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PASTERYAK BECOMES TITLE CONTENDER
WITH OXFORD 100 WIN |
Two-time
Valenti Modified Racing Series champion Chris
Pasteryak of Jewett City, CT, dominated Saturday’s
running of the ‘Oxford 100’ to become the seventh
different winner in seven races at Oxford Plains
Speedway, Oxford, Maine. The race was the headline
event on the eve of the 42nd running of the famed
‘Oxford 250.’
Pasteryak from his pole starting position led all
but 20-laps enroute to his fourth VMRS win this
season and his 10th career victory. He is now tied
for fourth with Rowan Pennink, each with 10 wins, on
the series all-time win list.
“Sorry I stunk up the show,” Pasteryak kidded in
victory lane referring to his dominating
performance. “ On 250 weekend I think it might have
been 1999 or 2001 Cassius Clark beat me on a restart
with three to go in a legends car, we came here
(2011) and Joe Doucette beat me with three laps to
go, I didn’t want to let anyone get close enough
tonight to beat me,” said a smiling Pasteryak.
Pasteryak led the first seven laps of the 100-lap
race when Nashua, NH, veteran Norman Wrenn slipped
by and held the lead until lap 27 when Pasteryak
regained the top position and never looked back.
“I figured if Norman wanted to go burn it up I’d let
him. I knew we were pretty good taking it easy
behind him. This Troyer car and Hutter motor really
made me look good. It was a good night to have a
good night.” Pasteryak said.
Kevin Ianarelli, of Groton, MA, had a career best
finish nailing down second after being pursued
heavily by Les Hinckley in the late stages of the
race.
“It was pretty hooked up for a change. Every time we
got to Chris he had a little more in the bank,”
Ianarelli said in post race interviews. “We were not
going to touch him.”
Ianarelli also knew Hinckley was on the prowl. “They
told me he was about five lengths back. Another
10-laps he probably would have got me we were
starting to back it into the corners. This Troyer
car and Billy The Kid motor really got it done for
me.”
Hinckley, the Windsor Locks, CT, driver who returned
to competition with a victory at Monadnock Speedway
last week was not going to Oxford until the cell
phone rang this week. On the other end was Gary
Casella, owner of the #25 modified driven by Rowan
Pennink when he is not committed elsewhere. More
often this season than in the past, Pennink has had
conflicting dates leaving the seat open in Casella’s
car forcing the veteran car owner to shop around for
a driver for his racer.
Hinckley welcomed the opportunity and drove to a
solid third place finish.
Hinckley was complimentary in victory lane. “Gary
and I got together for a one race deal to have some
fun. Gary has great equipment and I can’t thank him
and Kim (Casella) enough for giving me the
opportunity. Would have liked to see a caution there
at the end and see if we could have mixed it up a
little bit but we had plenty of laps to get there.
Good run - good piece – last minute deal and it was
a lot of fun.”
Russ Hersey, of Swanzey, NH, made a late race charge
to finish fourth with veteran Donnie Lashua, of
Canaan, NH, rounding out the top five.
Sixth through tenth were series newcomer Matt
Swanson, Jon McKennedy, Dennis Perry, Wrenn, and
Todd Patnode.
Race Notes:
24 cars entered the Oxford event.
15-year-old Matt Swanson enjoyed a successful debut.
Timed very well in practice sessions, ran in the top
five
in the feature, raced side by side with Jon
McKennedy for many laps.
David Schneider and crew flew in for the race from
Long Island and were picked up and flown back at the
conclusion of the race. An airport is adjacent to
the speedway property.
Heat winners: Doucette, Perry, Medeiros
Race Summary:
Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, ME
August 29, 2015
Race # 12
Entrants: (24)
Distance: 100-laps
Time: 35:49:343
Margin of Victory: 1.304
Best Speed: 86.064 (Wrenn)
Average Speed: 63.291
Best Lap Time: 15.686 (Wrenn)
Lead Changes: 2
Lap Leaders: Pasteryak (1-7) Wrenn (8-27)
Pasteryak (28-100)
Cautions: Lap 40,40 (re-start)
Unofficial Order Of Finish: (1)
Pasteryak (2) Ianarelli (3) Hinckley (4) Hersey (5)
Lashua (6) Swanson (7) McKennedy (8) Perry (9) Wrenn
(10) Patnode (11) Nocella (12) Schneider (13)
Alexander (14) Medeiros (15) Ricci (16) Meservey Jr
(17) Dixon (18) Sherman (19) Willis Jr (20) Cantara
(21) Annarummo (22) Doucette (23) Haley (24) Mead
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Source:
John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted:
August 30, 2015 |
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