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Newman Perfect In Thunder Valley
Makes It 2-for-2 In Whelen Modified Races With Bristol WinBRISTOL, Tenn. -- Ryan Newman continued his winning ways in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour with a victory in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver held off a late charge from seven-time tour champion Mike Stefanik over the closing laps to secure his second win of the season. Newman also won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway driving the Modified owned by Kevin Manion, crew chief for Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray.
| POS | CAR | DRIVER |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Ryan Newman |
| 2 | 16 | Mike Stefanik |
| 3 | 79 | James Civali |
| 4 | 4 | Bobby Santos |
| 5 | 2 | Todd Szegedy |
James Civali was the top NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour driver in the annual combination race in third place overall. The event is the annual combination race between the two Modified tours and drivers received points for their finish in respective to other drivers in the same Tour.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers Bobby Santos and Todd Szegedy rounded out the top five.
Newman powered by Civali and Ted Christopher in one swoop in traffic on Lap 128, and chased down Stefanik three laps later. Stefanik pulled alongside Newman twice in the final five laps but was unable to complete the pass.
Rookie Justin Bonsignore, who won his first career Coors Light Pole Award earlier in the day, finished sixth, followed by Dale Quarterley, Eric Goodale, Ryan Preece and Erick Rudolph.
The race was slowed just three times by yellow flags, including the competition caution at the halfway point.
Christopher led 80 of the first 125 laps before encountering engine trouble and pulling off the track suddenly on Lap 140 while running third. He finished 26th, nine laps down, and lost the points lead to Santos. Santos now leads Christopher by 32 and Stefanik by 61.
L.W. Miller also lost the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour points lead because of mechanical issues. He finished 39 laps down in 29th overall. Civali leads Miller by five and Andy Seuss by 32.
The NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified will return to the track in the Triad Commercial Services 150 at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C., on Saturday, Aug. 28. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will race next in the F.W. Webb 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 18.
RACE RESULTS | LAP-BY-LAP RECAP | VIDEO WITH TOP WHELEN SOUTHERN MODIFIED FINISHER JAMES CIVALI | RYAN NEWMAN PRESS CONFERENCE AUDIO | SECOND AND THIRD PLACE PRESS CONFERENCE AUDIO
Ryan Newman (7) passed Mike Stefanik (16) on Lap 131 en route to the win in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150 Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. Getty Images for NASCAR
