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4/12/2010 |
MODIFIED RACING
SERIES
READY FOR EAST VERSUS WEST SHOWDOWN |
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Open-wheel
modified racing returns to one of the Northeast’s leading racing facilities
adding another chapter to it’s long history as the famed Albany-Saratoga
Speedway, Malta, NY., returns to asphalt racing for the first time in 35
years and plays host to the Modified Racing Series, sponsored by Bob Valenti
Automall.Com, and the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour.
It will be the first MRS race outside of New England in the series seven
year history. The two touring divisions will compete in a special 100 lap
feature race on Sunday April 18.
Dubbed as an East vs. West showdown, the event will highlight 2009 MRS
champion Jon McKennedy, of East Chelmsford, MA., and 2009 ROC champion Matt
Hirschman, Northampton, PA. Both competed in the recent MRS season opener at
Waterford, CT., with Hirschman finishing second in that race, one position
ahead of McKennedy.
A total of 24 MRS race teams as of April 9 have pre-registered for the event
featuring a blend of series veterans and newcomers. To date, 2006 champion
Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney. VT, and 2008 champion, Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon,
CT., will join defending champ, McKennedy, as entrants. More drivers are
expected to enter.
9-time NASCAR champion, Mike Stefanik, Coventry, (RI), will make the trek to
Malta as will Huntington Valley, (PA), front-runner Rowan Pennink. and
former MRS rookie of the year Andy Seuss, Hampstead, (NH) a recent winner at
Caraway Speedway, Asheboro, (NC).
Series veterans, Jack Bateman, Canaan, (NH)., Ed Dachenhausen, Danbury,
(CT), Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, (CT)., Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, (CT)., Mike
Holdridge, Madison, (CT) , Kenny Barry, Preston, (CT) 2009 Rookie of the
Year, Jacob Dore, (Sanford, (ME), Jim Boniface, Winchester, (NH), Joe
Doucette, Framingham, (MA), Eddy Spiers, Beacon Falls, (CT), and Jeff
Malave, Manchester, (CT) have all pre-registered.
2010 Koszela Speed Rookie of the Year candidates,Max Zachem, Preston, Joey
Jarvis, Ascutney, Norman Wrenn, Nashua, (NH), Todd Annarummo, Swansea,(MA).,
Frank Perry, Holbrook, (MA), Byron Chew, Inlet,, (NY), Geoffrey Gernhard,
Salem, (CT), and Eric Goodale, Wading River, (NY), have also entered.
From 1965 to 1975, before it was transformed into a dirt track facility,
Albany Saratoga Speedway attracted the era’s top names in modified racing.
Legendary drivers like Bugs Stevens, Smokey Boutwell, Leo Cleary, Ernie
Gahan, Rene Charland, Pete Hamilton, Don MacTavish, Bill Slater, and the
great Richie Evans, all competed at the 4/10 mile speedway. Evans was the
last asphalt modified champion there.
Hall of Famer Brian Ross, one of the most influential drivers and
fabricators of his generation, will be the grand marshal for Sunday’s race.
Ross began his racing career in the charger division at Albany-Saratoga
Speedway in the late 1960s and progressed to have a distinguished career on
the NASCAR asphalt modified series.
Ross described his early racing days at Albany-Saratoga Speedway as an
education.
“When I started racing at Albany-Saratoga, it was like going to school. If
you wanted to learn about racing, there was no better place to be. Anybody
who was anybody showed up to race at Albany-Saratoga. It always got the best
drivers from New England, western New York, Canada, Long Island. Just to
make the show was a feat. It was a tremendous place to learn about racing.”
An open practice for MRS and ROC competitors will take place on Saturday
April 17. Pit gates will open both Saturday and Sunday at 8 AM.
Courtyard by Marriott at Saratoga Springs 11 Excelsior Avenue Saratoga
Springs, New York will serve as Modified Racing Series headquarters for the
weekend. |
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Source: John H. Spence Sr.
/ Modified Racing Series
Posted: April
12, 2010 |
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