LIA TAKES 3RD AT LOUDON

From Speed51.com

Another Controversial NHIS Mod Race Goes to Szegedy (Maybe) by Matt Kentfield
Wrecks, Tech Issues Just the Norm for the Mods In NH

Three caution flags that involved drivers in the front and the rear of the field flew in the first 25 laps of the race, never getting more than three laps under green in before the caution flew again.

Once the WMT drivers did get some racing in, however, it was a torrid battle among four drivers; polesitter Szegedy, point leader Donny Lia, Ronnie Silk and Bobby Santos, III. Jimmy Blewett and Ted Christopher were in the fight for a while, but the top four were the class of the field all day.

As the quartet of Szegedy, Silk, Santos and Lia battled up front, the win was up for grabs throughout the latter part of the race. Szegedy and Silk had the best shots, as the two young drivers swapped the lead as the laps clicked away.

But Szegedy was able to get through the lapped traffic and keep his #2 machine out front at the right time as he took the first NHIS victory of his career.

Or did he?

NASCAR Officials confiscated the intake manifold from Szegedy’s car after the race, brought it to their Research and Development Center in North Carolina, and as of press time, had not released their findings nor an official finish. A finish was supposed to be available Tuesday, but that obviously has been pushed back.

Just another tidbit of controversy in a race that followed right in line with the trend of the last few WMT races at New Hampshire.

A number of big, early pileups caused the first half of the race to be one to forget. Regardless of what the findings of Szegedy’s intake may be, the top four did put on a fun show to watch, even if it took a while for them to take the stage.

Either way, it was a race that most in the race and in the stands at NHIS won’t forget for a long time, for reasons both good and not-so-good.