Stefanik Returns to Victory Lane at the Magic Mile
Mike Stefanik survived several restarts
in the closing laps and picked up a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
win in the Granite State Classic on Saturday at New Hampshire
Motor Speedway.
Under perfect weather conditions,
Stefanik, out of Coventry, R.I., in the No. 16 Diversified
Metals/R.B. Enterprises Pontiac, earned his first win of the
season and the 71st of his Tour career by edging Woody Pitkat at
the line. It was Stefanik’s seventh win at the track and first
since Aug. 2, 1998. Additionally, it was his first overall
victory since winning at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Sept.
27, 2009.
The runner-up marked the best career
finish for Pitkat, from Stafford, Conn.
Todd Szegedy crossed the line in the
third position followed by Justin Bonsignore and Eric Beers in
fourth and fifth, respectively. Bobby Santos, Ryan Preece, Glenn
Tyler, Erick Rudolph and Doug Coby rounded out the top 10.
Pit stops in the middle portion of the
race shuffled the field which left Stefanik and Pitkat at the
front to battle it out through two red flags brought out by
separate multi-car accidents.
Perennial championship contender and
five-time New Hampshire winner Ted Christopher experienced
mechanical problems on Lap 33 and had to go behind the wall for
repairs relegating him to a 28th-place finish.
In Friday’s qualifying session,
defending Tour champion Bobby Santos claimed his second Coors
Light Pole Award of the 2011 season and the sixth of his career.
It was, however, his first at the New Hampshire track.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is in
action next on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at the legendary Bristol
(Tenn.) Motor Speedway for a combination event with the NASCAR
Whelen Southern Modified Tour. The event is set to be telecast
on SPEED at 6 p.m. ET.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-Granite
State Classic Unofficial Results
Saturday
At New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Loudon, N.H.
Lap length: 1.058 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (12) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I.,
Pontiac, 105 laps, 68.609 mph.
2. (22) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 105.
3. (3) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 105.
4. (4) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 105.
5. (2) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 105.
6. (1) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Dodge, 105.
7. (16) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 105.
8. (21) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 105.
9. (8) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 105.
10. (14) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 105.
11. (13) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 105.
12. (25) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet, 105.
13. (19) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Ford, 105.
14. (23) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 105.
15. (29) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 105.
16. (5) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 105.
17. (31) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 99.
18. (26) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet,
97.
19. (7) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Pontiac, 92, accident.
20. (18) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 92, accident.
21. (6) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 92, accident.
22. (10) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 86,
accident.
23. (15) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 86,
accident.
24. (24) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 86, accident.
25. (20) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Ford, 86, accident.
26. (30) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 62,
handling.
27. (11) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 58, accident.
28. (17) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 50, rear
end.
29. (9) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 47, engine.
30. (28) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 41, engine.
31. (27) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 24, ignition.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 37 minutes 9 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.069 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: B.Santos (127.564 mph, 29.858 seconds)
Caution Flags: 10 for 52 laps.
Lead Changes: 10 among 5 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B. Santos 1-29; E. Rudolph 30; B. Santos 31-44; J.
Bonsignore 45; B. Santos 46-53; J. Bonsignore 54; B. Santos
55-60; W. Pitkat 61-66; M. Stefanik 67-70; W. Pitkat 71-72; M.
Stefanik 73-105.
Standings: 1. R. Silk, 1405; 2. R. Pennink, 1389; 3. T. Szegedy,
1324; 4. T. Christopher, 1296; 5. B. Santos, 1292; 6. E. Beers,
1284; 7. D. Coby, 1247; 8. M. Hirschman, 1216; 9. M. Stefanik,
1208; 10. E. Rudolph, 1155.
Source:
Jason Cunningham/NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour PR
Posted: August 15, 2011
