RIGHT CALL IN THE
RAIN FOR FLEMKE
Rain has ruined Ed Flemke Jr.’s day on
more than one occasion. Flemke was more than happy, though, to see the
overcast put an early end to Sunday’s race. It gave Flemke his 17th win
in his 21-year NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour career.
Flemke’s No. 10 Ron Bouchard AutoParts
Chevrolet was out front when rain forced the end of the scheduled
150-lap season-opening Icebreaker after 92 laps.
“I’ve lost many, many races like this,”
Flemke said. “I finally won one like this. It’s a good feeling.”
Chuck Hossfeld (No. 4 Dodge) was second,
followed by Bobby Grigas III (No. 09 Triple G Scaffolding). Joe Hartmann
and rookie Tom Abele Jr. rounded out the top five.
Flemke inherited the lead on lap 71 when
leader Todd Szegedy and others pitted.
“Everybody was pitting and that was the
time to do it,” Flemke said. “I just knew the car was too good and with
the way the track was, I knew our best chance was to stay out.”
Before the race, former champions Frankie
Schneider (1952) and Donny Lia (2007), and the late Richie Evans
(nine-time champion) were honored by NASCAR and series sponsor Whelen
Engineering as part of a year-long celebration of the 60 Years of NASCAR
Modified Champions.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will make its second
stop of the season at Stafford Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 27 in
Stafford Springs , Conn.
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR - Icebreaker Results
Sunday At Thompson Speedway, Thompson, CT
Lap length: 0.62 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (8) Ed Flemke, Jr., Southington, Conn., Chevrolet, 92
laps,
56.647 mph, $7,920.
2. (10) Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville , N.Y. , Dodge, 92, $3,220.
3. (2) Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield , Mass. , Chevrolet, 92,
$3,070.
4. (34) Joe Hartmann, Calverton , N.Y. , Chevrolet, 92, $3,295.
5. (36) Tom Abele, Jr., Norwich , Conn. , Chevrolet, 92, $2,825.
6. (1) James Civali, Meriden , Conn. , Chevrolet, 92, $2,995.
7. (3) Todd Szegedy, Ridgefield , Conn. , Ford, 92, $2,295.
8. (11) Reggie Ruggiero, Rocky Hill, Conn. , Ford, 92, $2,095.
9. (18) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley , Pa. , Chevrolet, 92, $1,945.
10. (15) Ted Christopher, Plainville , Conn. , Chevrolet, 92, $1,995.
11. (29) Anthony Sesely, Matawan , N.J. , Dodge, 92, $1,150.
12. (5) Jimmy Blewett, Howell , N.J. , Chevrolet, 92,
$1,965.
13. (19) Charles Pasteryak, Lisbon , Conn. , Chevrolet, 92, $1,134.
14. (22) Glenn Tyler, Hampton Bays , N.Y. , Chevrolet, 92, $1,850.
15. (23) Ken Heagy, Calverton , N.Y. , Chevrolet, 92, $1,385.
16. (17) Matt Hirschman, Northampton , Pa. , Chevrolet, 92, $1,870.
17. (30) Renee Dupuis, Glastonbury , Conn. , Chevrolet, 92, $1,430.
18. (21) Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown , N.J. , Dodge, 92, $1,695.
19. (12) Ryan Preece, Kensington , Conn. , Chevrolet, 92, $1,670.
20. (26) Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon , Conn. , Chevrolet, 92, $925.
21. (4) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk , Conn. , Pontiac , 92, $1,720.
22. (37) Wade Cole, Riverton , Conn. , Chevrolet, 91, $1,570.
23. (35) Jake Marosz, Middletown , Conn. , Chevrolet, 91, $1,225.
24. (39) Sean Patterson, Wading River, N.Y., Pontiac , 88, $800.
25. (9) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y., Chevrolet, 84, $1,510.
26. (28) Richard Savary, Canton , Mass. , Chevrolet, 82, $1,700.
27. (33) Glen Reen, Wilbraham , Mass. , Chevrolet, 81, $770.
28. (14) Eric Beers, Northampton , Pa. , Chevrolet, 75, $1,580.
29. (25) Erick Rudolph, Ransomville , N.Y. , Chevrolet, 75, steering,
$750.
30. (6) Tony Ferrante, Jr., New Hyde Park, N.Y., Chevrolet,
73, accident, $750.
31. (16) Eric Berndt, Cromwell , Conn. , Chevrolet, 37, accident, $750.
32. (32) Rick Fuller, Auburn , Mass. , 34, $1,470.
33. (20) Mike Stefanik, Coventry , R.I. , Pontiac , 32, $1,570.
34. (13) Danny Sammons, Hamilton , N.J. , Chevrolet, 29, accident,
$1,470.
35. (7) Bobby Santos, Franklin , Mass. , Chevrolet, 23,
accident, $1,470.
36. (24) J.R. Bertuccio, Centereach , N.Y. , Dodge, 23, accident, $750.
37. (27) Jim Storace, Kingston , N.H. , Pontiac , 23, steering, $750.
38. (31) Jamie Tomaino, Howell , N.J. , Chevrolet, 19, accident, $1,570.
39. (38) Gary McDonald, Ronkonkoma , N.Y. , Chevrolet, 10, accident,
$750.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 1 hour 0 minutes 25 seconds
Margin of Victory: race ended under caution
Fastest Qualifier: J. Civali (120.097 mph, 18.585 seconds)
Caution Flags: 6 for 53 laps.
Lead Changes: 3 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B. Grigas,III 1-12; J. Civali 13-42; T. Szegedy
43-70; E. Flemke, Jr. 71-92.
Standings: 1. E. Flemke, Jr., 185; 2. C. Hossfeld, 170; 3. B.
Grigas,III, 165; 4. J. Hartmann