Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH
Story by Jim Snape & Photos by "Simply the Best" Crystal Snape
Les Hinckley of Windsor Locks, CT claimed his fourth Lee USA Speedway victory Sunday Oct. 11, when the Valenti Modified Racing Series ran their popular twin 50 lap features for the Oktoberfest weekend.
A combination of a third place finish in the first 50 and a win in the second 50 gave Hinckley the overall victory.
In victory lane Hinckley said "The first 50 we were a little free and got to third and that's all it had. We weren't happy, but we were content to finish there in one piece, we didn't have anything for Jon (McKennedy) or Woody (Pitkat). Then we made some adjustments for that second 50, to come from the back, the guys made some decisions with the chassis and it was lightning fast. The guys asked me how it was about lap 20 and I told them if it doesn't backup those leaders are sitting ducks. But you still gotta race hard, they all can't be easy."
Going into the weekend Woody Pitkat of Stafford Springs, CT trailed Chris Pasteryak of Jewett City, CT by 21 points in the MRS point standings, but Pitkat's victory in segment one and a forth place finish in the second 50 gave him an overall second-place finish, which propelled him past Pasteryak who turned in a disappointing 16th place finish.
Woody commented "it was a good day, we had a great heat race yesterday (Sat). Then we won that first feature, we had a really good car and we learned a little bit for the second race. In that second 50 we were just a little bit tight and starting 21st we had our work cut out for us. We just started out too snug and it wouldn't roll through the corner like it did in the first 50. I was watching Les, trying to stay with him, but thinking about the big picture. I'm happy with today. Now we'll go to Thompson, where I run weekly and go from there, but anything can happen. We'll just do our best".
Last year's MRS rookie of the year, Mike Willis Jr of Grantham, NH turned in two outstanding performances, finishing fourth and second respectively. After losing an engine on Saturday, Mike and crew worked some long hours replacing that motor. The hard work earned him third place on the podium.
"The car worked good all day." Willis said "I was feeling bad from yesterday, blowing the motor and we worked hard all night getting the car rolling. We rescaled this morning and just hoped for the best. I had to start 23rd because of the motor issue. It turned out I had my work cut out for me, but the car was perfect, we drove all the way up to fourth in the first 50 laps. Then my crew did all the right adjustments for the second 50 and I got up to second, just a few laps short."
This was Hinckley's 19th MRS win in his stellar career.
photos by Crystal Snape
Unofficial order of finish:
1 – 06 – Les Hinckley
2 – 42 – Woody Pitkat
3 – 38 – Mike Willis Jr
4 – 29 – Jon McKennedy
5 – 53 – Norm Wrenn
6 – 19 – David Schneider
7 – 17 – Donnie Lashua
8 – 66 – Dylan Kopec
9 – 16 – Keith Rocco
10 – 70 – Andy Seuss
11 – 27 – Kevin Ianarelli
12 – 43 – Kirk Alexander
13 – 85 – Todd Szegedy
14 – 05 – Todd Patnode
15 – 96 – Dennis Perry
16 – 5ct – Chris Pasteryak
17 – 25 – Rowan Pennink
18 – 55 – Joe Doucette
19 – 89 – Matt Swanson
20 – 0 – Mike Holdridge
21 – 47 – Jim Storace
22 – 93 – George Sherman
23 – 77 – Matt Mead
24 – 50 – Carl Medeiros Jr.
Again
photos by Crystal Snape
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