If
there is one event during Florida Speedweeks that the
Modified competitors want to win, it’s the Richie Evans
Memorial 100. For starters, it’s the longest event of
the week. But the real reason that the trophy for this
race is so coveted is that the event honors a driver
widely acknowledged as the best Modified racer in
history.
So
when Donny Lia started out the week with a ration of bad
luck, ranging from a fire in his car to a broken
transmission, he didn’t get down on himself at New
Smyrna Speedway. He simply cinched up his belts and
went after the biggest win of them all.
And
the young New York driver used his determination to take
a trip to victory lane in the prestigious race. It was
something that was sorely needed by Lia and his team
after having several potential victories slip away from
them in Florida.
“It was good to feel like we can still do this,” Lia
said. “I forgot what it was like to win. We had the
best car at points during the race. I just felt good.
This rejuvenated all my guys. We forget about all the
bad luck the rest of the week.”
“The guys worked their tails off. We kept making
headway, but were getting chopped at the knees. It
really messes with your mind. We had a meeting in here
after the final blow, which was the broken oil line the
other night, and the guys all wanted to do the same
thing I wanted to do, which was come out there the next
morning, work on the car, and get it right and win
big.
“They (the crew) always have those intentions and kept
working hard. That is who I give the credit too. They
could have thrown the towel in. I never knew how hard
it was when you keep having problems. You either want
it or don’t want it. If you want it, you are not going
to stop. They all want it and they never gave up.”
The gravity of the race was not lost on Lia, despite his
young age.
“Richie Evans was the best modified driver ever,” said
Lia. “I’ve won some pretty cool races; the North vs.
South Shootout, two Tour races at my home-track
(Riverhead Raceway) and this race. Winning this one is
real cool.”
“Mod racing is very historic. I am, son of a car dealer
and I’m racing three or four years and here I am winning
a race named after the greatest driver ever. Sometimes
I don’t feel like I’ve paid my dues because of the
history that goes along with modified racing. It feels
awesome, though. I know what the guy means to modified
racing. It is an honor.”
During pace laps, a restored Richie Evans car led the
field around New Smyrna and that piqued Lia’s interest.
“Before the race I was looking around,” said Lia. “I
moved up behind it (the Evans coupe). I wanted to get
on its bumper to see what it was like to race one of
those old coupes. I heard them talking before the race
about Richie Evans when I was sitting there on the
grid.”
Finishing second to Lia was another young Long Islander,
Kevin Goodale, who impressed many with his Speedweeks
efforts. Lia was happy to race against a hometown boy.
“I’m glad he is running as good as he is,” said Lia.
“It's kind of cool that we were one and two and both
from Long Island. Now we can go run like this on the
Tour and have kind of a Long Island gang.”
In 2005,
Lia and the LMI team will return to action on the NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour. For more information on Donny and
the team, please contact Matthew Dillner at (704)
231-7613 and be sure to visit DonnyLia.com.Source:
Matt Dillner/Donny Lia PR
Posted: February
22, 2005
