MYSTIC MISSILE AND DONNY LIA WIN FIFTH RACE OF 2007

Riverhead, N.Y. – Donny Lia’s storybook season continued Saturday night, with the latest chapter an improbable victory at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points leader inherited the lead when the top two cars were involved in a wreck in the closing laps and led the final six laps of the Miller Lite 140 en route to his fifth victory in eight races.

Lia was running third when Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher were involved in an accident battling for the lead in the midst of lapped traffic.

“We did not have a car to win,” Lia said. “I’m not ashamed to admit it. But you just have to hang in there and get what you can. Tonight, it worked out for us. Bottom line is we’re just doing what we have to do and riding that wave.”

Lia leads second-place Matt Hirschman by 92 points.

To cap his latest victory, Lia had to hold off Riverhead regular Bill Park in a green-white-checkered finish. Ronnie Silk finished third, followed by Justin Bonsignore and James Civali.

“I think I might have had something for Donny at the end,” Park said. “If I could have got him I would have, but I wasn’t going to bump him to do it.”

Park, the Riverhead's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series modified division point leader, said two weeks ago when Lia visited the track for the 77-lap "Tribute To A Legends" race with weekly points at stake, Lia raced him cleanly in an extended battle for position. Saturday, when it was Lia’s championship on the line, Park returned the favor.

“I owed him the same courtesy,” Park said.

“He was going for a championship here,” Lia said. “I probably could have driven a little harder and forced the issue. But I didn’t because I wouldn’t want to be going for the championship and somebody take me out.”

Danny Sammons, Matt Hirschman, Howie Brodie, Jamie Tomaino and Ryan Preece rounded out the top 10. Stefanik ended up 11th following his late-race spin.

Stefanik led 116 laps after starting on the pole following a redraw of the top seven spots. Christopher used lapped traffic to get by him on lap 115, and Stefanik took the lead back again on lap 137 before the two clashed two laps later.

That handed the lead – and eventually the win – to Lia.

“I was doing everything in my power just to stay close to them,” Lia said, “and capitalize if anything happened.”

Unofficial Results
Miller Lite 140
NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR – Miller Lite 140
Saturday
At Riverhead Raceway
Riverhead, N.Y.
Lap length: .25 miles

Race statistics
Caution Flags: 7 for 66 laps.
Lap Leaders: Stefanik 1-114, Christopher 115-136, Stefanik 137-138, Lia 139-144.
Total Laps Led: Stefanik 116, Christopher 22, Lia 6.  3 changes involving 3 drivers.
Next Race: Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway, Friday, Aug. 10