ALEXANDER SWEEPS MONADNOCK
There is nothing like home cooking and a five minute work commute
and that’s exactly what Kirk Alexander enjoys when the True Value
Modified Racing Series competes “next town over” as the defending
and three-time champion reeled in another win Saturday night in
front of a near capacity crowd at the Monadnock Speedway,
Winchester, NH.
The West Swanzey , NH veteran captured the “Fenton Family
Dealerships 100” posting his fifth win of the season, and his 31st
TVMRS victory. Alexander won all three races run at Monadnock this
season.
Heat winners Dwight Jarvis and Eddie Dachenhausen brought the 22
car field to green with Eddie “D” leading the first circuit and
Jarvis the second. The 2006 series champion would hold down the lead
until after a lap 10 re-start when Alexander was able to power by
and set the pace to the finish. The two drivers, the only champions
the series has known, became the class of the field. A long run of
56 caution-free laps established a torrid pace with Jarvis keeping
Alexander within striking distance, many of those laps only a car
length separated the two veterans.
The battle that developed for third place in the first half of the
race also was an attention grabber. Koszela Speed Rookie of the Year
contender Kenny White Jr, and local favorite Rob Goodenough, were
battling for many laps, often side by side, with the Weare, NH
rookie fighting off everything thrown at him by Goodenough until the
persistent W. Swanzey, driver was able to sneak by after a lap 67
restart.
Goodenough overcame mechanical woes earlier in the day when he
suffered rear end problems but his crew aggressively corrected the
problem and paved the way for Goodenough to finish a solid third.
Rob also becomes a guaranteed starter at Thompson , CT Set 6, 7 for
the annual Sunoco Race Fuels Mod-Mania weekend.
Mike Holdridge, Madison , CT. , continued to show why he is in the
hunt for the series championship. The second generation driver is
always around the front at the end and he was the only racer to
finish in the top five that has no Monadnock Speedway roots.
Holdridge’s fourth place finish avoided a top five sweep by former
Monadnock regulars.
Jack Bateman, the Canaan , NH., veteran, drove a solid race passing
cars at will. Several laps displayed Bateman’s many years of
experience at “The Dog” The series founder finished in a creditable
fifth.
Last weeks Waterford winner Chris Pasteryak finished sixth after
starting 22nd, Dachenhausen settled for seventh, White eighth, David
Pinkham ninth, and Jean Paul Cyr tenth.
Notes: Rookie Kevin Ianarelli blew an engine in practice.
Ianarelli, who just came back to the tour from that hard wreck at
Waterford said “we’re done for this year. We’ll focus on finishing
the season with the Pro-4 series, but we’ll be back.”
Longtime NH racer George Baldwin spotted for Jon McKennedy. Baldwin
just purchased a modified for next season. He has an interest in the
TVMRS.
Ben Dodge spoke at the drivers meeting stressing the importance of
strong support of the upcoming Mod-Mania event at Thompson Speedway.
Dodge indicated the need to plan for the future.
Mike Douglas Sr. says “we’re close” on returning to the series. The
father-son team has been sidelined waiting on engine parts for a
brand new motor.
Race Statistics:
Monadnock Speedway , Winchester , NH
Aug 23, 2008, Race # 13
“Fenton Family Dealerships 100”
23 entrants
Race Time: 46.09
Caution Flags: Laps – 7, 11, 68, 77, 77
Lap Leaders: Dachenhausen (1) D.Jarvis (2-10) Alexander
(11-100)
Official Finish: 1. Alexander, 2. D.Jarvis, 3. Goodenough 4.
Holdridge 5. Bateman 6. Pasteryak 7. Dachenhausen 8.White 9. Pinkham
10. Cyr 11. P.Jarvis 12. Boniface 13. Evonsion 14. Doucette 15.
Wenzel 16. Boudreau 17. McKennedy 18. Perry 19. Drown 20. Shumway
21. Hinckley 22. Dolan
THE END