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NOCELLA
DOMINATES SEEKONK FOR THIRD VMRS WIN |
Anthony
Nocella passed early race leader Dan Meservey Jr.
after a lap-38 caution flag, and went on to dominate
the Valenti Modified Racing Series sanctioned
100-lap race at Seekonk Speedway, Saturday night,
June 5.
The win was the third (VMRS) victory for the Woburn
Massachusetts driver whose last win was August
15,2015. Nocella becomes the fourth different driver
to win in four races this season.
By virtue of winning the first heat race, Meservey
started on the pole and looked impressive early on
until Nocella took command. The #92 Nocella Paving
Chevrolet became the target with the series top guns
giving chase.
Chris Pasteryak chased the race leaders until a lap
73 flat tire knocked him from contention. Then
Richard Savary, Woody Pitkat, Chase Dowling and Dave
Schneider gave chase.
In the late stages, Jon McKennedy hunted down the
race leader after being involved in contact with
another car on lap-61. McKennedy pitted, went to the
rear of the field, and then electrified the crowd as
he attempted to get back to the front. By lap-70 he
was 11th, lap-80 fourth, and on lap-93 was
challenging Savary leading to a side-by-side duel
until McKennedy slipped by.
With a win in his heat race and starting the race
inside second row, the night belonged to Nocella in
convincing style.
“My guys gave me a great car. Normally I don’t like
to start up front. Want to save the tires as best
you can,” said Nocella.
Nocella spoke about being the driver in front and
dealing with (8) caution flags bringing the field
closer to the leader. “You don’t want to slip a
shift. We’ve had that happen before and do not want
to spin the tires. Keep the car straight. Each
restart I was able to keep the lead and keep it at a
couple of car length advantage,” said Nocella.
“ My guys kept telling me who was coming up through
and that Jon (McKennedy) had pitted. I knew he would
be coming hard. Make him work for it if he was going
to get to us.”
Nocella did not plan to enter the Seekonk race
because of a commitment to a dirt midget series in
the Midwest. “ A six night series, we flipped, and
ended up coming home. I asked my guys if they wanted
to go to Seekonk and we ended up coming here and it
worked out good for us.”
McKennedy, Savary, Pitkat, and Schneider, rounded
the top five with Dowling, Todd Patnode, Kyle,
James, Russ Hersey, and Todd Annarummo, finishing
sixth through tenth.
Heat race winners were Meservey, Carl Medeiros Jr,
and Nocella. No consolation race. All 26 cars
started the event.
Eight caution flags slowed the race that was
completed just less than 55 minutes.
19-cars finished on the lead lap
Race Summary:
Seekonk Speedway
June 4, 2016
Entrants: (26)
Caution Flags: (8) Laps – 38, 41,45,
49,60,61,73,87
Time of Race: 54.52.618
Best Lap Time: Nocella 12.279
Margin of Victory: 1.360
Lap Leaders: Meservey (1-38) Nocella (39-100)
Unofficial Order of Finish:
(1) Nocella, (2) McKennedy, (3) Savary,
(4) Pitkat, (5) Schneider, (6) Dowling, (7) Patnode,
(8) James, (9) Hersey, (10), Annarummo, (11),
Richardi, (12) Willis Jr, (13) Gernhard, (14) Dion,
(15) Fournier,
(16) Medeiros, (17) Talman, (18) Mead, (19) Sherman,
(20) Meservey, (21) Pasteryak (Kuhn), (23)
Ianarelli,
(24) Ladyga, (25) Lashua, (26) Houlihan
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Source:
John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted:
June 5, 2016 |
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