Preece Rockets To Thompson Victory
Rolls to Second NASCAR Whelen Modified Win After Late Pit Stop
THOMPSON, Conn. (June 14, 2017) – Ryan Preece’s pit stop strategy pushed him back in the field. But the Berlin, Connecticut, driver wasted no time in driving to the front en route to Wednesday night’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in the Thompson 125 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
The win was the second of the season for Preece and 17th of his career.
Preece pitted with many of his lead challengers on lap 70. The No. 6 TS Haulers Chevrolet was forced to restart outside the top 10 behind a number of cars including Rowan Pennink and Bobby Santos, who pitted earlier. A late charge through the field by Preece culminated with a move to the inside of Pennink for the lead with just 18 laps to go.
From there, Preece pulled away from the field and clicked off some of the fastest laps he ran all night while out in front of the pack. He finished 2.106 seconds ahead of second-place Pennink.
“All of my guys work really hard,” Preece said. “Our guys live in Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, so it can be hard for them. As long as the car is good and I can drive forward, it’s my job to get myself back there. I shouldn’t have to depend on them.”
Preece, who won the NAPA Spring Sizzler at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway on April 30, missed the last tour race on May 13 to get married.
Back on the race track, he had an early hiccup when he missed the final minutes of the only practice session of the day because of a broken driveshaft. Once they got to the race, though, there was no issue.
Pennink followed up his Thompson win in April’s Icebreaker 150 with another strong run on the .625-mile oval. He pitted under caution at Lap 50 and inherited the lead 20 laps later when the lead pack came down pit road.
Santos, who pitted for tires on lap 33 and stayed out for the remainder of the race, held on for third. Santos was the defending race winner.
“Our strategy definitely worked in his favor,” Santos said. “We weren’t spectacular to start the race but we made a good adjustment and put tires on and we had a good car overall tonight.”
Four-time tour champion Doug Coby qualified second and finished in fourth spot, with Eric Goodale rounding out the top five.
Jon McKennedy, Ted Christopher, Timmy Solomito, Andrew Krause and Max Zachem. Donny Lia won the Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day but got caught up in an early wreck and finished 23rd.
Pennink cut Solomito’s lead to two points after five of 16 championship events, while Goodale is 17 points back of Pennink in third. Despite missing a race, Preece is 10th in points — seven behind ninth-place Coby and 47 out of first.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track at Riverhead Raceway on Long Island on Saturday, June 24.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Thompson 125 Results
Wednesday
At Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Thompson, Conn.
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (5) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 125 laps.
2. (3) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 125.
3. (12) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 125.
4. (2) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 125.
5. (8) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 125.
6. (11) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass., Chevrolet, 125.
7. (20) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 125.
8. (4) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 125.
9. (22) Andrew Krause, Holmdel, N.J., Chevrolet, 125.
10. (9) Max Zachem, Preston, Conn., Chevrolet, 125.
11. (17) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 125.
12. (18) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Ford, 125.
13. (23) Gary Putnam, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 125.
14. (13) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 125.
15. (21) Rob Summers, Manchester, CT, Chevrolet, 124.
16. (24) Bryan Dauzat, Alexandria, LA., Chevrolet, 124.
17. (26) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Ford, 122.
18. (25) Calvin Carroll, Newton, N.J., Chevrolet, 120.
19. (27) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 120.
20. (16) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 104.
21. (7) Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 91, accident.
22. (19) Craig Lutz, Miller Place, N.Y., Chevrolet, 91, accident.
23. (1) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Chevrolet, 91, accident.
24. (28) Walter Sutcliffe Jr., East Haven, Conn., Chevrolet, 73.
25. (6) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 60, power steering.
26. (10) Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, N.Y., Chevrolet, 45, power steering.
27. (14) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Chevrolet, 33, suspension.
28. (15) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 15, accident.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds
Margin of Victory: 2.106 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: D.Lia (120.689 mph, 18.643 seconds)
Caution Flags: 5 for 28 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: D. Lia 1-23; R. Preece 24-60; C. Dowling 61-81; R. Pennink 82-107; R. Preece 108-125.
Standings: 1. T. Solomito, 206; 2. R. Pennink, 204; 3. E. Goodale, 187; 4. M. Zachem, 177; 5. J. Bonsignore, 177; 6. M. Swanson, 166; 7. W. Pitkat, 165; 8. R. Summers, 160; 9.
D. Coby, 159; 10. R. Preece, 152.
Sources: Jason Christley/NASCAR IMC
NWMT Thompson 6/14/17 Results
Whelen Modified Tour
Race:
PRINTABLE FORMAT (PDF)
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Status
1 5 6 Ryan Preece TS Haulers Inc/Hoosier Tire of Calverton Chevrolet 125 48 5 Running
2 3 3 Rowan Pennink Cape Cod Copper Chevrolet 125 43 1 Running
3 12 44 Bobby Santos Sully Tinio/Brendan Kelley Music Chevrolet 125 41 Running
4 2 2 Doug Coby Mayhew Tools Chevrolet 125 40 Running
5 8 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing Chevrolet 125 39 Running
6 11 0 Jon McKennedy Brad Brady Racing Chevrolet 125 38 Running
7 20 82 Ted Christopher Horton Avenue Materials Chevrolet 125 37 Running
8 4 16 Timmy Solomito Starrett Tools Ford 125 36 Running
9 22 24 Andrew Krause Supreme Manufacturing Chevrolet 125 35 Running
10 9 20 Max Zachem Anytime Rental/Lu-Macs Chevrolet 125 34 Running
11 17 46 Woody Pitkat Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet 125 33 Running
12 18 89 Matt Swanson Starrett Tools Ford 125 32 Running
13 23 77 Gary Putnam Curb Records Chevrolet 125 31 Running
14 13 51 Justin Bonsignore Phoenix Communications Inc. Chevrolet 125 30 Running
15 21 64 Rob Summers Hoosier Tire East/Fast Track Elect/Hughes Motors 124 29 Running
16 24 97 Bryan Dauzat O.B. Builders Chevrolet 124 28 Running
17 26 33 Wade Cole Perf. Engines/Kendall Oil Ford 122 27 Running
18 25 39 Calvin Carroll * Power with Prestige/Cruising w/Betty Chevrolet 120 26 Running
19 27 1 Melissa Fifield Eastern Propane & Oil Chevrolet 120 25 Running
20 16 36 Dave Sapienza Sapienza Enterprise Chevrolet 104 24 Running
21 7 15 Chase Dowling 15-40 Connection Chevrolet 91 24 1 Accident
22 19 56 Craig Lutz Lutz Motorsports Chevrolet 91 22 Accident
23 1 7 Donny Lia Bardahl Chevrolet 91 22 1 Accident
24 28 78 Walter Sutcliffe Jr. * Last Minute Racing Chevrolet 73 20 Running
25 6 48 Shawn Solomito Eastport Feeds Chevrolet 60 19 Power Steering
26 10 29 Brendon Bock Meadow Brook Collison/Mosquito Free Organic 45 18 Power Steering
27 14 85 Todd Szegedy Stuarts Automotiive/J&R Pre-Cast Chevrolet 33 17 Suspension
28 15 11 Andy Seuss LFR Chassis Chevrolet 1 Accident
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Donny Lia, Time: 18.643 Seconds, Speed: 120.689 mph
Margin of Victory: 2.106 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 16-19 (Car 11 hit turn 2 wall contact); 30-34 (39 spun backstretch no contact); 47-52 (97 and 39 spun turn 4 no contact); 77-83 (46 spun front stretch no contact); 91-96 (7, 56, 51, 15, 36 contact backstretch also trew red flag). 5 for 28 laps.
Lap Leaders: Donny Lia 1-23, Ryan Preece 24-60, Chase Dowling 61-81, Rowan Pennink 82-107, Ryan Preece 108-125.
Total Laps Led: Ryan Preece 55, Rowan Pennink 26, Donny Lia 23, Chase Dowling 21. 4 changes involving 4 drivers.
Top 10 Driver Points: Timmy Solomito 206, Rowan Pennink 204, Eric Goodale 187, Max Zachem 177, Justin Bonsignore 177, Matt Swanson 166, Woody Pitkat 165, Rob Summers 160, Doug Coby 159, Ryan Preece 152
Next Race: Riverhead 6/24/17
* Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
STANDINGS
2017 Driver Standings: Thompson
Whelen Modified Tour
Race: NWMT Thompson 6/14/17
Print Version (PDF) | Owner Standings | Rookie & Contingency Award Standings
Pos Driver Name Points Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10
1 Timmy Solomito 206 5 2 3 4
2 Rowan Pennink 204 5 1 2 5
3 Eric Goodale 187 5 0 4 4
4 Max Zachem 177 5 0 3 4
5 Justin Bonsignore 177 5 0 1 4
6 Matt Swanson 166 5 0 0 2
7 Woody Pitkat 165 5 0 0 2
8 Rob Summers 160 5 0 1 2
9 Doug Coby 159 5 0 2 2
10 Ryan Preece 152 4 2 3 3
11 Dave Sapienza 141 5 0 0 1
12 Craig Lutz 131 5 0 0 1
13 Wade Cole 127 5 0 0 0
14 Calvin Carroll * 118 5 0 0 0
15 Gary Putnam 117 4 0 0 0
16 Todd Szegedy 110 5 0 0 1
17 Andy Seuss 107 4 0 1 1
18 Melissa Fifield 106 5 0 0 0
19 Ron Silk 96 3 0 0 1
20 Walter Sutcliffe Jr. * 92 4 0 0 0
21 Kyle Ellwood 87 3 0 0 0
22 Chase Dowling 84 3 0 1 1
23 Brendon Bock 83 3 0 0 0
24 Bobby Santos 82 2 0 2 2
25 Shawn Solomito 82 4 0 0 0
26 Andrew Krause 81 3 0 0 1
27 Ted Christopher 76 2 0 1 2
28 Danny Bohn 68 2 0 0 1
29 Kyle Bonsignore 67 2 0 1 1
30 Donny Lia 66 3 0 0 0
31 Bryan Dauzat 57 2 0 0 0
32 George Brunnhoelzl III 50 2 0 0 0
33 Jeremy Gerstner 40 1 0 0 0
34 Patrick Emerling 38 1 0 0 1
35 Jon McKennedy 38 1 0 0 1
36 Les Hinckley, III * 35 1 0 0 1
37 Kyle Ebersole 35 1 0 0 1
38 Burt Myers 34 1 0 0 1
39 Gary Byington * 30 2 0 0 0
40 Matt Hirschman 27 1 0 0 0
41 Brad Vanhouten * 23 1 0 0 0
42 Spencer Davis 21 1 0 0 0
43 Jimmy Blewett 20 1 0 0 0
44 Jamie Tomaino 19 1 0 0 0
45 Lauren Edgerton * 19 1 0 0 0
46 Gary McDonald 18 1 0 0 0
47 Anthony Nocella 17 1 0 0 0
*Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year Candidate
STANDINGS
2017 Owner Standings: Thompson
Whelen Modified Tour
Race:
NWMT Thompson 10/15/17
Print Version (PDF) | Driver Standings | Rookie & Contingency Award Standings
Pos Owner Name Points Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Attempts
1 Eric Sanderson #16 206 5 2 3 4 5
2 Jan Boehler #3 204 5 1 2 5 5
3 Edgar Goodale #58 187 5 0 4 4 5
4 Ed Partridge #6 178 5 2 3 3 5
5 Ken Zachem #20 177 5 0 3 4 5
6 Ken Massa #51 177 5 0 1 4 5
7 John Swanson #89 166 5 0 0 2 5
8 Russell Goodale #46 165 5 0 0 2 5
9 Mike Murphy #64 160 5 0 1 2 5
10 Mike Smeriglio III #2 159 5 0 2 2 5
11 Danny Watts Jr. #82 154 5 0 0 2 5
12 Judy Thilburg #36 141 5 0 0 1 5
13 Renee Lutz #56 131 5 0 0 1 5
14 Wade Cole #33 127 5 0 0 0 5
15 Joe Carroll #39 118 5 0 0 0 5
16 Mike Curb #77 117 4 0 0 0 4
17 Brian Brady #00 112 3 0 1 3 3
18 Robert Katon Jr. #85 110 5 0 0 1 5
19 Eddie Harvey #11 107 4 0 1 1 4
20 Kenneth Fifield #01 106 5 0 0 0 5
21 Steven Sutcliffe #78 92 4 0 0 0 4
22 John Ellwood, Jr. #17 87 3 0 0 0 3
23 Rob Fuller #15 84 3 0 1 1 3
24 George Bock #29 83 3 0 0 0 3
25 Sully Tinio #44 82 2 0 2 2 2
26 Cliff Krause #24 81 3 0 0 1 3
27 Gina Fleming #40 68 2 0 0 1 2
28 Kyle Bonsignore #22 67 2 0 1 1 2
29 Wayne Anderson #48 67 3 0 0 0 3
30 Tommy Baldwin #7 66 3 0 0 0 3
31 Bryan Dauzat #97 57 2 0 0 0 2
32 Jennifer Emerling #07 38 1 0 0 1 1
33 Bob Ebersole #5 35 1 0 0 1 1
34 Kim Myers #1 34 1 0 0 1 1
35 Linda Rodenbaugh #38 30 2 0 0 0 2
36 Roy Hall #60 27 1 0 0 0 1
37 Heather Brunnhoelzl #28 24 1 0 0 0 1
38 Jeff Goodale #09 23 1 0 0 0 1
39 Grady Jeffreys, Jr #15 22 1 0 0 0 1
40 Jimmy Blewett #76 20 1 0 0 0 1
41 Cheryl Tomaino #99 19 1 0 0 0 1
42 Rusty Edgerton #72 19 1 0 0 0 1
43 Sean McDonald #26 18 1 0 0 0 1
44 Dawn Gerstner #70 18 0 0 0 0 1
45 Anthony Nocella #92 17 1 0 0 0 1
46 Wayne Anderson #75 15 1 0 0 0 1
STANDINGS
Rookie & Contingency Award Standings: Langley
Whelen Modified Tour
Race:
NWMT Langley 5/13/17
Driver Standings | Owner Standings
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour official rookie and contingency award standings. All standings are unofficial until postseason review.
COCA-COLA MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD
DRIVER AWARDS
Kyle Bonsignore 1
Bryan Dauzat 1
Les Hinckley III 1
Water Sutcliffe Jr. 1
COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD
DRIVER AWARDS
Doug Coby 2
Timmy Solomito 1
Rob Summers 1
HOOSIER TIRE FASTEST LAP AWARD
DRIVER AWARDS
Doug Coby 1
Chase Dowling 1
Eric Goodale 1
Rob Summers 1
HOOSIER TIRE MOST IMPROVED AWARD
DRIVER AWARDS
Calvin Carroll 3
Walter Sutcliffe Jr. 1
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADER AWARD
DRIVER AWARDS
Doug Coby 2
Rowan Pennink 1
Rob Summers 1
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD
DRIVER AWARDS
Calvin Carroll 2
Les Hinckley III 1
Walter Sutcliffe Jr. 1
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
DRIVER POINTS
Calvin Carroll 38
Walter Sutcliffe Jr. 27
Gary Byington 15
Les Hinckley III 10
Brad Vanhouten 9
Lauren Edgerton 8
SUNOCO SPEC FUEL AWARD
DRIVER AWARDS
Timmy Solomito 2
Rowan Pennink 1
Ryan Preece 1
WHELEN WINNER OF THE RACE AWARD
DRIVER AWARDS
Timmy Solomito 2
Rowan Pennink 1
Ryan Preece 1