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MCKENNEDY
CAPTURES VMRS 80
AT STAFFORD FOR SIXTH WIN |
 29-year
old Jon McKennedy, of E. Chelmsford, MA, started
sixth in a 23-car lineup, dropped back in the field
until near the halfway mark, then drove to the front
to go on and win the Valenti Modified Racing Series
80-lap race at Stafford Motor Speedway, Friday
night, Sept 2.
It didn’t come easy for the current point leader
until the last two laps of the event.
McKennedy put on another crowd pleasing driving
display to work his way to second position on
lap-72. With eight-laps remaining, the three-time
series champion made it interesting as he hunted
race leader Woody Pitkat, of Sturbridge, MA, who
appeared on his way to his first win of the season.
McKennedy was two car lengths behind when the
caution flag was waved for contact between Ted
Christopher, of Plainville, CT, and Richard Savary,
of Canton, MA, on lap-79.
When the Christopher/Savary incident happened, at
the opposite end of the speedway, Pitkat made
contact with a slower car resulting in a flat tire
that forced the series champion of a year ago to the
pit area for a new tire.
McKennedy, after a pair of attempts at a
green-white-checker finish, rolled to his sixth win
of the season, his 21st career series win, his
second series win at Stafford, and a solid hold on
the points race with three events remaining on the
schedule.
Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA, finished a
strong second, with Jeff Gallup, of Agawam, MA, a
solid third for his best ever finish in a tour-type
modified.
Portland, CT veteran Dave Etheridge was fourth and
second generation driver Dylan Kopec, of Palmer MA,
rounded out the top five.
Sixth through tenth place finishers were; Donnie
Lashua, David Schneider, Pitkat, Branden Dion, and
Matthew Mead.
The race was slowed by six caution flags and was
completed in 53 minutes flat.
18-cars finished on the lead lap.
Heat winners were Pennink (1), Etheridge (2) , and
Pitkat (3).
Anthony Nocella was sidelined during practice with
engine problems. George Sherman was a feature lineup
scratch, also with engine problems during his heat
race.
25-cars entered the 13th event of the season. 23
drivers started the feature race.
Next Up: Beech Ridge Motor Speedway,
Scarborough, ME.
Sept 17, 2016
Distance: 80-laps
Entries: (25)
(17) Cautions: 6
Time of Race: 53:00.404
Average Speed: 18.802 (McKennedy)
Best Speed: 95.734 (McKennedy)
Margin of Victory: 0.377
Order of Finish: (1) McKennedy, (2) Pennink,
(3) Gallup, (4) Etheridge, (5) Kopec, (6) Lashua,
(7) Schneider, (8) Pitkat, (9) Dion, (10) Mead, (11)
Richardi, (12) Meservey Jr, (13) James, (14) Willis
Jr, (15) Fournier, (16) Pasteryak, (17) Doucette,
(18) Seidell, (19) Christopher, (20) Savary, (21)
Dixon, (22) Bakaj, (23) Dolan.
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Source:
John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted:
September 3, 2016 |
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