MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Sept. 3, 2005) – Ted Christopher won the Made in America Whelen 300 at Martinsville Speedway, the first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event held at the track since 2002 – and the first night race held at the historic .526-mile track. Mike Stefanik finished second, followed by John Blewett III, Eric Beers and Doug Coby in fifth place.

      Despite the magnitude of the win, Christopher remained focused on the season championship picture.

      “This means a lot,” said Christopher, who collected $9,750 for the win along with Martinsville Speedway’s traditional Ridgeway Grandfather Clock winner’s trophy. “We’ve had a pretty rough run in the middle of the summer, with tire problems and other things and we had lost a bunch of points. Tonight we gained maximum points. If we can keep doing that and finishing well … at the races we’re coming up to, our car is really, really great. The races that are coming up are ones that I’m really looking forward to.”

      It was Christopher’s first win at Martinsville Speedway and the 21^st victory of his Modified Tour career. Christopher entered the race trailing Tony Hirschman by 13 points. With Hirschman’s seventh-place finish, Christopher re-gained the championship points lead by a 21-point margin.

      The Tour’s next stop is the Sept. 11 Thompson Sunoco 300 at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, followed by the Sylvania 100 presented by Lowe’s on Friday, Sept. 16 at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

      Christopher, of Plainville, Conn., started on the pole after qualifying seventh and scoring the front-row starting position via the Tour’s re-draw of the top eight qualifiers. Christopher battled New York’s Chuck Hossfeld during the opening laps while Beers and Eddie Flemke chased the leaders.

      Christopher continued to set the pace over the 43-car field until lap 125, when the race was halted for a mandatory halfway break. After the break, Christopher returned to the lead followed by Hossfeld and Rick Fuller, who had advanced from the 11^th starting position to third during the first half of the race.

      Pit strategy became a factor during a caution period from laps 138-145. The race leaders headed down pit road for a fresh set of tires – which teams were not permitted to change during the halfway break. Hossfeld, however, made a bold decision to remain on the track and inherited the lead. By lap 157, Hossfeld’s strategy to forgo fresh tires was coming up short, as Stefanik and Jay Hedgecock – who had pitted for fresh tires before the mandatory halfway break – passed Hossfeld and took over the first and second positions.

      Following another restart, Christopher was soon back in the hunt. The former NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national champion had returned to the top five by lap 175, just as Hedgecock drifted back and Hossfeld ran in the second position behind Stefanik. Hossfeld spun on lap 203, placing Blewett in the top three behind Stefanik and Christopher. Christopher then charged past Stefanik on a restart with 25 laps remaining and seized the lead for the final time.

      The 250-lap event, which was preceded by a 50-lap “last chance” qualifying race won by Connecticut’s Reggie Ruggiero, was the 30^th Whelen Modified Tour race held at Martinsville since 1985. The race lived up to its billing as a “can’t miss” event for Modified fans – it was attended by the largest stand-alone (non-NASCAR NEXTEL Cup) crowd in the track’s history. The race is tentatively scheduled to be televised by SPEED Channel in December.

 

MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Unofficial Results of the Made In America Whelen 300 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Martinsville Speedway showing starting position driver, hometown, make of car, laps completed, winner’s average speed in mph   reason out if any and money won.

      1. (1) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 250, 55.773 mph, $9,750

      2. (21) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 250, $4,200

      3. (6) John Blewett, III, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 250, $3,900

      4. (4) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 250, $3,400

      5. (3) Doug Coby, Milford Conn., Pontiac, 250, $3,100

      6. (15) Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 250, $2,600

      7. (7) Tony Hirschman, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 250, $3,250

      8. (10) Mike Christopher, Plainville Conn., Pontiac, 250, $2,600

      9. (18) Steve Whitt, Forked River N.J., Dodge, 250, $2,450

      10. (13) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn., Chevrolet, 250, $1,700

      11. (14) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Dodge, 250, $2,450

      12. (12) Brian Loftin, Lexington N.C., Chevrolet, 250, $2,300

      13. (31) Jay Foley, Stuart Va., Chevrolet, 250, $1,575

      14. (17) Junior Miller, Pine Hall N.C., Dodge, 250, $1,550

      15. (11) Rick Fuller, Auburn Mass., Pontiac, 250, $2,025

      16. (30) Anthony Sesley, Matawan N.J., Chevrolet, 250, $1,500

      17. (28) Tim Brown, Cana Va., Chevrolet, 250, $1,475

      18. (2) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo N.Y., Ford, 249, $3,700

      19. (19) Jay Hedgecock, High Point N.C., Dodge, 249, $1,825

      20. (42) Randy Butner, Pfafftown N.C., Chevrolet, 248, $1,900

      21. (38) Richard Coy, Ringwood N.J., Chevrolet, 245, $1,375

      22. (24) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury Conn., Chevrolet, 245, $2,050

      23. (36) Alex Hoag, Hornell N.Y., Chevrolet, 244, $1,325

      24. (9) Zach Sylvester, Lebanaon Conn., Chevrolet, 243, $2,100

      25. (40) Gene Pack, N. Myrtle Beach S.C., Chevrolet, 233, $1,275

      26. (41) Daren Scherer, Binghamton N.Y., Chevrolet, 228, Black Flag, $1,225

      27. (23) Gregg Shivers, Rocky Point N.Y., 221, Overheating, $1,200

      28. (20) Dave Etheridge, Portland Conn., Chevrolet, 221, $1,900

      29. (8) Donny Lia, Jericho N.Y., Chevrolet, 220, $2,000

      30. (25) Kevin Konopka, Meriden Conn., Dodge, 211, Overheating, $1,900

      31. (34) Bobby Hutchens, Lexington N.C., Chevrolet, 211, Handling, $1,200

      32. (5) Eddie Flemke, Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 197, $1,900

      33. (35) Frank Fleming, Mt Airy N.C., Pontiac, 190, $1,200

      34. (26) Burt Myers, Walnut Grove N.C., Chevrolet, 183, $1,500

      35. (22) Tyler Haydt, Kunkletown Pa., Chevrolet, 158, Rear End, $1,500

      36. (29) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill Conn., Chevrolet, 157, Accident, $1,200

      37. (16) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y., Chevrolet, 157, Accident, $1,900

      38. (37) Danny Knoll, Buffalo N.Y., Chevrolet, 129, Engine, $1,200

      39. (33) Brian Pack, Walkertown N.C., Chevrolet, 120, Engine, $1,200

      40. (43) Wade Cole, Riverton Conn., Chevrolet, 97, Oil Line, $1,600

      41. (27) Michael Clifton, Walkertown N.C., Chevrolet, 39, Accident, $1,200

      42. (39) Jamie Tomaino, Jr., Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 32, Overheating, $1,200

      43. (32) Brian Crammer, Howell N.J., Chevrolet, 32, Accident, $1,200

      Failed to Qualify: (3) Jimmy Storace (#47), Jake Marosz (#9), Kevin Powell (#04).

      Time of Race: 2 hrs., 21 mins, 28 secs Average Speed: 55.773 mph Margin of Victory:

      BUD POLE AWARD: Chuck Hossfeld, 50 Creative Racing Products Ford

      FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER: John Blewett, III, 66 Blewett Motorsports/John Blewett, Inc. Chevrolet

      POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Randy Butner, 5 Ram Fabrication/Angel Clean Chevrolet

      TOMMY BALDWIN MEMORIAL AWARD: Ted Christopher, 13 AWD,DWD,TSI,JAT Chevrolet

      Caution Flags: Laps 2-7; 16-19; 20-24; 55-59; 60-64; 68-74; 96-102; 126-131; 138-146; 147-152; 158-161; 170-175; 203-208; 222-226. 14 for 81 laps.

      Lap Leaders: Ted Christopher 1-18, Chuck Hossfeld 19, Ted Christopher 20-141, Chuck Hossfeld 142-145, Mike Stefanik 146, Chuck Hossfeld 147-156, Mike Stefanik 157-167, Jay Hedgecock 168, Mike Stefanik 169-226, Ted Christopher 227-250.

      Total Laps Led: Ted Christopher 164, Mike Stefanik 70, Chuck Hossfeld 15, Jay Hedgecock
       9 changes involving 4 drivers.