STAFFORD – When the flash bulbs stopped flashing to end the 2012 racing season at Stafford Motor Speedway it was Bobby Santos III celebrating in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Fall Final at the half-mile oval.
Bobby Santos III celebrates after winning the pole Saturday for Sunday’s Spring Sizzler 200 at Stafford Speedway
Saturday the gates opened for the 2013 season at Stafford and it was a familiar face in the spotlight once again.
Santos, of Franklin, Mass., won the pole in qualifying Saturday for Sunday’s Whelen Modified Tour Spring Sizzler 200 at Stafford.
It proved a jolt of optimism for Santos and his Tinio Motorsports after the team struggled to an 18th place finish in the Whelen Modified Tour season opener at Thompson International Speedway on April 14.
“It means a lot,” Santos said. “We kind of struggled at Thompson. We just didn’t feel like we were as good as we felt we should have been. We kind of just got everything together and worked hard and had a good practice today and they gave me a great car in qualifying.”
Santos said his team’s notes from Stafford last year made Saturday an easy day for him. Santos was also fastest in practice Saturday at Stafford.
“It carries over even from the beginning of the year here last year,” Santos said. “We had a good car here all year last year. That’s what we went off of and that’s what we had for notes. The car was good right off of the trailer, I didn’t have to do much. They gave me a good car.”
Santos was the third of 26 cars to take time on Saturday. He was able to belie the notion that going out in early in qualifying usually means bad results.
Santos toured the half-mile at Stafford in 18.082 seconds (99.547 mph).
“I’m shocked that we got the pole,” Santos said. “I expected that if we did a good lap we’d end up anywhere from fifth to 10th. I guess it worked out good.”
Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield was second in qualifying at 18.084 seconds (99.536 mph). Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon Valley, Pa. was third fastest (18.097 seconds, 99.464 mph).
Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y. will start fourth and Mike Stefanik of Coventry, R.I., who won the season opener at Thompson, starts fifth.
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