CIVALI WINS FIRST
COORS LIGHT POLE
James Civali may have been as
surprised as anybody with his qualifying effort Saturday. Civali
translated fast times in practice into his first career Coors Light Pole
on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
“I didn’t think we’d be able to get it,” said Civali, who
posted a time of 18.585 seconds (120.097 mph) around the .625-mile oval
in his No. 28 Ramar-Hall Inc./Genesis Shocks Chevrolet. “We were fast
all day but the track changes so much. You can go from one tenth to
another. You never think you’re going to get a pole. I never get a
pole.”
Civali bumped Bobby Grigas III (No. 09 Triple-G Scaffold
Services Chevrolet) off the top spot, but Grigas regained it following
the post-qualifying redraw of the top six spots. Civali will start fifth
in the race he won last season.
“I never thought I’d ever get a pole,” Civali said. “Maybe
we’re that good this week. We’ll see tomorrow.”
Grigas’ time of 18.613 seconds (119.916 mph) withstood
challenges of track-record holder Todd Szegedy (18.759/118.983) and
consistently fast qualifier Jimmy Blewett (18.798/118.736). But along
came Civali, a notoriously bad qualifier, to take away the pole. Grigas,
though, was still ecstatic with his qualifying run.
“The way the car felt, I thought I had time trialed 20th,”
Grigas said. “I didn’t think I qualified up there. I never expect
anything. I hope. I’m psyched.”
Ronnie Silk (No. 79 Hill Enterprises/Coors Light/Sunoco
Pontiac) will start on the outside of the front row. Blewett and Szegedy
will start in the second row.
While Civali won last year’s Icebreaker, Silk (Sept. 23) and
Szegedy (Aug. 16) also won at Thompson last season. Bobby Santos III,
who won last season’s World Series in October at Thompson, got a ride
with Joe Brady’s No. 00 Saturday morning and posted the seventh fastest
qualifying time.
1. 09 Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield Mass. Triple-G Scaffold Services
Chevrolet 18.613 119.916
2. 79 Ronnie Silk, Norwalk Conn. Hill Enterprises/Coors Light/Sunoco
Pontiac 18.792 118.774
3. 19 Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J. Major Motion Transport/TS Haulers
Chevrolet 18.798 118.736
4. 2 Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield Conn. Wisk-Snuggle Ford 18.759 118.983
5. 28 James Civali, Meriden Conn. Ramar-Hall Inc./Genesis Shocks
Chevrolet 18.585 120.097
6. 31 Tony Ferrante, Jr., New Hyde Park N.Y. Sunoco Chevrolet 18.801
118.717
7. 00 Bobby Santos, Franklin Mass. Sherm's Towing Chevrolet 18.827
118.553
8. 10 Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington Conn. Ron Bouchard Auto Center/Premier
Kitchens Chevrolet
18.864 118.321
9. 58 Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y. Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet
18.881 118.214
10. 4 Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville N.Y. Mystic Missile Dodge 18.882
118.208
11. 14 Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill Conn. Atlantic Sprinkler Ford 18.886
118.183
12. 3 Ryan Preece, Kensington Conn. Mizzy Construction/FJ Hubany
Chevrolet 18.893 118.139
13. 0 Danny Sammons, Hamilton N.J. Area Auto Racing News Chevrolet
18.897 118.114
14. 46 Eric Beers, Northampton Pa. Reynold's Auto Wrecking/J&R Pre-Cast
Chevrolet 18.904
118.070
15. 36 Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn. Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet
18.972 117.647
16. 64 Eric Berndt, Cromwell Conn. Northend Auto Parts/Cos Central Auto
Chevrolet 19.008
117.424
17. 59 Matt Hirschman, Northampton Pa. Furnace & Duct Chevrolet 19.014
117.387
18. 93 Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley Pa. Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner
Chevrolet 19.028
117.301
19. 5 Charles Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn. Dawley's Auto Center/Sunoco
Chevrolet 19.046 117.190
20. 16 Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I. Diversified Metals/Ace Moldings
Pontiac 19.057 117.122
21. 06 Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown N.J. Greenfield Dodge Dodge 19.073
117.024
22. 8 Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays N.Y. Sypher Construction Chevrolet
19.107 116.816
23. 12 Ken Heagy, Calverton N.Y. Budy One Seafood Chevrolet 19.134
116.651
24. 74 J.R. Bertuccio, Centereach N.Y. Gershow Recycling Dodge 19.147
116.572
25. 45 Erick Rudolph, Ransomville N.Y. * Original Pizza Logs/Prime Tyme
Motorsports Chevrolet
19.181 116.365
26. 75 Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon Conn. Sunoco/Dawley's Collision Chevrolet
19.213 116.171
27. 47 Jim Storace, Kingston N.H. Harry's Fuel/TRC Race Components
Pontiac 19.214 116.165
28. 21 Richard Savary, Canton Mass. Superior Oil Chevrolet 19.253
115.930
29. 11 Anthony Sesely, Matawan N.J. A-1 Auto Center Dodge 19.273 115.810
30. 90 Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury Conn. SFI/Featherlite Chevrolet 19.297
115.666
31. 99 Jamie Tomaino, Howell N.J. J Co./Clean-Up Supply Chevrolet 19.350
115.349
32. 77 Rick Fuller, Auburn Mass. Toyota Certified Used Vehicles 19.419
114.939
33. 33 Wade Cole, Riverton Conn. Performance Engines/Kendall Oil/Ryan's
Oil Chevrolet 19.844
112.477
34. 05 Joe Hartmann, Calverton N.Y. WMS Construction Chevrolet 19.626
113.727
35. 9 Jake Marosz, Middletown Conn. Middlesex Auto Center Chevrolet
19.787 112.801
36. 26 Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma N.Y. * Lakeland Landscaping Supply/RC
Electric Chevrolet
19.859 112.392
37. 32 Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich Conn. * Synergyn/M&W Sheet Metal/Crystal
Auto Chevrolet 19.801
12.722
38. 17 Glen Reen, Wilbraham Mass. * Reen Orthodontics Chevrolet 19.430
114.874
39. 53 Sean Patterson, Wading River N.Y. * John DeLisa & AXA Financial
Pontiac 19.973 111.751