Bobby Santos III Takes the Win in Musket 250 Presented by Whelen at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The Franklin, Mass. native earned his sixth career win at “The Magic Mile” during this weekend’s second annual Full Throttle Fall Weekend.
LOUDON, N.H. – Bobby Santos III pushed the No. 36 Dodge to the front of the field when it counted on Saturday, winning the longest mileage and richest purse race on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Santos landed in victory lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the sixth time in his career; this time after winning the Musket 250 presented by Whelen, the highlight of Full Throttle Fall Weekend.
“I saw the front, and I knew if I could put myself in position to be leading this thing and fight for the lead from the top two spots, we’d have a shot at it,” said Franklin, Mass. native Santos.
Santos hung around the bottom of the top 10 with Ron Silk and Justin Bonsignore bouncing back and forth between the top two positions for most of the race, but worked his way through the pack to the front of the field, earning the top spot and playing defense for the final laps to capture the checkered flag.
“This is awesome,” said Santos. “As far as race wins and competition in this series, it doesn’t get much better. I’d put the top 10 in this race up against anybody anywhere, so to win here against these guys means a lot.”
After receiving a big hug and congratulations in victory lane from team owner Dave Sapienza who injured his back in a race earlier this season, Santos was presented with a custom musket, traditional Revolutionary War-era tricorn hat and a minuteman trophy from David McGrath, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The handmade flintlock musket was built by Edwin Parry of Black Hart Long Arms out of Eastford, Conn. Using a blend of tiger maple and brass, Parry hand engraved the Revolutionary War-style musket with the race logo, a checkered flag, the profile of the state of New Hampshire and a spot for Santos’s name. Taking on its New England roots, the trophy is a replica of the Minuteman statue in Concord, Mass., weighing 30 pounds and measuring 32 inches tall.