Matt Swanson is itching to visit Victory Lane, and he’s hoping he can do it on the biggest stage the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour offers.
The Acton, Massachusetts, driver was fastest in the only practice session of the weekend for Whelen Modified Tour teams at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday morning.
Swanson set his fast time of 28.479 seconds (133.741 mph) driving the No. 3 Cape Cod Copper Chevrolet for Boehler Racing. In seven previous New Hampshire starts, Swanson has a best finish of fourth.
Defending series champion Justin Bonsignore was second with a time of 28.710 seconds (132.665 mph). Bonsignore has one previous NHMS victory, but also won the Whelen All-Star Shootout last year.
Patrick Emerling was third, while Chase Dowling and Blake Barney rounded out the top five.
RELATED: Chase Dowling takes winning mindset to New Hampshire
Bobby Santos III, who has wins in three of the last four races at NHMS, was sixth driving for Dave Sapienza. Doug Coby, Jon McKennedy, Ron Silk and Timmy Solomito completed the top 10.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track for the Whelen All-Star Shootout at 2:10 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Twenty of the top competitors will compete in the 35 lap non-points event. The Eastern Propane & Oil 100, the ninth race of the Whelen Modified Tour season, will take the green flag on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. Both races will air live on FansChoice.TV.
Practice results can be found below.
- 3 Matt Swanson 28.479
- 51 Justin Bonsignore 28.710
- 3 07 Patrick Emerling 28.718
- 4 99 Chase Dowling 28.776
- 5 14 Blake Barney 28.796
- 6 36 Bobby Santos III 28.820
- 7 2 Doug Coby 28.833
- 8 7 Jon McKennedy 28.871
- 9 85 Ron Silk 28.875
- 10 16 Timmy Solomito 28.875
- 11 64 Rob Summers 28.897
- 12 58 Eric Goodale 28.931
- 13 21 Jimmy Blewett 28.945
- 14 46 Craig Lutz 29.012
- 15 92 Anthony Nocella 29.068
- 16 70 Andy Seuss 29.093
- 17 54 Tommy Catalano 29.111
- 18 75 Chris Pasteryak 29.149
- 19 24 Andrew Krause 29.197
- 20 6 Ryan Preece 29.229
- 21 20 Max Zachem 29.293
- 22 35 Andrew Molleur 29.304
- 23 77 Ryan Newman 29.317
- 24 06 Sam Rameau 29.327
- 25 25 Calvin Carroll 29.343
- 26 1 Jeff Rocco 29.354
- 27 82 Woody Pitkat 29.405
- 28 97 Bryan Dauzat 29.437
- 29 54A Tommy Catalano (All-Star) 29.677
- 30 34 J.B. Fortin 29.756
- 31 45 Timmy Catalano 29.764
- 32 32 Tyler Rypkema 29.765
- 33 82A Woody Pitkat (All-Star) 29.796
- 34 47 Joey Mucciacciaro 29.921
- 35 2A Doug Coby (All-Star) 30.047
- 36 57 Todd Cooper 30.126
- 37 78 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. 30.371
- 38 38 Kyle Ellwood 30.444
- 39 23 Jacob Perry 31.046
- 40 01 Melissa Fifield 31.519
- 41 33 Wade Cole 31.571