Preece Gets Back To Victory Lane

Ryan Preece broke through Sunday after a season-long absence from Victory Lane, and collected his 10th career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour victory by holding off Ted Christopher at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Preece, the defending tour champion, had to weather a final challenge by Christopher after a late caution set up a final restart with two laps remaining. Christopher had an early advantage but Preece was able to power back by for the victory. Preece led a race-high 79 laps in recording his first win since Sept. 14 last year at New York’s Riverhead Raceway.

Christopher settled for second. Earlier in the day, Christopher collected his 13th NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track championship overall and ninth in Stafford’s SK Modified Division in a race also won by Preece.

Ron Silk rallied back to finish third, followed by rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. and Patrick Emerling.

Woody Pitkat was sixth and Eric Goodale seventh.

Championship points leader Doug Coby finished eighth and took advantage of second straight rough outing by Justin Bonsignore (21st) to extend his points lead. Coby leads Christopher, who moved into second, by 28 points and Bonsignore by 39 heading into the season finale.

Donny Lia and Rowan Pennink rounded out the top 10. Bobby Santos, who won the Coors Light Pole Award in qualifying Saturday, finished 12th.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will conclude the season on Sunday, Oct. 19, with the Sunoco World Series 150 presented by Xtra Mart at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour-NAPA Fall Final 150 Results

Sunday

At Stafford Motor Speedway

Stafford, Conn.

Lap length: 0.5 miles

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (7) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Ford, 152 laps, 74.856 mph.

2. (12) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 152.

3. (9) Ron Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 152.

4. (2) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 152.

5. (11) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 152.

6. (6) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 152.

7. (5) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 152.

8. (3) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 152.

9. (4) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 152.

10. (17) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 152.

11. (8) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Mass., Chevrolet, 152.

12. (1) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 152.

13. (13) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 152.

14. (15) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 152.

15. (14) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.

16. (19) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 149.

17. (21) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 148.

18. (20) Wade Cole, Hartland, Conn., Chevrolet, 148.

19. (18) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 145.

20. (22) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 136.

21. (10) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 82, suspension.

22. (16) Max Zachem, Preston, Conn., Chevrolet, 53, accident.

 

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 1 hour 0 minutes 55 seconds

Margin of Victory: 0.151 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: B.Santos (97.266 mph, 18.506 seconds)

Caution Flags: 5 for 21 laps.

Lead Changes: 3 among 3 drivers.

Lap Leaders: B. Santos 1; T. Barrett,Jr. 2-9; B. Santos 10-73; R. Preece 74-152.

Standings: 1. D. Coby, 484; 2. T. Christopher, 456; 3. J. Bonsignore, 445; 4. R. Silk, 443; 5. B. Santos, 442; 6. R. Preece, 441; 7. W. Pitkat, 419; 8. E. Goodale, 404; 9. T. Solomito, 399; 10. P. Emerling, 386.