DONNY LIA ROLLS AT RIVERHEAD : Raceway Media - Motorsports News & Information

DONNY LIA ROLLS AT RIVERHEAD

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (Aug. 6, 2005) Donny Lia of Jericho, N.Y. led the final
162 laps of the Riverhead 200 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Riverhead
Raceway to record his second win of the season. It was the third career
victory for Lia at Riverhead and his fourth series win overall. He was the
defending champion of this event.
“We’ve struggled the last couple races,” said Lia. “But it always
seems we can turn things around when we race here at Riverhead. The team
needed the win tonight. Hopefully the momentum will carry over to the next
race.”
Lia led the most laps of the race in his Huntington Honda Chevrolet and
earned the Tommy Baldwin Memorial Award. He was pressured through most of the
event by defending series champion Tony Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. who
finished just .37 seconds behind
Hirschman’s runner-up placement was his fifth consecutive Top-5 finish
in the Kamco Supply Chevrolet. He sits second in the standings and now trails
leader Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn. by just 24 points. Christopher
finished 10th.
Jerry Marquis finished third in the Reynolds Auto Wrecking Dodge to earn
his third consecutive Top-3 finish. Marquis is fourth in the standings, 141
points behind Christopher, and just one marker head of Lia.
Chuck Hossfeld of Buffalo, N.Y. finished fourth in the Creative Racing
Products Ford. Hossfeld, currently third in the championship battle, closed to
54 points behind Christopher. Last week’s winner Eric Beers rounded out the
Top-5 in the Roby’s Propane/Reynolds Auto Chevrolet.
John Blewett, III set fast time in qualifying to earn the Bud Pole. The
Top-6 qualifiers drew for their starting position. Blewett picked the sixth
starting position. Lia drew the pole and was joined on the front row by John
Fortin.
At the opening green Fortin jumped out front and led the first 38 laps.
His chance at victory ended on lap 39 restart when he broke the transmission.
Lia took over the top spot and never relinquished the lead.
The next event for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is at Stafford Motor
Speedway in Stafford Springs, Conn. on Aug.12.
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – Unofficial results of the Riverhead 200 NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour race at Riverhead Raceway showing starting position, driver,
hometown, make of car, laps completed, winner’s average speed, reason out if
any and money won.
1. (1) Donny Lia, Jericho N.Y., Chevrolet, 200, 48.636 mph, $7,500
2. (8) Tony Hirschman, Northampton PA., Chevrolet, 200, $4,200
3. (9) Jerry Marquis, Broad Brook Conn., Dodge, 200, $3,000
4. (12) Chuck Hossfeld, Buffalo N.Y., Ford, 200, $2,500
5. (21) Eric Beers, Northampton Pa., Chevrolet, 200, $2,200
6. (26) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon Conn., Chevrolet, 200, $2,600
7. (27) Mike Christopher, Plainville Conn., Pontiac, 200, $2,050
8. (15) Dave Etheridge, Portland Conn., Chevrolet, 200, $1,900
9. (5) Mike Stefanik, Coventry R.I., Chevrolet, 200, $1,800
10. (18) Ted Christopher, Plainville Conn., Chevrolet, 199, $1,800
11. (13) Bill Park, Manorville N.Y., Chevrolet, 199, $975
12. (3) Howie Brode, Bayshore N.Y., Chevrolet, 198, $950
13. (24) Rick Fuller, Auburn Mass., Pontiac, 198, $1,725
14. (23) Steve Whitt, Farmingdale N.J., Dodge, 187, Steering, $1,875
15. (7) Kevin Goodale, Riverhead N.Y., Chevrolet, 134, $1,550
16. (20) Dick Houlihan, Bridgewater Mass., Chevrolet, 126, Handling, $1,525
17. (22) Tyler Haydt, Kunkletown Pa., Chevrolet, 115, Handling, $1,500
18. (14) Jimmy Blewett, Howell N.J., Dodge, 115, $775
19. (19) Gregg Shivers, Rocky Point N.Y., Pontiac, 103, $1,450
20. (10) Eddie Flemke, Southington Conn., Chevrolet, 96, $1,425
21. (28) Wayne Anderson, Yaphank N.Y., Chevrolet, 79, Overheating, $725
22. (25) Doug Coby, Milford Conn., Chevrolet, 75, $1,425
23. (2) John Fortin, Holtsville N.Y., Chevrolet, 39, Transmission, $725
24. (17) Nevin George, Kunkletown Pa., Chevrolet, 32, Accident, $1,425
25. (16) Chuck Steuer, Bohemia N.Y., Chevrolet, 31, Rocker Arm, $725
26. (11) Frank Vigliarolo, Jr, Mt. Sinai N.Y., Dodge, 28, Radiator, $725
27. (6) John Blewett, III, Howell N.J., Dodge, 17, Accident, $1,875
28. (4) Tony Ferrante, Jr, Franklin Square, Chevrolet, 5, Accident, $1,125

Failed to Qualify: (9) Kevin Konopka (#51), Chris Young (#49), Renee Dupuis
(#90), Thomas Rogers (#6), Jamie Tomaino (#99), Jimmy Storace (#47), Wade
Cole (#33), Jake Marosz (#9), Larry Altholtz (#35).

Time of Race: 1 hrs., 1 mins, 41 secs Average Speed: 48.636 mph Margin of
Victory: .37 Seconds
BUD POLE AWARD: John Blewett, III, 00 G. Lopes Construction/Sherm's Dodge
FEATHERLITE MOST IMPROVED DRIVER AWARD: Steve Whitt, 06 Greenfield Dodge
Dodge
POWERADE POWER MOVE OF THE RACE: Zach Sylvester, 15 TAS Country Homes
Chevrolet
TOMMY BALDWIN MEMORIAL AWARD: Donny Lia, 18 Huntington Honda Chevrolet
Caution Flags: Laps 5-12; 18-24; 27-31; 33-39; 47-54; 59-63; 130-134;
190-197. 8 for 53 laps.
Lap Leaders: John Fortin 1-38, Donny Lia 39-200.
Total Laps Led: Donny Lia 162, John Fortin 38. 1 changes involving 2
drivers.

Unofficial Top 20 Driver Points: Ted Christopher 1540, Tony Hirschman 1516,
Chuck Hossfeld 1482, Jerry Marquis 1399, Donny Lia 1398, Eric Beers 1343, Zach
Sylvester 1333, Rick Fuller 1330, Doug Coby 1300, Mike Christopher 1249, Eddie
Flemke 1143, Jamie Tomaino 1127, Chris Kopec 1083, Steve Whitt 1050, Gregg
Shivers 1009, Tyler Haydt * 1004, Dave Etheridge 978, Kevin Konopka 955, Nevin
George 953, Renee Dupuis 952
Next Race: Stafford Springs, CT

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