04/29/2007

DONNY LIA LEAVES STAFFORD A WINNER

    Donny Lia of Jericho, N.Y. passed Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, Conn. with three laps to go to win the Carquest Tech Net Spring Sizzler NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Stafford Motor Speedway. Lia and Szegedy swapped the lead three times over the final 29 laps, twice within the final five. Szegedy made a final charge off Turn 4 on the final lap but fell .13 seconds short.
    It was the 6th career win for Lia and his first at Stafford. It was also the first Sizzler win for Lia’s car owner Bob Garbarino. Lia is in his first year driving for Gabarino and the Mystic Missile race team.
“I’ve been trying to win at Stafford for five years,” said Lia. “Today it showed being in the right situation with the right guy makes all the difference.”
    Szegedy, the 2003 series champion, came from the 22nd starting position in the Wisk/Snuggle Ford to earn his first Top-5 finish of the season. Former champion Jerry Marquis of Broad Brook, Conn. finished third in the Reynolds Auto Wrecking Chevrolet. Defending series champion Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I. finished fourth after taking a provisional starting position in the Diversified Metals Chevrolet. Zach Sylvester of Lebanon, Conn. rounded out the Top-5 in the Racing Against Cancer Pontiac.
    There were 11 lead changes during the race among 11 drivers. James Civali maintained the series point lead by 28 points over Jimmy Blewett.
The next event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is at Wall Township Speedway in Wall, N.J. on May 6.

NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR-CARQUEST TECH-NET SPRING SIZZLER

Unofficial Results: Sunday At Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
  1.  (8)   Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 200 laps, 55.147 mph, $8,200.
  2. (22)  Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 200, $4,800.
  3. (10)  Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn., Chevrolet, 200, $3,500.
  4. (29)  Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 200, $4,500.
  5. (13)  Zach Sylvester, Lebanon, Conn., Pontiac, 200, $3,000.
  6.  (1)   Tony Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 200, $2,400.
  7.  (3)   James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 200, $2,600.
  8.  (4)    Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Dodge, 200, $2,750.
  9. (12)  Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 200, $2,100.
10. (25)  Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Ford, 200, $1,700.
11. (27)  Bobby Grigas, Marshfield, MA, Chevrolet, 200, $1,800.
12. (28)  Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY, Chevrolet, 200, $1,475.
13. (18)  Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo, N.Y., Pontiac, 200, $1,825.
14. (17)  Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater, Mass., Chevrolet, 200, $1,775.
15. (15)  Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 200, $1,350.
16. (33)  Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 200, $1,425.
17. (26)  Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 199, $1,400.
18. (30)  Anthony Sesely, Matawan, N.J., Chevrolet, 196, $1,365.
19.  (6)   Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet, 191, $1,450.
20. (31)  Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 183, $1,725.
21. (19)  Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N.J., Dodge, 180, $1,200.
22.  (7)   Danny Sammons, Trenton, N.J., Chevrolet, 175, accident, $1,275.
23. (23)  Eddie Flemke, Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 174, $1,325.
24. (32)  Jimmy Storace, Kingston, N.H., Chevrolet, 172, $1,500.
25. (20)  Rob Summers, Manchester, Conn., Pontiac, 114, accident, $1,150.
26.  (5)   Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 167, accident, $1,450.
27.  (2)   Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn., Chevrolet, 165, accident, $1,150.
28. (21)  Ron Yuhas, Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 154, $1,150.
29. (16)  John Blewett, III, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 124, accident, $1,150.
30. (11)  Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 115, accident, $750.
31. (14)  Frank Ruocco, Cheshire, Conn., Pontiac, 114, accident, $750.
32.  (9)   Bobby Santos, III, Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 19, accident, $750.
33. (24)  Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Pontiac, 19, accident, $1,050.

Failed to Qualify: (9) Jon McKennedy (#73), Chris Pasteryak (#5), Glen Tyler * (#8), Rowan Pennink * (#93), Dave Etheridge (#54), Joseph Hartmann * (#05), Ryan Preece * (#40), Gary McDonald (#26), Jake Marosz (#9).
Time of Race:1 hrs., 48 mins, 48 secs Average Speed: 55.147 mph Margin of Victory:.13 Seconds

BUD POLE AWARD: Matt Hirschman *, 59 Furnace and Duct Dodge
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Mike Stefanik, 16 Diversified Metals Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Mike Stefanik, 16 Diversified Metals Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Bobby Grigas *, 09 Triple G Scaffolding Chevrolet
WHELEN ENGINEERING WINNER OF THE RACE: Donny Lia, 4 Mystic Missile Dodge
Caution Flags: Laps 15-19; 20-26; 48-53; 74-80; 87-91; 110-116; 117-123; 124-128; 135-138; 150-154; 156-158; 159-163; 176-182; 193-195. 14 for 76 laps.
Lap Leaders: Tony Hirschman 1-26, Ted Christopher 27-111, Mike Stefanik 112-122, Jerry Marquis 123-137, Todd Szegedy 138, Jerry Marquis 139-153, Todd Szegedy 154, Jerry Marquis 155-167, Todd Szegedy 168-171, Donny Lia 172-195, Todd Szegedy 196-197, Donny Lia 198-200.
Total Laps Led: Ted Christopher 85, Jerry Marquis 43, Donny Lia 27, Tony Hirschman 26, Mike Stefanik 11, Todd Szegedy 8. 11 changes involving 6drivers.

Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: James Civali 326, Jimmy Blewett 298, Matt Hirschman * 297, Chuck Hossfeld 294, Zach Sylvester 289, Donny Lia 283, ToddSzegedy 276, Bobby Grigas * 268, Jerry Marquis 265, Ronnie Silk 250, Kevin Goodale 242, Eric Beers 233, Dick Houlihan 230, Richard Savary * 230, Billy Pauch, Jr. * 227, Mike Stefanik 221, Tony Hirschman 220, Jamie Tomaino 213, Carl Pasteryak 210,Jimmy Storace 209
Next Race:Wall, N.J.
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender

Source: Mark Mockovak/NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour PR
Posted:  April 29, 2007