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NOCELLA
DRIVES TO VMRS VICTORY
IN NEW CAR AT STAFFORD |
Woburn,
MA, driver Anthony Nocella, like the ten other
drivers that finished on the lead lap, weathered the
storm of 11-caution flags and a long run to score
the season opening win Friday night, May 19, in
Valenti Modified Racing Series action at Stafford
Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT.
The victory was Nocella’s first at Stafford and his
7th VMRS career win.
Nocella started in the 8th position in a 25-car
field. Early race leader Dave Etheridge led the
first 11-laps before Keith Rocco, the fastest car in
pre-race practice, took the lead. Rowan Pennink and
Woody Pitkat would also be front-runners in the
80-lap main event.
It took 1-hour 18 minutes to complete the first race
of the year. Three front running drivers were
victims of fuel shortage. Rocco, Pennink, and
Richard Savary were all sidelined for engines that
quit while running at or near the front.
The Nocella Paving race team purchased a brand new
Race Works Chassis for the new season and the end
result had Nocella pleased post race.
“Can’t thank Eddie Flemke (car builder) enough.
Completely different than the other one. First race
out with it so we really didn’t have a clue. We were
horrible in practice and then it was awesome the
whole race,” said Nocella.
Woody Pitkat, of Sturbridge, MA, ran a strong race
and finished runner-up.
Mike Willis. Jr of Grantham, NH, had a solid run and
was credited with third.
Charlie Pasteryak and Ronnie Williams finished
fourth and fifth.
Also finishing on the lead lap were, Les Hinckley
III, Colbey Fournier, Rob Richardi Jr, Matthew Mead,
Jonny Kay, and Jeffrey Gallup.
Heat race winners were Dave Etheridge, Pennink, and
Keith Rocco.
Next Event:
Saturday May 27,2017
2:00 PM
Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH
Heat Races $500 to win
50-Lap Feature $3,000 to win
Race Summary:
Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT
Race # 1
May 19, 2017
Entrants: 27 DNS: Richardi
(Motor-Practice) - Talman, (Crash – Heat 3)
Distance: 80-Laps
Time: 1:18:29.
Margin of Victory: 0.445
Best Speed: 95.648 (K Rocco)
Best Lap Time: 18.819 (K.Rocco)
Lead Changes: 5
Lap Leaders: Etheridge (1-11) K.Rocco (12-39)
Pennink (40-50) K Rocco (51) Pitkat (52-74) Nocella
(75-80)
Cautions: Laps-
21,30,34,47,50,52,63,71,71,74,74
Unofficial Order of Finish: (1) Nocella (2)
Pitkat (3) Willis Jr (4) Pasteryak (5) Williams (6)
Hinckley III
(7) Fournier (8) Richardi (9) Mead (10) Kay (11)
Gallup (12) Seidell (13) Pennink (14) Savary (15)
Lashua,
(16) Flannery (17) Gernhard (18) K Rocco (19) J
Rocco (20) James (21) Medeiros Jr (22) Rameau
(23) Etheridge (24) Kopec (25) Sherman)
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Source:
John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted:
May 20, 2017 |
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