![\"VMRS\"](\"\/images\/vmrslogo1.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Seekonk, MA, — He is known as \u2018Lightnin\u2019 Louie Mechalides for
\ngood reason. \u2018Lightnin\u2019 quick when he has too. The Tyngsboro,
\nMA., veteran driver was pressured right to the finish Saturday night,
\nholding on to win the 100-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series
\nevent at Seekonk Speedway, Seekonk, MA.<\/p>\n
The win was Mechalides\u2019 sixth career VMRS victory. He first and
\nlast win at Seekonk was six years ago.
\n<\/p>\n
Starting from the front row in a 24-car field, Mechalides was quickly
\npursued by Les Hinckley, of Windsor Locks, CT. Hinckley pressured
\nthe race leader for the first 68 laps, often pulling up alongside the lead
\ncar. Jon McKennedy, the current point leader, passed Hinckley
\non lap 69 and held the second position for two laps until Hinckley took
\nit back on the 71st circuit. Hinckley gave chase until lap 90 when
\nMcKennedy got by for good. <\/p>\n
Wiring the field was not in Mechalides\u2019 playbook.\u201d I didn’t want to
\nlead all 100. I just wanted to lead the last 10. But there were a bunch
\nof really good guys stacked up and I didn’t want to go that far back.
\nLes was running really hard there for awhile.<\/p>\n
Mechalides credited long-time car owner-crew chief Billy Calicchio
\nwith helping the Lowell, MA., based team earn the win.<\/p>\n
“We worked on the car all week. We took the car apart. He (Callicchio)
\nhelped us out with it and got everything going in the right direction.
\nI was watching the lap counter waiting for the car to start going away, but
\nit didn’t. It kept going. It was really good. We have a really good piece to
\nwork with now.”<\/p>\n
McKennedy, who started eighth, followed Mechalides closely to the
\nfinish, a position he was happy with. “I was a little bit free. I was really
\ngood for awhile. The first half I just elected to ride. The last 30 laps I
\nwas pretty free. I think a lot of the guys were getting loose. It’s tough
\ntrying to pass when you’re free. It’s hard to run the line you want too.
\nYou need the whole track to keep the car under you.”<\/p>\n
Tom Barrett, of Millis, MA., finished third, Hinckley fourth, and Rowan
\nPennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA., rounding out the top five. <\/p>\n
Joey Jarvis, Ascutney, VT.,Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT., Mike Holdridge,
\nMadison, CT., Norman Wrenn, Nashua, NH., and Rob Goodenough,
\nSwanzey, NH., rounded out the top ten. <\/p>\n
Seven caution flags slowed the race that took 47 minutes to complete.<\/p>\n
Todd Szegedy, of Bethel, CT., Pasteryak, and Holdridge won qualifying
\nraces, with Dick Houlihan, of Bridgewater, MA., capturing the consolation
\nrace. <\/p>\n
Did Not Qualify: Melissa Fifield, Vinnie Annarummo, Todd Annarummo,
\nGeoff Gernhard, Rich Ferreira. <\/p>\n
Top 10 Points; McKennedy (188) Pennink (172) Holdridge (144) Mechalides
\n(136) Wrenn (132) Hinckley (122) Barrett (108) Coby (106) Pasteryak (87)
\nBakaj(85)<\/p>\n
Next Event: Stafford Springs Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT.
\nJune 22, 2012 <\/p>\n
[adrotate block=”1″]<\/p>\n
Race Summary:
\nRace # 4 Seekonk MA Speedway
\nEntrants: (29)
\nDistance: 100 laps
\nTime of Race: 47:43:165
\nMargin of Victory: 0.203
\nBest Lap Time: 12.229
\nBest Speed: 98.029 (Hinckley)
\nLead Changes: 0
\nLap Leaders: Mechalides (1-100)
\nCautions: Lap 17,38,40,40, 47,49,80<\/p>\n
Order of Finish: (1) Louie Mechalides (2) McKennedy
\n(3) Barrett (4) Hinckley (5) Pennink (6) J.Jarvis
\n(7) Pasteryak (8) Holdridge (9) Wrenn (10) Goodenough
\n(11) Szegedy (12) Malave (13) Bakaj (14) D.Jarvis
\n(15) Houlihan (16) Schneider (17) Mead (18) Jordan
\n(19) Owen (20) Oliveira (21) Doucette (22) Zachem
\n(23) Nocella (24) Barnett<\/p>\n
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