Rowan Pennink scores 20th career win in SK Modified action at Stafford Speedway

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photo by Wayne G. Barber

Rowan Pennink scores his 20th career victory in the SK Modified division  to go along with two weekly SK track championships, ( 2015,2016) in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Matt Vassar took the early lead with Tyler Hines in second.  Matt Galko was third with Todd Owen fourth and Chase Dowling fifth.  Hines took the lead from Vassar on lap-3 with Galko moving ot the lead on lap-5.  Owen was on the inside of Galko and as he was making a pass for the lead on lap-6, a melee broke out behind the two leaders that involved several cars including Keith Rocco, David Arute, Vassar, Michael Christopher, Jr., Cory DiMatteo, and Dan Wesson to bring the caution out. 

Owen and Galko ran side by side for a lap before Owen got clear to the lead on lap-7.  Galko was now side by side with Joey Cipriano for second with Dowling in fourth and Rowan Pennink in fifth.  Cipriano began to slide backwards after several laps of side by side racing with Galko as Dowling took third and Pennink was fourth.  Cipriano spun in turn 2 after contact with Nick Salva to bring the caution out with 11 laps complete.  Salva was sent to the rear of the field for the contact.

Owen took the lead back under green with Dowling applying heavy pressure from second.  Dowling was able to get alongside Owen on lap-13 and they crossed the line side by side.  Dowling got clear to the lead on lap-15 while Pennink was now side by side with Owen for second.  Pennink took that position and now Galko was on the inside of Owen for third with Ronnie Williams right behind him.  Galko took third on lap-17 with Williams now side by side with Owen while Rocco was recovered from his earlier misfortune as was right on Williams’ bumper.  Williams was able to finally take the spot on lap-19 and he took third from Galko on lap-21 as Pennink continued to lead a hard charging Dowling.

Rocco took fourth from Galko on lap-23 and Williams got around Dowling to move into second on lap-30 as Pennink was still in command of the race.  Williams was slowly closing the gap to Pennink for the lead when the caution came out with 34 laps complete for Doug Meservey, Jr., who spun in turn 2.

Pennink took the lead with Williams, Dowling, Rocco, and Michael Gervais, Jr. quickly getting into a single file line.  Williams made one final charge in turns 3+4 on the final lap, but Pennink held him off to become the first driver other than Keith Rocco to win an SK Modified® feature this season.  Following post-race inspection, Dowling’s car was found to be 10 pounds underweight and he was penalized 10 positions, one position for each pound his car was underweight, moving him to 13^th in the finishing order.  The new remainder of the top-5 was  Rocco, Gervais, and Stephen Kopcik. Source: Scott Running Stafford Speedway Media Press Release.

SK MODIFIED® (40)

1) Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa  2018  (1)

2) Ronnie Williams, Tolland

3) Keith Rocco, Berlin    2018  (4)

4) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury

5) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown

6) Joey Cipriano, Waterbury

7) Matt Galko, Meriden

8) Dan Wesson, Monson, Ma

9) John Studley, Framingham, Ma

10) Tyler Hines, North Haven

11) Troy Talman, Oxford, Ma

12) Tom Bolles, Ellington

13) Chase Dowling, Roxbury

14) David Arute, Stafford Springs

15) John Catania, Agawam, Ma

16) Todd Owen, Somers

17) Doug Meservey, Jr., Chatham, Ma

18) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect

19) D.J. Burnham, East Hartford

20) Nick Salva, Cheshire

21) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma

22) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott

23) Matt Vassar, Plantsville

24) Eric Berndt, Cromwell

25) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington

26) Tony Membrino, Jr., Berlin