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A Historic Day On Tap For The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour At Lime Rock Park

July 3rd, 2010

SALISBURY – Back in Stafford, no wait, Thompson, errr, oh wait, wait, wait, no, this is Lime Rock Park.

Does it really matter anymore? Yes, we’re somewhere.

Ok, the big day has arrived at Lime Rock Park. It’s the event that’s been circled on the calendar for many Whelen Modified Tour fans since the schedule was released over the winter.

Connecticut has long been home to the Modified Tour. Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson International Speedway are the stalwart facilities for the tour.

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Nice Win Eh: Canadian Andrew Ranger Scores First K&N Pro Series East Victory At Lime Rock Park

July 3rd, 2010

SALISBURY – With another race on his schedule later in the day in Montreal, K&N Pro Series East driver Andrew Ranger was short during his interview with Lime Rock track officials following the K&N 100 Saturday.

“I need to go fast now,” Ranger said.

His competitors on the K&N Pro Series would probably argue that he was already going plenty fast enough all weekend.

Ranger, a native of Roxton Pond, Que., reigned over the K&N Pro Series East all weekend on the way to his first victory in the division in the 66-lap K&N 100 at the 1.5-mile road course.

“It’s been great,” said Ranger, a former competitor in the now defunct CART ChampCar World Series. “Overall it was a great weekend. It was our first time here at Lime Rock and the car was alright all weekend long. P1 in practice, P1 in qualifying and we won. It’s fantastic.”

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Tags: Lime Rock Park NASCAR

Surprisingly Quick: Erick Rudolph Tops The Charts In First Whelen Modified Tour Practice At Lime Rock Park

July 3rd, 2010

SALISBURY – When he attended a test session for the Whelen Modified Tour on June 15 at Lime Rock Park, Erick Rudolph said he was fighting his own instincts in trying to learn the intricacies of getting through road course turns for the first time in a Modified.

Friday at Lime Rock it looked like the 18-year old from Ransomville, N.Y. had it all figured out.

Rudolph topped the speed charts in the first Whelen Modified Tour practice at Lime Rock Park in preparation for Saturday’s Lime Rock 100. The event marks the first appearance for the division at Lime Rock Park.

“I’m not totally comfortable, it’s still a new thing to me,” said Rudolph, who drives for Heinke-Baldwin Racing. “But it’s coming easier now.”

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Rowan Pennink Jumps To The Top Of The Charts In Whelen Modified Tour Practice At Lime Rock Park

July 3rd, 2010

SALISBURY – Rowan Pennink’s first laps around Lime Rock Park during a May 11 tire test were something the Huntingdon Valley, Pa. driver probably wanted to forget immediately.

Pennink struggled with the twists and turns of the 1.5-mile road course when the Whelen Modified Tour held their first test session in preparation for Saturday’s Lime Rock 100, the first race for the division at the track.

Friday Pennink showed that all the practice is paying off though.

Pennink set the fast time around the track in the Whelen Modified Tour’s second practice of the day Friday afternoon at Lime Rock Park. Pennink toured the track with a fast lap of 53.905 seconds (100.18 mph).

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Todd Szegedy Recovers From Twists And Turns Off Track To Win Whelen Modified Tour Pole At Lime Rock Park

July 3rd, 2010

SALISBURY – After having a qualifying day like the one Todd Szegedy had Friday at Lime Rock Park, most drivers would have been doing cartwheels just to have found a way into the field somehow.

Though for Szegedy it seemed no speed bump was going to slow him from making history.

After having almost no practice and being forced to change the motor in his car, Szegedy hit the track in time trials and made himself the first Lime Rock Park pole-winner in the history of the division.

Szegedy toured the 1.5-mile road course in 53.009 seconds (101.697 mph) to win the pole for Saturday’s Lime Rock 100, the inaugural event for the division at the historic racing circuit.

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Tags: Lime Rock Park NASCAR

Doug Coby Hitting The Net In Preparation For Lime Rock Park Whelen Modified Tour Debut This Weekend

July 1st, 2010

The internet has helped introduced into the American vocabulary the term “Youtube Sensation.”

10 Doug Coby.jpg It’s a title usually reserved for some kid falling off a trampoline upside down or maybe a guy blowing up his kitchen with experimental fireworks.

After this weekend it might just be Doug Coby’s new nickname.

A last minute deal this week has put Coby, of Milford, behind the wheel for Whelen Modified Tour team owner Bob Katon Jr. for Saturday’s Lime Rock 100 at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury.

Coby is subbing for the team’s regular driver, George Brunnhoelzl III, who is recovering from a hard crash in last Saturday’s New England 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

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Tags: Lime Rock Park Whelen Modified Tour

Picture This: Lime Rock NASCAR Doubleheader Media Day At The Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

July 1st, 2010

Saturday, fans at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury will get their first chance to see the teams of the Whelen Modified Tour competing on the historic road course.

The Whelen Modified Tour will share top billing this weekend with the K&N Pro Series East at Lime Rock Park for their NASCAR Doubleheader weekend.

But Wednesday was about showing the kids of the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center what racing is all about.

Lime Rock Park officials in conjunction with NASCAR held a media day and pit stop challenge Wednesday at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford.

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Tags: Lime Rock Park NASCAR

Doug Coby To Fill In For George Brunnhoelzl III In Inaugural Whelen Modified Tour Event At Lime Rock Park

June 30th, 2010

With George Brunnhoelzl III still on the mend after a hard wreck last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Doug Coby of Milford has been tabbed as a fill-in driver for car owner Bob Katon Jr. for Saturday’s Lime Rock 100 at Lime Rock Park in Salisbury.

09 Doug Coby.jpg “I am trying to help them out and keep them in the hunt for the owners points,” Coby said. “They’re sitting 22nd in owners and I’m going to try to keep them in the hunt to get into the top-15. I am every excited. I’ve never run a road course before and I want to.”

Coby has started three of the first five events this season on the Whelen Modified Tour for car owner Ralph Solhem. He is coming off an eighth place finish for the team in last Saturday’s New England 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Speed51.com reported earlier this week that Brunnhoelzl sustained a bruised or possibly fractured sternum in his wreck Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.