Blewett Reaches Victory Lane at Riverhead
Jimmy Blewett registered his third career NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour victory Saturday night when he took the checkered
flag in the Miller Lite 140 at Riverhead Raceway.
Blewett, of Howell, N.J., was strong throughout the evening
as he led three times for 80 laps, including the final 46. After
qualifying fourth-fastest, Blewett took the win in the second of
two 25-lap heat races that preceded the 140-lap main. He was
then able to parlay his qualifying success into front-running in
the feature.
After starting on the outside pole, Blewett led the first 10
circuits and swapped the lead with pole-sitter Bill Park twice
in the early going. He would take his third and final lead of
the night on a restart on lap 102.
The win was the third of Blewett’s career and his first at
Riverhead. He had previously won at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
and Wall Township (N.J.) Speedway.
For the second race in a row, Ronnie Silk finished as the
runner-up. With four top-10s in a row, including a win, Silk has
moved up to seventh in the season points standings after a slow
start.
Making his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start of the
year after he captured the series title a year ago, Donny Lia
finished third and was followed in the top five by Ted
Christopher and Ryan Preece. The fifth place finish was the best
of Preece’s young career.
Ken Heagy, Mike Stefanik, Dan Jivanelli, Glenn Tyler and Eric
Beers filled out the top 10.
Chuck Hossfeld came home 18th in the race and suffered his
first finish outside the top five this year, but will retain a
44-point lead over Christopher in the season standings.
The 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season will reach its
midway point next week when the New England Dodge Dealers 150 is
contested at Stafford (Conn. ) Motor Speedway. The third race of
the season at the half-mile oval, and the eighth overall, will
take place Friday, Aug. 8.
Source: Jason
Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR
Posted:
August 3, 2008
