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10/15/06
Reggie Ruggiero Rolls to Victory at Thompson, Mike Stefanik Moves Closer
to 7th Series Title
Reggie
Ruggiero of Rocky Hill, Conn. drove to his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
victory of the season in the World Series of Auto Racing Presented by Whelen
Engineering & XTRAMART at Thompson International Speedway. Ruggiero took
over the top spot on lap 148 when race leader Ted Christopher and John
Blewett, III tangled in Turn-3 following a restart on that lap. Ruggiero
then held off Jimmy Blewett of Howell N.J. on a green-white checkered
restart which extended the race distance to 160 laps.
It was the 44th career victory for Ruggiero, who drives the
Atlantic Sprinkler Chevrolet, and his first since 2004 when he won at Wall
Township, N.J. Ruggiero’s last win at Thompson occurred in 1998.
“Nobody seemed to want to win this race tonight, “ said
Ruggiero. “I was just glad we were in a position to get it at the end.”
Christopher was credited with 19th position after the lap 148
accident, effectively ending his hopes for his first NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour Championship. Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I. finished fifth in the
race and now leads Christopher by 148 points. Stefanik needs to earn at
least a last place finish in the final race of the year at Stafford Springs,
Conn. on Oct. 28 to secure his seventh career title.
Stefanik overcame an off track excursion midway through the
race Stefanik dropped back to 22nd place but worked his way back to the
Top-5.
Eric Sanderson, who owns the Diversified Metals Chevrolet
driven by Stefanik, clinched his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Owners
Championship.
Finishing third was Jerry Marquis who won this race last
season. Last week’s winner, Donny Lia of Jericho, N.Y., was fourth.
Unofficial Finish of Sunday's $86,093.00 World Series of Auto
Racing Presented by Whelen Engineering and XTRA Mart NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour race at Thompson International 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. (10) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill Conn., Chevrolet, 160, 70.630
mph, $6,400
2. (1) Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 160,
$4,200
3. (2) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Dodge, 160,
$3,200
4. (6) Donny Lia, Jericho N.Y., Chevrolet, 160, $2,900
5. (12 ) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 160, $2,600
6. (4) Tony Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 160,
$3,550
7. (7) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk Conn., Chevrolet, 160,
$2,200
8. (27) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Chevrolet, 160, $1,900
9. (14) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon Conn., Chevrolet, 160, $2,000
10. (32) Danny Sammons, Trenton N.J., Chevrolet, 160, $2,100
11. (31) Rob Summers, Manchester Conn., Pontiac, 160, $1,880
12. (18) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater Mass., Chevrolet, 160, $1,860
13. (15) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y., Chevrolet, 160, $1,140
14. (25) Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Dodge, 159, Accident, $1,820
15. (9) Richard Savary, Canton Mass., Chevrolet, 159, Accident, $1,100
16. (8) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn., Ford, 158, Accident, $1,850
17. (5) Ron Yuhas, Groton Conn., Chevrolet, 158, $1,675
18. (21) Eddie Flemke, Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 151, Ignition, $1,750
19. (3) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 147, Accident, $1,700
20. (13) John Blewett, III, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 147, Accident, $900
21. (22) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown N.J., Dodge, 141, Accident, $1,200
22. (29) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Ford, 129, $1,600
23. (28) Doug Coby, Milford Conn., Pontiac, 115, Accident, $1,600
24. (17) Bobby Grigas, Marshfield Mass., Chevrolet, 101, Radiator, $900
25. (11) Anthony Ferrante, Jr, Franklin Square, Chevrolet, 100, Radiator,
$900
26. (23) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 63, Accident, $1,700
27. (26) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury Conn., Chevrolet, 55, Accident, $900
28. (20) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Pontiac, 48, Accident, $900
29. (30) Anthony Sesely, Matawan N.J., Chevrolet, 48, Accident, $1,600
30. (24) James Civali, Meriden Conn., Chevrolet, 48, Accident, $1,700
31. (19) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo N.Y., Pontiac, 48, Accident, $1,600
32. (16) Ken Barry, Griswold Conn., Chevrolet, 34, Accident, $1,600
Failed to Qualify: (10) Jimmy Storace (#47), Thomas Bolles (#76), Jon
McKennedy * (#73), Wade Cole (#33), Glen Tyler * (#8), Dave Etheridge (#54),
Eric Berndt * (#64), Ken Bouchard (#55), Roy Seidell, Jr (#27), Jake Marosz
(#9).
Time of Race:1 hrs., 24 mins, 57 secs Average Speed: 70.630 mph
Margin of Victory:UNDER CAUTION
BUD POLE AWARD: Tony Hirschman, 48 Kamco Supply Corporation Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Jimmy Blewett, 12 T.S.
Haulers/ United Crane Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Danny Sammons *, 0 Area Auto Racing
News Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Ronnie Silk *, 19 Major Motion /Silk
Pumbing & Heating Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 21-25; 36-40; 42-46; 49-53; 55-60; 95-100;
101-105; 116-120; 142-146; 148-158. 10 for 58 laps.
Lap Leaders: Jerry Marquis 1-24, Tony Hirschman 25-45, Jerry Marquis
46-53, Ted Christopher 54-97, Richard Savary 98-121, Jimmy Blewett 122, Ted
Christopher 123-147, Reggie Ruggiero 148-160.
Total Laps Led: Ted Christopher 69, Jerry Marquis 32, Richard Savary
24, Tony Hirschman 21, Reggie Ruggiero 13, Jimmy Blewett 1. 7 changes
involving 6 drivers.
Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: Mike Stefanik 2307, Ted Christopher
2159, Eddie Flemke 2110, Tony Hirschman 2010, James Civali * 1990, Todd
Szegedy 1985, Jerry Marquis 1962, Donny Lia 1883, Zach Sylvester 1832, Eric
Beers 1758, Dick Houlihan 1748, Matt Hirschman * 1746, Chuck Hossfeld 1743,
Jimmy Blewett 1681, Doug Coby 1668, Jamie Tomaino 1578, Ron Yuhas * 1559,
Ronnie Silk * 1532, Anthony Sesely * 1532, Reggie Ruggiero 1498
Next Race: STAFFORD SPRINGS, CONN.
Source:
NASCARtouring.com/WMT PR
Posted:
October 15, 2006 |