Stefanik Charges to Icebreaker Victory
The legend of Mike Stefanik added another chapter Sunday at Thompson International Speedway as he captured NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory No. 73 in the season-opening Icebreaker. Two of the Long Island Mod Squad finished in the top 10, including Tour regular, Justin Bonsignore in eighth, and Timmy Solomito in 10th.
Stefanik charged to the lead by Ryan Preece following a restart on Lap 141 and held off multiple hard charges from Preece, Rowan Pennink and Ron Silk to extend his tour career record for wins. The final margin of victory was just .229 seconds.
Pennink finished second followed by Preece, Silk and Ted Christopher. Jimmy Blewett, Doug Coby, Justin Bonsignore, Chuck Hossfeld and Timmy Solomito brought home the top 10.
Sunday also marked the 15th victory for Stefanik in Whelen Modified Tour action at the famed .625-mile oval – which extended a record as well – and was his third on the prestigious Icebreaker weekend.
Stefanik, from Coventry, R.I., captured the Coors Light Pole Award Saturday but Preece prevented him from leading the event’s first circuit.
Pennink, who led a race-high 79 laps, first took the lead from Preece on Lap 7. The pair swapped it two more times based on their pit strategy. Preece led 61 total laps.
The race was slowed by seven cautions for 33 laps with two red flags for track cleanup and repair.
The Whelen Modified Tour will return to action on April 28 with the CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR-ICEBREAKER 2013
Unofficial Results Sunday
At Thompson International Speedway
Thompson, CT
Lap length: 0.625 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Ford, 150 laps, 77.160 mph.
2. (3) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 150.
3. (2) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 150.
4. (4) Ron Silk, Norwalk, CT, Chevrolet, 150.
5. (11) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
6. (17) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 150.
7. (7) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (5) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, NY, Chevrolet, 150.
9. (29) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
10. (20) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
11. (15) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Pontiac, 150.
12. (10) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
13. (28) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, NY, Chevrolet, 150.
14. (23) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn, Chevrolet, 150.
15. (24) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Ford, 150.
16. (9) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn, Chevrolet, 150.
17. (22) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 150.
18. (8) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 149.
19. (19) Cole Powell, Mount Brydg, Ontario, Chevrolet, 149.
20. (27) Brian Schofield, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 149.
21. (21) Jimmy Zacharias, Candor, N.Y., Chevrolet, 148.
22. (14) Richie Pallai,, Jr., Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Chevrolet, 147.
23. (12) Donny Lia, Jericho, NY, Dodge, 145.
24. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 141.
25. (13) Bryon Chew, Mattituck, NY, Chevrolet, 135, accident.
26. (25) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 73.
27. (6) Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 61, accident.
28. (16) Rob Fuller, Boylston, MA, Chevrolet, 61, accident.
29. (18) Eric Berndt, Cromwell, Conn., Chevrolet, 38, oil leak.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 12 minutes 54 seconds
Margin of Victory: 0.229 seconds
Fastest Qualifier: M.Stefanik (120.527 mph, 18.668 seconds)
Caution Flags: 7 for 33 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: R. Preece 1-6; R. Pennink 7-56; R. Preece 57-111; R. Pennink 112-140; M. Stefanik 141-150.
Standings: 1. M. Stefanik, 47; 2. R. Pennink, 44; 3. R. Preece, 42; 4. R. Silk, 40; 5. T. Christopher, 39; 6. J. Blewett, 38; 7. D. Coby, 37; 8. J. Bonsignore, 36; 9. C. Hossfeld, 35; 10. T. Solomito, 34.