Fast Facts The Event: NASCAR Night of Champions  Lia’s Run Highlights 25th Season Touring Awards Gala  Tour Tidbits: Season Wrap-Up  Awards Gala To Honor Touring Champions The Place: Concord Convention Center Hall, Concord, N.C. The Date: Saturday, Nov. 14 The Time: 7 p.m. ET Broadcast Schedule: Streamed Live on NASCARHomeTracks.com

Victories...... Donny Lia, 4 Poles...... , 3 Laps Led ...... Ted Christopher, 622 Races Led...... Ted Christopher, 9 Laps Completed...... , 1,844 Average Finish...... Donny Lia, 6.1 Top-Five Finishes...... Ryan Preece, 10 Top-10 Finishes ...... Donny Lia, ...... Ryan Preece, Rowan Pennink, 11

NASCAR Contact: Jason Cunningham Donny Lia and the No. 4 “Mystic Missile” Dodge team celebrated the 2009 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (704) 201-6658 championship at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on Oct. 25. jcunningham@.com Lia’s Run Highlights 25th Whelen Modified Tour Season 2009 FINAL STANDINGS The 25th Season of the NASCAR Whelen with two years earlier - welcomed him back for Rk Driver Points Modified Tour was one of the most competitive in another title run. 1 Donny Lia 2,020 recent memory as five drivers entered the final race After a season in the full-fendered Truck Series, of the season with a mathematical shot at the Lia didn’t skip a beat as he finished third in the 2 Ryan Preece 2,004 championship. season-opener and reached Victory Lane for the 3 Ted Christopher 1,931 As the green flag dropped on the season finale first time in the fourth race of the year at New at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway on Hampshire Motor Speedway. 4 Rowan Pennink 1,867 Oct. 25, however, it was a two-horse race for the Preece, meanwhile, began his second season 2009 crown between Donny Lia and Ryan Preece. for Boehler Racing Enterprises with a fourth-place 5 Todd Szegedy 1,823 The pair had an eventful season to get to that point, finish in the opener and caught fire toward the 6 Chris Pasteryak 1,691 one that is sure to be memorable for both. middle of the schedule with back-to-back wins at Lia captured the 2007 Whelen Modified Tour Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway and Stafford (Conn.) Motor 7 1,650 championship and parlayed his momentum to a ride Speedway. 8 Eric Beers 1,645 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series the As the season progressed, Lia and Preece were following season. When things didn’t pan out for on a collision course, but they couldn’t have known 9 Woody Pitkat 1,621 him to stay in the Truck Series for 2009, Bob it at the time because defending Whelen Modified Garbarino - the car owner he won the championship (Continued on page 3) 10 Ed Flemke Jr. 1,602 Year-End Awards Gala Tour Tidbits: Season Wrap-Up Set In Industry Hub Lia Moves Up Career Lists: Donny Lia’s 2009 Christopher’s Record Book Assault: Winning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship races is nothing new to Christopher, he’s been at it NASCAR will honor its “stars of tomorrow” and season was highlighted by four wins, which moved throughout his career. With three more wins in short-track veterans by gathering them in the him up to a tie for 12th on the career wins list with 2009, Christopher is now up to 34 for his career, greater Charlotte area for two special year-end another two-time champion: Jimmy Spencer. one shy of tying Tony Hirschman for third on the celebrations. Additionally, the Long Islander recorded a pair of all-time list. With three Coors Light Pole Awards With a special week of activities culminating in Coors Light Pole Awards to also bring his career this season, his career total now sits at 21, which the 2009 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series total to 15, which has him tied with Ed Flemke Jr. ranks eighth. All three poles came at the beginning (NWAAS) Awards Banquet on Friday, Nov. 13, and for 10th on the all-time list. of the season, and it was the first time in the 25 the new NASCAR Night of Champions Touring years of the Whelen Modified Tour that a driver had Awards Gala on Saturday, Nov. 14, NASCAR earned more than one to start a season. brings its season-ending ceremonies home to the Stefanik Returns to Victory Lane: For the industry hub — Concord, N.C. 70th time in his career, and record-setting fifth time “This is a tremendous opportunity to raise the bar at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Mike Stefanik took for all of NASCAR’s developmental racing series, the checkered flag. Stefanik - who holds nearly by bringing the champions from all of our series to every Whelen Modified Tour record - has recorded the core of much of the motorsports industry,” said at least one win in every season he has competed George Silbermann, managing director of racing full time, and of the 25 years of the Whelen operations. “In addition to these two prestigious Modified Tour, he has wins in 22. With his triumph Ryan Preece had eight podium finishes in 2009, awards banquets, we are planning a number of highlighted by a pair of wins. at Martinsville, Stefanik became the first driver in special activities for our series champions, for any NASCAR series outside the Sprint Cup Series attending track operators and for the industry. We 2009 Season Sees Preece Become College to earn 70 victories. look to take full advantage of what this hub of the Student, Championship Contender: In between stock-car racing industry has to offer.” graduating from high school and starting college, Both season-end awards banquets will be held in Ryan Preece put together a title-contending the recently-completed Embassy Suites Hotel campaign in just his third season in the Whelen Concord Convention Center which is located near Modified Tour. Preece, who turned 19 on the same the NASCAR Research & Development Center, in day as the season ended at Thompson (Conn.) proximity to the future NASCAR Hall of Fame International Speedway, recorded a Tour-high 10 complex, as well as the home bases of many of top fives during the 13-race season and finished today’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR just 16 points behind champion Donny Lia in the Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World standings. Truck Series teams. Moving the banquets to the Charlotte area complements the commitment the community has Rowan Pennink experienced a breakout year in 2009. made to the business of NASCAR and the development of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Solid Campaign for Pennink: Like Preece, scheduled to open May 2010. Rowan Pennink’s third Whelen Modified Tour The NWAAS Awards Banquet will feature weekly campaign was by far his best. The Pennsylvania racing drivers from top short tracks across the native recorded five top fives and tied with two United States and Canada. Invited attendees will other drivers for the most top 10s with 11. In his include the 2009 NWAAS national champion, previous two seasons, Pennink had a combined NWAAS state and provincial champions, all 58 eight top 10s with no top fives. track champions, the national/state/provincial Ted Christopher had three wins, three poles and Another Top-Five for Szegedy: Although he finished third in the standings. rookies of the year, the 2009 Wendell Scott missed out on a trip to Victory Lane for the first time Trailblazer Award winner and many others. Christopher Unable to Repeat Despite as a full-time competitor, Todd Szegedy was able The NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Gala Stellar Season: Ted Christopher makes 50 look to extend his streak of top-five points finishes to will feature the champions and top drivers from all like the new 30 when it comes to racing as he four years running. of NASCAR’s North American regional touring seems to be in his prime. After capturing his first Tomaino, Flemke Build on Streaks: Whelen series including invitees from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title in 2008 at the age of 50, Modified Tour stalwarts Jamie Tomaino and Camping World Series East, the NASCAR Camping Christopher turned in another dominant campaign Flemke continued their amazing string of starts in World Series West, the NASCAR Whelen Modified in 2009, but was foiled by two DNFs late in the 2009. Tomaino became the first driver to record Tour, the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season. Christopher topped the standings for 10 of 500 career starts and has missed just five of the and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. the 13 races and registered three wins and three 516 all-time races, while Flemke’s record streak for poles, but had to settle for third in points. consecutive starts was extended to 324. Up Next: NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown

NASCAR's premier short-track racing talking. Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series showcase, the 2010 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate Joey Showdown, will be Logano went for the win on the final turn of the run Jan. 29-30 at final lap and collected race leader Peyton the Toyota Sellers. Instead of a second straight showdown Speedway at victory, Logano was penalized for the move, and Irwindale (Calif.). the victory went to , giving him his The seventh second career win in the event. running of the It was just another of a long line of exciting event, which brings together the top racers from finishes to the all-star race. across North America for the ”Daytona 500 of Each race winner during the 2009 NASCAR short-track racing,” will be highlighted by the 225- Camping World Series season earned a All Lit Up: The lights will be on at Toyota Speedway at lap NASCAR Camping World Series all-star race. protected starting spot in the main event. Also, Irwindale (Calif.) in January for the NASCAR Toyota All- The schedule also includes a 100-lap 2009 series champions of NASCAR's regional Star Showdown. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Super touring series – the NASCAR Camping World race and a 75-lap NASCAR Whelen Series East (), NASCAR Camping determined through time trials, limited All-American Series Late Model race. Both nights World Series West (Jason Bowles), NASCAR provisionals for NASCAR Camping World Series of racing will air live on SPEED as part of full Whelen Modified Tour (Donny Lia), NASCAR regulars and the last-chance "Open" race that weekend of racing on SPEED that includes the Whelen Southern Modified Tour (George provides drivers one final chance to make the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports-car event. Brunnhoelzl III), NASCAR Canadian Tire Series grid. The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown was (Andrew Ranger), and NASCAR Mexico Series New this year, the top five NASCAR Whelen held in the fall for its first five years. It was (Germán Quiroga) along with the 2009 national All-American Series state champions – as moved to January last year to give competitors champion for the NASCAR Whelen All-American determined by the final national standings – more time to prepare and also to increase Series (Philip Morris) have protected starting entered in the Late Model race will be eligible for exposure for drivers and teams. spots. protected starting spots. The result was an event that had everybody The remainder of the starting lineup will be

Lia Earns Second Title In Three Years In Exciting Fashion (Continued from page 1) while Christopher had slipped to third in the Champion Ted Christopher had a stranglehold standings. on the championship points lead. Christopher Commendable seasons from Todd Szegedy won the first two races of the year and put and Rowan Pennink had them mathematically in together solid runs week-in and week-out in a bid the title hunt entering the last day of the season to repeat. like Christopher, but when the green flag Following the back-to-back wins of Preece to dropped, it was between Lia and Preece. The begin August, Lia went out and won the next two pair ran up front the majority of the race, and at races at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and times threw caution to the wind with a Thompson, while Preece finished third at the championship on the line in an effort to win, but “World’s Fastest Half Mile,” but slipped outside Christopher took the checkered flag. Preece - the the top 10 for just the second time of the season race runner-up - also found himself as the at Thompson. championship runner-up as he was not able to Following the 10th race of the season at New gain enough ground on Lia, who crossed the line Hampshire, Christopher led Lia by 48 points and in fourth. The final championship margin was 16 Preece by 74. But things took a quick turn as points, the closest since 1996. Donny Lia registered four wins and 11 top 10s in 13 Christopher’s engine trouble at Martinsville (Va.) Lia’s second title in three years was bolstered outings in 2009. Speedway resulted in a 30th-place finish. A by four wins, a pair of poles and 11 top 10s in 13 similar fate befell the defending champ at outings. In two season with Garbarino and the Stafford in the next-to-last race of the season as No. 4 “Mystic Missile” team, he has compiled a Stay up-to-date on the latest NASCAR Canadian Tire Series he was relegated to 31st after a pair of accidents. pair of titles, 10 wins and 24 top 10s in 29 starts. news and information along Meanwhile, Lia finished eighth at Martinsville Runner-up Preece had the two wins, a pair of with all of NASCAR’s regional and won; Stafford and Preece finished third in poles and a Tour-high 10 top fives. In the last and local racing series at: both. The showdown was set as Lia took a slim eight races of the season he finished on the

www.nascarhometracks.com 26-point lead on Preece to the season finale podium seven times. Contingency Standings Whelen Winner of the Race Award Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award Donny Lia...... 4 Ted Christopher ...... 2 Ted Christopher ...... 3 Bobby Grigas III ...... 2

Ryan Preece ...... 2 ® Erick Rudolph...... 2 ...... 1 Eric Beers...... 1 Erick Rudolph...... 1 Chris Pasteryak...... 1 Ron Silk...... 1 Glen Reen...... 1 Mike Stefanik ...... 1 Reggie Ruggiero ...... 1 Ron Silk...... 1 Coors Light Pole Award Mike Stefanik...... 1 Ted Christopher ...... 3 Todd Szegedy...... 1 Donny Lia...... 2 Ryan Preece ...... 2 Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award Eric Berndt ...... 1 Eric Goodale ...... 13 ...... 1 Ron Silk...... 1 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings Eric Goodale ...... 130 Coca-Cola Move of the Race Award Tommy Farrell III...... 35 Eric Beers ...... 2 Rob Fuller...... 18 Doug Coby...... 1 Eric Goodale ...... 1 Kevin Goodale ...... 1 Bobby Grigas III ...... 1 Ken Heagy ...... 1 Danny Knoll Jr...... 1 Donny Lia...... 1 Gary McDonald...... 1 Rowan Pennink...... 1 Woody Pitkat...... 1 Erick Rudolph...... 1

2009 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Results

DATE RACE FACILITY 2009 POLESITTER 2009 RACE WINNER April 5 Icebreaker Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway Ted Christopher Ted Christopher April 26 Tech-Net Spring Sizzler pres. by CARQUEST Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway Ted Christopher Ted Christopher May 22 TSI Harley-Davidson Classic Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway Ted Christopher Jimmy Blewett June 27 New England 100 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. Doug Coby Donny Lia July 11 155 * Spencer Speedway, Williamson, N.Y. None - rain Erick Rudolph Aug. 1 Riverhead 175 * Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway Ryan Preece Ryan Preece Aug. 7 Town Fair Tire 150 Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway Eric Berndt Ryan Preece Aug. 19 UNOH Perfect Storm 150 + Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway None - rain Donny Lia Sept. 3 Budweiser 150 pres. by New England Dodge Dealers Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway Donny Lia Donny Lia Sept. 19 New Hampshire 100 New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H. Ryan Preece Ron Silk Sept. 27 Made In America Whelen 300 + Martinsville (Va.) Speedway Ron Silk Mike Stefanik Oct. 4 CARQUEST Fall Final Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway Donny Lia Donny Lia Oct. 25 World Series of Speedway Racing pres. by Xtra Mart Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway None - rain Ted Christopher

* Qualifying Format Race + Combined Race With Whelen Southern Modified Tour