08/18/06

Ted Christopher Claims Third NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race of 2006 at Thompson

    Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn. became the first three time winner on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with a victory in the New England Dodge Dealers/Budweiser 150 at Thompson International Speedway. Christopher took the lead on lap 141 from John Blewett, III of Howell, N.J and went on to a 1.02 margin of victory over defending series champion Tony Hirschman of Northampton, Pa.
    Christopher led on two occasions in the Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet for a total of 26 laps. It was his 26th career win on the series. He swapped the lead twice with John Blewett over the closing laps. Christopher and Blewett made contact on lap 141 as Christopher took over the top spot.
    “I didn’t mean to get into him,” said Christopher. “It was one of those racing deals. We were racing close all night.”
    Blewett ended the race in 22nd position.
    Finishing third behind the Kamco Supply Chevrolet of Hirschman was the TAS Country Homes Chevrolet of Zach Sylvester. For Sylvester it was his best finish of the 2006 season. Tom Bolles of Ellington Conn. also had his best finish of 2006 with a fourth in the Bolles Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep Chevrolet. Jimmy Blewett of Howell, N.J rounded out the Top-5 in the T.S. Haulers Chevrolet.
    Tony Hirschman was the fast qualifier for the second consecutive race and earned the Bud Pole Award. Christopher won both the Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award and the Powerade Power Move of the Race. Ron Yuhas was the Sunoco Rookie of the Race.
    The next event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va. on Sept 2.

     Unofficial Finish of Thursday's $84,213.00 New England Dodge Dealers/Budweiser 150 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. (20) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 150, 71.793 mph, $7,600
 2.  (1) Tony Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 150, $5,050
 3. (19) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $3,200
 4. (13) Thomas Bolles, Ellington Conn, Chevrolet, 150, $2,000
 5.  (3) Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 150, $2,450
 6.  (4) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 150, $2,450
 7.  (9) Eddie Flemke, Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,300
 8.  (7) Ron Yuhas, Groton Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,300
 9.  (2) Donny Lia, Jericho N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $2,100
10. (21) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Dodge, 150, $1,900
11. (17) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,575
12. (12) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,125
13. (6) Jon McKennedy, Chelsford Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $1,500
14. (31) Steve Whitt, Farmingdale N.J., Dodge, 150, $1,775
15. (8) Richard Savary, Canton Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $1,025
16. (25) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Pontiac, 150, $975
17. (28) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $950
18. (29) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo N.Y., Pontiac, 147, $1,625
19. (14) Anthony Sesely, Matawan N.J., Chevrolet, 145, $1,600
20. (18) Doug Coby, Milford Conn., Pontiac, 143, $1,575
21. (5) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn., Ford, 142, Rear End, $1,650
22. (10) John Blewett, III, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 140, Accident, $1,225
23. (27) Wade Cole, Riverton Conn., Chevrolet, 137, $790
24. (15) Ken Barry, Griswold Conn., Chevrolet, 124, Rear End, $1,460
25. (30) Rob Summers, Manchester Conn., Pontiac, 108, $1,450
26. (16) Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Dodge, 104, Accident, $1,450
27. (24) Ken Bouchard, Fitchburg Mass., Chevrolet, 104, $750
28. (22) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater Mass., Chevrolet, 93, $1,450
29. (26) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Ford, 89, Accident, $1,450
30. (11) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 81, Accident, $1,550
31. (23) James Civali, Meriden Conn., Chevrolet, 81, Accident, $1,550
32. (33) Jimmy Storace, Kingston N.H., Chevrolet, 57, Shocks, $1,150
33. (32) Danny Sammons, Trenton N.J., Chevrolet, 49, Brakes, $750

Failed to Qualify: (5) Eric Berndt * (#64), Jake Marosz (#9), Alex Hoag (#87), Reggie Ruggiero (#41), Kevin Goodale (#58).
Time of Race:1 hrs., 18 mins, 21 secs Average Speed: 71.793 mph Margin of Victory:1.02 Seconds
Caution Flags: Laps 31-35; 37-40; 41-45; 83-90; 91-95; 100-104; 105-108; 127-131; 141-147. 9 for 48 laps.
Lap Leaders: Tony Hirschman 1-45, Mike Stefanik 46-86, Steve Whitt 87-98, John Blewett, III 99-115, Ted Christopher 116-131, John Blewett, III 132-140, Ted Christopher 141-150.
Total Laps Led: Tony Hirschman 45, Mike Stefanik 41, Ted Christopher 26, John Blewett, III 26, Steve Whitt 12. 6 changes involving 5 drivers.

BUD POLE AWARD: Tony Hirschman, 48 Kamco Supply Corporation Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Ted Christopher, 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Ted Christopher, 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Ron Yuhas *, 6 A. P. Marquadt, Inc. Chevrolet

Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: Mike Stefanik 1560, Ted Christopher 1489, Tony Hirschman 1447, Eddie Flemke 1387, James Civali * 1345, Todd Szegedy 1343, Jerry Marquis 1256, Donny Lia 1240, Chuck Hossfeld 1234, Eric Beers 1182, Dick Houlihan 1176, Zach Sylvester 1140, Jamie Tomaino 1102, Matt Hirschman * 1098, Doug Coby 1079, Jimmy Blewett 1055, Rob Summers 1035, Anthony Sesely * 1018, Ken Barry 1017, Reggie Ruggiero 1011

Next Race: September 2, Martinsville, Va.

Source:  NASCARTouring.com/WMT PR
Posted:  August 18, 2006