Donny Lia’s success at Stafford Motor
Speedway continued Friday night.
Less than a month after winning the Spring Sizzler, Lia
picked up his second victory of the season when the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour returned to the historic half-mile for the Connecticut
Classic 150.
“You can have the fastest car out there,” said Lia, “but if
you don’t catch any breaks, it doesn’t matter.”
Lia’s biggest break in his seventh career victory came on lap
113 when leader Eric Beers lost control in turn 1 just in front of Lia.
Lia managed to dive low as he went through turn 2 and avoid getting
caught up in the wreck. He then led the rest of the way, holding off a
late-charging James Civali for the victory.
“I saw him go around,” Lia said. “I whoaed up; cut it to the
bottom. I must have missed him by an inch.”
It was Lia’s fifth top three finish in his last seven starts
at Stafford .
Eddie Flemke finished third, followed by Zach Sylvester and
Todd Szegedy.
Matt Hirschman, Jamie Tomaino, Dick Houlihan, Richard Savary
and Eric Beers rounded out the top 10. Jimmy Blewett (13th) maintained
his points lead by three over Civali, 602-599. Hirschman is third with
597 points and Lia is fourth with 584.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will be at Thompson ( Conn. )
International Speedway Thursday, June 21.
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR
Connecticut Classic 150 Results
Friday At Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs , CT
Lap length: 0.5 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (6) Donny Lia, Jericho , N.Y. , Dodge, 150 laps,
58.568 mph, $7,200.
2. (1) James Civali, Meriden , Conn. , Chevrolet, 150,
$4,000.
3. (7) Eddie Flemke, Southington , Conn. , Chevrolet,
150, $3,200.
4. (15) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon , Conn. , Pontiac , 150, $3,300.
5. (4) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield , Conn. , Ford, 150,
$2,700.
6. (9) Matt Hirschman, Northampton , Pa. , Dodge, 150,
$1,950.
7. (17) Jamie Tomaino, Howell , N.J. , Ford, 150, $1,850.
8. (25) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater , Mass. , Chevrolet, 150,
$2,050.
9. (30) Richard Savary, Canton , Mass. , Chevrolet, 150, $2,200.
10. (16) Eric Beers, Northampton , Pa. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,950.
11. (12) Ryan Preece, Kensington , CT , Chevrolet, 150, $1,500.
12. (27) Mike Stefanik, Coventry , R.I. , Chevrolet, 150, $2,575.
13. (18) Jimmy Blewett, Howell , N.J. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,800.
14. (19) Eric Berndt, Rocky Hill, Conn. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,075.
15. (26) Ron Yuhas, Groton , Conn. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,450.
16. (24) Glen Tyler, Hampton Bays , N.Y. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,025.
17. (31) Danny Sammons, Trenton , N.J. , Chevrolet, 150, $1,400.
18. (8) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook , Conn. ,
Chevrolet, 148, $1,775.
19. (10) Bobby Grigas, Marshfield , MA , Chevrolet, 147,
suspension, $1,650.
20. (28) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown , N.J. , Dodge, 146, $1,725.
21. (2) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk , Conn. , Chevrolet, 139,
$1,600.
22. (22) Wade Cole, Riverton , Conn. , Chevrolet, 128, suspension,
$1,275.
23. (20) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford , Mass. , Chevrolet, 122,
accident, $850.
24. (5) Tony Hirschman, Northampton , Pa. , Chevrolet,
114, accident, $1,275.
25. (29) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY, Chevrolet, 105, accident,
$1,075.
26. (11) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill , Conn. , Chevrolet, 104,
accident, $1,464.
27. (13) John Blewett, III, Howell , N.J. , Chevrolet, 104,
accident, $1,450.
28. (3) Ted Christopher, Plainville , Conn. ,
Chevrolet, 91, accident, $1,550.
29. (14) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire , Conn. , Pontiac , 91, accident,
$750.
30. (21) Rick Fuller, Auburn , Mass. , Chevrolet, 48, engine,
$1,150.
31. (23) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo , N.Y. , Pontiac , 31, accident,
$1,450.
Failed to Qualify: (10) Kenny Horton (#29), Rob Summers (#1),
Renee Dupuis (#90), Chris Pasteryak (#5), Carl Pasteryak (#75), Anthony
Sesely (#11), Dave Etheridge (#54), Rowan Pennink * (#93), Joseph
Hartmann * (#05), Jake Marosz (#9).
Time of Race:1 hrs., 16 mins, 50 secs Average Speed: 58.568 mph
Margin of Victory:.46 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Tony Hirschman, 48 Kamco Supply Corporation
Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Zach Sylvester, 77 Racing
Against Cancer Pontiac
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Richard Savary *, 20 Superior
Oil/Lombardi Inside Out Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Ryan Preece *, 40 F.J. Hubery, Inc.
Chevrolet
WHELEN ENGINEERING WINNER OF THE RACE: Donny Lia, 4 Mystic
Missile Dodge
Caution Flags: Laps 23-27; 32-37; 83-88; 92-98; 105-110; 114-119.
6 for 36 laps.
Lap Leaders: James Civali 1-2, Ted Christopher 3-86, Jimmy
Blewett 87-90, Eric Beers 91-109, Donny Lia 110, Eric Beers 111-113,
Donny Lia 114-150.
Total Laps Led: Ted Christopher 84, Donny Lia 38, Eric Beers 22,
Jimmy Blewett 4, James Civali 2. 6 changes involving 5 drivers.
Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: Jimmy Blewett 602, James Civali
599, Matt Hirschman* 597, Donny Lia 584, Todd Szegedy 573, Zach
Sylvester 519, Jerry Marquis 512, Mike Stefanik 503, Ronnie Silk 499,
Jamie Tomaino 489, Chuck Hossfeld 479, Eric Beers 467, Billy Pauch, Jr.
* 464, Eddie Flemke 462, Dick Houlihan 460, Bobby Grigas * 450, Richard
Savary * 441, Reggie Ruggiero 429, Ted Christopher 427, John Blewett,
III 407
Next Race: Thompson, CT
* Denotes Rookie of the Year Contender
