Lia Feeling
Pretty Lucky
Stafford, Conn. – Donny Lia’s success at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway
continued Friday night.
Less
than a month after winning the Spring Sizzler, Lia picked up his second
victory of the season when the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returned to the
historic half-mile for the Connecticut Classic 150.
“You
can have the fastest car out there,” said Lia, “but if you don’t catch any
breaks, it doesn’t matter.”
Lia’s
biggest break in his seventh career victory came on lap 113 when leader Eric
Beers lost control in turn 1 just in front of Lia. Lia managed to dive low
as he went through turn 2 and avoid getting caught up in the wreck. He then
led the rest of the way, holding off a late-charging James Civali for the
victory.
“I saw
him go around,” Lia said. “I whoaed up; cut it to the bottom. I must have
missed him by an inch.”
It was
Lia’s fifth top three finish in his last seven starts at Stafford.
Eddie
Flemke finished third, followeed by Zach Sylvester and Todd Szegedy.
Matt
Hirschman, Jamie Tomaino, Dick Houlihan, Richard Savary and Eric Beers
rounded out the top 10. Jimmy Blewett (13th) maintained his points lead by
three over Civali, 602-599. Hirschman is third with 597 points and Lia is
fourth with 584.
The
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be at Thompson (Conn.) International
Speedway Thursday, June 21.
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR-Connecticut Classic 150
Results
Friday At Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (6) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 150 laps, 58.568
mph, $7,200.
2. (1) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $4,000.
3. (7) Eddie Flemke, Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $3,200.
4. (15) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon, Conn., Pontiac, 150, $3,300.
5. (4) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 150, $2,700.
6. (9) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Dodge, 150, $1,950.
7. (17) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Ford, 150, $1,850.
8. (25) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater, Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $2,050.
9. (30) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $2,200.
10. (16) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 150, $1,950.
11. (12) Ryan Preece, Kensington, CT, Chevrolet, 150, $1,500.
12. (27) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 150, $2,575.
13. (18) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 150, $1,800.
14. (19) Eric Berndt, Rocky Hill, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,075.
15. (26) Ron Yuhas, Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,450.
16. (24) Glen Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $1,025.
17. (31) Danny Sammons, Trenton, N.J., Chevrolet, 150, $1,400.
18. (8) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn., Chevrolet, 148, $1,775.
19. (10) Bobby Grigas, Marshfield, MA, Chevrolet, 147, suspension, $1,650.
20. (28) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N.J., Dodge, 146, $1,725.
21. (2) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 139, $1,600.
22. (22) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 128, suspension, $1,275.
23. (20) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass., Chevrolet, 122, accident, $850.
24. (5) Tony Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 114, accident, $1,275.
25. (29) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY, Chevrolet, 105, accident, $1,075.
26. (11) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn., Chevrolet, 104, accident,
$1,464.
27. (13) John Blewett, III, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 104, accident, $1,450.
28. (3) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 91, accident, $1,550.
29. (14) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire, Conn., Pontiac, 91, accident, $750.
30. (21) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 48, engine, $1,150.
31. (23) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo, N.Y., Pontiac, 31, accident, $1,450.
Failed to Qualify: (10) Kenny Horton (#29), Rob
Summers (#1), Renee Dupuis (#90), Chris Pasteryak (#5), Carl Pasteryak
(#75), Anthony Sesely (#11), Dave Etheridge (#54), Rowan Pennink * (#93),
Joseph Hartmann * (#05), Jake Marosz (#9).
Time of Race:1 hrs., 16 mins, 50 secs
Average Speed: 58.568 mph
Margin of Victory:.46 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Tony Hirschman, 48 Kamco Supply
Corporation Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Zach
Sylvester, 77 Racing Against Cancer Pontiac
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Richard Savary *, 20 Superior Oil/Lombardi
Inside Out Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Ryan Preece *, 40 F.J. Hubery, Inc. Chevrolet
WHELEN ENGINEERING WINNER OF THE RACE: Donny Lia, 4 Mystic Missile Dodge
Caution Flags: Laps 23-27; 32-37; 83-88; 92-98; 105-110;
114-119. 6 for 36 laps.
Lap Leaders: James Civali 1-2, Ted Christopher 3-86,
Jimmy Blewett 87-90, Eric Beers 91-109, Donny Lia 110, Eric Beers 111-113,
Donny Lia 114-150.
Total Laps Led: Ted Christopher 84, Donny Lia 38, Eric
Beers 22, Jimmy Blewett 4, James Civali 2. 6 changes involving 5 drivers.
Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: Jimmy Blewett 602,
James Civali 599, Matt Hirschman* 597, Donny Lia 584, Todd Szegedy 573, Zach
Sylvester 519, Jerry Marquis 512, Mike Stefanik 503, Ronnie Silk
499, Jamie Tomaino 489, Chuck Hossfeld 479, Eric Beers 467, Billy Pauch, Jr.
* 464, Eddie Flemke 462, Dick Houlihan 460, Bobby Grigas * 450,
Richard Savary * 441, Reggie Ruggiero 429, Ted Christopher 427, John
Blewett, III 407
Next Race:Thompson, CT
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender
Source: Mark
Mockovak/NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour PR
Posted:
May 26, 2007
