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 NAZARETH,
PA (May 23) -- Defending NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series champion
Todd Szegedy captured his first win of the season Sunday. Ironically,
it will also be the last event to be run in the series at Nazareth
Speedway. After appearing to win the series season-opening race at
Thompson (CT) in April, only to be disqualified after a post-race
inspection found a rear-end gear outside the rulebook guidelines,
Szegedy appears to be back on track for another title run winning the
"Service Electric 100" on the 1-mile tri-oval. The
Ridgefield, CT driver led all but the first 11 laps of the 104-lap
race. The popular series had 44 drivers attempting to gain entry into
the elite 40-car field. Szegedy is now the series' fourth different
winner in as many events to begin the exciting 2004 season. Hoosier
Racing Tire Corp. is the exclusive tire provider to the NASCAR
Featherlite Modified Series.
Ted Christopher, who won the season-opening race at
Thompson International Speedway, was the fastest qualifier at 133.963
mph. Todd Szegedy was second at 133.660 mph.
The race began with Christopher taking the race lead
as the green flag waved. The Bud Pole Award winner defended his leader
status until lap 12, when outside pole sitter Todd Szegedy made the
pass for the lead. From there, Szegedy was in command leading the
final 93 laps to capture the win and collect $7,800. Finishing in
second place was rookie Ken Barry who pocketed $4,200 after starting
fourth. Rounding out the top three was Ted Christopher. Amazingly, 24
of the 40 race starters finished the race on the lead lap. The race
was slowed by nine caution flags for a total of 52 laps.
Eddie Flemke, and Jerry Marquis finished fourth and
fifth, respectively. Jan Leaty, winner of the inaugural Nazareth
race in 1991, finished in sixth followed by Donny Lia, Fred
Vordermeier, Rob Summers and Jamie Tomaino to round out the top ten.
Vordermeier started 38th to finish in eighth, while Rob Summers
started 32nd en route to his ninth place finish.
The race was the first time using the 700 right rear
tire compound which proved a big success by all reports. The other
three positions used Hoosier's 645 tire. The compound combination will
be the same that will be used at both Loudon (NH) races later in the
year according to Hoosier Open Wheel Asphalt Product Manager Irish
Saunders. The race was serviced by Hoosier Tire East (CT) which is at
every NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series event. Hoosier engineer Ken
Kolter also attended the race monitoring the new right rear tire code.
Eddie Flemke continues to lead the NASCAR Featherlite
Modified Series driver standings with 675 points followed by Ted
Christopher (613), Tony Hirschman (578), Jerry Marquis (571) and Tony
Ferante (564).
The NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series is back in
action this Friday, May 28, at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut.
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