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09/01/2012 |
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TOMMY BARRETT WINS
HIS FIRST EVER VMRS RACE
Seventeen Years Old
And On Top Of His World
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by
Denise DuPont/Polly Reid
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 A
full moon, a blue moon hung over Stafford Motor Speedway for The Valenti
Modified Racing Series (VMRS) first 2012 race at the half mile track. There
were thirty-one modifieds in the pits ready to qualify and compete.
Seventeen year old, Tommy Barrett of Millis, MA. was the lucky driver in the
end that took the checked flags to win his first ever VMRS race.
Barrett pitted just before the race began for last minute adjustments and
started the race at the rear of the field. “We qualified third and I pulled
in just before the race started so I started the race last. I was trying to
save my tires and just pick off the slow cars so that we would not go a lap
down.”
He made his way up to mid-pack on Lap 30, when he decided to pit during the
race’s first caution. While in the pits, Barrett’s crew made adjustments to
the family owned Victory Lane Bar and Grill #9 modified and sent him right
back out.
Two laps later another caution came out and Barrett pitted one last time
(Lap 32). “When we pitted, it was the team’s plan to come in and swap tires
so that I could pass more cars.” After his crew swapped tires, Barrett
headed back out again picking up again at the rear of the field. But he was
not in the back for long as he started a forward charge. “I knew that the
car was going to be good. We have been good pretty much almost every week
from the first two races. I did not really think that we would have a
problem that was why we took the risk and went to the back, saved the tires
and then swapped the right side tires.”
The #9 car was on rails running a strong outside groove making his way back
to mid-pack as the race passed the half-way mark. Barrett followed Ted
Christopher up through the field for a while until he passed not only
Christopher, but also Doug Coby, Louie Mechalides and Jon McKennedy to
settle in to fourth by lap 65. As the laps ticked off there was no stopping
Barrett’s forward momentum.
 “I
followed Teddy up for a while until I got by him and then worked my way
around the top five. Then before you know it there were 15 laps to go and I
was battling the #25 car for the lead.” said Barrett in victory lane. “I
started to get a little loose but I had a lot more to pass the lead cars
because I saved my tires a little more. When I got up to the top five cars
it was all tour guys – Pennink, Christopher, Hirschman, Coby and I did not
know what was going to happen but the car was good enough and I finally got
there.”
Barrett took the lead on Lap 70 and then the race went to caution. On the
restart with only ten laps to go, the cars lined up single file. When the
green flag flew, Barrett ran hard for the next ten laps to take down the
win. “I was able to get a run, get under him (Rowan Pennink) and pass him
coming off of turn three. This is pretty much the best moment in my career.
I grew up watching Teddy Christopher. I watched him my whole life and I
wanted to try to be like him. I just tried not to be aggressive and get
 to
the front.”
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and VMRS regular, Rowan Pennink started the race
on the pole and lead for 70 laps until he was passed on the outside by a
hard charging Tommy Barrett. “As the end of the race approached, I was just
hoping for no more cautions. The car was good all night. It just took a
little bit to get going on the restarts and that was what hurt us with all
those cautions.”
In the end after each caution and restart, Pennink saw Barrett coming
through the pack in his rear view mirror. “My spotter said that Barrett was
quick but I really thought that I was going to be able to hold him off. If I
was not quite so tight on the bottom when he had me pinned down I would have
been alright if I got out in front of him. He had gone in and swapped tires
around that helped him a little bit but I do not know if something happened
to the Monks Hand Cleaner #25 car or not but it got wicked tight at the end
after it was good the whole race. But second is a good night for the points
I guess but I would have liked to have gotten the win here.”
Defending
series champion, Jon McKennedy, started the race ninth and race with the
leaders all night long. His car was a little off but good enough for a
podium finish for the Art Barry team. “It was a good run. We started ninth
and a third place finish is good. The car was a little tight in the middle
and I had a hard time rolling the car into the corner. All and all it was a
good night, the guys worked really hard and I want to thank everyone at
SPAFCO and Art Barry. They are a great bunch of guys and I am glad that I
can drive for them. So a third place finish overall it was a decent night. I
want to thank CARQUEST and Shark Cycle for helping us out with the race.”
Ted Christopher, driving Joe Brady’s 00, took the green flag deep in the
pack, eighteenth in the twenty-eight car field. Up to seventh twenty
 circuits in, Christopher picked up another spot before the first caution of
the night on lap 30. Lining up sixth, the field was up to speed when contact
sent Timmy Jordan around in turn four. Officials penalized Christopher
sending him to the tail end of the lead lap for the incident. “He came
down,” Christopher explained. “I was like, stay in your own lane, he didn’t
want to be on the bottom. He crowded the #85 (Louie Mechalides) the lap
before- I was watching, I was going like, oh boy, he doesn’t want to be
there. Oh well.”
After pitting, Christopher headed to the rear of the field. “I passed like
70 cars- back to the front, back to the front, back to the front. It was
fun.” With his strategy changing as fast as his track position, Christopher
wasted no time going forward. “It really screwed us for the win going to the
back again. You can only pass so many cars once, let alone twice. I beat up
the right rear too much.” At the checkers, Christopher crossed for a fourth.
 The
night for Todd Owen started playing out well – on the starting grid
fourteenth in the Jack Bateman owned #17, Owen was in a solid tenth by lap
30 when the first yellow waved. Catching a piece of the Timmy Jordan /Ted
Christopher incident, Owen needed to pit and found himself back to the tail
end of the lead lap with Christopher.
Back up to twelfth by lap 50, Owen was tenth when a game changer came on a
restart with fifteen to go. Chris Pasteryak, running third had a tire going
down on a lap 65 restart and went around going into turn one. A red flag was
called to remove Pasteryak’s bumper from the outer wall in turn two. Owen
was collected in the melee and was forced to pit. His restart found him once
again, at the tail end of the lead lap cars. The final yellow with ten to
go, Owen was in seventh and as the final circuits ticked off, Owen got by
Doug Coby to claim a respectful top five at his home track.
“I passed a lot of cars,” said Owen. “The wheels were still turning after
both of those incidents. There were a couple of saves, it was a good run.”
Driving for car owner Jack Bateman, Owen is having fun competing on the
VMRS. “We haven’t had the finishes a couple of times that we should have had
but we’re having fun.” Bateman echoed in the background, “That’s what it’s
all about.” The longer races have suited Owen. “We’ve had some bad nights
but basically it’s different racing. You can take your time, pick off a spot
here and there, people pretty much race you clean, it’s about all you can
ask for. It’s a whole learning curve for me, the longer races, save it, but
the opportunity Jack has given me here, working with these guys, it’s been
awesome from the time we first got together.”
The VMRS returns to Stafford in two weeks and Owen is looking forward to
putting more of his home track experience to good use. While Tommy Barrett
will see if he can repeat that; ”Once in a Blue Moon win.”
Extra Notes - Stafford Motor Speedway MRS
Race:
How could you pass Jon McKennedy and save tires
at the same time?
Tommy Barrett
“Ever since the Lee race, Jon McKennedy and I have been racing real clean
and real hard together. He did not throw a block on me like other guys were.
He gave me the room to get in front of him.”
How much did your Stafford experience in SK
Lights help you in today’s race?
Tommy Barrett
“I never learned to save tires in the SK Lights. The MRS and the tour cars
are completely different. The groove is completely different. So it helped
me a little bit just having been here but the ride was nothing alike.”
What are you thought after tonight’s race?
Rowan Pennink
“I hate it for the #25 team, we really wanted to get a win here at Stafford,
but we will have to get them next race. We will take notes on what to do
different. We had a good car but we ended up in second. We will get them
next time.” |
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Source: Denise DuPont/Polly Reid / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted: September
1, 2012 |
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