Statistical Advance: Whelen Modified Tour Andy Blacksmith 100 At NHMS

(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)

Woody Pitkat won in the Whelen Modified Tour's last appearance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last September (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

Woody Pitkat won in the Whelen Modified Tour’s last appearance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last September (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will head to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Andy Blacksmith 100 presented by Donate Life New England on Saturday in Loudon, New Hampshire. Below is a statistical look at the performance of tour and selected drivers at the track:

Andy Blacksmith 100 Setup

• Tied for the championship points lead, Doug Coby has posted podium finishes in five of his last six starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, including a pair of victories.
• NHMS is one of two tracks the NWMT currently races at in which co-points leader Ryan Preece has yet to register a victory. He has four podiums in 17 previous starts there.
• The victor at NHMS last fall, Woody Pitkat is the only driver to finish top-five in all six events this year and trails co-leaders Coby and Preece by just two tallies.
• A three-time NHMS winner, Todd Szegedy enters this race having recorded top-four finishes in four of the previous five events this year.
• Saturday’s Andy Blacksmith 100 presented by Donate Life New England will be preceded by Friday’s second running of the All-Star Shootout, a 35-lap non-points race.

At New Hampshire Motor Speedway

History

• Groundbreaking for New Hampshire International Speedway, as New Hampshire Motor Speedway was originally named, was Aug. 13, 1989.
• The 1.058-mile oval is located on approximately 1,200 acres; the multi-use complex is the largest sports facility in New England.
• The official opening was June 5, 1990 and the first NASCAR event was a NASCAR XFINITY Series race on July 15, 1990 in which NASCAR K&N Pro Series East drivers competed in combination.
• Speedway Motorsports Inc., agreed to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway from Bob and Gary Bahre on Jan. 11, 2008 and then renamed the track New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Notebook

• The first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race was held on Sept. 2, 1990. The NWMT has raced there each year since and there have been 61 all-time NWMT points races at NHMS, the most of any facility outside of Connecticut.
• Jamie Tomaino is the only driver to participate in all 61 previous races at NHMS.
• There have been 20 different race winners, led by Mike Stefanik with eight.
• There have been 24 different pole winners, led by Jan Leaty’s six.
• Chuck Hossfeld was the youngest NHMS race winner at 25 years, eight months, 11 days, set in 2002.
• In 2012, Mike Stefanik became the oldest NHMS winner at 54 years, one month, 24 days.
• Thirteen times the polesitter has won at NHMS, but never in wire-to-wire fashion.
• This race last year set the all-time NWMT record for lead changes in a race with 35.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Data
Race: #7 of 15
Track Layout: 1.058-mile asphalt oval
Banking/Corners: 2-7 degrees
Race Length: 100 laps (105.8 miles)
Telecast: July 23, 6 p.m. ET, NBCSN

Qualifying/Race Data
2014 Pole Winner: Ron Silk, Chevrolet, 128.941 mph, 29.539 secs.
2014 Race Winner: Bobby Santos, Chevrolet, 76.384 mph, 1 hr. 31 mins. 25 secs.
Qualifying Record: Mike Ewanitsko, Chevrolet, 132.743 mph, 28.693 secs., 7/20/01

Active Category Leaders At NHMS

Wins
1. Ted Christopher … 5
2. Todd Szegedy … 3
3. Doug Coby … 2
Donny Lia … 2
Ryan Newman … 2
Ron Silk … 2

Poles
1. Ted Christopher … 5
Ryan Newman … 5
3. Ron Silk … 3

Top Fives
1. Ted Christopher … 21
2. Todd Szegedy … 12
3. Ron Silk … 9

Top 10s
1. Ted Christopher … 29
2. Todd Szegedy … 17
3. Ron Silk … 14

Laps Led
1. Ted Christopher … 837
2. Ron Silk … 300
3. Todd Szegedy … 255

Laps Completed
1. Jamie Tomaino … 5,246
2. Wade Cole … 4,442
3. Ted Christopher … 4,246

Starts
1. Jamie Tomaino … 61 (all)
2. Wade Cole … 54
3. Ted Christopher … 51

Select Driver Highlights

Justin Bonsignore (No. 51 M3 Technology Chevrolet)
• Has seven wins, five poles and 45 top 10s in 79 career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts.
• Ranks 12th in points after six races. Has finished second and first (Riverhead Raceway) in the last two events.
• Has three top 10s, an average finish of 19th and a best result of third (Sept. 2011) in 11 career starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Was the runner-up to Ryan Newman in last year’s All-Star Shootout.

Ted Christopher (No. 13 Mr. Rooter/Cape Cod Aggregates Chevrolet)
• The 2008 NWMT champion has 42 wins, 24 poles and 196 top 10s in 354 career starts. His 42 wins rank third all-time and his 24 poles are eighth.
• Is looking to end a 48-race winless drought. It’s the second-longest such streak in his career. His first win came in his 94th race.
• Sits seventh in points after six events with four top 10s.
• Has five wins, five poles, 837 laps led, 29 top 10s and an average finish of 13th in 51 NWMT starts at NHMS.
• His five NWMT wins, combined with five NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victories, has him tied for the NHMS track record at 10 with Mike Stefanik.
• Has also made five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and four NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at NHMS.

Doug Coby (No. 2 Dunleavy’s Repair/HEX Performance Chevrolet)
• The 2012 and 2014 NWMT champion has 12 wins, five poles and 83 top 10s in 163 career starts.
• Is tied with Ryan Preece for the championship lead after six events. Season has been highlighted by wins in both events at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
• Has two wins (Sept. 2012, July `13), 13 top 10s and an average finish of 13th in 23 career NHMS starts. Has finished on the podium in five of the last six races there.

Patrick Emerling (No. 07 Buffalo Auto Auction Chevrolet)
• Has 19 top 10s in 60 career starts with a best finish of fifth, recorded on four occasions.
• Ranks ninth in points this year on the strength of three top 10s in six outings.
• Has two top 10s, and an average finish of 15th and a best result of fifth (Sept. 2013) in nine NHMS appearances.

Eric Goodale (No. 58 GAF Roofing/Supreme Skylights Chevrolet)
• Has a win, a pole and 39 top 10s in 92 career starts.
• Maintains the NWMT’s active starts streak lead, now at 90 races.
• Ranks eighth in points after six races with four top 10s and a best finish of fourth on two occasions.
• Has four top 10s, an average finish of 15th and a best result of sixth (July 2011) in 13 career starts at NHMS.

Donny Lia (No. 8 Sypher Construction/Bardahl Chevrolet)
• The 2007 and 2009 NWMT champion has 17 wins, 21 poles and 80 top 10s in 160 career starts.
• Two top 10s in six starts this year has him 13th in the points standings.
• Has three wins, a pole, 11 top 10s and an average finish of 13th in 20 NWMT starts at NHMS.
• Posted an average finish of 20th in three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at NHMS.

Ryan Newman (No. 7 Menards/Wix Filters Chevrolet)
• Has four wins, five poles and 10 top fives in 17 career NWMT starts.
• In NWMT action at NHMS he has two wins (June & Sept. 2010), five poles, seven top 10s and an average finish of 13th in 12 starts. Also won last year’s inaugural non-points All-Star Shootout.
• Has three wins, seven poles, 16 top 10s and an average finish of 14th in 26 career NSCS starts at NHMS.

Rowan Pennink (No. 93 Van Wickle Auto Supply Chevrolet)
• Has two wins and 58 top 10s in 117 career starts.
• Ranks 10th in points this year with three top 10s in six races and a best finish of seventh on two occasions.
• Has six top 10s, an average finish of 17th and a best result of fourth (June 2009) in 17 career NHMS races.

Woody Pitkat (No. 88 Buzz Chew Chevrolet/Elbow East Chevrolet)
• Has three wins, two poles and 47 top 10s in 97 career starts.
• Ranks third in points, two behind co-leaders Doug Coby and Ryan Preece. Season is highlighted by a win in the Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway, and he is the only driver to finish top-five in all six events.
• Has a win (Sept. 2014), nine top 10s and an average finish of 13th in 16 career NHMS starts.

Ryan Preece (No. 6 TS Haulers/East West Marine Chevrolet)
• The 2013 NWMT champion has 13 wins, 13 poles, 31 podiums, 52 top fives and 70 top 10s in 114 career starts.
• Earned consecutive victories earlier this year at New London-Waterford Speedbowl and Stafford and is tied for the points lead with Doug Coby.
• Has eight top 10s, an average finish of 11th and a best result of third (four times) in 17 career NWMT starts at NHMS.
• Also has finishes of 24th and 14th in two NXS appearances at NHMS.
• Is up to second in the NWAAS national standings with six wins and 17 top fives in 24 modified starts.

Keith Rocco (No. 22 NorthEast Race Cars & Parts Chevrolet)
• The 2010 NWAAS national champion has 11 top 10s in 27 career NWMT starts with a best finish of third in the 2012 Stafford Spring Sizzler.
• Did not participate in the Thompson opener, but ranks 11th in points with three top 10s in the five events since.
• Has finishes of 33rd and 22nd in his only two previous starts at NHMS.
• Currently sits atop the NWAAS national standings with eight wins and 18 top fives in 24 modified starts.

Bobby Santos (No. 44 Tinio Corp./Dan Kelley/Curb Records Chevrolet)
• The 2010 NWMT champion has 13 wins, 16 poles and 54 top 10s in 99 career events.
• Sits fifth in points after six races with four top 10s and a best result of third in the Thompson Icebreaker 150.
• The defending winner of this race has eight top 10s and an average finish of 15th in 17 NWMT starts at NHMS.
• Has also made one NXS and one NCWTS start at NHMS.

Andy Seuss (No. 70 Rockingham Boat/Phoenix Pre-Owned Chevrolet)
• Has seven top 10s in 32 career NWMT starts.
• Has four top 10s, an average finish of 19th and a best result of fourth (July 2013) in 13 career NWMT starts at NHMS.
• Is the defending NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion where he’s posted 19 wins and 77 top 10s in 99 career starts.

Ron Silk (No. 15 15-40 Connection Chevrolet)
• The 2011 NWMT champion has nine wins, eight poles and 84 top 10s in 141 career starts.
• Has participated in three events this year in a part-time role.
• Has two wins (Sept. 2009, Sept. `11), three poles, 14 top 10s and an average finish of 11th in 22 career starts at NHMS.

Timmy Solomito (No. 16 Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises Ford)
• The 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year has a pole and 12 top 10s in 26 career starts with a best finish of third at Riverhead in September 2013 and at Stafford this June.
• Ranks sixth in points with four top 10s through six events.
• Has finishes of 11th and 17th in his two previous NHMS appearances.

Todd Szegedy (No. 4 Modzelewski’s Towing & Storage Dodge)
• The 2003 NWMT champion has 18 wins, 10 poles and 120 top 10s in 193 career starts.
• Sits fourth in points with five top 10s in six outings in his first season with Mystic Missile Racing.
• Has three wins, a pole, 17 top 10s and a NWMT-best 9.5 average finish in 25 career NHMS starts.

Other Driver Notes

• Joe Ryan Osborne will look to make his NWMT debut in this race. He has 10 top 10s in 13 career NWSMT starts.
• This will be the first NWMT appearance of the season for Newman, Cole Powell and Seuss. Powell was the 2013 NWMT Sunoco Rookie of the Year.
• This will also mark the first NHMS appearance for rookies Brendon Bock, Chase Dowling, Jeff Goodale, Steve Masse, Anthony Nocella, Dave Sapienza, Troy Talman and Max Zachem.

Up To Speed

• This is the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s 30th Anniversary season. The inaugural race was contested March 31, 1985 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.
• The 2015 schedule features 15 points races at seven different tracks across four states.
• Doug Coby opened up his title defense with a win from the pole in the Thompson Icebreaker 150 on April 12.
• Woody Pitkat earned the NAPA Spring Sizzler 200 victory on April 26 at Stafford Motor Speedway.
• Ryan Preece emerged victorious at New London-Waterford Speedbowl in the Mr. Rooter 161 on May 30.
• Preece made it two-in-a-row with a victory in the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 on June 5 at Stafford.
• Coby won at Thompson for the second consecutive outing with the Mr. Rooter 125 victory on June 10.
• The Riverhead Hoosier Tire East 200 was postponed one day by rain, then dominated in victory by Justin Bonsignore.
• Following the Andy Blacksmith 100 presented by Donate Life New England, the NWMT will return to action next week in southwestern New Hampshire at Monadnock Speedway.

Leave a Reply

Copyright 2018 E-Media Sports

Website Designed by Thirty Marketing