Goodale Keeps NWMT Title Hopes With Thompson Win
On Sunday, Eric Goodale participated in the Phoenix Communications 150 at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, ranking fourth in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings. He was 22 points behind the leader, Jon McKennedy.
He was aware that in order to have any chance at the championship when the Tour arrived at Martinsville Speedway on Oct. 27, he needed to secure the maximum points on the preceding Sunday afternoon at Thompson.
Mission accomplished.
Goodale, starting from 13th, overtook Doug Coby just after the halfway mark and conserved enough fuel to clinch his first Tour victory of the season in the Phoenix Communications 150.
“This feels incredibly good,” Goodale expressed in Victory Lane. “I’ve been racing at Thompson Speedway in the SK (Modifieds) since I was 20, but never won. This victory is dedicated to my dad. He has always desired this race track more than anything. This is absolutely fantastic.”
Goodale’s start wasn’t ideal, as he was caught in an incident on Lap 13. Fortunately, his car was undamaged, allowing him to continue without any issues.
As soon as the green flag waved again, Goodale swiftly regained his momentum, gradually overtaking other cars. It didn’t take him long to reach the top-10, and soon after, he was among the top-five.
Goodale kept advancing and secured the second position just beyond the 60th lap. The only person left ahead of him was Doug Coby, who had surpassed polesitter Ronnie Williams to take the lead on the fourth lap.
Goodale quickly caught up with Coby and after several laps of side-by-side competition, he overtook Coby on Lap 78 to secure the lead in the race.
Once Goodale took the lead and set sail, he rapidly distanced himself from Coby and the rest of the competitors. However, the race was far from predictable, as many on the field anticipated further cautions that would permit teams to refuel their respective cars.
In the end, those extra precautions never arrived.
Keeping that in mind, Goodale reduced his speed in the last 10 laps to conserve fuel. His strategy paid off as he crossed the finish line 3.383 seconds before the second-place finisher, Mike Christopher Jr.
“After our involvement in that initial mishap or spin back there, I was considering pitting because I wasn’t happy with how the car was performing. It was just too tight. However, Jason (Shepphard, the crew chief) insisted that we stay out,” Goodale explained after securing his fifth career victory in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
“We’ve had a lengthy journey with the car. I wasn’t aware of my position in the race until they informed me that number 10, Coby, was leading and I managed to catch up with him.”
In his first Tour start since the sixth race of the season at Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire in June, Christopher managed to finish second. He was driving Tommy Baldwin Jr.’s No. 7.
“I certainly didn’t foresee the race progressing from green to checkered like that following the yellow,” said Christopher. “I was initially pushed to the back. It was similar to the Jennerstown situation, where I was overtaking cars as the race proceeded. Surprisingly, it continued uninterrupted until the end.”
Anthony Nocella, the winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, climbed from 16th place at the start to finish third. Patrick Emerling and Kyle Bonsignore rounded out the top five finishers. Only these top five drivers finished on the lead lap.
Championship leader McKennedy came home sixth, followed by Kyle Soper, Coby, Ron Silk and Bobby Santos III.
The 2022 season of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will conclude with the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia on Thursday, Oct. 27.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Phoenix Communications 150
Thompson Speedway
October 9 2022
- Eric Goodale
- Mike Christopher, Jr.*
- Anthony Nocella
- Patrick Emerling
- Kyle Bonsignore
- Jon McKennedy
- Kyle Soper
- Doug Coby
- Ron Silk
- Bobby Santos III
- Austin Beers*
- Dave Sapienza
- Ken Heagy
- Justin Bonsignore
- Tommy Catalano
- Ronnie Williams
- Ryan Preece
- Tyler Rypkema
- Walter Sutcliffe, Jr.
- J.B. Fortin
- Gary McDonald
- Ed Brunnhoelzl III
- Craig Lutz
- Melissa Fifield
Championship Standings
1. Jon McKennedy
2. Ron Silk -6
3. Justin Bonsignore -11
4. Eric Goodale -12
-Adam Fenwick, NASCAR
