It was a night of first’s for car owner Tom Greeley, Auburn, ME., and driver David Pinkham, Buxton, ME ., as the new race team scored the win Saturday night May 3 in the 100 lap True Value Modified Racing Series sanctioned, “ Connecticut National Guard 100” at the historic Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT. The race, run under heavy cloud cover and chilling temperatures in the mid-forties at race time, was the first of three events scheduled at Waterford for the popular New England modified racing series.
    Pole sitter Eddie Dachenhausen, Danbury, CT., jumped into an early lead with outside front row mate Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, NH., and Dale Evonsion, E. Hartland, CT., in hot pursuit. Dachenhausen set the pace for the first 16 laps before yielding the top spot to Windsor Locks, CT., veteran Les Hinckley III. The second generation racer quickly became the class of the field with Dachenhausen and a fast closing Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT., in tow.
    At lap 25, Christopher, in his brand new Troyer mount, moved the Czarnecki Bros # 20 car into second while visiting driver Rowan Pennink Huntingdon Valley, PA., cracked the top five. It was Pennink’s first attempt with the TVMRS.
    Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH., a late arrival, was forced to start. last. Seuss raced his way up to sixth position. The Seuss team made a motor swap during the day and then attempted the two hour plus journey to Waterford. Seuss looked like he was going to garner a solid finish only to run out of fuel forcing him out of the race.
    The 100 lap grind was stopped on lap 35 when Whelen Modified Tour standout Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ., making his first TVMRS start, made contact with another car, causing his racer to flip onto its roof and skidding for several feet before coming to a halt amid a shower of sparks. Blewett was not injured.
    When the race resumed, Hinckley and Dachenhausen, while battling for the lead, made contact in turn three resulting in both drivers being sent to the rear of the field by tour officials. Dachenhausen was never a factor again but Hinckley showed why he led the race as he passed cars at will to get back to the front. It was Hinckley’s best run to date this season.
    2006 champion Dwight Jarvis inherited the lead for the restart and would hold it until lap 77. Pinkham, driving a flawless race, had come up behind the race leader and tried to stay close to the Vermont veteran .At one point Pinkham closed to within a car length but Jarvis again opened up a sizeable lead. On a lap 77 restart, following a caution flag for a minor spin, Pinkham powered by Jarvis on the 78th circuit and held on to the top spot for the final 22 laps. Pinkham drives car # 22.
    Other oddities included a list of “firsts” for the Maine race team. It was Pinkham’s’ first win for car owner Greeley, It was Greeley’s first win with the True Value series, It was Pinkham’s first win of the season, and it was Pinkham’s first ever visit to Waterford Speedbowl. He told tour announcer John Spence earlier in the day, “I’ve never been here before, it’s my first time.” Spence held that comment until Pinkham passed under the checkered flag. “I told Matt Buckler (Waterford announcer) I have a surprise but I’ll hold it until the last lap, I did not want to jinx their finish.” he said. Lastly, it was the Greeley racer that was the first to arrive at the pit gate early Saturday morning prompting crew chief Warren Johnson to say, “How about that, our car is the first one here.” Maybe that was just the beginning of a special day of firsts for the race team now in first place in the point standings.
    Heat races were won by Dachenhausen, Goodenough, and Evonsion.

Connecticut National Guard 100
Waterford Speedbowl, May 3, 2008

Cautions - 7
Lap - 8, 35, 39, 42, 53, 77, 96; 1 red flag on lap 35
Race Time - 1:28:10
Leaders 10 - 1-16, 06 - 17-42, 28 - 43-77, 22 - 78-100
Black Mountain Painting Halfway Bonus - Dwight Jarvis
Hard Charger - Dwight Jarvis - 12th to 2nd

Official Order of Finish:

1. David Pinkham, 2. Dwight Jarvis, 3. Les Hinckley, 4. Chris Pasteryak, 5. Vinny Annarummo Jr., 6. Sean Bodreau, 7. Rowan Pennink, 8. Rob Goodenough, 9. Mike Holdridge, 10. Vogel Kenny, 11. Jack Bateman, 12. Jim Dolan, 13. Dale Evonsion, 14. Joe Doucette, 15. Kevin Iannarelli, 16. Eddy Spiers, 17. Kenny White Jr., 18. Shelly Perry, 19. Todd Owen, 20. Andy Seuss, 21. Ed Dachenhausen, 22. Ted Christopher, 23. Jimmy Blewett, 24. Dennis Gada, 25. Steve Masse.26, Shawn Monahan DNS.

Next Event: May 24, 25 Thunder Road International Speedbowl, Barre Vermont.

THE END