Silk Scores Waterford Win

Tenth Career Whelen Modified Tour Triumph

WATERFORD, Conn. (May 14, 2016) – Ron Silk powered past polesitter Eric Goodale one-third of the way through the New England Cycle Center 161 Saturday at New London-Waterford Speedbowl and never looked back.

Silk, of Norwalk, Connecticut, held off the field down the stretch to record his 10th career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory. It was his first at the Speedbowl, and it came in just his third race with new car owner Danny Watts Jr. and the No. 82 Horton Avenue Materials Chevrolet team.

Max Zachem, of nearby Preston, Connecticut, crossed the stripe second for his best career finish. Jimmy Blewett joined him on the podium in third.

[Photo Gallery] by Ed Martin

[Photo Gallery] by Donald Silberman

Jeff Goodale and Rob Summers rounded out the top five while Brendon Bock, Matt Swanson, Doug Coby, Donny Lia and Jamie Tomaino completed the top 10.

Saturday also marked career-best finishes for Jeff Goodale and Bock while Tomaino extended his Whelen Modified Tour record for career starts to 600 in the event.

Silk, the 2011 Whelen Modified Tour titlist, ended a 42-race winless drought with his first victory since August 2012 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

After three events the two-time defending champion Coby leads Timmy Solomito by eight points and Zachem by 15 in the season standings.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return to action on June 3 at Stafford Motor Speedway with the TSI Harley-Davidson 125.

Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-New England Cycle Center 161 Results
Saturday
At New London-Waterford Speedbowl
Waterford, Conn.
Lap length: 0.375 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (5) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 161 laps, 50.231 mph.
2. (13) Max Zachem, Preston, Conn., Chevrolet, 161.
3. (3) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Dodge, 161.
4. (18) Jeff Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
5. (7) Rob Summers, Manchester, Conn., Chevrolet, 161.
6. (6) Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
7. (26) Matt Swanson, Acton, Mass., Chevrolet, 161.
8. (8) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 161.
9. (12) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
10. (20) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 161.
11. (17) Craig Lutz, Miller Place, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
12. (24) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
13. (23) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161.
14. (11) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 161.
15. (16) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Ford, 160.
16. (15) Tom Adele, Jr., Norwich, Conn., Chevrolet, 159.
17. (22) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 152, overheating.
18. (4) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 140.
19. (19) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 138, accident.
20. (1) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 128, drive shaft.
21. (28) Walter Sutcliffe Jr., Panacea, Fla., Chevrolet, 124, suspension.
22. (14) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 117, accident.
23. (27) Andrew Krause, Holmdel, N.J., Chevrolet, 87.
24. (2) Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 73, accident.
25. (21) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 28.
26. (9) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 7, accident.
27. (10) Nick Salva, Prospect, Conn., Chevrolet, 0, accident.
28. (25) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 0, accident.

Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 12 minutes 7 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.732 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: E.Goodale (96.222 mph, 14.03 seconds)
Caution Flags: 10 for 63 laps.
Lead Changes: 5 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: E. Goodale 1-25; C. Dowling 26; E. Goodale 27-49; R. Silk 50-144; M. Zachem 145; R. Silk 146-161.
Standings: 1. D. Coby, 124; 2. T. Solomito, 116; 3. M. Zachem, 109; 4. J. Bonsignore, 109; 5. R. Silk, 105; 6. R. Pennink, 102; 7. D. Lia, 102; 8. M. Swanson, 99; 9. R. Summers, 97; 10. B. Bock, 97.

NWMT Waterford 5/14/16 Results
Whelen Modified Tour
Race: NWMT New London-Waterford 5/14/16
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Status
1 5 82 Ron Silk Horton Avenue Materials Chevrolet 161 48 5 Running
2 13 20 Max Zachem Lu-Mac’s Package Store/VWS Chevrolet 161 43 1 Running
3 3 4 Jimmy Blewett Starrett Dodge 161 41 Running
4 18 46 Jeff Goodale Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet 161 40 Running
5 7 64 Rob Summers HTE/Fast Track Elect/Complete Const. Chevrolet 161 39 Running
6 6 29 Brendon Bock Pro System Brakes/L.I. Performance Chevrolet 161 38 Running
7 26 89 Matt Swanson * Spafco Race Chassis/FMR Racing Chevrolet 161 37 Running
8 8 2 Doug Coby Dunleavy’s Repair/A&J Romano Const. Chevrolet 161 36 Running
9 12 8 Donny Lia Sypher Construction/Bardahl Chevrolet 161 35 Running
10 20 99 Jamie Tomaino Dunleavy’s Repair/Atlantic Sprinkler Chevrolet 161 34 Running
11 17 56 Craig Lutz * Lutz Motorsports/Moroso Chevrolet 161 33 Running
12 24 26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Landscape /TRC Electric Chevrolet 161 32 Running
13 23 18 Ken Heagy Buoy One Seafood Chevrolet 161 31 Running
14 11 0 Ted Christopher Dunleavy’s Repair/M&T Enterprises Chevrolet 161 30 Running
15 16 16 Timmy Solomito Diversified Metals /R.B. Enterprises Ford 160 29 Running
16 15 32 Tom Adele, Jr. Thirty Two Signs/Dunleavy Truck Repair Chevrolet 159 28 Running
17 22 51 Justin Bonsignore M3 Technology Chevrolet 152 27 Overheating
18 4 3 Rowan Pennink Cape Cod Copper/Canto Paving Chevrolet 140 26 Running
19 19 85 Woody Pitkat Stuart’s Automotive/Dunleavy’s Repair Chevrolet 138 25 Accident
20 1 58 Eric Goodale GAF Roofing/Supreme Skylights Chevrolet 128 25 1 Drive Shaft
21 28 78 Walter Sutcliffe Jr. * Last Minute Racing Chevrolet 124 23 Suspension
22 14 36 Dave Sapienza Frankie’s Towing/Wine Country Chevrolet 117 22 Accident
23 27 24 Andrew Krause * Supreme Manufacturing Chevrolet 87 21 Running
24 2 9 Chase Dowling S&S Asphalt Paving/Dunleavy’s Repair Chevrolet 73 21 1 Accident
25 21 33 Wade Cole Performance Engines/Kendall Oil Chevrolet 28 19 Running
26 9 44 Bobby Santos Tinio Corp./Dan Kelley/Curb Records Chevrolet 7 18 Accident
27 10 59 Nick Salva * Seekonk GP/Ed Bennett Properties Chevrolet 0 17 Accident
28 25 1 Melissa Fifield Eastern Propane & Oil Chevrolet 0 16 Accident
RACE STATISTICS
Fastest Qualifier: Eric Goodale, Time: 14.03 Seconds, Speed: 96.222 mph
Failed to Qualify: (1) Johnny Bush (#38).
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 12 mins, 7 secs Average Speed: 50.231 mph Margin of Victory: 0.732 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 1-4; 8-14; 20-25; 40-43; 74-81; 86-91; 117-126; 129-136; 139-144; 151-154. 10 for 63 laps.
Lap Leaders: Eric Goodale 1-25, Chase Dowling 26, Eric Goodale 27-49, Ron Silk 50-144, Max Zachem 145, Ron Silk 146-161.
Total Laps Led: Ron Silk 111, Eric Goodale 48, Max Zachem 1, Chase Dowling 1. 5 changes involving 4 drivers.

STANDINGS
2016 Driver Standings: Waterford
Race: NWMT New London-Waterford 5/14/16
Pos Driver Name Points Starts Wins 6th Top 5 Top 10
1 Doug Coby 124 3 1 0 2 3
2 Timmy Solomito 116 3 1 0 2 2
3 Max Zachem 109 3 0 0 1 2
4 Justin Bonsignore 109 3 0 0 2 2
5 Ron Silk 105 3 1 0 2 2
6 Rowan Pennink 102 3 0 0 1 2
7 Donny Lia 102 3 0 1 0 2
8 Matt Swanson * 99 3 0 0 0 1
9 Rob Summers 97 3 0 0 1 1
10 Brendon Bock 97 3 0 1 0 2
11 Jimmy Blewett 90 3 0 0 1 2
12 Chase Dowling 90 3 0 0 0 1
13 Jamie Tomaino 90 3 0 0 0 1
14 Bobby Santos 86 3 0 0 0 1
15 Eric Goodale 82 3 0 0 0 1
16 Woody Pitkat 78 3 0 0 0 1
17 Dave Sapienza 78 3 0 0 0 0
18 Jeff Goodale 76 3 0 0 1 1
19 Gary McDonald 76 3 0 0 0 0
20 Craig Lutz * 74 3 0 0 0 0
21 Andrew Krause * 69 3 0 0 0 0
22 Shawn Solomito 66 2 0 1 0 1
23 Ted Christopher 61 2 0 0 0 0
24 Wade Cole 61 3 0 0 0 0
25 Ryan Preece 58 2 0 0 1 1
26 Ken Heagy 57 2 0 0 0 0
27 Melissa Fifield 50 3 0 0 0 0
28 Todd Szegedy 42 1 0 0 1 1
29 Nick Salva * 32 2 0 0 0 0
30 Patrick Emerling 30 1 0 0 0 0
31 Tom Adele, Jr. 28 1 0 0 0 0
32 George Brunnhoelzl III 27 1 0 0 0 0
33 Gary Putnam 24 1 0 0 0 0
34 Walter Sutcliffe Jr. * 23 1 0 0 0 0
35 Troy Talman 19 1 0 0 0 0
36 Johnny Bush 15 0 0 0 0 0
37 Tom Rogers, Jr. 12 1 0 0 0 0

STANDINGS
2016 Owner Standings: Waterford
Race: NWMT New London-Waterford 5/14/16
Pos Owner Name Points Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Attempts
1 Mike Smeriglio III #2 124 3 1 2 3 3
2 Eric Sanderson #16 116 3 1 2 2 3
3 Ken Zachem #20 109 3 0 1 2 3
4 Ken Massa #51 109 3 0 2 2 3
5 Danny Watts Jr. #82 105 3 1 2 2 3
6 Jan Boehler #3 102 3 0 1 2 3
7 Mark Sypher #8 102 3 0 0 2 3
8 John Swanson #89 99 3 0 0 1 3
9 Mike Murphy #64 97 3 0 1 1 3
10 George Bock #29 97 3 0 0 2 3
11 Robert Garbarino #4 90 3 0 1 2 3
12 Robert Katon Jr. #9 90 3 0 0 1 3
13 Brittany Tomaino #99 90 3 0 0 1 3
14 Mike Curb #44 86 3 0 0 1 3
15 Edgar Goodale #58 82 3 0 0 1 3
16 Kevin Stuart #85 78 3 0 0 1 3
17 Judy Thilburg #36 78 3 0 0 0 3
18 Russell Goodale #46 76 3 0 1 1 3
19 Sean McDonald #26 76 3 0 0 0 3
20 Renee Lutz #56 74 3 0 0 0 3
21 Cliff Krause #24 69 3 0 0 0 3
22 Wayne Anderson #75 66 2 0 0 1 2
23 Brian Brady #00 61 2 0 0 0 2
24 Beth Cole #33 61 3 0 0 0 3
25 Constance Partridge #6 58 2 0 1 1 2
26 Robert Pollifrone #18 57 2 0 0 0 2
27 Kenneth Fifield #01 50 3 0 0 0 3
28 Linda Rodenbaugh #38 46 2 0 0 0 3
29 Rob Fuller #15 42 1 0 1 1 1
30 Ed Bennett, III #59 32 2 0 0 0 2
31 Jennifer Emerling #07 30 1 0 0 0 1
32 Tom Adele, Sr. #32 28 1 0 0 0 1
33 George Brunnhoelzl Jr. #28 27 1 0 0 0 1
34 Mike Curb #77 24 1 0 0 0 1
35 Steven Sutcliffe #78 23 1 0 0 0 1

STANDINGS
Rookie & Contingency Award Standings: Stafford
Race: NWMT Stafford 4/24/16
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
Timmy Solomito 1
Dave Sapienza 1

COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD

Driver Awards
Doug Coby 2

HOOSIER TIRE FASTEST LAP AWARD

Driver Awards
Doug Coby 1
Ryan Preece 1
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADER AWARD

Driver Awards
Doug Coby 1
Ryan Preece 1
HOOSIER TIRE MOST IMPROVED AWARD

Driver Awards
Matt Swanson 1
Woody Pitkat 1

SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD

Driver Awards
Matt Swanson 2

SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS

Top 10 Drivers Points
Matt Swanson 20
Andrew Krause 18
Craig Lutz 16
Nick Salva 7

SUNOCO SPEC FUEL AWARD

Driver 1st Place 5th Place 10th Place
Justin Bonsignore 1
Doug Coby 1
Woody Pitkat 1
Ron Silk 1
Timmy Solomito 1
Max Zachem 1

WHELEN WINNER OF THE RACE AWARD

Driver Awards
Doug Coby 1
Timmy Solomito 1