QUALIFYING: Santos Rolls Along at Stafford
Four Whelen Mod Poles In Last Six Starts At Connecticut Track
STAFFORD, Conn. – Bobby Santos is liking life at Stafford Motor Speedway.
After setting the pace in practice earlier in the day, the Franklin, Mass., driver won the Coors Light Pole Award in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour qualifying on Friday for the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 with a time of 18.327 seconds for an average speed of 98.216 mph on the half-mile oval. Santos, 28, has been the top qualifier in four of his last six starts at the track including three of four during the 2013 season and won this season’s NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 at Stafford on April 27.
The 2010 Whelen Modified Tour champion will be joined on the front row by the 2012 tour title winner, Doug Coby, who posted a qualifying time of 18.403 seconds (97.810 mph).
Eric Goodale was third-fastest in the session with a time of 18.416 seconds (97.741 mph) followed by Ron Silk in fourth at 18.420 seconds (97.720 mph). Patrick Emerling followed in fifth with a time of 18.480 seconds (97.403 mph).
Rowan Pennink, rookie Tommy Barrett Jr., Donny Lia, Justin Bonsignore and Woody Pitkat completed the day’s top-10 qualifiers. Barrett scored his first career pole in the April 27 Spring Sizzler.
The TSI Harley-Davidson 125 is scheduled to get the green flag at approximately 9:15 p.m. ET.
QUALIFYING RESULTS
NWMT Stafford 5/23/14 Qualifying Results
STARTING LINEUP (PDF)
Pos No. Name Sponsor Best Tm Best Speed
1 44 Bobby Santos Tinio Racing/Imperialcars.com 18.327 98.216
2 2 Doug Coby Dunleavy’s Repair/A&J Romano Const. 18.403 97.810
3 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing/RBSCorp. 18.416 97.741
4 6 Ron Silk TS Haulers/Calverton Tree Farm 18.420 97.720
5 07 Patrick Emerling Emerling Chev./Buffalo Auto Auction 18.480 97.403
6 93 Rowan Pennink Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner 18.487 97.366
7 22 Tommy Barrett Jr.* Canto Paving/Ferguson/Waterworks 18.491 97.345
8 4 Donny Lia Mystic Missile Racing 18.494 97.329
9 51 Justin Bonsignore chem3.com 18.503 97.282
10 88 Woody Pitkat Buzz Chew Chev./TSI Harley-Davidson 18.539 97.093
11 75 Timmy Solomito* Eastport Feeds/Axel Anderson Inc. 18.563 96.967
12 64 Ron Yuhas Jr. Fast Track Electric/Scorpion Const. 18.591 96.821
13 16 Ryan Preece East West Marine/Diversified Metals 18.600 96.774
14 48 Keith Rocco Wheelers Auto/Mr. Rooter 18.643 96.551
15 8 Glen Reen Reflex Energy/Baja Construction 18.647 96.530
16 52 Matt Hirschman Furnace & Duct/Seekonk Grand Prix 18.773 95.882
17 13 Ted Christopher J&R Pre-Cast/Cape Cod Aggregates 18.788 95.806
18 38 Dave Salzarulo* Perf Eng/Kendall Oil/Ryan’s Oil 18.818 95.653
19 99 Jamie Tomaino Dunleavy’s Repair/Atlantic Sprinkler 18.831 95.587
20 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood 18.972 94.877
21 89 Shawn Solomito Cystic Gibrosis Foundation/Acme Sanitary Services 19.171 93.892
22 33 Wade Cole Perf Engines/Kendall Oil 19.278 93.371
23 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape/TRC Electric 19.839 90.730
24 01 Melissa Fifield* Allstate Insurance/Eastern Boats 20.210 89.065
* Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender
Sources: Shon Sbarra/NASCAR WMT PR