Donny Lia
First Stafford Mod Tour Victory Count
HUNTINGTON, NY (April 29, 2007) –
Ever since he won the Rookie of the Year title on the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour in 2003, Donny Lia has had winning a race at the Stafford
Motor Speedway (CT) near the top of his to-do list. The facility is one of
the most historic tracks that the Tour visits, and it is widely known as one
of the trickiest places on the schedule as well.
Lia
had come close to winning at Stafford before. He’s been fast time after
time there, but there has always been something to keep him from visiting
victory lane. He’s been caught up in wrecks and had mechanical problems.
He’s even finished second while crossing the finish line on three wheels.
On
Sunday afternoon, Lia finally broke through at Stafford in a big way when he
won the most prestigious race on the track’s schedule, the Spring Sizzler.
“When it comes to tracks that you want to win at, this place, Thompson and
Loudon rank right up there,” said Lia. “This is a challenging track. It
has challenged me, and it took me a long time to feel like I had figured it
out. I still haven’t figured it out. There are always different things to
learn here. It’s a driver’s track. I’ve won Tour races at Riverhead and
Waterford. I love those two tracks, I really do. But it doesn’t feel like
this. This track is an icon of the Modified Tour. To win here really just
feels amazing.”
Lia
won in only his second start as the driver of Bob Garbarino’s Mystic Missile
#4 car. Garbarino is one of the most accomplished team owners in Modified
racing, and he has won just about everywhere, but Sunday’s victory was all a
first for him. It was the first time that he won the Spring Sizzler, and
Lia was nearly speechless about that.
“I’m proud,” said Lia. “I don’t know what to feel about that really. I’m
just glad that he is having me drive his car. He has been owning racecars
on the Modified Tour for 40-something years. He’s very highly respected,
and he could have anyone drive his racecars. The fact that he chose me and
has faith in me to drive his car really means a lot to me.
“I’m glad that we were able to win today. These guys gave me an amazing car
today. It really feels like we accomplished something big here today. This
is awesome.
“To
win so quickly together really says something about this team, and without
trying to sound cocky, I think that it says something about myself. I
always wondered if I’d even get it done here [at Stafford]. Sometimes you
need a day like this to remind yourself that you can do it.”
Lia
will return to action next Sunday as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour heads
to Wall Township Speedway (NJ) for the next event on their schedule. Racing
will take place there on Sunday, May 6th.
For more information on Donny
Lia, please contact
Mike Twist at (207) 590-1786
and be sure to visit
DonnyLia.com.
Source: Mike
Twist/Donny Lia PR
Posted:
April 30, 2007
