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04/21/2013 |
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PENNINK
CELEBRATES
SPRING DASH WIN AT MONADNOCK |
 With
the Valenti Modified Racing Series celebrating it’s
10th anniversary and where the series got it’s
start, Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon Valley, PA, did
his own celebrating when he captured the Bond Auto
Parts “Spring Dash 100” Saturday night at Monadnock
Speedway, Winchester, NH. The victory, Pennink’s
eighth series win, makes him the sixth different
driver to win the annual April race.
The series second event of the year felt more like a
winter-fest as 40-degree temperatures and blustery
winds chilled a good crowd on hand considering the
conditions.
Pennink took the lead on a lap 94 restart when he
bolted by local favorite Todd Patnode, of Richmond,
NH. A fast closing late race charge from Tommy
Barrett, of Millis Mass, pressured Pennink to the
finish.
Pennink, who started 13th in a 25-car field, moved
to fourth on lap 75. He rolled by Barrett on the
88th circuit, moved to second for a pair of laps on
lap 93, and led the final six laps to notch the win.
Pennink played it right over the final 25 laps. “We
had to see how the race was going to play out. Brian
(Crowley-Spotter)) and I together stayed patient. We
didn’t use up the car too much. Kept the tires under
it and waited for a caution. The race played right
into our hands. Want to thank all the guys on the
Roscoe Racing team for an awesome job.”
Runner-up Barrett looked like the driver of a year
ago when he made his popular late race charge and
was in contention for the win. After a rough outing
at Waterford, CT, two weeks ago, Barrett was pleased
with the finish.
“Our usual strategy is to lay back in the field and
come in to swap tires. We went 52 laps without a
caution. Decided to ride around in the front. I
thought I had something for him. (Pennink) Thought I
could get around him but he was doing a good job
holding me off. I’ll take it after Waterford and
move on from here and hope for a good finish at
Thompson.”
Louie Mechalides, of Tyngsboro, MA, made a late race
charge of his own when he slipped by Patnode on the
final lap. Patnode settled for fourth, with Max
Zachem, of Preston, CT, rounding out the top five.
Richard Savary, Tim Jordan, Mike Holdridge, Jim
Boniface, and Norman Wrenn finished sixth through
tenth.
Outside front row starter Holdridge led the first 50
laps when pole-sitter Zachem moved by. Patnode
wrestled the lead from Zachem on lap 72.
26 competitors entered the race. The only driver
that did not compete was popular Dwight Jarvis. The
Ascutney, VT, driver was to begin his 40th season
but was involved in a qualifying heat skirmish that
sidelined him from the event.
18 of the 25 drivers finished on the lead lap. 6
caution periods slowed the race, which took 53
minutes to complete.
The next event for the VMRS will be Sunday, May 19,
at Thompson, CT, Speedway.
Race Summary:
Monadnock Speedway Winchester NH
April 20,2013
Entrants: (26)
Distance: 100-laps
Time of Race: 53:13:340
Margin of Victory: 0.479
Best Lap Time: 12.520
Best Speed: 71.885 (Holdridge)
Lead Changes: 3
Lap Leaders: Holdridge (1-49) Zachem (50-71
Patnode (72-93) Pennink (94-100)
Cautions: Laps- 52,60,71,72,94,97
Unofficial Order Of Finish: 1. Pennink,
2. Barrett, 3. Mechalides, 4. Patnode, 5. Zachem, 6.
Savary, 7. Jordan, 8. Holdridge, 9. Boniface,
10. Wrenn, 11. Pasteryak, 12. Goodenough, 13. Masse,
14. Kopec, 15. Heino, 16. Smith, 17. Mead, 18. Spiers,
19. Pearl, 20. Nocella, 21. Seidell, 22. Fifield, 23. Cliché', 24.
Schneider, 25. Owen. |
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Source: John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted: April
21, 2013 |
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