LIA WINS WHELEN 150 AT WATERFORD

     WATERFORD, Conn. – Donny Lia of Jericho, N.Y. dominated the Whelen Modified 150 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at the Waterford Speedbowl to record his first victory of the season.
     Lia, the 2003 series Rookie of the Year, earned his third career victory and first at Waterford. After qualifying 4^th in time trials he picked the pole position as the eight fastest qualifiers drew for their starting position. He led every lap in the Huntington Honda Chevrolet holding off challenges from Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn. for most of the night. He also earned the Tommy Baldwin Memorial race award for leading the most laps.

      “I’ve had good race cars before,” said Lia. “This one was perfect.”

       The victory moved Lia into a tie for third in the standings with Tony Hirschman.

      Christopher, the Tour point leader, finished second in the AWD/DWD/JAT/TSI Chevrolet.

     He now leads Chuck Hossfeld by 93 points with four of 19 races completed.

     Eric Beers earned his second consecutive Top-3 finish in the Roby’s Propane/Reynolds Auto Chevrolet. Jerry Marquis earned his first Top-5 finish the year with a fourth place finish in the Reynolds Auto Dodge. Steve Whit of Farmingdale, N.J. rounded out the Top-5 with his first career Top-5 finish.

     Tony Hirschman earned the Bud Pole award and appeared headed to a third place finish but spun on the final lap. The race finished under caution as Lia had taken the white flag and the field was frozen.

       Doug Coby was the Powerade Power Move of the Race recipient. Gregg Shivers earned the Featherlite Most Improved Award. Tyler Haydt was the Sunoco Rookie of the Race.

  The next event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is at the Stafford Motor Speedway  in Stafford Springs, Conn. on July 3^rd.

Whelen Modified 150

NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR

Waterford Speedbowl    June 25, 2005

  1.  (1) Donny Lia, Jericho N.Y., Chevrolet, 150, 56.691 mph, $6,800

  2.  (7) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $3,600

  3.  (6) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 150, $2,500

  4.  (4) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Dodge, 150, $2,500

  5.  (3) Steve Whitt, Farmingdale N.J., Dodge, 150, $2,000

  6.  (8) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo N.Y., Ford, 150, $2,300

  7.  (2) Tommy Cravenho, Jr, Raynham Mass., Dodge, 150, $1,700

  8. (12) Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Dodge, 150, $1,300

  9.  (9) Gregg Shivers, Rocky Point N.Y., Pontiac, 150, $1,900

 10. (25) Doug Coby, Milford Conn., Pontiac, 150, $1,800

 11. (18) Mike Christopher, Plainville Conn., Pontiac, 150, $1,700

 12.  (5) Tony Hirschman, Northampton PA., Chevrolet, 150, $2,370

 13. (27) Chris Kopec, Palmer Mass., Chevrolet, 150, $1,760

 14. (26) Rick Fuller, Auburn Mass., Pontiac, 150, $1,750

 15. (14) Eddie Flemke, Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,740

 16. (20) James Civali, Meriden Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $930

 17. (22) Kevin Konopka, Meriden Conn., Dodge, 150, $1,610

 18. (21) Dennis Gada, Salem Conn., Dodge, 150, $880

 19. (10) Tyler Haydt, Kunkletown Pa., Chevrolet, 150, $1,570

 20. (11) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $860

 21. (24) Eric Berndt, Rocky Hill Conn., Chevrolet, 150, $1,250

 22. (23) Justin Gaydosh, Newtown Conn., Chevrolet, 149, $840

 23. (17) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon Conn., Chevrolet, 134, $1,630

 24. (16) Tommy Cloce, Canton N.Y., Chevrolet, 109, Black Flag, $1,510

 25. (30) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury Conn., Chevrolet, 92, Accident, $1,500

 26. (28) Nevin George, Kunkletown Pa., Chevrolet, 73, Accident, $1,600

 27. (19) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Ford, 69, Accident, $1,300

 28. (15) Dave Etheridge, Portland Conn., Chevrolet, 37, Accident, $1,200

 29. (13) Jimmy Storace, Kingston N.H., Chevrolet, 30, Accident, $1,200

 30. (29) Ken Barry, Griswold Conn., Chevrolet, 18, Accident, $1,800

Failed to Qualify:          (6) Kevin Goodale (#58), Dick Houlihan (#46), Darrin Stevens * (#44), Mike Molleur (#35), Jake Marosz (#9), Wade Cole (#33).

Time of Race:    0 hrs., 59 mins, 32 secs      Average Speed:                   56.691 mph       Margin of Victory:      under caution

BUD POLE AWARD:  Tony Hirschman, 48 Kamco Supply Corporation Chevrolet

FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD:  Gregg Shivers, 23 Kleet Lumber Pontiac

POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE:  Doug Coby, 77 Angellinos Italian Restaurant Pontiac

SUNOCO RACE FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE:  Tyler Haydt *, 28 Ramar-Hall Chevrolet

TOMMY BALDWIN MEMORIAL AWARD:  Donny Lia, 18 Huntington Honda Chevrolet

Caution Flags:   Laps 19-24; 32-36; 39-47; 69-73; 88-91; 93-97; 113-116.  7 for 38 laps.

Lap Leaders:      Donny Lia 1-150.

Total Laps Led:  Donny Lia 150.  0 changes involving 1 drivers.

Top 20 Driver Points:   Ted Christopher 685, Chuck Hossfeld 592, Donny Lia 575, Tony Hirschman 575, Zach Sylvester 555, Rick Fuller 531, Chris Kopec 514, Jerry Marquis 502, Doug Coby 475, Mike Christopher 475, Eddie Flemke 466, Gregg Shivers 456, Nevin George 449, Jamie Tomaino 428, Renee Dupuis 427, Tyler Haydt * 418, Ken Barry 413, Eric Beers 411, Kevin Konopka 403, Tommy Cloce 385

Next Race:          Stafford Springs, Conn.

* Denotes SUNOCO Rookie of the Year Contender