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08/25/2013 |
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PATNODE WINS
VICTOR JOHNSON MEMORIAL AT MONADNOCK |
 Your
first win is always special but Todd Patnode made
his extra special when he won the Valenti Modified
Racing Series sanctioned ‘Victor Johnson Memorial
100’ Saturday night at Monadnock Speedway. Johnson,
a local racer and occasional VMRS competitor died
two years ago in a house fire.
Patnode, of Richmond, NH, became the second driver
in two days to win their first series race. Richard
Savary, of Canton, MA, scored his first 48 hours
earlier at Thompson, CT.
In the early going Max Zachem, of Preston, CT, shot
into the lead from his outside pole starting
position, took command of the race until passed by
Peter Jarvis of Ascutney, VT, on lap 44. Zachem
reclaimed the lead four laps later and held the top
position until passed this time by Dwight Jarvis, of
Ascutney, on lap 79.
At one point Zachem had four long-time Monadnock
racers giving chase, the Jarvis Brothers, Rob
Goodenough, of Swanzey, NH, and Patnode.
Patnode started 10th in the 25-car field, and was
running 10th when the first caution flag was
displayed on lap 47. Patnode was running 5th at a
lap 71 stoppage and was second on the 77th circuit.
Patnode took charge on lap 84 and was never headed.
Patnode explained post race “I thought Dwight looked
a little tight when I got to him (lap 77) and I
thought I was a little too free at that point but it
turned out pretty good for us. I have to thank the
crew as they keep digging and digging because we’ve
had some bad runs and they keep sticking with it.
It’s finally paying off.”
Patnode, owner of Swanzey Oil, sponsored the race to
honor his friend Victor Johnson. “ None of us will
ever forget Victor. He was a great competitor and a
great guy. This was a good win for us all the way
around.”
Jon McKennedy finished runner-up summed up his run
in one sentence. “ We had a good run just got a
little too tight.”
Dwight Jarvis checkered third, a little disappointed
he couldn’t nail another Monadnock win after being
in contention. “Third’s better than last. I was glad
to see Todd win. I would have liked to beat him but
he deserved it. He raced me clean. He was plenty
faster than I was tonight.”
Zachem finished fourth after leading most of the
race with point leader Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon
Valley, PA, fifth.
Russ Hersey, Todd Owen, Chris Pasteryak, Dana Smith,
and Jeff Pearl rounded out the top ten
Dylan Kopec, Norm Wrenn, and McKennedy won
qualifying heats.
The race was slowed eight times for minor incidents
resulting in the race time of 52: 18 seconds to
complete.
Race No.12 of 17 -
Monadnock Speedway
Entrants: 26 (25 starters) Jeff Rocco (engine)
Distance: 100-laps
Time of Race: 52:18:611
Best Lap Time: 12.766 (Dana Smith)
Lead Changes: 4 (among 4 drivers)
Lap Leaders: Zachem (1-43, 48-77) P.Jarvis
(44-47) D.Jarvis (78-84) Patnode (85-100)
Cautions: 8 (47,51,71,83,83,91,92,98
Unofficial Finish: (1) Patnode (2) McKennedy
(3) D. Jarvis (4) Zachem (5) Pennink (6) Hersey (7)
Owen (8) Pasteryak (9) Smith (10) Pearl (11) Barrett
(12) Holdridge (13) Kopec (14) Schneider (15)
Mechalides (16) Etheridge (17) Mead (18) Goodenough
(19) Fifield (20) Hinckley (21) P. Jarvis (22) Wrenn
(23) Savary (24) Raymond (25) Nocella
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Source: John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted: August
25, 2013 |
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