Qualifying: Beers Posts Record Lap At Thompson
Christopher To Start Fifth; Hirschman Starts Seventh
Thompson, CT — Eric Beers set the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour track record at Thompson International Speedway with a qualifying lap of 18.429 seconds Saturday afternoon.
Beers will start sixth in Sunday’s final race of the season, the Xtra Mart World Series, following post-qualifying redraw of the top 10 qualifiers.
Beers’ lap around the .625-mile oval in his No. 46 Reynold’s Auto Wrecking/Sunoco Chevrolet produced an average speed of 122.090 mph and eclipsed the record set by Todd Szegedy on April 14, 2007 of 18.457 (121.905). It was Beers’ third Coors Light Pole Award of the season, clinching the season-long honors.
Ted Christopher (No. 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet) and Matt Hirschman (No. 59 Furnace & Duct Supply Chevrolet) will start fifth and seventh, respectively, following the redraw. Christopher leads Hirschman by 35 points and can clinch his first championship by finishing seventh or better.
Hirschman qualified third at 18.568 (121.176) and Christopher qualified seventh at 18.628 (120.786).
Ryan Preece qualified second in the No. 3 Davidson Co./Reynold’s Auto Wrecking Chevrolet at 18.464 seconds (121.859).
Jimmy Blewett and Mike Stefanik will start Sunday’s race on the front row, with Preece and Chuck Hossfeld in the second row.
The Xtra Mart World Series is scheduled to take the green flag on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. For Xtra Mart World Series ticket information, please visit Thompson’s official Web Site (thompsonspeedway.com).
Sources:Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – Xtra Mart World Series Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying SaturdayAt Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, Conn.
Lap length: .625 miles
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (19) Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 121.163
2. (16) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Pontiac, 120.955
3. (3) Ryan Preece, Kensington Conn., Chevrolet, 121.859
4. (4) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville N.Y., Dodge, 120.961
5. (36) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 120.786
6. (46) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 122.090
7. (59) Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 121.176
8. (79) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk Conn., Pontiac, 120.676
9. (28) Doug Coby, Milford Conn., Chevrolet, 120.721
10. (98) Bobby Santos, Franklin Mass., Chevrolet, 120.495
11. (17) Glen Reen, Wilbraham Mass., Chevrolet, 120.463
12. (09) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield Mass., Chevrolet, 120.430
13. (32) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich Conn., Chevrolet, 120.038
14. (00) Keith Rocco, Wallingford Conn., Chevrolet, 119.994
15. (5) Charles Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Chevrolet, 119.904
16. (8) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.815
17. (75) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Pontiac, 119.802
18. (21) Richard Savary, Canton Mass., Chevrolet, 119.757
19. (1) Rob Summers, Vernon Conn., Chevrolet, 119.751
20. (31) Tony Ferrante, Jr., New Hyde Park N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.751
21. (90) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury Conn., Chevrolet, 119.738
22. (45) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.706
23. (88) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Conn., Chevrolet, 119.522
24. (77) Rick Fuller, Auburn Mass., 119.490
25. (93) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley Pa., Chevrolet, 119.268
26. (50) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y., Chevrolet, 119.262
27. (70) Andy Seuss, Hampstead N.H., Chevrolet, 119.073
28. (2) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn., Ford, 118.696*
29. (10) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 118.359*
30. (12) Ken Heagy, Calverton N.Y., Ford, 118.458*
31. (0) Danny Sammons, Hamilton N.J., Chevrolet, 118.558*
32. (99) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 118.683*
Did Not Qualify
34. (33) Wade Cole, Riverton Conn., Chevrolet, 118.490
37. (14) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill Conn., Ford, 118.303
38. (18) Dion Ciccarelli, Crofton Md., Chevrolet, 118.079
39. (05) Joe Hartmann, Calverton N.Y., Chevrolet, 117.506
32. (06) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown N.J., Dodge, 118.652
40. (9) Jake Marosz, Middletown Conn., Chevrolet, 114.743
29. (53) Gregg Shivers, Rocky Point N.Y., Pontiac, 118.790
28. (58) Eric Goodale, Riverhead N.Y., Chevrolet, 118.909
41. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma N.Y., Chevrolet, No Speed
* Denotes Provisional Starter
Top 10 Qualifiers Redrew