James Civali of Meriden, Conn. held off a last lap charge by Chuck
Hossfeld of Buffalo, N.Y. to capture the opening race of the 2007
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season. Civali’s victory in the Icebreaker
at Thompson International Speedway was his second career win. His last
victory occurred at Stafford Motor Speedway in August of 2006.
Civali, the 2006 Sunoco Rookie of the
Year, started the event in the 11th position in the Ramar Hall Chevrolet
and took over the top spot from Donny Lia on lap 98. He swapped the
lead with John Blewett, II before regaining it on lap 110 and never
relinquished it. A green-white-checkered finish set up by a late race
caution allowed Hossfeld, in the Hill Enterprises/ Coors Light Pontiac,
the opportunity to make his bid for the win. He fell short of Civali by
.26 seconds. The race distance was extended to 152 laps.
Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, Conn. earned
his best career finish with a third place showing in the Major
Motion/Silk Plumbing and Heating Chevrolet. Jimmy Blewett of Howell,
N.J. finished fourth in the T.S Haulers/United Crane Chevrolet and also
earned the Featherlite Most Improved driver Award. Matt Hirschman of
Northampton, Pa. rounded out the Top-5 in the Furnace and Duct Dodge.
Ted Christopher led the first 23 laps
before Lia took over the top spot on lap 24. Lia, who tried to run the
event without stopping for tires, held the lead until Civali passed him
on 98.
Eric Beers earned the Powerade
Power Move of the Race and Bobby Grigas was the Sunoco Rookie of the
Race.
The next event for the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour is the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler on April 29.
Unofficial Finish of Sunday’s Icebreaker
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Thompson International Speedway
showing starting position in parentheses, driver, make of car, laps
completed, winner’s average speed reason out if any, and money won.
1. (11) James Civali, Meriden, Conn.,
Chevrolet, 152 laps, 64.455 mph, $7,900.
2. (17) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo, N.Y., Pontiac, 152, $3,600.
3. (12) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 152, $2,750.
4. (24) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 152, $3,050.
5. (7) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Dodge, 152, $2,450.
6. (19) Anthony Ferrante, Jr, Franklin Square, Chevrolet, 152, $1,550.
7. (21) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Pontiac, 152, $1,450.
8. (22) Jon McKennedy, Chelsford, Mass., Chevrolet, 152, $1,350.
9. (26) Bobby Grigas, Marshfield, MA, Chevrolet, 152, $1,500.
10. (4) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon, Conn., Pontiac, 152, $1,950.
11. (35) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 152, $1,725.
12. (34) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N.J., Dodge, 152, $1,420.
13. (18) Nevin George, Kunkletown, Pa., Pontiac, 152, $1,115.
14. (29) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 152, $1,110.
15. (15) Jimmy Storace, Kingston, N.H., Chevrolet, 152, $1,455.
16. (32) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY, Chevrolet, 152, $1,050.
17. (1) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 152, $1,322.
18. (28) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater, Mass., Chevrolet, 152, $1,675.
19. (6) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 147, rear end, $2,200.
20. (3) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 147, rear end, $1,625.
21. (16) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn., Chevrolet, 144, $1,400.
22. (23) Ron Yuhas, Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 143, accident, $1,550.
23. (33) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn., Chevrolet, 143, accident,
$1,225.
24. (30) Rob Summers, Manchester, Conn., Pontiac, 143, accident, $1,500.
25. (37) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 137, accident, $790.
26. (20) Eddie Flemke, Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 133, $1,580.
27. (2) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 131, $1,570.
28. (27) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Ford, 131, $1,460.
29. (14) John Blewett, III, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 118, overheating,
$1,150.
30. (25) Anthony Sesely, Matawan, N.J., Chevrolet, 112, $1,450.
31. (5) Tony Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 99, accident,
$1,550.
32. (9) Bobby Santos, III, Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 71, accident,
$1,050.
33. (10) Danny Sammons, Trenton, N.J., Chevrolet, 68, accident, $1,150.
34. (8) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 33, accident, $2,150.
35. (13) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 24, accident,
$1,150.
36. (36) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 22, ignition, $1,150.
37. (31) Eric Berndt, Rocky Hill, Conn., Chevrolet, 0, engine, $1,150.
Failed to Qualify: (10) Glenn Tyler *
(#8), Jeff Malave (#17), Ryan Preece * (#40), Roy Seidell, Jr (#27),
Joseph Hartmann * (#05), Chris Pasteryak (#5), Jake Marosz (#9), Ken
Bouchard (#55), Gary McDonald (#26), Ken Heagy (#38).
Time of Race: 1 hrs., 28 mins, 26 secs
Average Speed: 64.455 mph
Margin of Victory:.26 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Todd Szegedy, 2
Wisk/Snuggle Ford
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Jimmy Blewett, 12 T.S. Haulers/
United Crane Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Eric Beers, 94 Newtown Exxon/Sunoco
Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Bobby Grigas *, 09 Triple G Scaffolding
Chevrolet
WHELEN ENGINEERING WINNER OF THE RACE: James Civali, 28 Ramar-Hall/Liberty
Limousine Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 19-23; 24-29;
35-38; 69-74; 85-90; 94-97; 100-104; 118-121; 126-129; 138-143;
144-150. 11 for 57 laps.
Lap Leaders:Ted Christopher 1-23,
Donny Lia 24-97, James Civali 98-106, John Blewett, III 107-109, James
Civali 110-152.
Total Laps Led: Donny Lia 74, James
Civali 52, Ted Christopher 23, John Blewett, III 3. 4 changes involving
4 drivers.
Top 20 Driver Points: James Civali
180, Chuck Hossfeld 170, Ronnie Silk 165, Jimmy Blewett 160, Matt
Hirschman * 155, Anthony Ferrante, Jr 150, Carl Pasteryak 146, Jon
McKennedy 142, Bobby Grigas * 138, Zach Sylvester 134, Eric Beers 130,
Billy Pauch, Jr. * 127, Nevin George 124, Rowan Pennik * 121, Jimmy
Storace 118, Kevin Goodale 115, Richard Savary * 112, Dick Houlihan 109,
Todd Szegedy 106, Donny Lia 103
Next Race: Stafford Springs, CT 04/29/07
