Santos Springs Back to Victory Lane
Bobby Santos rebounded from an opening
season mechanical failure with a win Sunday in Stafford
Speedway's Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST.
Santos, the defending NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, held
off points leader Rowan Pennink over the closing laps to claim
the victory. Santos opened the season with the Coors Light Pole
Award at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway but lasted just
16 laps before engine issues ended his day.
Sunday at Stafford, the engine was never a problem.
It was Santos' third career win at Stafford and first in the
track's annual season kickoff, which was running its 40th
edition. Those three wins for Santos and the No. 4 Mystic
Missile Racing team have come in the last four races at the
historic half mile.
Ron Silk edged Eric Beers for third, while Mike Stefanik
finished fifth. Erick Rudolph was sixth. Ted Christopher,
three-time defending race winner, finished seventh. Matt
Hirschman, Tom Rogers Jr. and Woody Pitkat rounded out the top
10.
Doug Coby, who won the Coors Light Pole Award on Saturday, was
involved in the first caution of the day and finished 29th.
Santos led a race-high 152 laps while Christopher paced the
other 48. The first of four races in 2011 at Stafford was slowed
by eight cautions for 43 laps.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return to Stafford on
Friday, May 27 for the TSI Harley-Davidson 125. It will mark the
100th race at Stafford in the Tour’s history.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Tech-Net Spring Sizzler pres. by
CARQUEST
Unofficial Results
Sunday
At Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford, Conn.
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (3) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Dodge, 200 laps, 64.982
mph
2. (5) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 200
3. (7) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 200
4. (4) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 200
5. (27) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Pontiac, 200
6. (8) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200
7. (10) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 200
8. (12) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 200
9. (11) Tom Rogers, Jr., Patchogue, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200
10. (24) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 200
11. (29) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200
12. (21) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200
13. (17) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 200
14. (25) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 200
15. (26) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 200
16. (18) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 200
17. (31) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 200
18. (15) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 200
19. (20) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 200
20. (16) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 200
21. (22) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet,
199
22. (28) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 197
23. (19) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 190
24. (2) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 175, accident
25. (9) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 174, accident
26. (14) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 161,
accident
27. (30) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 131, engine
28. (6) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 87,
engine
29. (1) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 83, accident
30. (13) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 31,
engine
31. (23) Dave Etheridge, Portland, Conn., Chevrolet, 0, axle
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 32 minutes 20 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.244 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: D.Coby (100.083 mph, 17.985 seconds)
Caution Flags: 8 for 43 laps.
Lead Changes: 2 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B. Santos 1-86; T. Christopher 87-134; B. Santos
135-200.
Standings: 1. R. Pennink, 340; 2. M. Stefanik, 320; 3. E. Beers,
310; 4. T. Christopher, 291; 5. M. Hirschman, 280; 6. R. Preece,
277; 7. R. Silk, 269; 8. B. Santos, 259; 9. E. Rudolph, 253; 10.
R. Yuhas,Jr., 248.
Source: Jason
Cunningham/NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour PR
Posted: May
2, 2011
