Bobby Santos III Finishes Second at Stafford Motor Speedway

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 4, 2010) - Bobby Santos III began the race weekend at Stafford Motor Speedway the same way he did the previous race weekend at Thompson International Speedway: recording the fastest time in practice, winning the pole and setting a new track record. Santos was not able to finish the race the same way, as he settled for a second place finish in the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler presented by CARQUEST.

The race was originally slated to run April 25 but was rescheduled for Saturday, May 1 due to rain. Santos first took to the track on Saturday for happy hour practice with the ninth fastest car.

Santos started on the pole after qualifying first and redrawing the top spot and quickly showed how good his car was after the green flag dropped. Within seven laps, Santos had already built a one-second lead over the second place car. He continued to stretch his lead and began lapping cars on lap 35.

On lap 55, Santos lost the lead after he was spun by a lap car in turn three. He fell back to 22nd before pitting on lap 57 for two tires and adjustments to the car. A fast stop allowed Santos to come out of the pits in 14th position.

Santos spent the remainder of the race working his way forward while battling a car that was not as strong as before the spin. On lap 85, Santos moved back into the top-10. Santos benefitted from fast pit stops and avoided the multitude of cautions during the remainder of the race, as he spent the last 70 laps in the top-five. After passing the second place car on the final lap of the event, Santos finished in the second position.

"We had a good weekend," Santos reflected. "We almost won the race, but not quite. We led the first 54 laps, but after we got spun out, our car was not as good as it had been. It was disappointing what happened, but we were very happy to end up second after all of that."

Santos currently leads the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour point standings after his season opening win at Thompson International Speedway and second place finish at Stafford Motor Speedway.

Santos will take advantage of the break in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule and return to USAC racing. He will race in the Casey's General Stores USAC Triple Crown Series Pride of Iowa Event at Iowa Speedway on May 22. He will next race in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour on Friday, May 28 in the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 at Stafford Motor Speedway.