Lia Has New Look and New Outlook for 2006 Mod Season

Young New Yorker Will Also Have Several New Crew Members

As Donny Lia rolls through the pit gates at Thompson International Speedway (CT) this weekend to kick off the first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race of the season, there will be a few things different with his #18 Lia Motorsports, Inc. team.

Lia will sport new colors on his #18 Modified, he’ll have a fresh attitude and several new crew members on his team.

“We’ve got a lot of new guys and still a few still on board from last year,” said Lia.  “We have a new crew chief, a new team manager and new tire changers.  There are a lot of changes for this year with the team.  We’ve made some improvements to our equipment.  I feel like we’ve done what we need to improve and the guys feel the same way, so we’re just excited about getting to the racetrack to have some fun and get some good finishes.”

Lia is also taking a different approach to racing on the Modified Tour in 2006.

“The biggest thing for me this year is to go out and get some

Lia has a new look to his ride this year.  (Howie Hodge Photo)

good finishes,” said Lia.  “I’ve made some mistakes in the last few years and now I’ve learned from them.  We’re going to go and get what we can this year and not push things beyond that.  If the car is capable of winning, hopefully we’ll finish first.  If it’s a fifth-place car, that’s where it is going to finish.”

This weekend’s Icebreaker will mark the first major touring race the Northeast for the 2006 season.  It will put the brakes on a long off-season for Lia and his crew.

“I just want to get racing,” said Lia.  “It’s been a long off-season.  I’ve got to hand it to the guys.  They’ve been putting long hours in at the shop and they are all dedicated.  I think that it’s all going to work out to be worth it in the end for them and the whole team.  I just want to go out there and start proving ourselves."

The NASCAR Whelen Modified season kicks off Sunday, April 9th at Thompson.