Donny Lia makes his return to full-time competition on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson International Speedway’s “Icebreaker.”  Lia is reunited with the Bob Garbarino owned Mystic Missile racing team. Lia and the famed number-4 ride won six-races together en route to the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Championship.

Lia moved on in 2008 to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Lia scored a dramatic last-lap win at Mansfield Motorsports Park (OH) in his sixth start of the 2008 season. It was the first time a rookie driver scored a series win since 2003. Driving in 22 races between two teams during the 2008Truck Series season, Lia scored four top-ten finishes. 

Donny’s return to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has the young Long Island driver excited. The Mystic Missile team recently practiced at Thompson International Speedway (CT) in preparation for the Mod Tour opener.

DONNY ON RETURNING TO THE MODIFIED TOUR

“I’m excited. We’re looking forward to getting back out there and racing again.  It’s been since Homestead (Homestead Miami Speedway’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2008 finale) and I feel like I haven’t raced in years.  It was really good to get in the car last week and run some laps at the Thompson practice.  It’s like riding a bike, you never really lose it.  I’m just really looking forward to getting out there and racing.  I feel like I’m getting back to where I’m most comfortable.”

DONNY ON RE-GAINING THE MAGIC OF THE 2007 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

“That was one of those seasons that come along once in a lifetime.  We’re just going to go out there and try to win races and stay out of trouble.  Whatever we accomplish at that point is what we accomplish.  I believe in the team I’m with.  It’s a great group of guys and a great car.  Everything is in place to go out there and do what we did in 2007.  There’s no reason why we can’t go out and do it again.  If we have some good luck and things fall our way I definitely see us having a very successful season.”

DONNY ON HIS CAMPING WORLD TRUCK EXPERIENCE

“I got a win in my first full season.  Not a lot of people can say that and I got the opportunity to go and do it.  I didn’t fail or lose my ride or anything like that.  I just wasn't able to bring in sponsorships.  The bottom line is if I was able to run more races last year, I would have had a legitimate shot at winning Rookie of the Year or maybe some more races.  I accomplished more than a lot of guys that are still in that series with secured rides.  If someone wants to say that I failed in that series than they just don’t know what they are talking about. To put it bluntly, what drives these things around the track is money. When you go down south if you have a sponsor you are a hero. If you don’t have the money… you’re a zero.”

DONNY ABOUT THE TRADITION THAT IS “THE ICEBREAKER”

“The Icebreaker is awesome.  Some of my favorite races are at Thompson, like the Icebreaker and the World Series.  There’s just so much going on.  There are so many divisions running and there are so many people there.  The camping area is packed, the pits are filled up, and there are hundreds of race cars in there.  It’s just an atmosphere that is cool.  There aren’t a lot of places you can go and experience that.  I’m just going to enjoy being back and doing that at Thompson.  Places like Thompson and Stafford are just places that I’m used to and love being at.”

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

Thompson Int'l Speedway (CT)

April 5, 2009

Donny Lia – No. 4

Mystic Missile Racing

Car Owner: Bob Garbarino

Hutter Racing Engines

Preview: Thompson Int'l Speedway "Icebreaker"

Donny Lia Race Preview

Mary Hodge Photo

Donny's Rookie Truck Series win at Mansfield Motorsports Park (OH). Ronda Greer Photo