08/12/06

JAMES CIVALI GRABS FIRST CAREER WIN AT STAFFORD

    James Civali of Meriden, Conn. earned his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory in the New England Dodge Dealers 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway. Civali and Reggie Ruggiero of Rocky, Hill Conn. waged a torrid battle over the closing laps until Ruggiero spun into the infield with two laps to go. Ruggiero recovered to finish ninth.
    Civali, who leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, led on two occasions in the Ramar-Hall/Liberty Limousine Chevrolet for a total of 77 laps. Ruggiero closed in on Civali with 29 laps to go and applied heavy pressure, lap after lap, until he spun.
    “When you’re leading you do everything you can to stay ahead, “said Civali. “I was trying to make him use up his tires before he could make a big move on me.”
    Ken Barry finished second in the Lombardi Inside-Out Chevrolet after starting 16th. Chris Pasteryak finished third in the John Simlick/Coldwell Banker Chevrolet. Matt Hirschman was fourth in Furnace and Duct Dodge. Barry, Pasteryak and Hirschman all had career best finishes in this race. Current point leader Mike Stefanik rounded out the Top-5 in the Diversified Metals Chevrolet. Steafnik leads Ted Christopher by 101 points.
    Tony Hirschman was the Bud Pole winner and led the first 72 laps before getting tangled up on a restart. Hirschman finished 21st. Anthony Sesely was the winner of the Powerade Power Move of the Race. Civali earned the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award.
    The next event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is at the Thompson International Speedway on Aug. 17.


    Unofficial finish of Friday’s $82,673.00 New England Dodge Dealers 150 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Stafford Motor Speedway with driver's starting position in parentheses, hometown, make and model of car, laps completed, winner's average speed, reason out (if any) and prize money.

 1.  (9) James Civali, Meriden Conn., Chevrolet, 150, 65.092 mph, $7,300
 2. (16) Ken Barry, Griswold Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $3,800
 3. (11) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,600
 4. (13) Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Dodge, 150, $2,900
 5. (10) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 150, $2,600
 6.  (2) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn., Ford, 150, $2,300
 7. (12) Eddie Flemke, Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,200
 8.  (3) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,000
 9.  (5) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,650
10. (26) Thomas Bolles, Ellington Conn, Chevrolet, 150, $1,200
11. (30) Anthony Sesely, Matawan N.J., Chevrolet, 149, $2,375
12. (20) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Ford, 149, $1,850
13. (28) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater Mass., Chevrolet, 149, $1,775
14. (23) Jimmy Storace, Kingston N.H., Chevrolet, 143, $1,050
15. (31) Ron Yuhas, Groton Conn., Chevrolet, 128, Suspension, $1,725
16. (15) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Dodge, 125, Suspension, $1,700
17. (7) Donny Lia, Jericho N.Y., Chevrolet, 123, Suspension, $1,775
18. (19) Kirk Alexander, West Swanzey N.H., Pontiac, 115, Engine, $950
19. (27) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo N.Y., Pontiac, 113, $1,625
20. (25) Doug Coby, Milford Conn., Pontiac, 94, $1,600
21. (1) Tony Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 93, $2,725
22. (24) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 84, $1,650
23. (21) John Blewett, III, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 72, Accident, $1,225
24. (8) Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 72, Accident, $1,500
25. (6) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk Conn., Chevrolet, 69, Accident, $1,175
26. (14) Rob Summers, Manchester Conn., Pontiac, 59, Accident, $1,450
27. (17) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y., Chevrolet, 58, Engine, $750
28. (18) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 52, Ignition, $1,550
29. (4) Jon McKennedy, Chelsford Mass., Chevrolet, 48, Accident, $1,150
30. (29) Steve Whitt, Farmingdale N.J., Dodge, 48, Accident, $1,450
31. (22) Kenny Horton, Guilford, Pontiac, 29, Clutch, $750

Failed to Qualify: (10) Eric Berndt * (#64), Wade Cole (#33), Danny Sammons * (#0), Carl Pasteryak (#75), Joseph Hartmann * (#05), Frank Ruocco (#91), Dennis Charette (#03), Glen Tyler * (#8), Jake Marosz (#9), Roy Seidell, Jr (#27).
Time of Race:1 hrs., 9 mins, 8 secs Average Speed: 65.092 mph Margin of Victory:1.6 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Tony Hirschman, 48 Kamco Supply Corporation Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: James Civali *, 28 Ramar-Hall/Liberty Limousine Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Anthony Sesely *, 11 A-1 Collision Center Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: James Civali *, 28 Ramar-Hall/Liberty Limousine Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 2-5; 28-31; 45-48; 49-55; 60-65; 69-73; 74-78. 7 for 35 laps.
Lap Leaders: Tony Hirschman 1-72, James Civali * 73-77, Zach Sylvester 78, James Civali * 79-150.
Total Laps Led: James Civali * 77, Tony Hirschman 72, Zach Sylvester 1. 3 changes involving 3 drivers.

    Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: Mike Stefanik 1410, Ted Christopher 1309, Tony Hirschman 1277, James Civali * 1275, Todd Szegedy 1243, Eddie Flemke 1241, Chuck Hossfeld 1125, Jerry Marquis 1122, Eric Beers 1109, Donny Lia 1102, Dick Houlihan 1097, Jamie Tomaino 1026, Matt Hirschman * 1013, Doug Coby 976, Zach Sylvester 975, Reggie Ruggiero 959, Rob Summers 947, Ken Barry 926, Anthony Sesely * 912, Jimmy Blewett 900

Next Race:Thompson, CT Aug. 17, 2006

Source:  NASCARTouring.com/NASCAR WMT PR
Posted:  August 12, 2006