NASCAR notes: Szegedy holds on to win New Hampshire 75

Bobby Santos III of Franklin finished fourth in a wild NASCAR Whelen Modified race that started out with a number of caution flags, but wound up being one of the best races held at New Hampshire International Speedway all year.

Todd Szegedy pulled out in front late in the race and held on to win the shortened New Hampshire 75.

"I honestly didn't think I was going to win this race," Szegedy said. "I was so tight, I thought for sure those guys would get by me."

Santos started from the 10th position and slowly climbed up into the lead pack during the cautions that marred the early laps.

He sparred with Szegedy, Ron Silk and Donny Lia during most of the race and even held on to second at one point.

"I'm kind of disappointed with myself," Santos said. "I feel like I could have done more."

The lead pack wove in and out trading positions and bump-drafting while they avoided lapped traffic.

"The lead group ran really clean," Santos said. "They were really fun to race with."

Szegedy said he wasn't sure he could hold on to the lead once he finally got it. "I was definitely on the defense," he said. "It's something about these Modifieds, when they're out front they get really tight."

The top four drivers agreed that the race was a lot of fun.

"This is what Modified racing is all about," Szegedy said.

Hornaday dominates

Ron Hornaday led 174 of 200 laps in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series New Hampshire 200 Saturday en route to winning the race and solidifying his points lead over Mike Skinner. He now leads the series by 29 points.

"Once the brakes settled in and they pulled the tape off the grille, I was good to go," Hornaday said. "I put the truck in places no body should be able to."

It was his fourth win of 2007 and his 33rd career victory.

Erik Darnell held off Skinner, to finish second. "I had to push it a little bit to keep in front of Skinner," Darnell said, "because he was coming on me. I'm definitely happy with the finish."

"He really put a whipping on us today," said Skinner. "It was a good race, but a little boring. The 33 (truck, Hornaday,) led too much."

This was Hornaday's first truck victory at NHIS since 1996. "That one shear luck," Hornaday said. "This was a championship-caliber victory, and we want to win a few more races like this one."

Stewart's back

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevy, was on the outside of the Chase for the Nextel Cup looking in. This year, the two-time champion is back in the thick of the Chase.

Stewart says last year was "a reality check with how easy it is to get yourself in a position where you can miss the Chase. We're starting the Chase third, which is a good spot."

He also admits his situation last year has him feeling bad for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt has failed to make his second-straight chase for the Cup.

"You feel bad for everybody," Stewart said, "not just Dale Jr. There's a bunch of other guys that come out here and race their hearts out 36 weeks a year. But it's just the top 12 teams are the ones that make it, and that's the way it is."

(Paul Ring can be reached at 508-626-3821 or <mailto:pring@cnc.com>

pring@cnc.com. Read more in the Catch Can auto racing blog at

blogs.metrowestdailynews.com/thecatchcan.)