Donny Lia’s dream season continued Saturday.
Lia, who signed on with longtime NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
car owner Bob Garbarino just prior to the start of the season, picked up
his fourth win in six races with a victory in the New England 100 at New
Hampshire International Speedway.
Lia and Co. made the strategic choice not to pit for tires or
fuel, while other of the top contenders like Ted Christopher did at
various stages and had to work their way back to the front.
“If we pitted today, I don’t know if we could have got
through like Teddy did,” said Lia, who had five career wins in 79 career
starts entering 2007. “We made our decision and stuck with it. And it
was apparently the right one.”
The race was abbreviated to 85 laps due to time constraints.
It was slowed eight times for 38 laps, with the last caution setting up
a six-lap dash for the finish between Lia, Christopher and Eddie Flemke.
Lia briefly lost the lead to Flemke but used a push from
Christopher to get back by and then held on as Christopher and Flemke
battled for second. Christopher, who has four Modified Tour wins at
NHIS, held on for the runner-up finish. Matt Hirschman and Todd Szegedy
were fourth and fifth respectively.
Ronnie Silk, Bobby Santos III, Ron Yuhas Jr., Charlie
Pasteryak and John Blewett IIII rounded out the top 10.
Lia holds the points lead over Szegedy by 61 and Hirschman by 63.
The next Whelen Modified Tour race is at Twin State Speedway
in Claremont, N.H. Sunday, July 8.
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR - New England 100 Results
Saturday At New Hampshire International Speedway
Loudon, N.H.
Lap length: 1.058 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (2) Donny Lia, Jericho, N.Y., Dodge, 85 laps, 67.140
mph, $15,400.
2. (1) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet,
85, $11,950.
3. (5) Eddie Flemke, Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 85,
$8,200.
4. (4) Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Dodge, 85,
$6,500.
5. (12) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield, Conn., Ford, 85, $4,500.
6. (9) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet, 85,
$3,850.
7. (13) Bobby Santos, III, Millis, Mass., Chevrolet, 85, $3,150.
8. (10) Ron Yuhas, Groton, Conn., Chevrolet, 85, $3,300.
9. (7) Charlie Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 85,
$2,500.
10. (38) John Blewett, III, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 85, $3,950.
11. (17) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 85, $2,950.
12. (23) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn., Chevrolet, 85,
$2,550.
13. (26) Mike Stefanik, Coventry, R.I., Chevrolet, 85, $3,450.
14. (31) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs, Conn., Pontiac, 85,
$2,325.
15. (11) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon, Conn., Pontiac, 85, $2,700.
16. (6) Tony Hirschman, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet,
85, $2,375.
17. (14) Nevin George, Kunkletown, Pa., Pontiac, 85, $1,950.
18. (20) Ryan Preece, Kensington, CT, Chevrolet, 85, $1,925.
19. (40) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 85, $1,900.
20. (29) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, N.J., Dodge, 85, $2,591.
21. (33) Jeff Malave, Manchester, Conn., Chevrolet, 85, $1,850.
22. (21) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater, Mass., Chevrolet, 85, $2,525.
23. (32) Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J., Ford, 85, $2,300.
24. (34) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., Chevrolet, 85,
$2,180.
25. (15) Danny Sammons, Trenton, N.J., Chevrolet, 85, $2,450.
26. (30) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY, Chevrolet, 85, $2,450.
27. (36) Wade Cole, Riverton, Conn., Chevrolet, 85, $2,150.
28. (22) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook, Conn., Chevrolet, 83, $2,550.
29. (18) Alex Hoag, Bath, N.Y., Chevrolet, 73, accident, $1,750.
30. (3) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, N.J., Chevrolet, 73,
accident, $2,550.
31. (24) Rob Summers, Manchester, Conn., Pontiac, 69, suspension,
$1,750.
32. (39) Jake Marosz, Middletown, Conn., Chevrolet, 65,
suspension, $1,750.
33. (25) Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa., Chevrolet, 64, engine,
$2,450.
34. (35) Mike Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Dodge, 57, engine,
$1,750.
35. (16) James Civali, Meriden, Conn., Chevrolet, 35, drive shaft,
$2,550.
36. (19) Glen Tyler, Hampton Bays, N.Y., Chevrolet, 34, accident,
$1,750.
37. (27) Rick Fuller, Auburn, Mass., Chevrolet, 34, accident,
$1,750.
38. (28) Ken Bouchard, Fitchburg, Mass., Chevrolet, 34, accident,
$1,750.
39. (8) Bobby Grigas, Marshfield, Mass, Chevrolet, 34,
accident, $2,450.
40. (37) Joseph Hartmann, Calverton, N.Y., Chevrolet, 2, engine,
$1,750.
Time of Race:1 hrs., 20 mins, 22 secs Average Speed: 67.140 mph
Margin of Victory:.273 seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: Ted Christopher, 36 Al-Lee Installations
Chevrolet
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: John Blewett, III, 66
Blewett Motorsports Chevrolet
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: John Blewett, III, 66 Blewett
Motorsports Chevrolet
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Bobby Santos, III *, 3 Roby's
Propane/Cape Cod Copper Chevrolet
WHELEN ENGINEERING WINNER OF THE RACE: Donny Lia, 4 Mystic
Missile Dodge
Caution Flags: Laps 2-7; 18-21; 24-28; 31-34; 35-38; 63-67;
70-73; 74-79. 8 for 38 laps.
Lap Leaders: Ted Christopher 1-7, Donny Lia 8-20, Ted Christopher
21, Donny Lia 22-27, Ted Christopher 28, Donny Lia 29-80, Eddie Flemke
81-82, Donny Lia 83-85.
Total Laps Led: Donny Lia 76, Ted Christopher 9, Eddie Flemke 2,
7 changes involving 3 drivers.
Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: Donny Lia 944, Todd Szegedy 883,
Matt Hirschman 881, Jimmy Blewett 817, James Civali 803, Ronnie Silk
799, Ted Christopher 767, Mike Stefanik 745, Eddie Flemke 730, Jamie
Tomaino 713, Zach Sylvester 695, Jerry Marquis 670, Dick Houlihan 666,
Richard Savary * 662, Eric Beers 652, Ron Yuhas 633, Billy Pauch, Jr. *
628, Kevin Goodale 620, John Blewett, III 605, Danny Sammons 600
Next Race: Twin State Speedway
