off Matt Hirschman for second. Ryan Preece, who had won the previous three races at Riverhead, slipped by Timmy Solomito for fourth in the closing laps.
Doug Coby finished sixth, followed by Ron Silk, Tom Rogers Jr., Shawn Solomito and Bobby Santos.
John Beatty Jr., who won the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day, finished 14th.
Justin Bonsginore lost the points lead after he was collected in a Lap 102 spin by Glen Reen and suffered right front suspension damage. Bonsignore finished 16th. Coby took the points lead by seven over Santos (204-197). Bonsignore is one point behind Santos and two ahead of fourth-place Christopher.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads next to New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The tour’s top drivers will race Friday, July 11 in the non-points Whelen All-Star Shootout; the championship season will resume Saturday, July 12 with the New Hampshire 100.
RESULTS | RACE CENTRAL LIVE REPLAY | AUDIO: WINNER ERIC GOODALE | AUDIO: RUNNER-UP TED CHRISTOPHER | AUDIO: THIRD PLACE MATT HIRSCHMAN
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR PR