PRA: Stafford summary 2006-08-15

SANTOS WINS $50,000 IN PRA BIG CAR RACE

(Stafford, Connecticut) - Bobby Santos III made his PRA Big Car debut Tuesday night at Jack Arute's Stafford Motor Speedway and walked away with a bonus check of $50,000 by winning both ends of the Big One Presented By Carquest Auto Parts. The 20-year old sensation began the evening by winning the 30-lap non-winged NEMA midget car feature, beating Dave Steele and Ron Gregory to the checkered flag. Then Santos started at the tail of the Big Car 100-lapper, passed Steele on lap 70 and collected the $50,000 prize driving the East/Klatt Ford Beast.

"This is one of the biggest wins of my career," said the Franklin, Massachusettes native, "because it comes on one of my home state tracks." The third generation driver watched his father and grandfather win many races at the historic 1/2-mile facility while growing up.

The race was red-flagged on lap 28 when Indy 500 veteran Jimmy Kite hit the fourth turn wall and flipped down the frontstretch. But the Stockbridge, Georgia competitor quickly jumped from his car and was uninjured. The race's second caution flew on lap 32 when Santos, while working his way through the field, made contact with Eric Gordon sending the PRA Big Car points leader into the frontstretch wall. His car suffered minor damage however, and Gordon continued finishing 10th.

Steele was fast qualifier and started from the pole after choosing the correct "suitcase" during PRA's unique system of determining the first six starting positions. Although 7th fastest qualifier, Paul White started second, becoming eligible for the draw when Santos was relegated to last starting spot in order to become eligible for the $50,000 bonus.

Next up for the Big Cars is a return to O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on Tuesday night September 13th. Nascar Nextel star Carl Edwards won the first PRA race there on July 5th.

Qualifications: (car number)
1) Dave Steele (29) 18.622
2) Justin Barger (129) 18.637
3) Jay Drake (52) 18.719
4) Mark Jessup (25) 18.783
5) Bobby Santos III (6) 18.812
6) A.J. Fike (32) 18.838
7) Paul White (99) 18.849
8) Russ Gamester (51) 18.870
9) Teddy Beach (15) 19.031
10) Eric Gordon (4) 19.038
11) Ron Gregory (20) 19.072
12) Jimmy Kite (5) 19.087
13) Johnny Heydenreich (90) 19.087
14) Dave Darland (92) 19.099
15) Chet Fillip (77) 19.201
16) Kyle Nicholas (41) 19.253
17) Michael Roselli (198) 19.298
18) Mike Lichty (94) 19.470
19) Tom Capie (153) 19.907
20) Scott Martell (190) NT
21) Erica Santos (65) NT
22) Ken Hughes (151) NT

RESULTS: (car number) laps completed
1) Bobby Santos III (6) 100 laps
2) Dave Steele (29) 100 laps
3) A.J. Fike (32) 100 laps
4) Paul White (99) 100 laps
5) Dave Darland (92) 100 laps
6) Chet Fillip (77) 100 laps
7) Ron Gregory (20) 100 laps
8) Jay Drake (52) 100 laps
9) Teddy Beach (15) 99 laps
10) Eric Gordon (4) 99 laps
11) Michael Roselli, Jr. (198) 99 laps
12) Russ Gamester (51) 98 laps
13) Mike Lichty (94) 98 laps
14) Tom Capie (153) 96 laps
15) Kyle Nicholas (41) 72 laps
16) Johnny Heydenreich (90) 71 laps
17) Justin Barger (129) 66 laps
18) Jimmy Kite (5) 21 laps
19) Marc Jessup (25) 4 laps
20) Scott Martell (190) 4 laps
21) Ken Hughes (151) 2 laps
22) Erica Santos (65) 0 laps

-credit: rj