LOUDON, N.H. – Bobby Santos III won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the third straight time in a breathtaking 50-lap Tour-Type Modified Open that was held Sunday during the Northeast Classic.
Santos was running second to Matt Swanson when the race’s only caution waved at lap 25 for teams to change right-side rubber.
On the restart, Swanson spun his tires and fell back. Santos assumed the lead, and the race transformed from a sedate affair to another Magic Mile classic. Santos and early leader Mike Christopher Jr. double-swapped the lead on three straight laps, with Christopher taking the lead entering turn one and Santos pulling the crossover move in turn three.
They pulled the same sequence on laps 33 and 34, and on the fifth double-cross, polesitter Chase Dowling stole second place from Christopher.
Dowling then flexed his muscle, passing by Santos to lead laps 35 and 36. The two then officially exchanged the lead five more times over the next six laps. Even then, there were double-swaps again on laps 46 and 47.
Ronnie Williams followed Santos to the inside for second with three to go, and although Dowling was able to repass him, the sequence cost Dowling enough time that he couldn’t run Santos back down. All told, the 50-lap feature had nine official lead changes plus 16 more unofficial lead changes.
Santos, Dowling, and Williams were the top-three finishers in that order. Eric Goodale and Christopher rounded out the top-five.
The finish:
Bobby Santos III, Chase Dowling, Ronnie Williams, Eric Goodale, Mike Christopher Jr., Anthony Nocella, Matt Swanson, Sam Rameau, Jeffrey Gallup, Andy Shaw, Joel Monahan.