Its
been a little over four months since Jonathan McKennedy was honored for his
2009 championship. The trophy is on the mantel, and now it’s time to get
back to work. The young charger from E.Chelmsford, (MA), who has fast become
a household name in modified racing, is ready for what lies ahead, and so is
the race team.
Father, car owner, and crew chief, Dennis McKennedy, said this week the team
is eager to get going. “Cars ready, truck’s ready, we plan to run the whole
thing, give the championship another shot. That’s the plan right now.”
McKennedy, winner of four races last year, leads the list of entries for
this weekends Modified Racing Series, sponsored by Bob Valenti AutoMall.Com,
season opener at the historic Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, (CT). The
two-day event kicks off the 60th season of racing at the famed oval. The MRS
will compete in a 100 lap green flag race on Sunday.
McKennedy will pilot his own race car with the MRS and will do some driving
for noted race car builder and owner Art Barry on the NASCAR sanctioned
Whelen Modified Tour this season.
McKennedy was chased in the run for the title last season by veteran driver
Rob Goodenough, W.Swanzey, (NH), with Goodenough, winner of last years
season opener at Monadnock Speedway, finishing only 15 points behind
McKennedy. Goodenough is also an expected entry for this year’s season
opener.
MRS mainstays expected at Waterford include, 11-time winner Les Hinckley,
Windsor Locks, (CT), Ed Dachenhausen, Danbury, (CT), and Jack Bateman,
Canaan, (NH), both former winners, veteran modified driver Eddy Spiers,
Beacon Falls, (CT), Kevin Iannarelli, Framingham,(MA), Joe Doucette,
Framingham,(MA), former winners Stephen Masse, Bellingham,(MA), and 2009
Rookie of the Year Jacob Dore, Sanford, (ME), the father/daughter team of
Butch & Shelly Perry, Ashaway, (RI), and second generation drivers, Richard
Savary, Canton, (MA),Todd Annarummo, Swansea,(MA), and Mike Holdridge,
Madison, (CT).
Andy Seuss, Hampstead, (NH), winner of the recent WSMT race at Caraway
Speedway, Asheboro, (NC), three-time series winner Louie Mechalides,
Tyngsboro,(MA), 2009 Monadnock Speedway champion Todd Patnode, Swanzey,
(NH), David Roys, Coram, (NY), and Bobby Drown, Milldale,(CT), have all
indicated they expect to enter the Waterford event.
Newcomers to the series, preparing for Waterford and entered are, Bill
Perry, Holbrook,(MA), Max Zachem,Preston,(CT), Bryon Chew, Inlet, (NY), Eric
Goodale, Wading River, (NY), and Keith Rocco, Wallingford,(CT).
Waterford regulars, Jeff Malave, Manchester, (CT), Rob Janovic, Waterford,
and Jeff Pearl, Salem, (CT), have expressed their plans to compete.
Because it’s the first race of the new season, a special practice session
will be conducted on Friday, March 26, from 12 PM to 5PM. Practice and
qualifying will take place on Saturday, March 27, with the 100 lap green
flag feature race for the Modified Racing
Series, sponsored by Bob Valenti AutoMall.Com, on Sunday, March 28. Valenti
dealerships are located in Mystic, CT., and Westerly, RI.
For additional information, log on to
www.speedbowl.com. |