Preece Returns to Winning Form

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Photo Credit: Clarus Studios

The 3rd annual Sunoco Modified 20/20 Sprint saw drivers competing to win not only two points paying events, but also an overall victory with a third race helping decide the final outcome. Drivers looked to obtain the least amount of points in a secondary points system based off of finishing spots in the segments to win it all. The feature would see some of the biggest names in the series run up front throughout the evening and a popular name return to the top in victory lane.

The 20/20 event consisted of three segments, two 20 lap races and a third ten-lap feature, with the first event ordered by qualifying, the second inverting the field for the starting lineup based off the finishing positions in the first event and the third and final segment utilizing timing in the first race to set the field. With the first two segments being points paying races, Keith Rocco was looking to defend his undefeated status this season but faced some tough competition as he relinquished his hold of victory lane in the first race to one of the series’ most popular talents, Ryan Preece, who made the trip to Thompson from North Carolina that morning to take part in the main event.

Preece celebrated in victory lane, giving credit to his crew for helping him gain early momentum in the 20/20 feature. “It was pretty tough there,” Preece said. “We’ve just been struggling with the brakes with this car and it’s been making it so free in – To fly up here and win, it’s a lot of fun for me,” Preece said after the first segment.

Preece wouldn’t be able to make it a perfect night in the Sunoco Modifieds however as Keith Rocco made a strong comeback and claimed a win in segment two. In the end Preece held on to not only win segment three but also produced good enough finishes to win the overall 20/20 feature title for the second time in his career, and hopefully put an end to a rough season in the series so far in 2016.

“It’s pretty special,” Preece said. “It’s been a rough year – No matter how bad I wanted to do good it was like something was stopping me. Tonight was the night where we got the monkey off our back hopefully.” Rowan Pennink finished second overall in the 20/20 feature followed by Rocco, Ronnie Williams and Woody Pitkat.

SUNOCO MODIFIED 20/20 SPRINT SEGMENT TWO FINISH: 1. Keith Rocco (Berlin, CT); 2. Rowan Pennink (New Egypt, New Jersey); 3. Woody Pitkat (Stafford, CT); 4. Ryan Preece (Berlin, CT); 5. Ronnie Williams (Tolland, CT);  6. Steven Kopcik (Newtown, CT); 7. Jason Sundeen (Douglas, MA); 8. Jeff Gallup (Agawam, MA); 9. Kyle Trainor (Marlboro, MA); 10. Eddie LeClerc (Taunton, MA); 11. Kyle Cafro (North Windham, CT); 12. Joey Parker (Weymouth, MA); 13. Nicholas Giardina (South Salem, MA); 14. Mike Benevides (Westerly, RI); 15. Adam Norton (Palmer, MA); 16. Andrew Charron (East Greenwich, RI); DNS - John Catania (Agawam, MA); John Studley (Framingham, MA); Renee Dupuis (Hebron, CT); Paul LaPlante (North Attleboro, MA)

SUNOCO MODIFIED 20/20 SPRINT SEGMENT THREE FINISH: 1. Ryan Preece (Berlin, CT); 2. Rowan Pennink (New Egypt, New Jersey); 3. Keith Rocco (Berlin, CT); 4. Ronnie Williams (Tolland, CT); 5. Steven Kopcik (Newtown, CT); 6. Jason Sundeen (Douglas, MA); 7. Jeff Gallup (Agawam, MA); 8. Woody Pitkat (Stafford, CT); 9. Andrew Charron (East Greenwich, RI); 10. Kyle Trainor (Marlboro, MA);  11. Eddie LeClerc (Taunton, MA); 12. Kyle Cafro (North Windham, CT); 13. Joey Parker (Weymouth, MA); 14. Nicholas Giardina (South Salem, MA); DNS - Mike Benevides (Westerly, RI); John Catania (Agawam, MA); John Studley (Framingham, MA); Renee Dupuis (Hebron, CT); Paul LaPlante (North Attleboro, MA); Adam Norton (Palmer, MA)

SUNOCO MODIFIED 20/20 SPRINT FINAL FEATURE RESULTS: 1. Ryan Preece (Berlin, CT) 6 pts; 2. Rowan Pennink (New Egypt, New Jersey) 6 pts; 3. Keith Rocco (Berlin, CT) 8 pts; 4. Ronnie Williams (Tolland, CT) 12 pts; 5. Woody Pitkat (Stafford, CT) 16 pts; 6. Jason Sundeen (Douglas, MA) 20 pts; 7. Steven Kopcik (Newtown, CT) 21 pts; 8. Jeff Gallup (Agawam, MA) 21 pts; 9. Andrew Charron (East Greenwich, RI) 34 pts; 10. Kyle Trainor (Marlboro, MA) 34 pts;  11. Eddie LeClerc (Taunton, MA) 34 pts; 12. Kyle Cafro (North Windham, CT) 37 pts; 13. Nicholas Giardina (South Salem, MA) 39 pts; 14. Joey Parker (Weymouth, MA) 41 pts; 15. Adam Norton (Palmer, MA) 120 pts; 16. Mike Benevides (Westerly, RI) 124 pts; 17. John Catania (Agawam, MA) 215 pts; 18. John Studley (Framingham, MA) 216 pts; 19. Renee Dupuis (Hebron, CT) 217 pts; DNS - Paul LaPlante (North Attleboro, MA) 297 Pts

1	57	KEITH ROCCO	319
2	31	RYAN PREECE	294 -	25
3	59	RONNIE WILLIAMS	282-	37
4	16	ROWAN PENNINK	252-	67
5	6	WOODY PITKAT	250-	69
6	31K	STEPHEN KOPCIK	238	81
7	1M	ADAM NORTON	238	81
8	36	JASON SUNDEEN	222	97
9	40	KYLE TRAYNER	179	140
10	7	ANDREW CHARRON	178	141