Civali Captures Pole For Season-Opening Icebreaker
Civali Earns First Career Pole
Thompson, CT — James Civali captured his first career Coors Light Pole Saturday evening at Thompson International Speedway in qualifying for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season-opening Icebreaker.
Entering his third season, Civali captured the pole for the first time in what will be his 37th career start on Sunday. The Meriden, Conn., native ran an 18.585 sec. lap on the .625-mile banked oval for a speed of 120.097.
“The car was good right off the truck,” Civali said. “We didn’t change much of anything, the car was just right-on.”
Bobby Grigas III at 18.613 (119.916) , Todd Szedgedy at 18.759 (118.983) , Ronnie Silk at 18.792 (118.774) and Jimmy Blewett at 18.798 (118.736) rounded out the top five qualifiers.
The defending champion of the Icebreaker, Civali will start fifth in Sunday’s main event following the post-qualifying re-draw of the top six positions. Grigas drew the No. 1 starting position and he will be joined in the front row by Silk.
The Icebreaker, a 150-lap race, is scheduled to go green on Sunday at approximately 3:15 p.m., following a pre-race show that will include the honoring of past NASCAR Modified champions Frankie Schneider, Donny Lia and Richie Evans. The pre-race show is tentatively set to begin at 2:45 p.m. For ticket information, please visit Thompson’s official Web Site (thompsonspeedway.com)
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR – Icebreaker
Qualifying Saturday; Race Sunday
At Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, CT
Lap Length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (09) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield Mass., Chevrolet, 119.916
2. (79) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk Conn., Pontiac, 118.774
3. (19) Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 118.736
4. (2) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn., Ford, 118.983
5. (28) James Civali, Meriden Conn., Chevrolet, 120.097
6. (31) Tony Ferrante, Jr., New Hyde Park N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.717
7. (00) Bobby Santos, Franklin Mass., Chevrolet, 118.553
8. (10) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 118.321
9. (58) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.214
10. (4) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville N.Y., Dodge, 118.208
11. (14) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill Conn., Ford, 118.183
12. (3) Ryan Preece, Kensington Conn., Chevrolet, 118.139
13. (0) Danny Sammons, Hamilton N.J., Chevrolet, 118.114
14. (46) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 118.070
15. (36) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 117.647
16. (64) Eric Berndt, Cromwell Conn., Chevrolet, 117.424
17. (59) Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 117.387
18. (93) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley Pa., Chevrolet, 117.301
19. (5) Charles Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Chevrolet, 117.190
20. (16) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Pontiac, 117.122
21. (06) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown N.J., Dodge, 117.024
22. (8) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays N.Y., Chevrolet, 116.816
23. (12) Ken Heagy, Calverton N.Y., Chevrolet, 116.651
24. (74) J.R. Bertuccio, Centereach N.Y., Dodge, 116.572
25. (45) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville N.Y., Chevrolet, 116.365
26. (75) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Chevrolet, 116.171
27. (47) Jim Storace, Kingston N.H., Pontiac, 116.165
28. (21) Richard Savary, Canton Mass., Chevrolet, 115.930
29. (11) Anthony Sesely, Matawan N.J., Dodge, 115.810
30. (90) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury Conn., Chevrolet, 115.666
31. (99) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 115.349
32. (77) Rick Fuller, Auburn Mass., 114.939
33. (33) Wade Cole, Riverton Conn., Chevrolet, 112.477
34. (05) Joe Hartmann, Calverton N.Y., Chevrolet, 113.727
35. (9) Jake Marosz, Middletown Conn., Chevrolet, 112.801
36. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma N.Y., Chevrolet, 112.392
37. (32) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich Conn., Chevrolet, 112.722
38. (17) Glen Reen, Wilbraham Mass., Chevrolet, 114.874
39. (53) Sean Patterson, Wading River N.Y., Pontiac, 111.751
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR