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08/18/2013 |
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HOME SWEET
HOME
FOR ANNARUMMO AT SEEKONK |
 Long-time
racer Vinnie Annarummo once declared in victory lane
following a Valenti Modified Racing Series win,
“This Is My Home.” Son Todd showed Saturday night he
could also lay claim that Seekonk Speedway is his
home turf too. The Swansea, MA, driver nabbed his
first victory of the season winning the ‘Valenti
Auto Group 100’ at the historic Massachusetts oval.
The victory was Annarummo’s second series win.
Annarummo started fourth in a 24-car field, moved
into third in the early going behind leaders Rob
Goodenough, of Swanzey, NH, and Richard Savary, of
Canton, MA, then took the top spot from Savary on
lap 31.
Chris Pasteryak, of Lisbon, CT, chased the leader,
Savary took his turn for 38-laps, then a hard
charging Steven Masse, of Bellingham, MA, tried his
best to the checkered flag. Masse lead lap-88 only
to be passed by a more dominant Annarummo.
Annarummo had a plan in place when then race went
green. “I just wanted to get out front and run my
race. It was going to take a lot to beat me. It was
probably going to have to be in the infield,” he
said with a smile.
In the closing laps, the leaders came upon a handful
of slower cars that brought Masse and Savary within
striking distance. “Not again,” Annarummo reasoned.
“Two races so far here. Lapped traffic cost me wins
here. I was very patient this time. I had to deal
with the cars behind me but I needed to deal with
the cars in front of me first.”
Runner-up Masse knew he was in Annarummo country.
“My crew gave me a great car. It was real fast.
Tightened up a bit. Can’t be ashamed getting beat by
the (12) here. He knows the track well. I’ll take
second place to him any day.”
With his five-month-old son watching Dad race for the
first time,
early leader Savary was pleased with his podium
finish.” We had a really good car most of the day.
On that second or third restart the clutch started
slipping. No excuses. I couldn’t step on the gas. I
had to just ride. Cautions were killing me. I
couldn’t shift and I couldn’t go full throttle.
Happy to bring the car home third.”
Tommy Barrett, of Millis, MA, finished fourth with
Louie Mechalides, of Tyngsboro, MA, rounding out the
top five.
Max Zachem, Rowan Pennink, Todd Patnode, Chris
Pasteryak, and Norm Wrenn, finished sixth through
tenth.
Despite eight caution flags, the race was completed
in 51 minutes with 15 of the original 24 starters
finishing on the lead lap. For the second
consecutive race, 32 race teams entered the event.
Heat winners were; Barrett, Pennink, and Savary,
with Dana Smith winning the 13-car consolation race.
A busy week coming up for the VMRS as the three-time
postponed race at Thompson CT Speedway is scheduled
for Thursday, August 22, and a return to Monadnock
NH Speedway on Saturday, August 24.
Race No.10 of 17- Seekonk
Speedway
Entrants: 32 (24 starters)
Distance: 100 laps
Time of Race: 51:31.084
Best Lap Time: 12.229 (T. Annarummo)
Lead Changes: 4 (among 3 drivers)
Lap Leaders: Goodenough 1-10, Savary 11-31,
Annarummo 32-87, Masse 88, Annarummo (89-100)
Cautions: 8 on laps-5, 8,26,36,82,82,84,88
Order of Finish; (1) Annarummo, (2) Masse,
(3) Savary, (4) Barrett, (5) Mechalides, (6) Zachem,
(7) Pennink, (8) Patnode, (9) Chris Pasteryak, (10)
Wrenn, (11) Iannarelli, (12) Jarvis, (13) Holdridge,
(14) Schneider, (15) Smith, (16) Pearl, (17) Mead,
(18) Fifield, (19) Nocella, (20) Goodenough, (21)
Barnett, (22) Spiers, (23) Houlihan, (24) Kopec.
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Source: John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted: August
18, 2013 |
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