5/24/2007

BILLY PAUCH JR. LEADS 2007 ROOKIE CONTINGENT TO STAFFORD

    The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s 2007 Sunoco Race Fuels rookie class of seven drivers will be among the competitors attempting to qualify for one of the 31 starting spots at the Connecticut Classic at Stafford Motor Speedway on May 25th.
    After three events Billy Pauch, Jr. of Frenchtown, N.J. leads the standings with 27 points Pauch was the highest finishing rookie at the series last race in Wall, N.J. after placing 10th. Bobby Grigas of Marshfield, Mass. is second in the standings and trails Pauch by just one point. Grigas was the highest finishing rookie at the series first two events.
    Other rookie candidates who have scored points in 2007 and are looking to add to their season total at Stafford include: Richard Savary of Canton, Mass. , Rowan Pennink of Huntington Valley, Pa., Bobby Santos, III of Millis, Mass. Joe Hartmann, of Calverton, N.Y. and Ryan Preece of Hampton Bays, N.Y.
    All registered rookies have scored points in a least one race during the 2007 season.
    The Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the year is determined by a “race within the race.” The highest finishing Rookie earns 10 points, the second highest earns 9 points and the points are reduced by one until 10th place. If there are more than 10 rookies in the race any driver who finishes 10th or worse earns a point. The final number of competition points earned by each driver will be based on his/her highest finish in 75% of the races during the season.
    The Connecticut Classic is one of the most prestigious events on the Whelen Modified Tour. It’s an event victory every veteran driver wants on their resume. The 2007 version of the Connecticut Classic will have large group of new faces eager to make this history laden event their first career win on the series.

Connecticut Classic Notes:

*Posted Awards: $85,024
*Bud Pole Qualifying is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on May 25.
*The fastest 26 cars will transfer.
*Five provisional positions (Two based on 2005 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour owner points, two on 2007 driver points and one past champion provisional) will bring the starting field to 31 cars.
*The 150 lap race is schedule to start at 9:00 p.m.
*The series qualifying record at Stafford is 18.009 seconds (99.950 mph) set by Matt Hirschman at the Spring Sizzler in 2007.
*The Connecticut Classic is the second of four series events scheduled to be held at Stafford in 2007. Donny Lia was the winner of the Carquest Tech-Net Spring Sizzler in April.
*John Blewett III is the defending champion of the Connecticut Classic.
*There have been 83 series races at Stafford, Doug Coby became the 25th different driver to win a series race at Stafford.

Source: Mark Mockovak/NASCAR WMT PR
Posted:  May 24, 2007