Bobby Santos III Bounces Back, Scores Top-Five Finish at Monadnock Speedway
Will Race in USAC Events at O'Reilly Raceway Park on Thursday

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 20, 2010) - Following a less than ideal weekend at Lime Rock Park, Bobby Santos III rebounded with a fifth-place finish at Monadnock Speedway on Saturday, July 17. This was Santos' sixth top-five finish in seven NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races this season.

Santos kicked off the action-packed Saturday and laid down the 12th-fastest time in first practice. The Mystic Missile Racing team, who had not raced at the high-banked, quarter-mile track since 1990, went to work making adjustments before the last practice session. Santos had the 11th-fastest lap in final practice with a time of 12.681 seconds (70.972 mph).

"We weren't great at first, but by the end of the second practice we were pretty happy with the car," Santos said. "We didn't have the speed, but we knew the car was good."

Santos had a strong qualifying run with a time of 12.467 seconds (72.191 mph). His fast lap set the No. 4 Dodge to start Saturday night's race in second position beside fellow Heinke-Baldwin Racing development driver Erick Rudolph.

"We were really happy after our qualifying run," said Santos. "I thought we were going to be on the pole. Then, Erick went out there, the last car on the last lap, and beat us. We were happy with starting second, though."

Santos started strong in his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock Speedway, a track where he previously won a NEMA Midget race in his first and only start. The 24-year-old fell to third on lap 15, where he stayed through the majority of the race.

With 50 laps to go in the race, Santos slipped to fourth as he battled a loose racecar. He was able to avoid trouble as he navigated the short-track, but continued to struggle with his No. 4 Mystic Missile Dodge. He finished fifth in the 179-lap race.

"We just were much looser than we wanted to be once the race started," Santos explained. "I enjoyed the track, and I had a lot of fun. We ran behind Erick and Teddy (Christopher) in third for most of the race and then just fell off a little at the end. We felt like we had a really good car, and it was definitely a good rebound from Lime Rock. We're going back in the direction that we need to go. Hopefully, we'll be back winning races again soon."

Santos continues to lead the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour point standings, 56 points ahead of second-place Ted Christopher. He will return to NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour racing at Riverhead Raceway on Saturday, July 31.

The Franklin, Mass., native will spend his week off from the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour racing in the United States Auto Club events at O'Reilly Raceway Park on Thursday, July 22. He will compete in the Midget race in his family-owned car and will drive for Carl Edwards R.E. Technologies Racing in the Silver Crown race.

"O'Reilly Raceway Park is one of my favorite tracks," said Santos. "I really enjoy going there. I won the Silver Crown race at ORP last year, so I am looking forward to getting back. It is always a lot of fun for me."