Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Mr. Rooter 161 At Waterford Speedbowl
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will headline the racing action at Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl on Saturday, June 23 with the Mr. Rooter 161. Below is a statistical look at the performance of selected drivers on the tour:
Selected Driver Highlights:
Eric Beers (No. 45 Horwith Freightliner/John Blewett Inc. Ford)
• Has two wins, nine poles and 73 top 10s in 174 career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts.
• Has a pole and two top 10s in seven starts at Waterford Speedbowl. Best finish was third in 2005.
Eric Beers (No. 45 Horwith Freightliner/John Blewett Inc. Ford)
• Has two wins, nine poles and 73 top 10s in 174 career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts.
• Has a pole and two top 10s in seven starts at Waterford Speedbowl. Best finish was third in 2005.
Eric Berndt (No. 46 North End Auto Parts/Cape Cod Aggts Chevrolet)
• Has a pole and eight top 10s in 60 career NWMT starts.
• Has finishes of 21st and eighth in two previous starts at Waterford.
• Has 15 career NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified wins at Waterford.
• Has a pole and eight top 10s in 60 career NWMT starts.
• Has finishes of 21st and eighth in two previous starts at Waterford.
• Has 15 career NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified wins at Waterford.
Jimmy Blewett (No. 76 John Blewett Inc./Ling Trucking Chevrolet)
• Has five wins, a pole and 29 top 10s in 89 career NWMT starts.
• Has three top 10s in four races this year. Had three top 10s across 16 races the two previous seasons.
• Finished 28th in his only previous start at Waterford in 2006.
• Has five wins, a pole and 29 top 10s in 89 career NWMT starts.
• Has three top 10s in four races this year. Had three top 10s across 16 races the two previous seasons.
• Finished 28th in his only previous start at Waterford in 2006.
Justin Bonsignore (No. 51 M3 Technology Chevrolet)
• Has a win, three poles and 18 top 10s in 35 career NWMT starts.
• Since gaining his first win last year at Riverhead Raceway, he has finished in the top 10 in 12 of 14 events.
• This will be his first NWMT race at Waterford.
• Has a win, three poles and 18 top 10s in 35 career NWMT starts.
• Since gaining his first win last year at Riverhead Raceway, he has finished in the top 10 in 12 of 14 events.
• This will be his first NWMT race at Waterford.
Ted Christopher (No. 36 AL-Lee Installations Chevrolet)
• The 2008 NWMT champion, he has 42 wins and 23 poles and 170 top 10s in 311 career starts. His 42 wins rank third all-time and his 23 poles are eighth. Has at least one win in the 13 previous seasons.
• Has a win, a pole and seven top 10s in 13 starts at Waterford with 227 laps led and an average finish of 11th.
• The 1992 NWAAS track champion at Waterford, where he has 36 overall career victories.
• The 2008 NWMT champion, he has 42 wins and 23 poles and 170 top 10s in 311 career starts. His 42 wins rank third all-time and his 23 poles are eighth. Has at least one win in the 13 previous seasons.
• Has a win, a pole and seven top 10s in 13 starts at Waterford with 227 laps led and an average finish of 11th.
• The 1992 NWAAS track champion at Waterford, where he has 36 overall career victories.
Doug Coby (No. 52 Reynolds Auto Wrecking/Furnace & Duct Supply Chevrolet)
• Has four wins, four poles and 49 top 10s in 120 career starts.
• Took the points lead for the first time with a victory in the previous race at Stafford Motor Speedway on May 25.
• Has three wins and 15 top 10s in 21 starts with the No. 52 team since first racing together in the 2010 finale.
• Has three top 10s in seven starts at Waterford with an average finish of 15th and a best finish of second in 2005.
• Is a three-time NWAAS SK Modified winner at Waterford.
• Has four wins, four poles and 49 top 10s in 120 career starts.
• Took the points lead for the first time with a victory in the previous race at Stafford Motor Speedway on May 25.
• Has three wins and 15 top 10s in 21 starts with the No. 52 team since first racing together in the 2010 finale.
• Has three top 10s in seven starts at Waterford with an average finish of 15th and a best finish of second in 2005.
• Is a three-time NWAAS SK Modified winner at Waterford.
Ed Flemke Jr. (No. 28 Ron Bouchard’s/Raceworks TV Chevrolet)
• Has 17 wins, 16 poles and 158 top 10s in 415 career starts.
• Maintains the NWMT record for consecutive starts with 358.
• Has two wins, a pole and seven top 10s in 13 starts at Waterford with an average finish of 10th and the most laps led among active drivers.
• Has 17 wins, 16 poles and 158 top 10s in 415 career starts.
• Maintains the NWMT record for consecutive starts with 358.
• Has two wins, a pole and seven top 10s in 13 starts at Waterford with an average finish of 10th and the most laps led among active drivers.
Donny Lia (No. 4 Mystic Missile Racing Dodge)
• The 2007 and 2009 champion, he has 15 wins, 15 poles and 57 top 10s in 117 career starts.
• Has two wins and four top 10s in seven starts at Waterford. His last three finishes there were first, third and first.
• The 2007 and 2009 champion, he has 15 wins, 15 poles and 57 top 10s in 117 career starts.
• Has two wins and four top 10s in seven starts at Waterford. His last three finishes there were first, third and first.
Rowan Pennink (No. 93 Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet)
• Has a win and 37 top 10s in 76 career starts.
• Did not participate in the NWMT race at Monadnock, breaking a streak of 73 straight starts dating to 2007.
• This will be his first NWMT race at Waterford.
• Has a win and 37 top 10s in 76 career starts.
• Did not participate in the NWMT race at Monadnock, breaking a streak of 73 straight starts dating to 2007.
• This will be his first NWMT race at Waterford.
Ryan Preece (No. 16 Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises Ford)
• Has four wins, nine poles and 36 top 10s in 71 career starts.
• Earned the pole in the first three races of 2012 and won at Monadnock Speedway on May 12.
• This will be his first NWMT start at Waterford.
• Has four wins, nine poles and 36 top 10s in 71 career starts.
• Earned the pole in the first three races of 2012 and won at Monadnock Speedway on May 12.
• This will be his first NWMT start at Waterford.
Keith Rocco (No. 3 Cape Cod Copper/Silver Dollar Const. Chevrolet)
• Has five top-10 finishes in nine career NWMT start, including three in four races this season.
• Ranks sixth in the overall standings and leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year points.
• Has 50 career victories at Waterford, including 42 in SK Modifieds, and is the two-time defending NWAAS track champion.
• This will be his first NWMT start at Waterford.
• Has five top-10 finishes in nine career NWMT start, including three in four races this season.
• Ranks sixth in the overall standings and leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year points.
• Has 50 career victories at Waterford, including 42 in SK Modifieds, and is the two-time defending NWAAS track champion.
• This will be his first NWMT start at Waterford.
Ron Silk (No. 6 Reynolds Auto Wrecking/Schnitzer Chevrolet)
• The 2011 NWMT champion has eight wins, five poles and 56 top 10s in 101 career starts.
• Is the only driver to finish in the top five in all four races this year.
• Relinquished the points lead last time out for the first time in six races dating back to last year.
• Has five wins and 28 top 10s in 36 starts with TS Haulers Racing since they first joined forces in 2009.
• Has finishes of 24th and 22nd in two previous NWMT starts at Waterford.
• Has two NWAAS SK Modified wins to his credit at Waterford.
• The 2011 NWMT champion has eight wins, five poles and 56 top 10s in 101 career starts.
• Is the only driver to finish in the top five in all four races this year.
• Relinquished the points lead last time out for the first time in six races dating back to last year.
• Has five wins and 28 top 10s in 36 starts with TS Haulers Racing since they first joined forces in 2009.
• Has finishes of 24th and 22nd in two previous NWMT starts at Waterford.
• Has two NWAAS SK Modified wins to his credit at Waterford.
Mike Stefanik (No. 66 Town Line Auto/Xtreme Auto Ford)
• The 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2006 NWMT champion.
• Holds NWMT records for most titles (seven), wins (71), poles (46), top fives (217) and top 10s (287).
• Has an NWMT-best average finish of fourth and a best personal finish of second, twice, in 11 starts at Waterford. He’s finished on the lead lap and in the top 10 in all 11 of those events.
• Has won races at 16 different tracks, but will be looking for his first at Waterford.
• The 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2006 NWMT champion.
• Holds NWMT records for most titles (seven), wins (71), poles (46), top fives (217) and top 10s (287).
• Has an NWMT-best average finish of fourth and a best personal finish of second, twice, in 11 starts at Waterford. He’s finished on the lead lap and in the top 10 in all 11 of those events.
• Has won races at 16 different tracks, but will be looking for his first at Waterford.
Todd Szegedy (No. 2 Dunleavy Repair/A&J Romano Const. Ford)
• The 2003 NWMT champion has 17 wins, nine poles and 99 top 10s in 157 career starts.
• Is coming off of consecutive top-fives after finishes of 27th and 12th to start the season.
• Won at Waterford in 2004 and has six top 10s in eight starts there with an average finish of 10th. In a four-race span at Waterford during the 2003-04 seasons he had finishes of fourth, second, fifth and first.
• The 2003 NWMT champion has 17 wins, nine poles and 99 top 10s in 157 career starts.
• Is coming off of consecutive top-fives after finishes of 27th and 12th to start the season.
• Won at Waterford in 2004 and has six top 10s in eight starts there with an average finish of 10th. In a four-race span at Waterford during the 2003-04 seasons he had finishes of fourth, second, fifth and first.
Ron Yuhas Jr. (No. 64 DreamRide.org/Hughes Motors Chevrolet)
• Has 10 top 10s in 39 career NWMT starts with a best finish of third at Thompson in 2007.
• Finished seventh in his only previous NWMT race at Waterford in 2006.
• Was the 2009 NWAAS track champion at Waterford, where he has 24 career wins in SK Modifieds.
• Has 10 top 10s in 39 career NWMT starts with a best finish of third at Thompson in 2007.
• Finished seventh in his only previous NWMT race at Waterford in 2006.
• Was the 2009 NWAAS track champion at Waterford, where he has 24 career wins in SK Modifieds.
Up to Speed:
• The 2012 season is the 28th for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
• The 2012 schedule features 14 races at seven different tracks across four states.
• Defending NWMT champion Ron Silk won the 2012 season-opener at Thompson International Speedway on April 15. Ryan Preece was the polesitter for the Icebreaker.
• Doug Coby joined a select group of multiple Spring Sizzler winners when he took the checkered flag at Stafford Motor Speedway on April 29. Preece set the track record in qualifying prior to the event.
• Preece made it 3-for-3 in qualifying as he took the pole in track record fashion at Monadnock Speedway on May 12 and made the top starting position stand up as he led every lap en route to the victory.
• Bobby Santos captured the pole and led nearly the entire race before Coby wrestled the lead away in the closing laps to take the checkered flag on May 25 at Stafford.
• Following the Mr. Rooter 161 at Waterford Speedbowl, the NWMT will return to action on July 14 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with the Town Fair Tire 100.
• The 2012 season is the 28th for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
• The 2012 schedule features 14 races at seven different tracks across four states.
• Defending NWMT champion Ron Silk won the 2012 season-opener at Thompson International Speedway on April 15. Ryan Preece was the polesitter for the Icebreaker.
• Doug Coby joined a select group of multiple Spring Sizzler winners when he took the checkered flag at Stafford Motor Speedway on April 29. Preece set the track record in qualifying prior to the event.
• Preece made it 3-for-3 in qualifying as he took the pole in track record fashion at Monadnock Speedway on May 12 and made the top starting position stand up as he led every lap en route to the victory.
• Bobby Santos captured the pole and led nearly the entire race before Coby wrestled the lead away in the closing laps to take the checkered flag on May 25 at Stafford.
• Following the Mr. Rooter 161 at Waterford Speedbowl, the NWMT will return to action on July 14 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with the Town Fair Tire 100.
At Waterford Speedbowl:
History
• The facility opened to auto racing on April 15, 1951.
• Waterford is a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series-sanctioned track with SK Modifieds as the headline division.
• The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour held 17 races at Waterford from 1985-2006.
• The track has also played host to seven NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races during its history, and the former NASCAR North Tour visited twice.
History
• The facility opened to auto racing on April 15, 1951.
• Waterford is a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series-sanctioned track with SK Modifieds as the headline division.
• The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour held 17 races at Waterford from 1985-2006.
• The track has also played host to seven NASCAR K&N Pro Series East races during its history, and the former NASCAR North Tour visited twice.
Notebook
• The previous 17 races produced 13 different race winners and 11 different pole winners.
• Active competitors Ed Flemke Jr. and Donny Lia are two of the four drivers with multiple wins at Waterford.
• Jamie Tomaino is the only driver to compete in all 17 previous NWMT events at the track.
• Current NWMT drivers that have won NWAAS track titles at Waterford include: Ted Christopher (1992), Ron Yuhas Jr. (2009) and Keith Rocco (2010, 2011).
• The Mr. Rooter 161 will be the 224th all-time NWMT race in the state of Connecticut and the 551st overall.
• The previous 17 races produced 13 different race winners and 11 different pole winners.
• Active competitors Ed Flemke Jr. and Donny Lia are two of the four drivers with multiple wins at Waterford.
• Jamie Tomaino is the only driver to compete in all 17 previous NWMT events at the track.
• Current NWMT drivers that have won NWAAS track titles at Waterford include: Ted Christopher (1992), Ron Yuhas Jr. (2009) and Keith Rocco (2010, 2011).
• The Mr. Rooter 161 will be the 224th all-time NWMT race in the state of Connecticut and the 551st overall.
Waterford Speedbowl Data
Race: #5 of 14
Track Layout: .375-mile asphalt oval
• Race Length: 161 laps (60.375 miles)
• Banking–turns: 8 to 12 degrees
• Banking–straights: progressive
Track Layout: .375-mile asphalt oval
• Race Length: 161 laps (60.375 miles)
• Banking–turns: 8 to 12 degrees
• Banking–straights: progressive
Qualifying/Race Data
2011 Pole/Race Winner: New Event
Qualifying Record: Jerry Marquis (13.618 seconds, 99.133 mph – 10/8/06)
2011 Pole/Race Winner: New Event
Qualifying Record: Jerry Marquis (13.618 seconds, 99.133 mph – 10/8/06)
Active Leaders at Waterford
Wins
Wins
1. Ed Flemke Jr. … 2
Donny Lia … 2
3. Ted Christopher … 1
Toddy Szegedy … 1
Donny Lia … 2
3. Ted Christopher … 1
Toddy Szegedy … 1
Poles
Eric Beers … 1
Ted Christopher … 1
Ed Flemke Jr. …
Eric Beers … 1
Ted Christopher … 1
Ed Flemke Jr. …
Laps Led
1. Ed Flemke Jr. … 232
2. Ted Christopher … 227
3. Todd Szegedy … 178
4. Donny Lia … 173
5. Mike Stefanik … 71
1. Ed Flemke Jr. … 232
2. Ted Christopher … 227
3. Todd Szegedy … 178
4. Donny Lia … 173
5. Mike Stefanik … 71
Starts
1. Jamie Tomaino … 17
2. Ted Christopher … 13
3. Ed Flemke Jr. … 13
4. Mike Stefanik … 11
5. Todd Szegedy … 8
1. Jamie Tomaino … 17
2. Ted Christopher … 13
3. Ed Flemke Jr. … 13
4. Mike Stefanik … 11
5. Todd Szegedy … 8
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR