Matt Swanson fastest in Ole Blue at New Hampshire

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.

1. 3 Matt Swanson 28.479
2. 51 Justin Bonsignore 28.710
3. 3 07 Patrick Emerling 28.718
4. 4 99 Chase Dowling 28.776
5. 5 14 Blake Barney 28.796
6. 6 36 Bobby Santos III 28.820
7. 7 2 Doug Coby 28.833
8. 8 7 Jon McKennedy 28.871
9. 9 85 Ron Silk 28.875
10. 10 16 Timmy Solomito 28.875
11. 11 64 Rob Summers 28.897
12. 12 58 Eric Goodale 28.931
13. 13 21 Jimmy Blewett 28.945
14. 14 46 Craig Lutz 29.012
15. 15 92 Anthony Nocella 29.068
16. 16 70 Andy Seuss 29.093
17. 17 54 Tommy Catalano 29.111
18. 18 75 Chris Pasteryak 29.149
19. 19 24 Andrew Krause 29.197
20. 20 6 Ryan Preece 29.229
21. 21 20 Max Zachem 29.293
22. 22 35 Andrew Molleur 29.304
23. 23 77 Ryan Newman 29.317
24. 24 06 Sam Rameau 29.327
25. 25 25 Calvin Carroll 29.343
26. 26 1 Jeff Rocco 29.354
27. 27 82 Woody Pitkat 29.405
28. 28 97 Bryan Dauzat 29.437
29. 29 54A Tommy Catalano (All-Star) 29.677
30. 30 34 J.B. Fortin 29.756
31. 31 45 Timmy Catalano 29.764
32. 32 32 Tyler Rypkema 29.765
33. 33 82A Woody Pitkat (All-Star) 29.796
34. 34 47 Joey Mucciacciaro 29.921
35. 35 2A Doug Coby (All-Star) 30.047
36. 36 57 Todd Cooper 30.126
37. 37 78 Walter Sutcliffe, Jr. 30.371
38. 38 38 Kyle Ellwood 30.444
39. 39 23 Jacob Perry 31.046
40. 40 01 Melissa Fifield 31.519
41. 41 33 Wade Cole 31.571

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