Pasteryak Takes Point Lead To Stafford Friday
Canaan, NH.– Thanks to a dominating performance at Oxford Plains (ME) Saturday, the absence of a couple of key men atop the point standings, and a well prepared family race car, Chris Pasteryak, of Jewett City, CT, emerged from the weekend as an 11-point leader in the standings for the Valenti Modified Racing Series with three races remaining on the schedule. The first of the three is the 6th annual VMRS 80, Friday night September 4, at Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT.
Instead of looking up at the leaders, Pasteryak will be looking over his shoulder at Todd Patnode, Woody Pitkat, Todd Szegedy, and Norm Wrenn.
Patnode, of Swanzey, NH, seeking his first win of the season, continues as runner-up, a position he has held for several races and 11 points separating him from the top of the heap.
Pitkat, winner of the first two races at Stafford this season and a 19-year veteran at the famed Connecticut speedway, is only 17-points behind Pasteryak. Pitkat fell from the lead when he passed on competing at Oxford Plains.
Szegedy, a VMRS winner last year at Stafford, has slipped back 47 points from the lead with Wrenn 69 points from the top. Wrenn, retiring at season’s end, would be pleased with a top-five finish at the end of the year.
As of Tuesday, 28 race teams indicated their intent to compete at Stafford. Former VMRS winners Ted Christopher, Ryan Preece, and Keith Rocco join Pasteryak and Szegedy who have also visited victory lane there.
Veteran VMRS regulars Kirk Alexander, Mike Holdridge, Rowan Pennink, Dan Meservey Jr, Russ Hersey, Dennis Perry, Dave Etheridge, and Donnie Lashua, are expected.
Brandon Dion, Dave Schneider, Kyle James, Colbey Fournier, and Matt Swanson represent the young drivers registered with the series.
Ticket booths and grandstand seating open at 4:15 PM. Qualifying races begin at 6:15 PM.