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RYAN PREECE
WINS STAFFORD 150
Riding on High from Xfinity Series Win, Preece Captures His
Third 2017 NWMT Win
by Denise DuPont |
The
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) returned to
Stafford Motor Speedway for the second time in the
2017 season. History has shown that this is a
pivotal time in the race year for the tour ‘Chase to
the Championship”. It is a point where teams take
out their notebooks and strategies and pull together
their plans for the rest of the year. Everyone’s
target is to be the one to capture the title but in
the end only one team and driver can. Every race now
becomes more critical. As expected Doug Coby of
Milford, CT was strong coming into the race. He knew
it was his race to win, or race to lose.
Piloting the #46 Riverhead Building Supply
Chevrolet, young Craig Lutz of Miller Place, NY went
to the top of the charts in group qualifying to
receive his first ever Coors Light Pole Award. Coby
was one position down to qualify second. Starting on
the outside pole, Coby wasted no time passing for
the lead on lap 1. He continued to dominate the
race, leading the most laps but the most important
one – the last. A late race caution ended the race
with a green-white-checker finish. When the green
flag flew, Coby was on the bottom and Ryan Preece of
Berlin, CT was on the outside. Preece used fresher
rubber to shoot by Coby for the top position by turn
one. Grandstands full, fans were on their feet as
the front two drivers raced to the checkers. Preece
was the stronger of the two maintaining the lead and
capturing the win.
“The
best thing is I am back home,” expressed Preece in
victory lane. “I do not know how many times I went
to the back. I have to thank my spotter, Shawn
Waddell, for doing a great job. He is more excited
about this win than I am. The team worked hard for
this. They made a great call on the tires. This win
is for them.”
Returning to his racing roots after his first ever
win in the NASCAR Xfinity series, it was a bitter
sweet win for Preece. He loves racing the open wheel
modifieds, it is a passion and the core of his race
career. “Racing here in Connecticut at these short
tracks has made me who I am. Basically this is the
best racing in the country.” Preece said reflecting.
“Here at Stafford, Thompson (Speedway Motorsports
Park), Riverhead (Raceway), Seekonk (Speedway), all
these Northeast race tracks, I hope people realize
what great racing we have. I’ve been to a lot of
short tracks and watched a lot and nothing compares
to Modifieds.”
“We had a really good car and the track conditions
fell in my favor. I really enjoy doing this. Knowing
that I have and being successful. It is all about
strategy in the end,” confessed Preece. “You are
only allowed to take one tire so we all we waiting
to the end.” Then just shy of lap 100 a caution came
out and drivers took advantage to pit and make
adjustments not once but several times for some.
Preece was one of those who came down pit road three
times to get the car ready for a potential fifty lap
shootout to come. “We made it out and got to the
front. This is huge. We need to get out and win
races”.
“I’m just riding this wave,” Preece stated about the
Stafford modified win that came right after his
Xfinity win at Iowa Speedway. “I’ve known because
I’ve been racing for years, you can have a high and
go and dominate everything and next week I could be
running 15th and holding on for dear life and
everybody would be like ‘Man, Ryan is off his
game.’”
In
the lead and with only ten circuits to go the #2
Mayhew Tools/Dunleavy/AJ Romano Construction
Chevrolet appeared to be headed to their first win
of the season. The last thing the team wanted was a
caution. When the yellow came out the team braced
for what was to come. They had executed their race
strategy and it was time for the final shootout.
Coby selected the bottom and went for it all when
the final green flag flew. Preece was strong and
there was no holding him back as Coby fell into the
runner up spot. “I got beat,” Coby said. “It
happens. Ryan had a great car. I knew he was coming
even when we were out front. The red flags and the
restarts just don’t help. We spun the tires a little
bit on both restarts. I thought I got a better
restart the second time, but he just had massive
drive and he did a good job.”
“We were in the lead going for the win and the
caution came out.” Stated one disappointed Coby.
“Their (#6 team) pit strategy worked. He (Preece)
had a fresher set of tires and got us on the
restart. We got beat tonight and didn’t get our
first win of the season. But it’s coming. We’ve been
really fast.”
The #2 team have shown their resilience in the past
and tenacity to come back when they are down. So we
look forward to see the team will regroup and make
their presence known when they return to racing next
week.
Friday night was a big turnaround for Justin
Bonsignore from Holtsville, NY and the #51 team.
Crew chief, William Michael, had returned to the
team and he brought his energy with him. “We are
proud of our efforts,” declared Bonsignore. “It all
got down to strategy and taking a few more tires. I
thought that we were in good shape but I was just
too far back and I was shuffled further back. A
couple of those guys behind us got to the front row
quick. This is such a tough place for track
position. I thought we had the best strategy for
tires, I guess it just did not work. All and all I
am really proud of my guys It has been a tough
season so far but we are back! It was a good top
finish and this track sets the tone for the rest of
the season. Last year at this time we started to
come on and we are still in the point’s contention.
Hopefully we will go to Thompson and get in Victory
Lane while having a good time doing it. Everyone
keep an eye on us for the rest of the season.”
Timmy Solomito took back the NWMT points lead with a
fourth-place finish, while Jon McKennedy completed
the top five.
Rob Summers was sixth, followed by Dave Sapienza,
Craig Lutz, Gary Putnam and Matt Swanson. Rowan
Pennink, who held the points lead coming into the
event, finished 17th and is seven points behind
Solomito in the championship quest. Preece is fifth
in points, one behind Eric Goodale.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to racing
action next Wednesday for the running of the Bud
'King of Beers' 150at Thompson Speedway Motorsports
Park. From there, the series will visit Bristol
Motor Speedway on. Wednesday, August 16th.
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Source:
Denise DuPont /
TheChromeHorn.com
Posted:
August 5, 2017 |
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