As one of the most accomplished short-track racers in NASCAR,
Ted Christopher had nearly done it all. Christopher filled in
the biggest remaining gap in his resume Sunday at Thompson
International Speedway when he wrapped up his first NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour championship in grand style.
Christopher (No. 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet) won the
Xtra Mart World Series 150, the final race of the season, to
earn the title by 127 points over runner-up Matt Hirschman.
Hirschman (No. 59 Furnace & Duct Supply Chevrolet) finished 25th
on Sunday.
"I’ve really got to thank Eddie Whelan for giving me this
ride a couple years ago and Brad Lafontaine, my crew chief. We
won a couple championships here together when I drove for him
back in the SK Modified days. Everybody in this whole team,
we’ve really got a great group of guys," said the 50-year-old
Christopher, from Plainville, Conn. "Brad said the best thing
would be to win the race and the championship and be the only
car up here in Victory Lane."
Christopher's title was virtually wrapped up when Hirschman
suddenly slowed on lap 118 after battling for third place.
Hischman came down pit road five laps later, while Christopher
was running in the top five on the track. Hirschman's crew
pushed the car behind the wall a short time later, effectively
allowing Christopher to clinch his championship. Christopher
passed Ronnie Silk on lap 135 for the lead following a late-race
restart and cruised to the win and the title.
Chuck Hossfeld, Ronnie Silk, Doug Coby and rookie Erick
Rudolph rounded out the top five.
"It was pretty nerve-racking," Christopher said, "but I want
to thank all of my competitors. Everybody ran me really clean
knowing what me and Matty (Hirschman) had on the line."
Christopher started fifth in the World Series, two spots in
front of Hirschman and leading by 35 points. Both pitted, along
with most of the leaders, on lap 69. Hirschman came out 10th and
Christopher 12th. The two made contact on the front stretch on
the lap 71 restart when the outside lane was slow coming up to
speed, but both were able to maintain control and continue
without incident.
"Its more relief than anything," Christopher said. "Everyone
says you’ve won all this stuff in your career and you’ve never
won the Tour championship."
Christopher made his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut in
1988 when he ran three races. He had finished in the top six in
points in each of the last eight seasons. Twice he was runner-up
- in 2002 by 50 points to Mike Stefanik and in 2005 by 18 points
to Matt Hirschman's father, Tony Hirschman Jr. In the latter,
Christopher entered the final race of the season in a similar
situation as Sunday. He led Tony Hirschman by 36 points and
needed a finish of seventh or better to clinch. An early wreck
at the World Series, however, relegated him to 30th and cost him
the title.
Christopher won the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
championship in 2001 running in the Sunoco Modified division on
a weekly basis at Thompson. He has 31 career NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour wins, including four this year. He is the
winningest driver in all divisions at Stafford (Conn.) Motor
Speedway, and has made starts in all three of NASCAR's national
series, as well as the NASCAR Camping World Series and the
Grand-Am Rolex 24 at Daytona.
As the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, Christopher
earned a secure spot in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. The
Showdown, contested in NASCAR Camping World Series cars, will be
Jan. 23-24, 2009 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).
Christopher had led Hirschman by has many as 99 points
following his win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sept. 13. But
Hirschman had whittled down the lead by finishing better than
Christopher in three consecutive races leading up to the World
Series.
Matt Hirschman was the crew chief on his father's
championship teams in 2004 and '05. His best points finish as a
driver was third place last season. He was 11th in points in his
first full season as a driver in 2006.
Christopher's championship capped a season-long celebration
by NASCAR and series sponsor Whelen Engineering of the 60 Years
of Modified Champions. Prior to the race, three-time Modified
champion Bugs Stevens was honored, along with the late Fred
DeSarro and Bill Widenhouse. Christopher's official coronation
will come Saturday, Dec. 13 in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Awards Banquet at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Conn.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Xtra Mart World Series Results
Sunday
At Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, CT
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (5) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 154 laps,
74.806 mph, $7,000.
2. (4) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Dodge, 154, $3,700.
3. (8) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Pontiac, 154, $3,000.
4. (9) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 154, $2,600.
5. (22) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 154,
$2,178.
6. (32) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 154, $2,850.
7. (18) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 154, $2,100.
8. (28) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 154, $2,000.
9. (20) Tony Ferrante, Jr., New Hyde Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 154,
$1,350.
10. (6) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 154, $2,350.
11. (16) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 154,
$1,625.
12. (25) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 154,
$1,700.
13. (30) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 154, $1,575.
14. (3) Ryan Preece, Kensington, Conn., Chevrolet, 154, $1,650.
15. (1) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 154, $1,625.
16. (26) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 154, $1,075.
17. (17) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Pontiac, 153, $1,050.
18. (23) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 152, $1,025.
19. (14) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 152,
$1,000.
20. (13) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich, Conn., Chevrolet, 152, $1,375.
21. (27) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 146, accident,
$950.
22. (11) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 146, accident,
$1,350.
23. (29) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 146,
accident, $1,350.
24. (2) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 145, $1,450.
25. (7) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 133,
$1,450.
26. (21) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 90,
suspension, $950.
27. (19) Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 86, ignition,
$950.
28. (15) Charles Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 66,
accident, $950.
29. (31) Danny Sammons, Hamilton, N.J., Chevrolet, 48, accident,
$1,350.
30. (24) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., 48, accident, $1,350.
31. (12) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, Mass., Chevrolet, 35,
engine, $1,350.
32. (10) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 27, radiator,
$950.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 17 minutes 12 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.080 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: E.Beers (122.080 mph, 18.429 seconds)
Caution Flags: 11 for 49 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J. Blewett 1-12; R. Preece 13-28; J. Blewett
29-43; R. Preece 44-67; W. Pitkat 68-85; R. Silk 86-134; T.
Christopher 135-154.
Standings: 1. T. Christopher, 2441; 2. M. Hirschman, 2314; 3.
T. Szegedy, 2260; 4. C. Hossfeld, 2251; 5. R. Silk, 2158; 6. E.
Beers, 2115; 7. M. Stefanik, 2102; 8. R. Pennink, 2016; 9. J.
Blewett, 1969; 10. R. Preece, 1948.
Source: Jason
Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR
Posted:
October 19, 2008
