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8/8/2009
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STAFFORD
MOTOR SPEEDWAY:
TOWN FAIR TIRE 150
by
Polly Reid |
You could say the month of August has been a winner so far for Ryan Preece
who has scored two wins in less than one week. The Berlin, CT driver made
the winning pass following a restart on lap 104, powering past Ted
Christopher on the outside nabbing the front spot and never looked back
bringing his Davidson Company, Reynold’s Auto Wrecking Chevrolet home for
the checkers in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Town Fair Tire 150 at
Stafford Motor Speedway.
“The month of August seems to be a real good month for me and
hopefully my luck will stay like this because who knows, I could be wrecking
next week for all I know so I’m living in the moment. Things are real great
right now.”
Preece qualified second and redrew the fourth starting spot with
Christopher drawing the pole. With less than ten laps on the board, Preece
was up into second, shadowing Christopher. The second caution of the night
waved on lap 60 bringing a host of cars down pit row including Preece.
Christopher elected not to pit.
“We put two tires on. We pretty much planned it, we said if the caution
comes out between lap 50 and 70, we were going to come in. If it didn’t come
out before then, we wouldn’t come in. We ended up with a solid finish
because of it.”
Restarting fifth, Preece quickly moved into fourth and as the cautions came
and the laps ticked off, Preece was in a solid second when on the lap 104
restart, a window opened for Preece.
“Teddy spun the tires on the restart, I got up front, a little bumping and
banging but that’s racing; it was clear sailing from there.”
Lap traffic was not an issue for the leaders during the long green
runs. “I can’t give anybody any crap because they all moved over for me,
they were all gentlemen and I have to thank everybody for doing that because
you don’t know how nervous the leader gets going around lap traffic. Teddy’s
coming, I have to get through these guys before Teddy gets me, I have to
thank everybody for moving over.”
“The whole race Scotty was telling me to keep your jets cool, keep
the tires on it for the last 50 laps and we did,” add Preece. “We had a
stout car there at the end, it had big forward bite, we were getting out of
the corner really nice so I knew Teddy would not be able to get us and we
ended up with the win.”
This trip to victory lane was a special one for Preece, the 18 year
old remembers watching his dad and grandfather and dad racing at Stafford
when he was growing up. “This is great. I’ve always wanted to win here and I
finally got it.”
Christopher, fighting the flu needed fluids post race and was able
to speak later. “First car that didn’t pit. We talked about not pitting,
when we tested this car last week at Thompson, it was so good on a bunch of
cycles. Brad was timing guys here and nobody was really moving up I guess
from the back and track position is somewhat key here. You take a chance,”
said Christopher.
“I knew on the restarts I would be vulnerable when someone puts on tires,
that’s where the other guy is always better. Even though it is only two, it
just gave them that much better forward bite off the corners. Your tires are
just not as good and that’s were he got me.”
Crew chief Brad LaFontaine was the spokesperson this night giving insight
into the car and his no pitting strategy. “We took over the points lead but
the big thing is, this is a brand new car. Teddy didn’t feel well, so we
didn’t pit. We came up a little short, we ended up second and the first
thing out of everybody’s mouth is why didn’t we pit? Whose call was that? I
make all the calls, it was my call, Teddy was sick and I don’t think he
could have got back through traffic with him the way he was. Overall, the
night turned out excellent. I hope he goes home and gets some rest.”
“This is a brand new car, never raced before,” LaFontaine continued. “We’re
real happy with the way it ran. Considering we didn’t pit for tires, the
times didn’t drop off at all until right there at the end we lost a tenth
and a half but I think that was Teddy. He was choking driving down the
straight-aways, his eyes were watering, he didn’t belong in the car. We got
Rescue over there to take a look at him, he was sick yesterday at Thompson
and today he couldn’t talk but he’s a
 tough guy. This is what he does, he
races, sick or not.” LaFontaine added there was a story about bees and bingo
that may have helped inspire Christopher
“We’re going to run this car at Bristol, we’re pretty pumped up about it
after running the race without pitting and still being as stout as it was, I
think we have a good car here now.” .
Chris Pasteryak took his Furnace & Duct Supply Chevrolet to the
green flag fourteenth and when the dust settled, the Lisbon, CT driver
equaled his best Tour finish crossing the line third.
“Everyone is just so close that it is really hard to work somebody over to
make the pass. We ran good, it was a good night, finished third, no
complaints, no scratches on the car, we’ll pick it up and go to Thompson.”
“This is the second time I finished third here at Stafford. It’s always good
to have a fun night. We’re so far behind in the points that we’re just
messing around with the stuff, coming to the racetrack trying to learn for
the next year and have some fun while we’re doing it.” Smiling, pleased with
the night, Pasteryak continued, “The long greens helped us since especially
after the pit stop we were way too tight on the restarts. It was all I could
do to hold (Eric) Beers off.”
Fastest in practice, Eric Berndt followed up his practice time
earning his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour pole setting fast time
in qualifying turning a 18.422 second lap (97.709). “The car was real good,
we were happy with it right off the truck, hopefully it can stay that way
for time trials,” said Berndt prior to his run.
After his run, Berndt was pleased to say the least. “It’s like a first
feature win, it hasn’t set in yet. A solid top ten finish would be great. We
run competitive, we have to get a few finishes under out belt. We’ve had
some strong cars the last couple of races up here we just haven’t been able
to capitalize on that. Hopefully everything works out when we come into the
pits, stuff like that, but you never know, anything can happen in racing.”
Berndt crossed the line 15th finishing the Town Fair Tire 150 and while
maybe not the finish he envisioned, the team has more to build on as they
continue their part time runs on the Tour.
Dale Wolbrink was on hand Friday night representing the North South
shootout that will run at Concord Speedway in Concord, NC November 5th-7th.
Wolbrink was on hand to present to the winning 3 car, a certificate that
guarantees car owner Jan Boehler a starting spot in the North South
Shootout.
That’s it for this weekend. Next Thursday August 13th the Tour
meets again at the Thompson International Speedway. News and
notes can reach me at
reidp50@yahoo.com.
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Source: Polly Reid
/ TheChromeHorn.com
Posted: August
8, 2009 |
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