It’s
fitting that Bobby Santos’ near perfect start resulted in him being
a near unanimous choice for the top spot in June’s edition of the
Hunter Index.
Santos became the first driver in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
history to win three of the first four races of the season. In
addition, the 24-year-old standout from Franklin, Mass., has
collected three Coors Light Pole Awards and has built an impressive
89-point lead over nine-time NASCAR champion Mike Stefanik.
The Hunter Index is a new feature in 2010 on NASCARHomeTracks.com
that will spotlight the top 10 drivers in the NASCAR Developmental
Series in a monthly power poll. Drivers are ranked on their
performance over the previous month. The rankings are compiled by a
panel of auto racing writers and NASCAR representatives.
While Santos picked up five of the six first-place votes, he wasn’t
without his competition for top honors in the power poll. Keith
Rocco and Craig Preble, who continue to match each other win for win
and hold down the top spots in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
national standings, ranked second and third, respectively.
In the last month, Rocco has five wins, eight top fives and 11 top
10s in 11 starts while running his asphalt Modified at three
Connecticut short tracks: Thompson International Speedway, Stafford
Motor Speedway and Waterford Speedbowl. Preble competes on a weekly
basis in his crate dirt Late Model at I-80 Speedway in Omaha and
Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb. Over the same
period, Preble recorded six wins and nine top fives in nine races.
“I had a tough time choosing between Santos or Rocco at the top,”
said Shawn Courchesne of the Hartford (Conn.) Courant. “Rocco was
involved in some tough wars during the judging period and had a
stellar record. I think one thing that gets forgotten with Rocco is
that at two of the three tracks he's running at, he competes weekly
against some of the top talent from the Whelen Modified Tour and
he's obviously showing he's on par with those guys.
“Though for me, it came down to putting Santos No. 1 on the basis of
Modified Tour vs. weekly short tracks coupled with the fact that
Santos was perfect for the judging period.”
Eric Holmes, who has won two of the last three NASCAR K&N Pro Series
West events, came in fourth in the voting, followed by NASCAR K&N
Pro Series East rookie Max Gresham. Gresham has won the last two
East races – including a high-profile victory in the annual
East-West combination race at Iowa – and received the other
first-place vote.
“When put to the test against the top drivers from NASCAR K&N Pro
Series East and West, Max Gresham rose to the top,” said Tim Haddock
of HaddockInThePaddock.blogspot.com, who covers racing on the West
Coast and voted for Gresham. “He didn't have the most dominant car
at Iowa Speedway, but Gresham put his car in position to win the
race at the end.
“On the heels of a dominant performance at South Boston Speedway in
April, when he won the pole and led all but four laps, Gresham
showed he could win under more adverse conditions at Iowa Speedway.
He won the race in Iowa on a green-white-checkered flag finish and
had to regain the lead on the last lap of the race. On a day when
the top drivers from the East and West raced on the same track,
Gresham was the best.”
Brett Moffitt (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) was sixth, followed by
Burt Myers (NASCAR Whelen All-American Series), Darrell Wallace Jr.
(NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), David Mayhew (NASCAR K&N Pro Series
West) and Todd Szegedy (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour).
D.J. Kennington, who won the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented
by Mobil 1 opener at Delaware (Ont.) Speedway this past weekend, was
one of four drivers to earn honorable mention.
The Hunter Index is named for Jim Hunter, NASCAR’s vice president of
corporate communications and a longtime supporter of the weekly and
touring series that make up the NASCAR Developmental Series.
The Index was designed in the off season as an opportunity to
compare the top drivers from the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
all the way up to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. It will also encompass
drivers from the NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series,
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified
Tour.
The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour did not hold events since
the previous Index was released.
The panel also included media members Courchesne representing the
Northeast, Adam Fenwick of National Speed Sport News from the
Southeast, Haddock from the West Coast, and Spencer Lewis,
representing the Canadian publication Inside Track Motorsports News.
They are joined by Brett Bodine, who is the chairman of the NASCAR
Resumé Committee and represents the NASCAR competition side on the
panel, and NASCAR public relations representative Jason Christley.
JUNE HUNTER INDEX
1. BOBBY SANTOS
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Why he’s here: The only race he didn’t win he was spun by a lapped
car while dominating the early portion of the race, and still came
back to finish second. His win at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway showed
that even when he doesn’t have the strongest car early, he’s going
to be a factor in the end.
2. KEITH ROCCO
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Why He’s Here: Second for the second straight month, he added
another five wins and maintained his national points standings lead.
3. CRAIG PREBLE
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Why He’s Here: Quietly keeping pace with Rocco while racking up the
wins seemingly every weekend on the Nebraska dirt.
4. ERIC HOLMES
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
Why He’s Here: That 20th-place finish in the season opener is a
distant memory as the two-time series champion has climbed to second
in points.
5. MAX GRESHAM
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Why He’s Here: Even tire issues at Martinsville can’t dampen the
amazing performance the 17-year-old put together in winning at South
Boston (Va.) Speedway and Iowa Speedway.
6. BRETT MOFFITT
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Why He’s Here: Gresham’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate has been in
dominate cars only to get wrecked three straight races. His luck
changed at Martinsville as he drove to his third career win.
7. BURT MYERS
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Why He’s Here: The new ‘Madhouse’ king? Myers has three wins and
five top fives in claiming the early points lead at Bowman Gray. He
also finished fifth in the Tour race at Martinsville.
8. DARRELL WALLACE JR.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Why He’s Here: Three is the magic number for Revolution Racing’s No.
6 Chevrolet driver. Third at Iowa and third at Martinsville has him
third in the points standings.
9. DAVID MAYHEW
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
Why He’s Here: He’s collected a pair of Coors Light pole awards, was
the top West finisher at Iowa, and kept pace with Holmes at
Roseburg. And he leads the series points.
10. TODD SZEGEDY
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Why He’s Here: Rallied from a tire coming completely off the rim at
Martinsville to finish third. He was also third in the previous race
at Stafford, and is the only other driver besides Santos with a top
five in every race.
HONORABLE MENTION: DJ Kennington (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series),
Phillip Morris (NASCAR Whelen All-American Series), Trevor Sanborn
(NASCAR Whelen All-American Series), Steve Carlson (NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series). |