Preece Sizzles In Stafford Qualifying
Prior to NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour qualifying Saturday at Stafford Motor Speedway, Ryan Preece said simply of his race car, “it’s good.” He spoke the truth.
Preece, of Berlin, Connecticut, laid down a fast lap of 17.960 seconds (100.223 mph) to score his 13th career Coors Light Pole Award. He just missed the tour’s track record – that he owns – by 0.036 seconds.
It was Preece’s fourth career pole at Stafford overall, but third for the NAPA Spring Sizzler 200, Stafford’s traditional season-opening event. He set that track record prior to the 2012 edition. Preece has three career Whelen Modified Tour wins at the historic half-mile, but has not yet captured the Sizzler checkers.
Starting alongside Preece’s No. 6 TS Haulers/East West Marine Chevrolet in the front row on Sunday will be Woody Pitkat, who recorded a quick qualifier of 18.047 (99.740) behind the wheel of his No. 88 Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East Chevrolet.
Rowan Pennink, Donny Lia and Justin Bonsignore rounded out the top five qualifiers. Ted Christopher and Bobby Santos – with eight Spring Sizzler 200 wins between them – will roll off sixth and seventh, respectively, followed by Timmy Solomito, Todd Szegedy and Keith Rocco.
Defending Whelen Modified Tour champion and 2015 season-opening race winner Doug Coby qualified 11th at 18.230 (98.738).
The NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 is set to take the green flag Sunday at approximately 3:15 p.m. The NAPA Auto Parts Pit Party will get the day’s festivities underway at 11 a.m. and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series features are set to commence at 1 p.m.
Qualifying Results
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 Lineup
Race Sunday; Qualifying Saturday
at Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford, Conn.
Lap Length: 0.5 miles
1. (6) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 100.223
2. (88) Woody Pitkat, Stafford, Conn., Chevrolet, 99.740
3. (93) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 99.729
4. (8) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Chevrolet, 99.393
5. (51) Justin Bonsignore, Holtsville, N.Y., Chevrolet, 99.305
6. (13) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 99.267
7. (44) Bobby Santos, Franklin, Mass., Chevrolet, 99.141
8. (16) Timmy Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 99.124
9. (4) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Dodge, 98.955
10. (22) Keith Rocco, Wallingford, Conn., Chevrolet, 98.771
11. (2) Doug Coby, Milford, Conn., Chevrolet, 98.738
12. (07) Patrick Emerling, Orchard Park, N.Y., Chevrolet, 98.457
13. (3) Troy Talman, Oxford, Mass., Chevrolet, 98.366
14. (63) Tom Rogers, Jr., Patchogue, N.Y., Chevrolet, 98.264
15. (58) Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 98.205
16. (31) Steve Masse, Bellingham, Mass., Chevrolet, 98.114
17. (9) Chase Dowling, Roxbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 98.103
18. (29) Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, N.Y., Ford, 97.741
19. (14) Max Zachem, Preston, Conn., Chevrolet, 97.715
20. (17) Kyle Ellwood, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 97.371
21. (64) Anthony Nocella, Woburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 97.255
22. (46) Jeff Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 97.046
23. (18) Ken Heagy, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 97.035
24. (99) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 96.805
25. (36) Dave Sapienza, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 96.535
26. (79) Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, Ga., Pontiac, 96.380
27. (75) Shawn Solomito, Islip, N.Y., Chevrolet, 95.985
28. (19) Brandon Oltra, Alden, Pa., Chevrolet, 95.928
29. (37) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Mass., Chevrolet, 95.801
30. (77) Gary Putnam, Vernon, Conn., Chevrolet, 95.395
31. (26) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Pontiac, 93.434
32. (33) Johnny Bush, Huntington Station, N.Y., Chevrolet, 92.956
33. (01) Melissa Fifield, Wakefield, N.H., Chevrolet, 88.106