Ted Christopher picked up one of the last pieces of hardware he needed for the mantle.
The New England racer who has dominated weekly divisions in southern New England, owns the most career wins of any driver at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and has won in NASCAR Modified, Camping World East Series and the PASS North Series earned his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship by winning the Xtramart World Series 150 at Thompson International Speedway on Sunday.
Christopher clinched the title some 28 laps from the finish on Sunday, when closest pursuer Matt Hirschman was forced from the event with mechanical issues. But Christopher still finished off the championship run in style by winning the season finale.
"It’s more relief than anything," Christopher said. "Brad (Lafontaine) said that the best thing would be to win the race and win the championship and be the only car up here in victory lane."
Hirschman raced a position or two ahead of Christopher for most of the day and was running third when his car began to slow. On lap 119 he was off the pace on the backstretch and headed to the pits only a few laps later.
Christopher then set his sights on the lead, taking it from Ronnie Silk – a two-time Thompson winner this season – with 15 laps remaining.
"We’ve got a real great group of guys and it’s just fun to drive," Christopher said. "I love racing Modifieds you know, and this was the one thing that definitely eluded me."
This year, Christopher picked up two career milestones, winning his 100th career race at Stafford Motor Speedway and winning his first Modified Tour title. He ranks among the all-time leaders, too, with 31 career Tour victories, including seven at Thompson.
Christopher’s career accomplishments go on and on, in both open-wheel and full-fendered cars. He’s run in the Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire and at Watkins Glen, and he’s won in Midgets and Supermodifieds, among other things.
That had to be one of the most memorable World Series wins ever for the Thompson faithfull who tend to either love or hate the man they call "TC" with a passion reserved for just a very few...
Love him or hate him...But one thing is for sure, given good equipment, the man can drive those open wheel Mods better than anyone else in his time and his numbers back that up....
I've personally never really never liked his aggressive driving style....but he certainly can get the job done!...and he's won about everything there is to win in a modified down there...
You have to respect the man for that!
Hey TB.... thanks for reporting on your Thompson weekend...liked your stories...it was fun reading them...
Probably see you over to Unity next weekend for the Longjohn?
Probably should do an "over and under" for that one too?...(one fans reaction to another).."well they got all winter to fix em"...
Stay out of the wind and the hot sun...I'll be the guy in the bleachers with about five jackets on trying to keep my pen from freezing and my fingers warm...
hehe
Posted by: Norm | 20 October 2008 at 12:15 PM