UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Donny Lia’s championship season came to a crowning conclusion Friday at the Mohegan Sun Resort, where he was honored as the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion.
Lia’s first NASCAR title made him the 60th NASCAR modified champion dating back to the division’s first champion, Red Byron, in 1948. NASCAR’s first sanctioned event was a modified race and Lia’s coronation kicks off a celebration of the division’s rich and storied history that will encompass the entire 2008 season.
“I don’t think it totally set in that we’re the champions until we got here,” Lia said, “and we had the banquet and you see the race car on display and hear what everybody had to say. It’s just a real special deal for us and everything we accomplished this year comes to a head.”
Lia earned $104,225 as the champion. He was also presented with the prestigious championship ring by NASCAR Managing Director of Racing Operations George Silbermann. In addition, Lia was awarded the new NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour trophy. The trophy, introduced this season, features the name of every champion dating back to Byron’s title season.
Celebrating with Lia Friday was long-time modified car owner Bob Garbarino, who after nearly five decades in the sport, earned his first NASCAR championship. Phil Kurze, vice president of motorsports for series-sponsor Whelen Engineering, presented Garbarino with an identical championship trophy as Lia’s, in honor of Garbarino’s dedication and loyalty to the NASCAR modified division throughout the years.
Friday’s banquet provided plenty more for modified fans and drivers to celebrate. Kurze announced Whelen has signed an extension with NASCAR that extends the company’s series entitlement of the Modified Tour and the Southern Modified Tour for an additional five years to the current agreement — through 2016.
NASCAR announced plans to implement an optional spec engine as a cost-saving initiative for modified teams.
Todd Szegedy was named the Most Popular Driver; the Boehler Family was honored with the Dedication Award; Eric Sanderson received the Len Boehler Car Owner Award; Joe and Linda Brady were presented with the Whelen Modified Tour Women’s Auxiliary Award; Engine builder Bob Bruneau was honored with the Sportsmanship Award; and Ronnie Silk was honored with the Driver Achievement Award.