Lee, NH. -- 16-year old Sammy Rameau started outside on the front row, took the lead from pole sitter Brian Robie on lap-3, and went to victory lane for the first time Friday night, July 13, in Valenti Modified Racing Series action at Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH. The race was the first of two 50-lap ‘Cone’ races. Series point leader Anthony Nocella, the 2017 series champion, nabbed the second feature.
Rameau, of Westminster, MA; drove a flawless race in putting the Race Choice sponsored 6MA car in victory lane. The family operation headed up by father Randy, began their involvement in modified racing at Claremont Speedway.
Early leader Robie, of Sunapee, NH; who had never been to the Lee track until Friday, finished a solid second after a fourth place finish at Monadnock (NH) Speedway a week ago, Todd Patnode, of Swanzey, NH, finish third, Tony Ricci, of Westbrook, ME, made a late race charge to finish fourth, with Andy Shaw, of Conway, NH; rounding out the top five.
Russ Hersey, CJ Bolton, rookie Jacob Perry, Mike Willis Jr, and Woody Pitkat finished sixth through tenth.
The Lee facility has provided many firsts over the years. Twin 50-lap VMRS series races were started at Lee, the well-received ‘Cone’ race debuted Friday, and first time tour/type series drivers have found victory lane at the 3/8th mile oval.
Rameau from Westminster, MA; becomes the fourth driver in two seasons to win their first Valenti series race at the Lee track. In 2017, Mike Douglas Jr, Dan Meservey Jr, and Troy Talman, garnered their first career tour-type wins at Lee.
The caution flag waved on laps 15 and again on lap-34. The first race was completed in 24 minutes 30 seconds.
All but one car, Anthony Nocella, involved in an early crash that forced him out of the event, finished on the lead lap (21 cars)
Race Summary Race 1
Lee USA Speedway
Lee, NH.
July 13, 2018
Race # 7
Entrants: 22
Lap Leaders: Robie (1-2) Rameau (3-50)
Cautions Flags: Laps 15, 34
Margin of Victory: 2.099
Best Lap Time: 15.09 Rameau
Unofficial Order Of Finish: (1) Rameau) (2) Robie (3) Patnode (4) Ricci (5) Shaw (6) Hersey (7) Bolton (8) Perry (9) Willis Jr (10) Pitkat (11) Sontag (12) Lashua (13) Robie (14) Richardi (15) Cantara (16) Smith (17) Rock (18) Doucette (19) Meservey Jr, (20) Sherman (21) Seidell (22) Nocella
In the nightcap, Nocella bounced back after starting 21st and paved his way to his second win of the season. The victory was the Woburn, MA, driver’s 13th win moving him to fifth on the series all-time win list.
Nocella, driving the Nocella Paving/Air Gas Chevrolet took the lead on lap-32 when he passed the events only other leader, Meservey Jr.
Patnode finished a strong second, followed by Meservey, Hersey, and Willis Jr, in the top five. Sixth through tenth were Rameau, Robie, Perry, Pitkat, and Ricci.
The second race was completed in 23 minutes.
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Race Summary Race 2
Lee USA Speedway
Lee, NH.
July 13, 2018
Race # 7
Entrants: 22
Lap Leaders: Meservey (1-31) Nocella (32-50)
Cautions Flags: Laps 1, 5, and 23
Margin of Victory: 0.349
Best Lap Time: 14.892 Pitkat
Next event:
August 4, 2018
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway
Scarborough, Maine
Unofficial Order Of Finish: (1) Nocella (2) Patnode (3) Meservey Jr (4) Hersey(5) Willis Jr (6) Rameau (7) Robie (8) Perry (9) Pitkat (10) Ricci (11) Robbie (12) Smith (13) Shaw (14) Rock (15) Bolton (16) Seidell (17) Richardi (18) Sontag (19) Doucette (20) Sherman (21) Cantara (22) Lashua
Source: John Spence Sr. Valenti Modified Series Press Release
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