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WOODY PITKAT MAKES HISTORY WITH FIRST VMRS WIN AT NHMS
Drafting with Teddy is Where You Want to Be
by Denise
DuPont |
It
was a historic occasion as the Valenti Modified
Racing Series (VMRS) teams made their way to the
1.058-mile oval New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The
series was part of the New England Short Track
Showdown. The VMRS feature was 50 laps with four
cautions, two of which turned red to remove damaged
equipment and clean the track. The last caution
occurred on lap 46, with Ted Christopher of
Plainville, CT. leading. He had after just passed
Woody Pitkat of Sturbridge, MA. and was on his way
to chalk up another NHMS victory. The yellow was
brought out after Jimmy Dolan from Danbury, CT. made
contact with turn three’s outside wall and his
modified dumped fluid down the track. Modified
drivers sat with engines off as track crew cleaned
up the surface. drivers made their last strategies
and plan in their minds all hoping to be the one to
secure the victory.
Christopher had the top position when he brought the
field around for the last restart and only four laps
to maintain his lead, he had to settle for a second
place finish. Pitkat on the other hand used the
final circuits to pull off his first 2017 VMRS win
and all the bragging rights that go with it.
“It
was definitely awesome.” Exclaimed one happy Pitkat
during victory ceremonies. “There is always a lot
going on in your head for what you can and cannot do
when you are racing at this track. It is always in
your mind when are you going to make a move and it
ends up being the wrong move.” Those were the
thoughts Pitkat had when the last green flag flew.
When the modified come to the “Magic Mile” the
drivers are able to draft and drive what they all
call a fun race. The leaders of the field always
capture the awe of the spectators as they are able
to draft and pass swapping the lead position several
times in a lap. “Here it is good to be up there in
front and clear especially with racers that you
know. It was an awesome race up front with someone
like Teddy, you feel comfortable running with him.
It took me a long time to learn this track and it is
now fun to come here.”
Pitkat piloted the #52 Dan Stebbins owned Mayhew
Tools sponsored modified to the checkers after
starting the race third. “I cannot thank these guys
enough,” Pitkat said with a big smile on his face.
“I love pulling into victory lane and seeing the
look on people’s faces. This place is like no other
place so a win here is special.”
Christopher
had one of the fastest modifieds during Friday’s
practice sessions in his famous numbered #13
modified. Series owner, Jack Bateman, made the
decision that the modifieds which contained steel
head motors to issue a smaller restrictor plate for
Saturday’s race. Bateman felt that the change
leveled the competition. Christopher still had the
track experience and a fast car though when it was
race time. The only problem was that the restriction
on his engine held him back on race restarts. And
yes the last restart with only four laps to go may
have been the factor that lost the number one
position at race end for Christopher. He was on the
bottom spot when the green flag flew. He was right
there when they crossed the line but Pitkat with an
extra push from Steve Masse of Bellingham, MA forced
Christopher to fall back to third. With one to go he
was able to gain back one spot but on the last lap
he was a half a car behind Pitkat so he had to
settle for second.
“The race and day were good,” stated Christopher.
“It started off this morning with Jack wanting us to
change the restrictor plate and that did not make me
too happy. Unfortunately that part probable hurt the
motor on restarts. But ‘it is what it is’, as they
say. It was a good race.” Christopher did have the
time of his life swapping the lead back and forth
lap after lap with Pitkat and Masse. “It was good
but at the end it got a little crazy. That always
happens when people that think that they should be
there which make it interesting.” Reflecting on the
race Christopher knew he had the car to beat. “If we
did not have that last restart, Woody and I were
pulling away and at the end it would have just been
the two of us. But would have, could have, should of
– right.”
It
was Masse’s first trip to NHMS and his first race
after blowing a motor earlier in the year at
Monadnock Speedway. He was on the pole when the race
began and had his turn at leading the field. The
late race cautions definitely played into the race
outcome. But in the end a pole at race start and
third place finish is not bad for a driver’s first
time at the track.
“It was a fun race.” Masses stated sweaty and
smiling. “It is a little uneasy when you are in the
lead with a lap and a half to go and you end up
losing. Overall, the car is in one piece and a third
place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway so I
guess it is a good day.”
Running within the top five all day with cautions
and restarts was really a day to be proud of. NHMS
is the modified’s Daytona and a podium finish there
your first time at the mile is an accomplishment.
“In the lead pack there definitely was some good
company to be with,” confessed Masse. “But I do not
just want to be third, I did want to beat those guys
because I know that I can. I do not know if I made
the right move. I may have went a little early. I
was in the right spot. I just did not make it
happen. It was my first time here and it is really
tough to try to compete those guys who have been
here and have a lot of laps on the track.”
It was a lot of firsts for the VMRS teams and
driver’s at NHMS. The teams had some fun but drove
hard enjoying the mile while it was theirs. They now
will enjoy the Fourth of July and then prepare for
the series next race at Claremont Speedway on
Friday, July 7th.
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Source:
Denise DuPont /
TheChromeHorn.com
Posted:
July 2, 2017 |
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