Santos Earns NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Title
Bobby Santos came home sixth to put the finishing touches on
his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship Sunday, while
Ted Christopher continued his mastery of Thompson International
Speedway. Christopher became the first driver in Whelen Modified
Tour history to earn three straight victories in the Sunoco
World Series of Speedway Racing, the traditional season-ending
event.
For Santos, the Whelen Modified Tour title came in his first
full-time season competing in the division. He gave car owner
Bob Garbarino his third championship in four years. Garbarino,
an owner in the division since 1961, did not win a championship
until driver Donny Lia won it in 2007 and 2009.
When Lia left the No. 4 "Mystic Missile" Dodge in February to
run the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, it opened the door
for the 25-year-old from Franklin, Mass. Santos proceeded to
recorded four wins and four Coors Light Pole Awards during his
title campaign and Thompson's finale was his 11th top-10 finish
during the 14-race season.
Santos entered the event with a 37-point lead over Stefanik, and
was able to keep the nine-time NASCAR champion in his sights
throughout the race. Stefanik finished fourth behind
Christopher, Ryan Preece and Doug Coby.
Santos finished 27 points ahead of Stefanik in the final
standings, and 78 ahead of Christopher. Ron Silk and Todd
Szegedy rounded out the top five in points. Silk was also fifth
in Sunday’s race and led an event-high 45 laps.
The World Series was Christopher's second win in three Tour
races at the track this year, his fifth in the last seven events
there and his 11th overall at the .625-mile speedway.
Eric Beers finished seventh in Sunday's race, followed by Eric
Goodale, Rowan Pennink and James Civali. Burt Myers, who wrapped
up the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified championship Thursday at
Charlotte Motor Speedway, finished 14th.
As the 2010 Whelen Modified Tour champion, Santos has earned a
guaranteed starting position in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star
Showdown on Jan. 29, 2011 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale
(Calif.)
The Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing will air on VERSUS on
Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Sunoco World Series Unofficial
Results
Sunday
At Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, Conn.
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (3) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150 laps,
79.300 mph, $7,000.
2. (28) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $4,450.
3. (18) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,900.
4. (4) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 150, $2,700.
5. (6) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $2,378.
6. (1) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Dodge, 150, $3,400.
7. (11) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 150, $2,100.
8. (17) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, $2,200.
9. (5) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 150,
$1,750.
10. (9) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 150, $1,650.
11. (29) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet,
150, $2,525.
12. (2) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,200.
13. (21) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150,
$1,675.
14. (14) Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C., Ford, 150, $1,150.
15. (8) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 150,
$1,525.
16. (24) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $1,475.
17. (27) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 150, $1,450.
18. (25) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 150, $1,025.
19. (13) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150,
$1,500.
20. (15) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 150, $1,475.
21. (20) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $950.
22. (19) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150,
$1,350.
23. (16) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $950.
24. (22) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 150,
$1,350.
25. (31) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 147, $1,350.
26. (10) George Brunnhoelzl, III, W. Babylon, N.Y., Chevrolet,
112, engine, $1,350.
27. (30) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 108, suspension,
$1,350.
28. (32) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 75,
suspension, $950.
29. (26) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 69, brakes,
$1,350.
30. (12) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 65, oil leak,
$1,350.
31. (7) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 60, accident,
$1,350.
32. (23) Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 27, suspension,
$950.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 10 minutes 56 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.321 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Santos (120.263 mph, 18.709 seconds)
Caution Flags: 7 for 45 laps.
Lead Changes: 8 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: E. Berndt 1-34; T. Christopher 35-37; E. Berndt 38;
T. Christopher 39-53; E. Berndt 54-62; T. Christopher 63-76; R.
Silk 77-121; D. Coby 122-146; T. Christopher 147-150.
Standings: 1. B. Santos, 2180; 2. M. Stefanik, 2153; 3. T.
Christopher, 2102; 4. R. Silk, 2096; 5. T. Szegedy, 1957; 6. R.
Preece, 1933; 7. E. Goodale, 1784; 8. E. Rudolph, 1753; 9. E.
Beers, 1752; 10. C. Hossfeld, 1704.
Source: Jason
Cunningham/NASCAR PR
Posted: October
18, 2010
