Whelen Mods Notebook

2008 NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR NOTEBOOK

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Ted Christopher and wife Quinn celebrate with the team in Victory Lane after winning the Tech-Net
Spring Sizzler at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway Sunday. (Photo credit: Howie Hodge/NASCAR).

Spring In His Step:
Christopher Walks Away With Another Sizzler Victory

By Jason Christley, NASCAR
April 27, 2008 - 4:16pm
STAFFORD, Conn. – Ted Christopher already has the record for most wins at Stafford Motor Speedway but has no intention of slowing down.

Christopher reached another milestone Sunday with his fourth Tech-Net Spring Sizzler victory in the 200-lap NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race, tying Mike Stefanik for the most wins at four in the main event for Stafford’s flagship season-opening weekend.

“At this point in time, I just break records,” said Christopher, after picking up his eighth tour win at Stafford and 98 in all divisions at the track. “I guess it doesn’t matter that I’m 50.”

Eric Beers was second, followed by Chuck Hossfeld, Stefanik and James Civali. Rowan Pennink, Richard Savary, Jamie Tomaino, Todd Szegedy and Glenn Tyler rounded out the top 10.

Christopher has won six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championships in the track’s SK Modified division. The experience he’s garnered running the historic half-mile on a weekly basis paid off in the season’s second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race.

He led two times for 79 laps, sliding underneath Beers for the lead for the final time on lap 171. It was Christopher’s pre-race strategy of two pit stops – once at lap 52 and the second giving up the lead on lap 142 – that gave him fresh tires to charge through the field in the final quarter of the race.

“Mike Stefanik says that puts me in a tough situation,” Christopher said. “But it’s a better situation for the fans.”

Christopher emerged from the final pit stop in 11th.

“It’s a lot of stuff you learn and know,” said Christopher of the pit calls. “And hoping it works out that way and it did. For me, it’s passing whoever is in front of me. When I get to the point where there’s nobody left to pass, I’m in front.”

A restart on lap 193 gave Beers one more shot.

“The heat cycles killed us – his tires just fired a little faster because his were fresher,” said Beers, who opted to pit earlier. “We just wanted to run up front and pit at a time were we didn’t have to come back up through the field.”

Hossfeld passed Stefanik for third following the final restart. After finishing second in the Icebreaker, Hossfeld took over the points lead by 21 over Christopher.

“It’s so competitive, it’s always in your mind,” Hossfeld said. “I guess it’s better being in first than somewhere else.”

Ryan Preece, who became the youngest Coors Light Pole Award Saturday, led 64 laps before motor problems ended his day in 29th.

Prior to the race, NASCAR and the track honored 1966 NASCAR Modified Division champion Ernie Gahan and the late Red Byron, the 1948 NASCAR Modified champion.

Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points Total Award Status

1 5 36 Ted Christopher Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet 200 180 $8,320 Running

2 4 46 Eric Beers Reynold's Wrecking/J&R Pre-Cast Chevrolet 200 170 4,820 Running

3 8 4 Chuck Hossfeld Mystic Missile Dodge 200 165 3,320 Running

4 10 16 Mike Stefanik Diversified Metals/Ace Moldings Pontiac 200 160 3,320 Running

5 12 28 James Civali Ramar-Hall Inc./Genesis Shocks Chevrolet 200 155 3,020 Running

6 18 93 Rowan Pennink Monk Mechanics Hand Cleaner Chevrolet 200 150 2,620 Running

7 19 21 Richard Savary Superior Oil Chevrolet 200 146 2,720 Running

8 11 99 Jamie Tomaino J Co./Clean-Up Supply Chevrolet 200 142 2,920 Running

9 23 2 Todd Szegedy Wisk-Snuggle Ford 200 138 2,220 Running

10 22 8 Glenn Tyler Sypher Construction Chevrolet 200 134 2,020 Running

11 9 58 Kevin Goodale Riverhead Building Supply Chevrolet 200 130 1,920 Running

12 29 12 Ken Heagy Budy One Seafood Chevrolet 200 127 1,495 Running

13 34 17 Glen Reen * Reen Orthodontics Chevrolet 200 124 2,200 Running

14 6 59 Matt Hirschman Ed Bennett Properties Chevrolet 200 121 1,899 Running

15 17 11 Anthony Sesely A-1 Auto Center Dodge 200 118 1,050 Running

16 28 0 Danny Sammons Area Auto Racing News Chevrolet 199 115 1,760 Running

17 33 32 Tom Abele, Jr. * Synergyn/Crystal Auto Chevrolet 196 112 1,025 Running

18 14 64 Eric Berndt Northend Auto Parts/Cos Central Auto Chevrolet 193 109 975 Running

19 35 53 Sean Patterson * John DeLiso & AXA Financial Pontiac 193 106 950 Running

20 2 0 Frank Ruocco Earth Technology Chevrolet 185 103 925 Accident

21 21 33 Wade Cole Performance Engines/Kendall Oil Chevrolet 185 100 1,620 Running

22 25 6 Billy Pauch, Jr. Greenfield Dodge Dodge 184 97 1,595 Accident

23 3 19 Jimmy Blewett Major Motion Transport/TS Haulers Chevrolet 179 94 1,670 Accident

24 16 45 Erick Rudolph * Original Pizza Logs/Prime Tyme Chevrolet 174 91 825 Accident

25 24 75 Carl Pasteryak Sunoco/Dawley's Collision Chevrolet 156 88 800 Running

26 26 90 Renee Dupuis SFI/Featherlite Chevrolet 153 85 1,200 Suspension

27 30 10 Ed Flemke, Jr. Ron Bouchard Auto/Premier Kitchens Chevrolet 109 82 1,620 Running

28 13 79 Ronnie Silk Hill Enterprises/Coors Light/Sunoco Pontiac 103 79 1,620 Running

29 7 3 Ryan Preece Mizzy Construction/FJ Hubany Chevrolet 91 76 2,120 Engine

30 27 9 Bobby Grigas, III Triple-G Scaffold Services Chevrolet 60 73 1,520 Oil Pressure

31 20 5 Joe Hartmann WMS Const./Charlie's Collision Chevrolet 59 70 1,520 Accident

32 31 14 Reggie Ruggiero Atlantic Sprinkler Ford 54 67 1,520 Ignition

33 1 1 Rob Summers Frasco Fuel & Oil Chevrolet 50 64 800 Drive Shaft

34 15 77 Rick Fuller Toyota Certified Used Vehicles 26 61 1,520 Timing Chain

35 32 9 Jake Marosz Middlesex Auto Center Chevrolet 11 58 1,200 Accident

Fastest Qualifier: Ryan Preece, Time: 18.057 Seconds, Speed: 99.684 MPH

Time of Race:1 hrs., 47 mins, 2 secs Average Speed: 56.057 mph Margin of Victory:0.719 Seconds

COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Ryan Preece, 3 Mizzy Construction/FJ Hubany Chevrolet

FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Jamie Tomaino, 99 J Co./Clean-Up Supply Chevrolet

POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE AWARD: Glen Reen *, 17 Reen Orthodontics Chevrolet

SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE RACE AWARD: Glen Reen *, 17 Reen Orthodontics Chevrolet

WHELEN WINNER OF THE RACE AWARD: Ted Christopher, 36 Al-Lee Installations Chevrolet

Caution Flags: Laps 2-6; 8-13; 49-54; 59-66; 91-96; 104-108; 141-146; 155-158; 161-163; 167-171; 175-179; 180-183; 185-192. 13 for 71 laps.

Lap Leaders: Rob Summers 1-5, Jimmy Blewett 6, Rob Summers 7-26, Ryan Preece 27-90, Eric Beers 91-92, Ted Christopher 93-142, Eric Beers 143-171, Ted Christopher 172-200.

Total Laps Led: Ted Christopher 79, Ryan Preece 64, Eric Beers 31, Rob Summers 25, Jimmy Blewett 1. 7 changes involving 5 drivers.

Top 10 Driver Points: Chuck Hossfeld 335, Ted Christopher 314, James Civali 305,
Rowan Pennink 288, Todd Szegedy 284, Tom Abele, Jr. * 267, EdFlemke, Jr. 262, Glenn Tyler 255, Eric Beers 249, Anthony Sesely 248

BUD POLE AWARD: JAMES CIVALI

MARY HODGE PHOTO

WINNER: ED FLEMKE JR.

MARY HODGE PHOTO

Flemke Captures Rain-Shortened Icebreaker
- Veteran Driver Earns 17th Career Victory

THOMPSON, Conn. (April 6, 2008) Ed Flemke, Jr. captured the first event of the 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season in a rain-shortened Icebreaker Sunday afternoon at Thompson International Speedway.

In third place at the time, Flemke gambled and stayed out on the track when the race went to caution on lap 74. As the race leaders pitted, the gamble paid off as the track gained moisture and the race never went green again. The result was Flemke’s 17th career victory.

“It just means so much toward the end of my career,” Flemke said of the victory. “Each one gets sweeter. Like Mark Martin once said, you enjoy each win because it may be your last.”

Chuck Hossfeld took home second place in the No. 4 and Bobby Grigas III finished third in the event, which was slated to go 150 laps. Joe Hartmann and Tom Abele, Jr. rounded out the top five. It was the best career finish for the latter three.

In his first career start, Abele was able to garner both the Sunoco Rookie of the Race and POWERade Power Move of the Race awards as the highest rookie finisher and for improving 32 spots.

Although he had been in victory lane at Thompson three times previously, it was the first win in the Icebreaker for Flemke, the traditional season-opening event for racing in New England. It also marked the first win for Flemke’s car owner, Gary Teto.

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 April 6, 2008 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,

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NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR NOTEBOOK

Spring In His Step: Christopher Walks Away With Another Sizzler Victory

Spring In His Step:
Christopher Walks Away With Another Sizzler Victory