In any form of motor racing things can change in an instant and Friday Sept. 2nd in the 7th annual Valenti Modified Racing Series 80 things did change on lap 78.
With Rowan Pennink of New Egypt,NJ and Dave Ethridge of Portland,CT rolling off on the front row and a potent field behind them, Pennink shot out to the early lead with Stafford speedway veteran Woody Pitkat of Sturbridge,MA in close pursuit. On lap four Pitkat seized the opportunity to lead but for only five laps until Ted Christopher of Plainville,CT. in the Brady 00 sailed on by, becoming the third leader of the event.
Pitkat had the Dan Stebbins owned #52 running in top form and regained the lead on lap 27, then pulled out to a short lead over a charging pack behind him.
Pennink, Christopher, Ethridge and rookie Jeff Gallup of Agawam, MA.constantly changed positions as Richard Savary of Canton,MA and Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford,MA.were making their way through the pack from their mid-pack starting positions.
A lap 62 yellow for a minor two car spin tighten the field for a final shootout to the end. The restart had Pitkat in command with Christopher along side, Pennink and Savary in row two, McKennedy and Ethridge lining up in row three. Again Pitkat jetted smoothly into the lead, but behind him there was a torrid battle for a podium finish. First it was McKennedy passing Pennink for third place on lap 68, then four laps later the Exit Reality sponsored #29 of McKennedy slipped by on the inside of Christopher putting McKennedy in the runner-up position.
With two laps to go Savary made his bid to move up and went to the outside of Christopher. As the two cars entered turn three side by side Christopher turned right and pile drove Savary's Alloy Wheels sponsored #99 into the outside wall ending Savary's bid for victory with a trashed race car. In the ensuing action race leader Pitkat made contact with a slower car and that contact left Pitkat with a flat right front tire. Under that yellow flag Pitkat had to pit handing the lead over to McKennedy. Christopher who was now back in second place was disqualified from the event by race director Tim Bennet for his on track action moving Pennink up to second place where he finished 0,377 seconds behind McKennedy at the conclusion of the race.
Race winner McKennedy said "We had a real good car and things played out for me at the end but we definitely had a top two car either way. With Woody (Pitkat) getting that flat tire we were able to take advantage of that. I have to thank my whole crew and sponsors who make this happen." he added "The first half I tried to save a little and the top five of us seemed to be pretty even. Then I found a little different line into one as well as (turn) three and right away the car got better, I could feel it and it showed. The cautions really didn't hurt us, the car was good on short and long runs."
Another highlight of the event had to be that of rookie Jeff Gallup who battled all race long, pitting at one point for a tire swap and charging back to finish third. Gallup said "This is the first time in a modified here at Stafford and finishing third, passing a lot of cars and come up through the pack the way we did was a lot of fun. I've driven SK's here and the only difference is these cars are certainly faster on the straightaways. When we got up to 4th or 5th the car got too loose so we pitted for a tire swap and I was able to come back to finish third. I'm looking forward to run Lee (USA Speedway) and Thompson (Speedway) with the MRS in this Spafco chassis, Hutter powered modified."
Dave Ethridge, always fast at Stafford, came home fourth and Dylan Kopec making a rare MRS appearance followed in fifth. Donnie Lashua constantly impresses where ever he runs and was 6th. Long Island driver David Schneider came back from a lap 62 spin to finish 7th. Woody Pitkat's tire change with two to go relegated him to eighth. Branden Dion and Matt Mead rounded out the top ten.
Eighteen cars finished on the lead lap of the 80 lap marathon.
Last weeks Oxford Plains speedway winner, Anthony Nocella suffered engine problems in practice and did not start the event. George Sherman also had engine issues and parked his #93 for the night.
Summary
Track--- Stafford Motor Speedway-0.500mile
Race---7th Annual VMRS 80
Margin of Victory---0.377
Best Lap Time---18.802
Best Speed---95.734
Best Lap Time---29-Jon McKennedy
Yellow Flags---6-Lap 32,49,60,62,78,78
Lap Leaders #25, 1-3---#52, 4-8---#00, 9-26---#52, 27-78---#29, 79-80
Finish
1 29-Jon McKennedy
2 25-Rowan Pennink
3 4-Jeffrey Gallup
4 34-Dave Ethridge
5 M6-Dylan Kopec
6 117-Donnie Lashua
7 19-Dave Schneider
8 52-Woody Pitkat
9 04-Branden Dion
10 77-Matt Mead
11 33-Rob Richardi JR.
12 45-Dan Meservey JR.
13 8-Kyle James
14 38-Mike Willis JR.
15 16-Colbey Fournier
16 15CT-Chris Pasteryak
17 55-Joe Doucette
18 22-Roy Seidell JR.
19 00-Ted Christopher
20 99-Richard Savary
21 13ME-Bill Dixon
22 32-Chris Bakaj
23 69-Jimmy Dolan
Next Event-September 17th, Beech Ridge Speedway, Scarborough,Maine
Story by Jim Snape
Photos by Simply the Best, Crystal Snape
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