6/20/2007

CIVALI LOOKING TO REPEAT AT THOMPSON

    The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the Thompson International Speedway for a mid-week event on Thursday, June 21. The Charter Cable Internet & Telephone 150 will be the second of five events for the series at Thompson in 2007. James Civali of Meriden , Conn. , winner of the Icebreaker at Thompson, is looking forward to returning to the 5/8-mile high banked oval.
    “I really enjoy racing at Thompson, said Civali. “If your car is set up right it’s easy to pass. We had a great setup in April and we’ll return with the same car.”
    Civali, who drives the Don King-owned Ramar-Hal/Liberty Limousine Chevrolet, is currently second in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour point standings with one win, two top-five finishes and three top-10s. He trails Jimmy Blewett by just three points.
    “It’s still very early in the season said Civali. “But obviously this is what we are trying to accomplish for the season – we would like to win the championship. So I’m glad we’ve had some success early.”
    Civali is the 2006 Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the year. He is trying not to feel the pressure as he emerged as a championship contender in his sophomore season.
    “I really try not to let it get to me”, said Civali. “I know my car owner has told me there is added pressure when you are running well – people start to expect it. I’m just still trying to stay focused.”

CHARTER CABLE, INTERNET & TELEPHONE 150 NOTES

· The Charter Cable-Internet & Telephone 150 at Thompson International Speedway is race No. 6 of the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season
· Posted awards are $86,505 for the 150-lap race. Bud Pole qualifying is scheduled for 5:45 pm June 21 to determine positions 1-30. Four provisional starting positions (two owner & two driver) based on 2007 Whelen Modified Tour point Standings and one past champion provisional are available for a maximum starting field of 35 cars.
· The Charter Cable Internet & Telephone 150 will start at approximately 8:15 p.m.
· Todd Szegedy is the defending champion of the event.
· The track qualifying record is 18.457 seconds (121.905 mph) by Todd Szegedy in April, 2007.
· The Charter Cable-Internet & Telephone 150 will be the second of five series events scheduled to be held at Thompson in 2007. James Civali won the Icebreaker in April.
· Thompson International Speedway has hosted more Whelen Modified Tour races than any other speedway. There have been 92 series events at Thompson since 1985 including the first series race on March 31, 1985.

Source:  Mark Mockovak/NASCAR WMT PR
Posted:  June 20, 2007