James Civali
may have been as surprised as anybody with his
qualifying effort Saturday. Civali translated fast times in
practice into his first career Coors Light Pole on the NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour.
“I didn’t think we’d be able to get it,” said Civali, who
posted a time of 18.585 seconds (120.097 mph) around the
.625-mile oval in his No. 28 Ramar-Hall Inc./Genesis Shocks
Chevrolet. “We were fast all day but the track changes so much.
You can go from one tenth to another. You never think you’re
going to get a pole. I never get a pole.”
Civali bumped Bobby Grigas III (No. 09 Triple-G Scaffold
Services Chevrolet) off the top spot, but Grigas regained it
following the post-qualifying redraw of the top six spots.
Civali will start fifth in the race he won last season.
“I never thought I’d ever get a pole,” Civali said. “Maybe
we’re that good this week. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Grigas’ time of 18.613 seconds (119.916 mph) withstood
challenges of track-record holder Todd Szegedy (18.759/118.983)
and consistently fast qualifier Jimmy Blewett (18.798/118.736).
But along came Civali, a notoriously bad qualifier, to take away
the pole. Grigas, though, was still ecstatic with his qualifying
run.
“The way the car felt, I thought I had time trialed 20th,”
Grigas said. “I didn’t think I qualified up there. I never
expect anything. I hope. I’m psyched.”
Ronnie Silk (No. 79 Hill Enterprises/Coors Light/Sunoco
Pontiac) will start on the outside of the front row. Blewett and
Szegedy will start in the second row.
While Civali won last year’s Icebreaker, Silk (Sept. 23) and
Szegedy (Aug. 16) also won at Thompson last season. Bobby Santos
III, who won last season’s World Series in October at Thompson,
got a ride with Joe Brady’s No. 00 Saturday morning and posted
the seventh fastest qualifying time.
1. 09 Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield Mass. Triple-G Scaffold
Services Chevrolet 18.613 119.916
2. 79 Ronnie Silk, Norwalk Conn. Hill Enterprises/Coors
Light/Sunoco Pontiac 18.792 118.774
3. 19 Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J. Major Motion Transport/TS
Haulers Chevrolet 18.798 118.736
4. 2 Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn. Wisk-Snuggle Ford 18.759
118.983
5. 28 James Civali, Meriden Conn. Ramar-Hall Inc./Genesis Shocks
Chevrolet 18.585 120.097
6. 31 Tony Ferrante, Jr., New Hyde Park N.Y. Sunoco Chevrolet
18.801 118.717
7. 00 Bobby Santos, Franklin Mass. Sherm's Towing Chevrolet
18.827 118.553
8. 10 Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington Conn. Ron Bouchard Auto
Center/Premier Kitchens Chevrolet
18.864 118.321
9. 58 Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y. Riverhead Building Supply
Chevrolet 18.881 118.214
10. 4 Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville N.Y. Mystic Missile Dodge
18.882 118.208
11. 14 Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill Conn. Atlantic Sprinkler Ford
18.886 118.183
12. 3 Ryan Preece, Kensington Conn. Mizzy Construction/FJ Hubany
Chevrolet 18.893 118.139
13. 0 Danny Sammons, Hamilton N.J. Area Auto Racing News
Chevrolet 18.897 118.114
14. 46 Eric Beers, Northampton Pa. Reynold's Auto Wrecking/J&R
Pre-Cast Chevrolet 18.904
118.070
15. 36 Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn. Al-Lee Installations
Chevrolet 18.972 117.647
16. 64 Eric Berndt, Cromwell Conn. Northend Auto Parts/Cos
Central Auto Chevrolet 19.008
117.424
17. 59 Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa. Furnace & Duct Chevrolet
19.014 117.387
18. 93 Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley Pa. Monk Mechanics Hand
Cleaner Chevrolet 19.028
117.301
19. 5 Charles Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn. Dawley's Auto
Center/Sunoco Chevrolet 19.046 117.190
20. 16 Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I. Diversified Metals/Ace
Moldings Pontiac 19.057 117.122
21. 06 Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown N.J. Greenfield Dodge Dodge
19.073 117.024
22. 8 Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays N.Y. Sypher Construction
Chevrolet 19.107 116.816
23. 12 Ken Heagy, Calverton N.Y. Budy One Seafood Chevrolet
19.134 116.651
24. 74 J.R. Bertuccio, Centereach N.Y. Gershow Recycling Dodge
19.147 116.572
25. 45 Erick Rudolph, Ransomville N.Y. * Original Pizza
Logs/Prime Tyme Motorsports Chevrolet
19.181 116.365
26. 75 Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn. Sunoco/Dawley's Collision
Chevrolet 19.213 116.171
27. 47 Jim Storace, Kingston N.H. Harry's Fuel/TRC Race
Components Pontiac 19.214 116.165
28. 21 Richard Savary, Canton Mass. Superior Oil Chevrolet
19.253 115.930
29. 11 Anthony Sesely, Matawan N.J. A-1 Auto Center Dodge 19.273
115.810
30. 90 Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury Conn. SFI/Featherlite Chevrolet
19.297 115.666
31. 99 Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J. J Co./Clean-Up Supply
Chevrolet 19.350 115.349
32. 77 Rick Fuller, Auburn Mass. Toyota Certified Used Vehicles
19.419 114.939
33. 33 Wade Cole, Riverton Conn. Performance Engines/Kendall
Oil/Ryan's Oil Chevrolet 19.844
112.477
34. 05 Joe Hartmann, Calverton N.Y. WMS Construction Chevrolet
19.626 113.727
35. 9 Jake Marosz, Middletown Conn. Middlesex Auto Center
Chevrolet 19.787 112.801
36. 26 Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma N.Y. * Lakeland Landscaping
Supply/RC Electric Chevrolet
19.859 112.392
37. 32 Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich Conn. * Synergyn/M&W Sheet
Metal/Crystal Auto Chevrolet 19.801
12.722
38. 17 Glen Reen, Wilbraham Mass. * Reen Orthodontics Chevrolet
19.430 114.874
39. 53 Sean Patterson, Wading River N.Y. * John DeLisa & AXA
Financial Pontiac 19.973 111.751
Source: Jason
Cunningham/NWMT PR
Posted:
April 5, 2008
