1st series pole builds Pasteryak’s confidence

The post-qualifying celebration for NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events these days can often be a ho-hum affair.

On Saturday at Stafford Motor Speedway, the emotion and elation for the qualifying pole winner was genuine and bursting.

Whelen Modified Tour veteran Chris Pasteryak scored his first career series pole Saturday in qualifying for Sunday’s NAPA Fall Final 150 at Stafford Speedway.

Pasteryak, who has run full-time with the series the last two seasons, is making his 59th career Whelen Modified Tour start Sunday. The 38-year old Lisbon driver made his first series start in 2005.

“This is a big confidence builder for me,” said Pasteryak, who comes into Sunday’s penultimate series event of 2019 sitting ninth in the standings. “We might be a turd in the race tomorrow, but we get to go home and be quickest all night and we have the [NAPA Pit Party] tomorrow to go. It’s pretty cool to do that.”

Pasteryak toured the half-mile oval with a fast lap of 18.515 seconds (97.218 mph).

“It’s been a tough summer,” Pasteryak said. “We’ve been quick in time … and man I haven’t done anything right in two months. I was so happy to finish [the Musket 250 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last week] without getting a flat tire or having to put a right front back on the car. We were eighth, which for me there I was pretty happy with. I was pretty excited coming here.”

In the pits after qualifying it was the fastest driver who was applauding the effort by Pasteryak.

Current series points leader and five-time series champion Doug Coby, who has won eight poles in 15 events this year, was second fastest at 18.548 seconds (97.046 mph).

“I love it,” Coby said of Pasteryak winning the pole. “It’s always exciting for me. It brings me back to time trialing as a kid in Quarter Midgets. And Chris did that with me. We’ve raced together for many years.”

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