Valenti Modified Racing Series with a New Twist at Lee Usa

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & photos by Wayne G. Barber

With the points battle heating up and only eight points separating them in the current standings, Todd Szegedy, of Ridgefield, CT and Woody Pitkat, of Stafford Springs, CT lead the list of entries for Friday night's Valenti Modified Racing Series ‘Stratham Tire 100’ at Lee USA Speedway, Lee. NH. Szegedy, winner of the season opening event at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH is seeking his first Lee victory. Pitkat won is first VMRS race last month at Stafford Springs Motor Speedway Stafford, CT. He too is looking for his first win at Lee. Canton, MA, veteran Richard Savary, victorious at Seekonk, MA Speedway two weeks ago is an expected entry Friday. Savary has two wins at the Lee 3/8th mile oval.

Three-time series champions are entering the fourth race of the season. Kirk Alexander, of W.Swanzey, NH, and Jon McKennedy, of E. Chelmsford, MA, are expected entries. Kirk Alexander has three victories at Lee. McKennedy, a former Lee track champion, has two VMRS wins to his credit there. Alexander’s last series win was July 2010 with McKennedy last visiting the VMRS winner’s circle September 12. Additional entries for the first of two races at Lee this season include; Todd Patnode of Richmond, NH, Donnie Lashua of Canaan, NH, David Schneider of Northport, NY, Dylan Kopec of Palmer, Ma, Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH, Matt Mead of Richmond, Mike Willis of Grantham, NH and Carl Medeiros of Westport, MA.
   For the first time in VMRS history, the feature race will be split into two 50-lap segments. Series Race Director Warren Alston said the reason for the different race format is two-fold. “With so many options for entertainment and your local short track being one of them, we need to give the fans the best show possible.”
  Alston went on, “ It was decided that we would split the 100-lap event into twin 50 lap races. Gives the fan a 2 for 1 deal by seeing the same amount of laps; in two segments.” He added, “We felt by splitting the feature into two segments allowing the team's to change a new right rear scuffed tire, inverting the lead lap cars for the second feature, it would make for an exciting race for the fans.”
  For the competitors we are awarding points for each feature towards the season ending point championship. Racing gets underway at 7 PM

Source: Valenti Modified Racing Series PR