Donny Lia Tops In Whelen Modified Tour Fall Final Practice At Stafford Motor Speedway

STAFFORD – It seems the momentum of a third place finish last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway has held on through the week for Donny Lia and his Mystic Missile Racing team.

Donny Lia

Lia, of Jericho, N.Y., set fast time in practice Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Fall Final 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Lia toured the half-mile oval in 18.314 seconds (98.285 seconds).

Qualifying for the Fall Final 150 is Saturday afternoon.

Bobby Santos III, who is looking to make history as the first driver to sweep every pole in a season for Whelen Modified Tour action at Stafford, was second fastest in practice. Santos has three poles in Whelen Modified Tour events this season at Stafford.

Santos, of Franklin, Mass., set a fast time of 18.412 seconds (97.762 mph).

Woody Pitkat of Stafford, who nearly got his first Whelen Modified Tour victory in last year’s Fall Final, was third fastest at 18.419 seconds (97.725 mph).

Reigning series champion Doug Coby, second in the standings and looking to remain mathematically alive in the chase for a second title, was sixth fastest in practice. Ryan Preece, who is looking to clinch his first series title with a race left still to be run, was 11th fastest during the practice session.