by Lou Modestino<\/p>\n
Louie Mechalides, of Tyngsboro, MA, took the lead on lap 51 and went on to win his second consecutive \u201cSeekonk 100\u201d Saturday night, June 8, at Seekonk (MA) Speedway. Mechalides captured the June event last season.
\n
\nMechalides, while running a strong third, inherited the top spot when leader Todd Annarummo, of Swansea, MA, and Steven Masse, of Bellingham, MA, both victims of a slower car, spun from the lead.<\/p>\n
Mechalides then dealt with Dwight Jarvis, of Ascutney, VT, Chris Pasteryak, of Lisbon, CT, and later Tommy Barrett, of Millis, MA, as all took a stab at the lead. Jarvis tried for 38 laps to get by Mechalides but was denied every time.<\/p>\n
Barrett became a player late in the race as he pressured the leader laps 95 through 99. The classic battle to the finish, for second, found Jarvis passing Barrett by inches.<\/p>\n
Mechalides post race paid respect to those that led and challenged him for the win. \u201cAll those guys are really fast and Todd was extremely fast today. I didn\u2019t even try to race with him. I just let him go. I was just trying to race my own race. I knew there would be a couple of cautions. Dwight was awesome. Raced me clean and really makes it fun,\u201d said Mechalides.<\/p>\n
For Mechalides it was his third win at the famed oval.\u201d Seekonk it seems has always been pretty good to me. I enjoy coming here. The car runs pretty decent here and we had a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mechalides also dedicated the win, his seventh VMRS victory, to a long time friend, Bill Furey.who is very ill.<\/p>\n
Veteran driver Todd Patnode, of Richmond, NH, made an impressive late race charge to finish fourth with Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA, fifth.<\/p>\n
Richard Savary, Norm Wrenn, Pasteryak, Tim Jordan, and Max Zachem, rounded out the top ten.<\/p>\n
The Valenti Modified Racing Series is off now until Friday, June 21, when the 10th Anniversary season continues at Stafford (CT) Motor Speedway for an 80-lap event.<\/p>\n
Race No. 3- Seekonk Speedway
\nEntrants: 27 (24 starters)
\nDistance: 100 laps
\n* Denotes Rookie of the Year Candidates
\nTime of Race: 41:37:720
\nMargin of Victory: 0.259
\nBest Lap Time: 12.291 (13-Masse)
\nLead Changes: 2 (among 2 drivers)
\nLap Leaders: Annarummo (1-51) Mechalides (52-100)
\nCautions: 6 cautions, on laps- 20,27,51,62,74,85
\nHeat Winners: Todd Annarummo, Anthony Nocella and Mike Holdridge
\nConsi Winner: Jeff Pearl<\/p>\n
Unofficial Order of Finish<\/p>\n
(1) Mechalides (2) Jarvis (3) Barrett (4) Patnode (5) Pennink (6) Savary (7) Wrenn (8) Pasteryak (9) Jordan (10) Zachem (11) Holdridge (12) Mead (13) Meservey (14) Barnett (15) Owen (16) Masse (17) Pearl (18) Spiers (19) Annarummo (20) Smith (21) Houlihan (22) Nocella (23) Goodenough (24) Rocco<\/p>\n
Gerry DeGasparre shook off the new car blues and brought home his first win of the season. Dave Hutchens Jr brought the pack down, and jumped out to an early lead. Hutch was challenged by Ryan Lineham for a handful of laps before the 6 time champion moved into position.<\/p>\n
Using a timely caution, DeGasparre found the outside lane to his liking and moved out front on lap eleven. Hutchins held on undeneath DeGasparre, and fought hard to keep position underneath. By the halfway point, Gerry was able to shut the door and start to hit his rhythm. With less than 10 laps remaining, the final restart had Jeramee Lille lined up to the outside. But the reigning champion held tight, and picked up his first win of the season,. Lille was second, with Dylan Estrella, Hutchins, and Bill Bernard third through fifth.<\/p>\n
1) Gerry DeGasparre Jr 2) Jeramee Lillie 3) Dylan Estrella 4) Dave Hutchins Jr 5) Bill Bernard 6) Bobby Pelland III 7) Charlie Rose 8) Mark Hudson 9) Ryan Lineham 10) Ray Parent 11) Jariah Roderick 12) Dennis Stanpfl 13) Tyler Thompson 14) Ron Barboza 15) Joe Kohler 16) Scott Dion<\/p>\n
Scott Bruneau became the third different winner in the Street Stocks, picking up the Phil\u2019s Propane Triple Crown Series round 1 win. Gerard Berthelette was the early leader, taking over from his pole position start, and fought with Chris DeMoura for several laps, swapping the lead back and forth. By lap ten, DeMoura started to slide back, allowing<\/p>\n
Bruneau to move into second. As Berthelette led down the back stretch, contact from behind the leader sent Berthelette spinning, changing the completion of the race.<\/p>\n
Bruneau set the pace, and would hold off Ed Gannon for several laps, and picked up the popular victory. Gannon, Charles Beal, Crystal Serydynski and Scott Serydynski rounded out the top five.<\/p>\n
1) Scott Bruneau 2) Ed Gannon III 3) Charles Beal 4) Crystal Serydynski 5) Scott Serydynski 6) Chris DeMoura 7) Rey Lovelace 8) Craig Pianka 9) Manny Dias 10) Paul Lallier 11) Chris Beaulieu 12) Ray Negley 13) Jimmy Belmont 14) Austin Blais 15) Gerard Berthelette 16) Steve Axon 17) Joe Melberg 18) Robert Gay 19) Bob Bettencourt 20) Justin Travis 21) Andy Johnson 22) A J Solomon 23) Doux Rioux 24) Daryl Perry<\/p>\n
Fall River\u2019s John Paiva jumped out to the lead on the opening lap of the 25 lap Sports Truck main event, and never looked back, picking up the 25 lap Sports Truck feature win. In a race that went virtually non stop, Paiva was never heavily pressured for the lead. Darryl Church ran second for the opening laps, before falling out of the top five. Scott Dion moved into secondby the fifth lap, but could not mount a serious challenge for the lead.<\/p>\n
Dion had his hands full as Barry Shaw was knocking at the door, funally moving past with just over 10 laps reminaing. At that point, Paiva held a comfortable advantage, while Shaw was trying to close in the gap. With Shaw running second, Mike Cavallaro was right behind, moving into third, putting heavy pressure on Shaw.<\/p>\n
In the end, Paiva held on for his first race of the season. Shaw, Cavallaro, Nick Uhrig and Rick Marting sat second through fifth.<\/p>\n
1) John Paiva 2) Barry Shaw 3) Mike Cavallaro 4) Nick Uhrig 5) Rick Martin 6) Scott Dion 7) Darryl Church, Rob Murphy 8) Rob Murphy 9) Anna Gregoire 10) Lenny Guy 11) Joey Wakefield 12) Bill Schoeler 13) Mike Duarte 14) Jon Letourneau 15) Jim Hawkins 16) Branden Dion 17) Ron Cornell 18) Chase Belcher 19) Billy Clarke<\/p>\n
Waterford Speedbowl hosted another round of Wild \u2018n Wacky Wednesday racing under ideal conditions and fans were rewarded with an outstanding night of motorsports. New winners were the order of the night as Nick Sowa of Middletown along with Matt Carlson of Griswold each recorded their first career victories in the Legend Car and
\nSuper X-Car divisions, respectively. Ken Morin Jr. of Old Saybrook returned to the winner\u2019s circle in his first outing of 2013 in the Bandoleros while Larry Loomis Jr. of Moosup visited Victory Lane for the first time in several years in the X-Car feature. Victoria Finkbein won the night\u2019s Wacky Race<\/p>\n
Rain put a damper on the Thursday Night Thompson Thunder program when track conditions forced the postponement of the Lite Modified and Limited Sportsman features until a later date. Keith Rocco, Rick Gentes, and Joe Baxter picked up feature wins in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action while Darryl Dutch was the victor in a special 15-lap Outlaw Antique Racer\u2019s feature.<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race scheduled to run on Friday, June 7 at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway has been postponed due to a forecast for inclement weather.<\/p>\n
The TSI Harley-Davidson 125 presented by G-Oil has been pushed back another week and is now slated to be contested at the historic half mile on Friday, June 14. The race day schedule for June 14 will remain the same as it would have been previously.<\/p>\n
This is the second time the event has been postponed. It was originally scheduled for May 24 and subsequently pushed to June 7 due to rain. Despite the second postponement, it will still be the next event on the 2013 Whelen Modified Tour calendar.<\/p>\n
This is the second Whelen Modified Tour race in a row that has been postponed. The tour was to run at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H., on May 11, but that event was rescheduled for July 27 due to rain.<\/p>\n
The third annual Star Speedway SBM 125 Modified Open for tour-type Modifieds has grown to well beyond expectations in purse money. With less than one week remaining for race teams to enter the Saturday, June 15 event, 31 drivers from eight different states already preregistered to compete for a payoff of more than $45,000.<\/p>\n
Defending SBM 125 race winner Matt Hirschman, who won just under $9,000 in last seasons event, is entered to compete in the J&J Motorsports 59 that he won the race with in 2012. Jon McKennedy won the inaugural race in his own car. He will drive for car owner Art Barry again this season.<\/p>\n
McKennedy and Hirschman used different strategies to earn their wins. A pit stop for a new right rear tire past halfway brought Hirschman to victory lane last year, while McKennedy won without a tire change. It remains to be seen which strategy proves to be the winning one on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The entry list includes teams from the Valenti Modified Racing Series, the Race of Champions Tour, the regulars of Star Speedway, a few drivers with no affiliation, and of course the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. There is no other race quite like this one, with more than 20 incentive bonuses for race teams to win, which has doubled from last season.<\/p>\n
Due to weather issues this spring, some teams are expected to make their decision to race after Friday’s NWMT event at Ct’s Stafford Motor Speedway. A field of roughly 35 cars are expected to compete on the quarter-mile oval for 24 starting positions in four competitive heat races, beginning at 6:00 PM. A purse paying B-Main to determine the final four starters will be run prior to the 8:30 PM SBM 125 main event.<\/p>\n
SBM 125 III List of Early Entries:<\/p>\n
04 Joey Jarvis, Ascutney, Vermont
\n05 Jacob Dore, Sanford, Maine
\n06 Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, Conn.
\n 3 Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn.
\n 5 Chris Pasteryak, Jewett City, Conn.
\n 9 Tommy Barrett, Millis, Mass.
\n12 Todd Annarummo, Swansea, Mass.
\n13 Steve Masse, bellingham, Mass.
\n15 Rob Summers, Vernon, Conn.
\n16 Ken Barry, Griswold, Conn.
\n20 Doug Coby, Milford, Conn.
\n21 Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass.
\n23 Mike Douglas Jr., Auburn, N.H.
\n24 Todd Patnode, Richmond, N.H.
\n25 Zane Zeiner, Bath, Pa.
\n28 Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, Vermont
\n36 Chris Bolton, Weare, N.H.
\n39 Richie Pallai, Yorktown Hts., N.Y.
\n40 Ryan Preece, Kensington, Conn.
\n51 Justin Bonsignore, West Islip, N.Y.
\n56 Chris Ross, Malta, N.Y.
\n59 Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa.
\n66 Austin Kochenash, Danielsville, Pa.
\n70 Andy Seuss, Salisbury, N.C.
\n71 Josh Cantara, Sanford, Maine
\n79 Max Zachem, Preston, Conn.
\n85 Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, Mass.
\n88 Jim Boniface, Winchester, N.H.
\n92 Anthony Nocella, Woburn, Mass.
\n93 George Sherman, Framingham, Mass.
\n99 Richard Savary, Canton, Mass.<\/p>\n
A six-division NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program was hosted at Waterford Speedbowl Saturday evening. Three of the races ran without need of a caution flag. Scoring wins on the quick-paced night of motorsports were Keith Rocco of Meriden, who notched his fourth win of the year in the SK Modified\u00ae division and Bruce Thomas Jr. of Groton, winner of the Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature.
\nCorey Hutchings of Salem checkered his third Street Stock race of the year and Ian Brew was the winner of the Mini Stocks, his second on the season. Randy Churchill Jr. of Oakdale captured his third SK Light Modified race and Nick Ladyga was a first-time winner of the year in the INEX Legend
\nCars.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the third time will be the charm for the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 presented by G-Oil.<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was originally set to contest the second of four 2013 races at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway on May 24. An ominous rain forecast pushed the race date to June 7, only to once again meet the same fate. A third attempt to get the race in is now set for this Friday, June 14.<\/p>\n
The postponements have not only affected the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, but Stafford\u2019s weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program as well. And one driver who has felt the effects of both, Ryan Preece, is set to return to his home track this Friday with some newfound recognition.<\/p>\n
Preece, a 21-year-old from Berlin, Conn., was named last week to the 2013-14 NASCAR Next driver roster. He\u2019s the first Whelen Modified Tour driver to be a part of the program, now in its third year. NASCAR Next is an industry initiative that helps to shine the spotlight on NASCAR\u2019s rising stars.<\/p>\n
Through the course of the next 12 months Preece and the 12 other drivers selected from NASCAR\u2019s regional touring series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will participate in a variety of public appearances and training events designed to elevate and enhance their profile to complement their on-track accomplishments.<\/p>\n
Although the latest postponement left Preece with yet another unplanned night off from racing at Stafford, it did allow him to participate in the NASCAR Next announcement that took place at Iowa Speedway on Friday. He would have been running in the Whelen Modified Tour and Whelen All-American Series events otherwise, and would not have been able to join his new NASCAR Next teammates in Iowa.<\/p>\n
Preece made a day trip to Iowa for the announcement, headed back to Connecticut that evening, then went down to Long Island on Saturday and won the prestigious Richie Evans Hall of Fame 100 at Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway in Whelen All-American Series Modified action. Of the 13 newly-announced NASCAR Next drivers, Preece was one of five that registered a victory over the weekend.<\/p>\n
As the focus returns back to Stafford this weekend, Preece will be looking for his first Whelen Modified Tour win of 2013 and will also look to maintain his lead in the season standings of Stafford\u2019s premier SK Modified division, where he was the 2011 titlist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Lou Modestino Louie Mechalides, of Tyngsboro, MA, took the lead on lap 51 and went on to win his second consecutive \u201cSeekonk 100\u201d Saturday night, June 8, at Seekonk (MA) Speedway. Mechalides captured the June event last season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15173],"tags":[15183],"class_list":["post-13127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-new-england-motorsports-south","tag-new-england-motorsports-south-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13127\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newenglandracingnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}