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03/31/2013 |
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VMRS RACERS JUST WANT TO RACE
AND HAVE FUN!
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Teams Head to Waterford Speedbowl
for Last Minute Adjustments for Blastoff
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by
Denise DuPont
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This year the “Valenti Modified Racing Series” (VMRS) is celebrating their
tenth year of competition. On Easter Eve, VMRS teams headed to the
Connecticut shoreline to Waterford Speedbowl to shake out cars before their
race season officially blasts off on April 6th & 7th weekend.
There were 23 VMRS type cars in the pits among the 125 cars prepared and
testing on the track. During the off season modified teams either built new
cars or tore the old ones down to rebuild for the planned 19 race schedule.
 Rowan
Pennink will continue to run double duty in 2013 running the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour (NWMT) and VMRS both full time. The family owned #93 Monk
Mechanics Hand Cleaner car headed to Thompson International Speedway where
Pennink alternated between his NWMT modified and Gary Casella’s #25 VMRS
modified getting seat time in both cars. “I am excited to head down to
Waterford next weekend. We came close to winning that race at the opener
last year and we have a good shot at it this year.”
In 2012 the Roscoe Race Team had a few bouts of bad luck with engine issues
but held on to finish second in the series championship run. The team had
tried a new motor mixture and run with it out there were a few problems.
“Last year we had different motor combinations that were new to us and the
engine builder. Hopefully we got a lot of stuff worked out and this year we
will not have any new problems.”
While Pennink was at Thompson, NWMT driver Richie Pallai, Jr. and the #39
CARQUEST Filters/Bosch Spark Plugs race team selected to head to Waterford
Speedbowl. The weather was warmer and track was ready and waiting for race
teams. “We have never been here before so we are here to shake the car down
and to take a couple of laps. We felt we could not do too much at Thompson
because the track is still green and the weather will change. So we thought
it would be a good idea just to come here with the car, shake the cob webs
out and get some laps in to prepare for the race here later this year.”
“Our plan is to run the whole tour (NWMT) this year and to finish with a top
ten in points. We can definitely use the boost. We will run a new car that
we got at the end of last year and it ran really well then.“
“We stripped the car down during the off season and re-built it the way we
wanted it. We updated everything that needed to be updated. The car is
great. It is fast here today and we did not have to replace anything on it.
I am really excited to run it this year.”
Pallai’s first time behind the wheel at Waterford left him with a big smile.
“The track is a fast track. That was the first thing I thought about it. I
have only been here one to watch and I did not think it was as fast as it
is. It is definitely a fun track with two grooves which definitely makes the
racing better. The overall speed of the track through me off a little bit at
first but that is why we race to go fast! But he gears in these cars
sometimes make you feel like you are going faster than you are. It is a cool
track and I like it.”
NWMT veteran driver Charlie Pasteryak brought his #15 VMRS modified to
Waterford to get both him and the car ready to race. This year Charlie will
be in a car more rather than behind the scene with the wrenches. “In 2013 we
will race a little more than last year. But it all depends on how the season
goes with Chris. Two cars are a lot of work. It has taken us a couple of
years to get the equipment and build up the personnel. We have a great crew
but it takes a lot to bring two competitive cars to the track. You can bring
two cars but to bring two competitive cars to the track requires a lot more
and we are just about there.”
Second generation driver and son Chris Pasteryak is looking forward to the
2013 race season with the VMRS and the opportunity to recapture the
championship from 2012 defending champion Jon McKennedy.“It is fun to be
back at the race track. The car felt real good out there. We will do a
couple little things to it when we head back to the shop but other than that
I am happy with it.”
“We are planning to run all the (VMRS) races and to have fun. This year we
will do the best we can.”
 This
weekend the #1NH Hamshaw Lumber sponsored team of Rob Goodenough made the
trip from Swanzey, NH to Waterford Speedbowl. “I am hoping that it is going
to be a better than last year. We have good expectations this year. I am
hoping that things will go our way for a change and we have a good season
racing with Hamshaw Lumber.”
The team had their share of issues last year and they were on the track to
make tweaks where needed. “We did not make a lot of changes to the #1NH car
this year but we went through everything we had and freshened up what we
had. We are starting off with everything right this year and we are just
hoping to stay out of trouble taking it week by week. Hopefully it will all
fall unto itself. The plan is to run the full series season but obviously
depends on how the season goes but we have every intention to run the full
year now.”
Car owner Dale Holdridge prepared the family owned #0 modified to Waterford
to shake out and potential problems. His son and car driver Mike Holdridge
shook out the car and along the way discovered a potential motor issue. The
team now will have a week to continue their work. Then next weekend they
will return to their home track to start the race season off hopefully with
a notable finish. “The car is handling perfect,” said Mike Holdridge. “We
have a few motor problems that hopefully we will straighten that out this
week and then it will be good to go. We think that it may be an oil issue
and if that is what it is we will be good to go. It was a nice day today and
I like that I did not have to drive three hours to test the car and we did
not wreck anything testing it today.“
“We did not make many changes from last year. We are just hoping that we can
get everything straightened out with our program. We now have a week to
address what issue we may have. If we can, we will be good to go.”
 Todd
Owen is back behind the wheel of VMRS series owner, Jack Bateman, #17
modified for the 2013 race season. Owen has a lot of short track racing and
his smooth ride on Saturday certain showed his experience. “The car was
perfect on the track. It was fast right out of the box and very consistent
so far. So we are happy.”
“This year we have good equipment and Jack (Bateman) is motivated to do well
so we have a little bit more of a championship (VMRS) opportunity this year.
So my plans for 2013 are to run fulltime MRS schedule and run Stafford when
I can -- there maybe a few conflicts with the schedules. I will also run a
couple of Late Model races.” So Owen has a full race schedule planned.
Louie Mechalides clocked some of the fastest times in the Easter Egg Purple
#85 Stuart Automotive modified. “Everything is fresh and new and hopefully
we will start off good and have a good time. The car feels really good out
on the track today. We will go out a couple more times and then we will be
done.”
 Tommy
Barrett was practicing the family’s #9 modified when the car appeared to
break something as it snapped around during mid-afternoon shake-out time.
The car was towed to the pits with severe looking damage to the rear of the
car. Barrett, one visible shaken driver, joined his car and regrouped while
the crew went to work to evaluate both their driver and car.” The car was
fine,” Barrett said resting in the hauler. “I did not want to push it too
hard but on the track I was faster than the #19 car (Dave Schneider) who was
running a little loose on the track. I went up on the high side to get
around him and I went up a little too high and got up in the marbles and got
into the wall. The car came out from under me when I lost it in the marbles.
“
”This year, I will be running the Modified Race Series full time. This week
did not come off too good but we will see how next week goes after we get
the car fixed. The car is pretty bad but we will do what we can to fix it.”
 Seekonk
Speedway’s Todd Annarummo practiced the family owned #12 car. He had some
good laps with consistent looking times. The driver has an aggressive
schedule planned for the 2013 race season which includes some VMRS races.
“The car felt good on the track and nothing fell off during practice so that
is a good thing. This year we are going to start out here at Waterford and
then run the complete Star (Speedway) modified schedule. We are going to run
for the Championship at Star Speedway and defend my home track (Seekonk).
Then we have nine or ten VMRS races that we are going to head to.”
“Luckily none of the Star races conflict with the Seekonk schedule so we are
going to do all the Seekonk and Waterford shows and then maybe a couple of
Lee (USA Speedway) shows. So we have a busy season planned.”
Steve Masse will return to the VMRS with a plan to run fulltime this year.
The team hopes to start off their year with a solid start with good finishes
and consistent runs. “The car was good during practice. We just came to
shake it down. Everything felt good and tight and snug and drove consistent.
So I am happy.”
“Plans for the #13 team are to run the MRS series full season but it will be
dictated on how we run at the beginning of the year. If we run good then we
will try to continue out the full year. If we do not run well the first
couple of races then we will probably just pick and choose.”
Connecticut driver Jimmy Dolan is looking to race for fun in 2013 fitting in
a track when there is time. ”We will be running a limited schedule, do the
best we can and try to have fun. Picking and choosing our races is more fun
for our team. So running that way is definitely more fun and it keeps my
wife happy to!”
The #69 family owed team packed their car in the hauler in one piece ready
to head home for the Holiday. “The car felt really good on the track today.
It was great to get out there and it was a good shake down. We had no
problems with the car. It ran real well and I am looking forward to come
back again next week.”
Happy Easter everyone and we are looking forward to seeing you at the track
or back with us next week as we provide live updates from Waterford
Speedbowl for the Budweiser Blastoff Weekend! |
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Source: Denise DuPont / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted: March
31, 2013 |
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