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MCKENNEDY
WINS AT MONADNOCK ON LAST LAP PASS |
It
was a perfect lead-in to the tracks annual fireworks
presentation. The final 9-laps were explosive as
drivers made their last run at a strong finish.
Chris Pasteryak dove under David Schneider to fifth,
Todd Patnode, dove under Steve Masse for a podium
finish, but it was the battle for the win that was
the grand finale.
Russ Hersey, of Swanzey, NH, dominated the annual
Valenti Modified Racing Series ‘Firecracker 100’ at
his home track taking the lead on lap-21 and holding
it until a last lap showdown with Jon McKennedy, of
E. Chelmsford, MA, before a large crowd at Monadnock
Speedway Saturday night July 2.
McKennedy, a former ‘Firecracker 100’ winner, used
the closing laps to size up the task of passing for
the win as he chased Hersey. On lap 99, McKennedy
went high into turn one, exited turn two on the
bottom, drag raced Hersey down the back stretch,
dove under the leader in turn three, again drag
raced Hersey off turn four to win by a half-car
length his third VMRS race of the season and pad his
point lead in the series point standings.
The victory is McKennedy’s 18th career series win.
In victory lane Hersey made his way to McKennedy to
talk about what had just happened. “Ya that was
pretty cool. Russ and me are good friends. It came
down to him and me. The restarts were a little tough
he had me going in there pretty high and I knew the
last few laps I had to size him up.”
With Series starter Tim Bennett waving the white
flag, McKennedy explained his lap-99. “ I went into
turn one there real high and I got a good arc across
the corner had a real good head of steam on the back
straight-away and was able to complete the pass into
three. It wasn’t easy.”
Hersey was complimentary in his runner-up position
and despite losing out on his first VMRS win, knows
there will be another day.
“The car was hooked up pretty good tonight. I
definitely didn’t need those last couple of
cautions. We had a pretty good lead cruising around
and with about 10 (laps) to go the right rear
started giving up so I went into defense mode. I
mean Jon’s won every thing from North Carolina to
Groveton and I knew he was going to cross me over.
There was just nothing I could do to prevent it. If
there is anybody that I have to get beat by at the
line it’s that kid right there. He’s an awesome
racer.
Todd Patnode was pleased with his third place
finish. He worked for it in the closing stages ” We
are happy with the car we changed some things
around. The clutch started slipping about halfway
through so I started easing into the throttle so
that hurt us a little.”
Steven Masse made his first VMRS start and wheeled
the familiar #13 car a fourth place finish, with
Chris Pasteryak, who spun on lap-28, rallying to
finish a respectable fifth.
Geoff Gernhard, Matt Mead, Scott McMichaels, and
Woody Pitkat rounded out the top ten.
26-cars started the 100-lap event. 9-cars were on
the lead lap at the finish.
Seven yellow flags slowed the race.
Heat Race Winners: (1) Lashua (2) Patnode (3)
Gernhard
Next Event: Claremont (NH) Speedway
July 8, 2016
Race No 7 – Monadnock
Speedway -Winchester, NH.
July 2, 2016
Distance: 100-laps
Entrants: 26: (all cars started)
Lead Changes: 4 (Four drivers)
Cautions: (8)
Lap Leaders: Lashua (1-3), Patnode (4-11)
Pitkat (12-20) Hersey (21-99) McKennedy (100)
Unofficial Order of Finish: (1) Jon
McKennedy, (2) Russ Hersey, (3) Todd Patnode, (4)
Steve Masse, (5) Chris Pasteryak, (6) Dave
Schneider, (7) Geoff Gernhard, (8) Matt Snead, (9)
Scott McMichaels, (10) Woody Pitkat, (11) Rob
Richardi, (12) Jeff Pearl, (13) Branden Dion (14)
Jeffrey Gallup (15) Dylan Rock, (16) Josh King, (17)
Mike Willis, (18) Chris Bakaj, (19) Roy Seidell,
(20) Brandee Tree, (21) Troy Talman, (22) Donnie
Lashua, (23) Carl Medeiros Jr, (24) Colbey Fournier
(25) TJ Bleau, (26) Kirk Alexander
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Source:
John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted:
July 3, 2016 |
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