|
|
|
04/14/2012 |
|
THOMPSON
ICEBREAKER QUALIFYING
by
Polly Reid |
|
 The
Icebreaker you might say turned smoking hot at least
for one driver with a new track record set in
qualifying by Ryan Preece in the season opening
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at Thompson
International Speedway. Preece pulled off an 18.387
second lap besting the field to claim the Coors
Light Pole Award in the Eric Sanderson owned,
Diversified Metals/R.B. Enterprises sponsored Ford.
“Sly and those Flamingo guys are just an awesome
bunch, we’re definitely having fun right now, I
can’t wait for tomorrows race, that car is
unbelievable.” His sixth career NWMT pole award,
third in a row at Thompson, it is the second with
the Flamingo Motorsports team- Preece claimed the
pole at the World Series event at Thompson last
October, his first time in the #16. “To get the
track record, that feels pretty cool.”
“There is no reason why we can’t be a contender for
the championship. Mr. Sanderson, Paul Les, everyone
who sponsors the car gives us everything we need;
I’m going to try my best to put us in victory lane.”
“We were fast off the trailer,” said crew chief Sly
Szaban. “After a few adjustments for race set up, we
went back to time trial package and had a good time
trial practice run. Ryan was happy with the car and
he backed it up for the real deal.” About breaking
Bobby Santos record set one year ago Szaban
continued, “It says a lot for our whole team, it’s a
team effort, it means something to everyone.”
Justin Bonsignore of Holtsville, NY went out earlier
in qualifying and broke the track record first with
an 18.402 second lap. Bonsignore will start second
for the Icebreaker sharing the front row on Sunday
with Preece, bringing the 29 car field to green.
Bobby Santos will start third with Rookie of the
Year contender Keith Rocco fourth and Rowan Pennink
fifth, Ron Yuhas, Mike Stefanik, Ron Silk, Todd
Szegedy and Donny Lia the top ten.
Preece pulled off more than a memorable day.
Tomorrow, it’s 150 laps, Szaban explained it best,
“It’s back to square one- everyone is starting from
scratch again, the slate is clean for tomorrow.” |
|
Source: Polly Reid / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted: April
14, 2012 |
|
|
