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| Mario Fiori Photo |
39 North & South Modified Race Teams made the long trip to Bristol,Tenn. even though there was a real threat of rain. The teams worked around the weather and what a race it was. The first practice the #4 "Mystic Missile" Donnie Lia owned all of the attention with his Whelen and NASCAR record run of 14.744 shattering his own record from the previous season race of 14.806 Ageless #13 Teddy Christopher next at 14.756. The session was marred by a tough spin out for the #73 piloted by Cole Powell when he came out in the 28th practice position. Great first lap and then he sad in the post care center interview that the tire just blew.
All 39 entries got in the race, instead of the pre-race statement of the best 36. The top 30 from qualifying and 6 more by provisional.
The chem3.com sponsored race car piloted by one of the hottest drivers in our great country, #51 Justine Bonsignore who made the trip from Long Island, New York and also fresh off a exciting victory at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Aug. 14 in Conn. set the mark at 14.925, and 128.563 in winning the pole position from a Southern driver #1 Burt Meyers @ 14.939 and 128.442
My pre-race favorite. only because of my friendship with his spotter, (Larry" Leadfoot" Barnett) #44 Bobby Santos took Larry's advice on his race line and it worked for a opportunity to start third @the closest 14.942 and 128.417
#16 Ryan Preece's East/Marine Diversified Metals pit crew made some great adjustments on his beautiful pre-pared race car a @ 14.954 and 128.313 to start fourth. #4 Donny Lia had to settle for the 5 hole @14.977 and 128.116 because of the changing track conditions or maybe a little wind in the very close qualifier.
#7 Sprint Cup regular Ryan Newman entered and started 8th with well financed set of Menards and Wix Filters decals on the race car He started 8th @ 14.985 and a respectable 128.048
The youngest participant in the show was my new friend, 15 year old, #79 Hillbilly Race/Coors 21 Means 21, team driver Spencer Davis, (Sounds like a flashback old song I use to play) who hails from Dawsonville, Ga.,same town as Hall of Famer, Bill Elliot. Well 32nd and and a start at Bristol is quite an accomplishment in my mind. Fast 15.555 and 123.556 for a young man who has to wait to get a drivers license and to drink one of his sponsors Coor's Beer.
Regular North Whelen driver Melissa Fifield did not make the expensive trip here or to the Daytona non point race to start the season. Her Dad told me it is real tough on the Tour for a small budget race team moving up from the Valenti Tour to the Whelen Tour. The team is going through the learning curve and would like to thank all of her fraternity members for their support.
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| Spencer Davis 15 years old and drives like he is much older ! Photo by Facebook Share |
History repeated itself today for the #22 race car. Our Racing Team, Top Crew Chief in the Country, Brad Lafontaine and his hot Rookie Tommy Barrett Jr. who was the only one who could replace last years winner at Bristol Motor Speedway, Hall of Famer,
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| Author W.Gauvin Barber and Spencer Davis, Woody Pitkat and the other Whelen Mod. drivers at Thompson Aug. 14,2014 |
Mike Stefanik in this awesome ride.
Everyone in the racing community certainly saw the talent from his driving in the Valenti Tour Series last year.
Yes, in just his 10th career start in the Whelen's the young man sliced and diced the race car like a seasoned veteran almost like a playing a Nascar simulation video game with his split second decisions on the banked racing surface.. One heck of a party at Hooters for this crew.
Barrett , who calls Millis, Mass. home simply took this one away from the best in the caution filled race by passing not only Santos, but Bonsignore too ! Lap 139 the 19 year old could taste the victory on his lips and passed his last test of a restart on lap 146 for his first career victory and by competing in his very first sixth annual race between the North Whelen Modified and the Southern Modified Series Tour. Santos held on for second, followed by #6 Ron Silk and the current points leader #2 Doug Colby who now has a 4 point lead over Bonsignore with 4 point races to go. Christopher is third in points 33 back.
Southern driver #21 JR Bertuccio was the top finisher at 13th and was awarded first place points in his divisions point race, The great race Bush's Beans 150 will air on Fox Sports 1 on Aug. 31,2014 12 pm EDT Next race for NASCAR Whelen Tour will be on Sept. 13,2014 at Riverhead Raceway on New York's, Long Island. The Southern Tour will resume at the Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia on Aug. 30th,2014
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| Doug Colby slim lead. Photo at Thompson by W.Gauvin Barber |
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| Melissa Fifield Thompson Photo by simply the Best, Crystal Snape |
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| Larry (Leadfoot) Barnett Thompson Facebook Share Photo |
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| Ted Christopher Facebook Share Photo |
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NASCAR Home Tracks Photo
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| Author, host W.Gauvin Barber of the "Race Chatter" Photo by Jeff Gamache WNRI.COM |
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| Justine Bonsignore and Woody Pitkat cooling down at Thompson Ice Breaker .Photo by W.Gauvin Barber |
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