Riverhead, NY — Donny Lia’s storybook season continued Saturday night, with the latest chapter an improbable victory at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points leader inherited the lead when the top two cars were involved in a wreck in the closing laps and led the final six laps of the Miller Lite 140 en route to his fifth victory in eight races.
Lia was running third when Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher were involved in an accident battling for the lead in the midst of lapped traffic.
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Last December, James Civali stood before the entire Whelen Modified Tour community as he accepted his Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year award. Standing there at the podium at Mohegan Sun, Civali knew his rookie campaign was a success. Many veteran drivers would be content with a seventh place finish in points, including a victory at one of the most prestigious tracks in modified history, Stafford. But when the Meriden, CT-native left the stage that night, he knew there was more to gain.
All winter Civali remained focused on the next chapter in his career, his sophomore season on the Whelen Modified Tour. For the first time the 23-year-old knew what to expect entering a Tour season. Again teaming with Don King and King Racing, Civali knew he had the equipment to take him to the next level, a Whelen Modified Tour Championship.
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The qualifying format for the first ever NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour “Flash” event at Riverhead Raceway was announced today by WMT director Ed Cox in conjunction with Barbara and Jim Cromarty of Riverhead Raceway. As they have since 1985, Miller Lite will serve as title sponsor for this unique race that is sure to be a hit with the fans in attendance.
The Riverhead stop is the third and final “Flash” event of the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Qualifying will find 20% of the cars entered to qualify through time trials, for example if 40 cars enter then 8 would transfer through time. The cars that make the show through time would then later redraw for their staring positions in the main event. Two 25-lap qualifying races will then be run, with odd number cars from time trials in one qualifying race, while the those who qualify in an even number going to the second qualifying race. How many cars make the feature from the heats will be announced when the prior to the qualifying races.
The remainder of the 28-car field would be filled out by provisional starting positions as noted on the WMT entry blank.
After all the qualifying has been completed it will then be time for the Miller Lite 140-lap feature event for the cars and stars of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the Riverhead Raceway drivers who make the 28-car starting grid.
It’s a great format with something for everyone, so make your plans now to head to Riverhead Raceway Saturday August 4th for this historical race. Joining the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be the Charger and Blunderbust divisions, who will run 30-lap feature events with double points. One-On-Spectator Drags will complete the program.
Time Trials for the “Flash” event will start at 5:15 pm with the twin 25 lap qualifying races at 6:30pm. For further information please call the Riverhead Raceway office at 631-842-RACE or log onto www.riverheadraceway.com.
Sources: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR