In his attempt to sweep the 2017 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at Stafford Motor Speedway, Ryan Preece is off to a perfect start.
The Berlin, Conn. driver posted the fastest time in time trials on Saturday, winning his 15th career series pole. His time of 18.513 seconds (97.229mph) put his TS Hauler No. 6 on the top spot for Sunday’s NAPA Fall Final 150.
The pole was the fifth at the half-mile for Preece, who finished fourth in the NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Kentucky Speedway last weekend. Preece enters Sunday’s 150 lap event fifth in the championship standings, 26 points from the lead.
Four-time series champion and current points leader Doug Coby will join Preece on the front row Sunday. Coby drove his No. 2 Mayhew Tools machine to a time of 18.520 seconds in the qualifying session. The Milford, Conn. driver has now qualified on the front row for the last eight Stafford events. He enters the weekend 11 markers up in the championship standings over Justin Bonsignore as he seeks his fourth straight championship.
Former series champion Ron Silk (18.526 seconds) was third in the No. 85 Stuart’s Automotive Chevrolet, while Timmy Solomito qualified fourth. Solomito’s enters third in the championship standings, 14 points from the lead. Rowan Pennink rounded out the top five.
Six through 10 went to Kyle Bonsignore, Jon McKennedy Chase Dowling, Dave Sapienza and Bobby Santos.
Justin Bonsignore, who enters the Stafford 150 second in the standings 11 markers back, will start Sunday’s 150 from 15th spot.
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour returns to the track on Sunday with the running of the NAPA Fall Final 150, scheduled for 3:15 p.m. ET. The complete starting line-up can be found below.
- Ryan Preece
- Doug Coby
- Ron Silk
- Timmy Solomito
- Rowan Pennink
- Kyle Bonsignore
- Jon McKennedy
- Chase Dowling
- David Sapienza
- Bobby Santos
- Rob Summers
- Ronnie Williams*Anthony Nocella
- Woody Pitkat
- Justin Bonsignore
- Matt Swanson
- Craig Lutz
- Eric Goodale
- Austin Pickens*
- Kyle Ellwood
- Ken Heagy
- Wade Cole
- Calvin Carroll*
- Gary McDonald
- Melissa Fifield
- Walter Sutcliffe, Jr.*
Read more Short Track Scene:
- Observations: Martinsville Night Race
- Midwest Tour promoter Gregg McKarns calls for a short track committee
- Chandler Smith captures All-American 400 pole