Woody Pitkat Wins Tri Track Event At Waterford

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
Story & Photo Kyle Souza & Tri Track Series

Woody Pitkat picked up his first career Northeast Race Cars and Parts Tri Track Open Modified Series feature win on Sunday evening at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl. Pitkat, driver of the No. 42 modified, got out front just before halfway and dominated the final stages to score the big payday of $8,000 that came along with his win.

“We had such a great car today, it was unbelievable,” Pitkat mentioned while celebrating after the race. “This is just awesome. I said after we finished second in the heat this was like our fourth second in a couple weeks. We finally got the win.”

Steve Masse, sporting the colors of Dunleavy Truck and Trailer Repair, lead the field to the green flag for 65 laps on Sunday. He immediately jumped out to the lead, while outside pole sitter Todd Annarummo settled in line right behind him.

Before the field could build some momentum, Richard Savary smashed the turn three wall in his Alloy Wheel Repair No. 99, drawing the first caution flag. He left with the assistance of a tow truck and the field went back under the green flag, with Chase Dowling making a move under Annarummo for second. The filed got single file throughout the top five and while Ryan Preece started his charge from the outside row, the second caution flew for a car stopped at the beginning of turn two on lap eight.

Masse and Annarummo once again lead the field to green once the track was clear, and Dowling jumped to second on the start, with Pitkat in tow on the bottom side of the track. Annarummo quickly slid back outside the top five at that point, with a car that was not handling to his liking. He was passed by Pitkat, Les Hinckley and Preece before he could find his way to the bottom.

Pitkat made a move under Dowling on lap sixteen, grabbing the second spot and setting his sights on Masse. While he did that, Hinckley, driving for car owner Wayne Darling, grabbed third from Dowling trying to keep pace with Pitkat.

A multi-car crash in turn three brought the third caution flag of the evening over the series, when Ted Christopher, Anthony Nocella and multiple other drivers were collected and facing the wrong way. The crash drew a short red flag before the field doubled up and took the green flag. However, flagman John Spence Jr. didn’t like the way the field came off turn four and called the start back — and that was all Pitkat needed.

He drove by the outside of Masse on that restart, driving it deep down into turn one and pulling out the advantage by the time the field hit the backstretch. “Steve got a good initial start and I shifted before him and tried to drive it in there harder and get in front of him,” Pitkat later mentioned.

A final caution flag of the event flew on lap 26, when Brendon Bock came to a stop. While he did that, it was a lucky break for Jon McKennedy, who was black flagged under the caution and could solve an air cleaner problem under yellow instead of under green.

The final half of the feature event was lead by Pitkat, who dominated, leading the final laps by over four seconds. He scored the victory, beating out Hinckley, who crossed the line second in his Seekonk Grand Prix ride. Ron Silk, who had won the event at the Speedbowl in September, finished third. Christopher came back from his early race spin to finish fourth, with former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece completing the top-five.

Masse hung on for sixth, with McKennedy seventh, Chris Pastreyak eighth and Matt Hirschman and Chase Dowling completing the top ten.

Ron Silk and Eric Bendt picked up qualifying victories on Sunday afternoon as well.

Official Results: 65 Lap Feature At New London-Waterford Speedbowl October 25:

1. Woody Pitkat
2. Les Hinckley
3. Ron Silk
4. Ted Christopher
5. Ryan Preece
6. Steve Masse
7. Jon McKennedy
8. Chris Pastreyak
9. Matt Hirschman
10. Chase Dowling
11. Andy Jancowiak
12. Todd Annarummo
13. Dennis Perry
14. Mike Holdridge
15. Kirk Alexander
16. Max Zachem
17. Zane Zeiner
18. Dan Meservey Jr.
19. Joe Doucette
20. Brendon Bock
21. Anthony Nocella
22. Keith Rocco
23. Eric Berndt
24. Norman Wrenn
25. David Schneider
26. Richard Savary