First Time Winner in the Sunoco SK Modifieds at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park 7-8-15

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photos Wayne G. Barber

First SK Mod Victory for Keith (Cam) McDermott

The forecast was for flash flood warnings in Connecticut. The track management made the decision to run and the race teams arrived  and started unloading their racing machines. One short shower dried out quickly with the help of the track equipment and practice was completed. The Sunoco SK Mods had a small car count so the management broke them down into two heat races. Veteran #79 Kerry Malone from Needham, Mass. had his car setup nicely and took the first one with a fast time of 20.014 and 112.421 mph over a very hot driver in one #6 Woody Pitkat who hails from Stafford Springs Conn.

#1 Mod Heat Race, #79 Kerry Malone. #6 Woody Pitkat, 1m Adam Norton ,#56 Shawn Thibeault driving his new wifes Nichole (Morgenty) Thibeault race car which she drove to victory lane at New London Waterford in 2013, #54 Joey Parker, and #7 Andrew Charron .

New SK Mod points leader Woody Pitkat at Thompson after 3 races in 2015
Seekonk photo from my Files

#2 Mod. Heat Race,# 16 Keith Rocco, 5ri Keith ( Cam) McDermott,and #31 Ryan Preece the fastest one lap at 19.783 and 113.734 mph,# 38 Nick Ladyga,#31 a two time winner in 2015, Ryan Preece, #36 Jason Sundeen,#8 Ryan Morgan, 2ma John Studley who runs regularly in a Sk Lite at Stafford and New London Waterford Speedbowl and #14 Nicky Ouelette who has been running a Sportsman Modified on dirt at Lebanon Valley, New York.

The pole was won by #5ri Cam McDermott and the outside by 1m Adam Norton. That lasted one lap with a lot of horsepower shown by the third starting position of one #38 Nick Ladyga.
 The first casualty of the race was when # 31 Ryan Preece hit the right side of his race car along the wall on the long straight away but managed to keep it moving. It then stalled a little later and went to the center field pit area for major surgery and the race restarted and he started losing valuable points laps.
The next caution flag came out on lap 8 when a hard charging #16 Keith Rocco failed to clear # 79 Kerry Malone and Rocco then took a race ending cement wall hit to the nose and a ride on Captain Hook.
 Was someone new about to win a SK Mod race in the cards tonight ? Preece out, Rocco out and Pitkat a non early race threat. # 38 Ladyga drove a blistering pace and 5ri McDermott stayed within striking distance. On lap 25 #14 Nikki Ouellette who was fighting a ill handling race car all night spun out to bring out a fatal caution for Ladyga who had been warned by the track officials for his borderline re-starts and this time he was ruled not maintaining enough speed and was sent to the rear with 5 to go.
 McDermott inherited the lead over his buddy Woody Pitkat who he spots for on the NASCAR Whelen Tour. McDermott also spots for Valenti Mod. driver 5ct Chris Pastyak. McDermott knew Pitkat likes to take a chance on a winning pass by going low in turn two and McDermott held off the challenge. McDermott is no stranger to Victory Lane at Thompson with three NASCAR weekly points championships on his resume. One in the old Thompson Modifies and two in the Sk Lites.  McDermott had led quite a few laps in his two previous starts at Thompson before fading to the Heavy Hitters.

Captain Hook wins this one tonight !

Ryan Preece takes a big hit on the points board tonight.

Chris Pasteryak at Seekonk

McDermott thinking about how to get Chris up front at Seekonk TRI-Track Race#3

This is his first Victory in the Sk Modifieds here or at Stafford where he runs every Friday night. Woody Pikat by claiming a hard fought runner up position now takes over the points lead after three races without a win. 7 race cars finished the race on the lead lap after the carnage.
1st Cam McDermott 30 laps, 2nd Woody Pitkat, 3rd Ryan Morgan, 4th Nick Ladyga, 5th John Studley,6th Andrew Charron, 7th Jason Sundeen 30 laps, 8th Kerry Malone 24 laps, 9th Ryan Preece 24 laps, 10th Nicky Ouelette 20 laps,11th Shawn Thibeault 11 laps, 12th Joey Parker 9 laps,13th Keith Rocco 8 laps and 14th Adam Norton 8 laps.