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11/27/2013 |
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ROWAN
PENNINK CAPTURES
FIRST EVER MODIFIED CHAMPIONSHIP
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Gary Casella Captures Owner Championship
After Ten Years
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by
Denise DuPont/Polly
Reid
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In the spring of 2004, the Modified Racing Series (MRS) made its debut at
Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, NH. with an inaugural 100 lap feature
event. The modifieds quickly clicked off 100 laps with one caution occurring
on lap 85. Drivers, crews, fans and officials were all both amazed and
delighted with the results. Ten years later the series has now expanded from
its New Hampshire roots to across New England and New York.
 To
make this year’s tenth year anniversary special, a $10,000 purse was
established for the winner of the 2013 MRS championship. Rowan Pennink of
New Egypt, NJ set his sights and proceeded to take the Gary Casella owned
#25 modified to the top of the charts to capture this year’s championship
for the Roscoe Racing team. At the series annual banquet Pennink and Casella
received the Championship trophies and collected the $10,000 check from
series president and founder Jack Bateman. This was Pennink’s first ever
modified championship and the team had an impressive race season with two
wins and thirteen top five finishes out of seventeen races.
So after ten years of competing, car owner, Gary Casella, finally received
the car owner championship award for his efforts. “Gary has been with the
series since it started ten years ago,” said Pennink. “Winning the
championship for him on the series tenth year anniversary is first of all
special for me but it is even more special for Gary since he has been
involved with the series since it started. Winning the championship for him
on this special anniversary year was awesome.”
This year the #25 team shook off the bad luck that seemed to overshadow them
in the past and ran consistently up front. They took each race one at a
time, planned, set their actions in motion and progressed forward. “I could
not have accomplished two wins and thirteen top five finishes if it were not
for the guys at the shop putting in long hours and making sure the car was
right out of the box when they load it up in the trailer every week. I live
in New Jersey and they are way up in the Boston area so I could not make it
to the shop to help. So I trusted those guys to bring me a car that was both
ready to go and competitive every week. I cannot thank the #25 team enough
for the opportunity to pull together a championship like this.”
2013 championship car owners, Gary and Kim Casella of Saugus, MA were
presented the “Chuck Montville Car Owner Championship Award”. The renaming
of this award in honor of Montville was very special to the competitors
after losing a fellow racer this year. “It’s pretty important, it was a goal
of ours, I didn’t want to stop until we won that,” said Casella about
winning the championship. “Rowan is so good, he didn’t use a bumper the
second half of the year. He’s so good, that the body on our car is three
years old. People don’t know that, he is really good at what he does. Rowan
is the easy part- he never questions me, he’s an awesome human being.”
Keeping a team together is not easy as everyone knows. “Kim is in the shop
working on the car. We don’t have a lot of help at the shop-it’s hard trying
to run a business, keep a car on the track.” Casella points to the ankle
that still has a brace on it, being on crutches this summer with that added
to the challenge. “It’s definitely hard to keep it together, racing can be
frustrating. But I’m lucky enough to have won in about every race car
division I’ve been in.”
“It means a lot,” said Kim Casella about the title. “I see them work so
hard, they work their tails off every night, every weekend – it means a lot
to see them finally get what they’ve been working so hard for.”
“The competition has definitely gotten tougher, there are a lot of really
great people that run the Series and the longer I’ve been around the more
they’ve become a family. Everyone works hard, you can see that and it gets
harder every year.”
 VMRS
rookie, Dana Smith of Sunapee, NH. moved to the VMRS series when his local
track (Twin State Speedway) closed. While in his first year racing with the
series he stayed ahead in the rookie point race even after bad luck started
to plague him at the end of the season. He was the highest winning rookie in
eight of the thirteen VMRS races he competed in which was enough to clench
the rookie award. “I do not really feel that I deserve the “Rookie of the
Year” Award but I will take it. I think that fellow competitor, Dylan Kopec,
did a great job. Especially at the end of the year when we seemed to fall
off pace.”
Leading in the rookie award points, the team took a chance and started
making changes to prepare for next year. It was a risk that they took
knowing that they had already sealed the rookie title. “At the end of the
year we were experimenting to get ready for next year and we learned a lot
about the tracks even though we did not do well. So we did our experimenting
and hopefully next year we will have a better idea of what we want to do."
“I love the series and we will definitely will be back next year.” Said
Smith when he was asked about his next year’s plans. “I had a blast this
year. We have met a lot of good people and the officials are great. I hope
most of them come back. I know a couple of the officials will be done this
year and I will miss them.”
See you all next March as the VMRS race season begins with the Waterford
Speedbowl Blastoff.
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2013 VMRS AWARDS
John Spence continued the evening with the
presentation of Special Awards.
Mountainside Graphix Rookie of the Year Award - Dana Smith Sunapee,
NH. Smith made 13 Series starts earning three top ten finishes. Smith was
the highest finishing rookie in 8 of his 13 events.
“We started out in a crate motor modified at Twin State Speedway (Claremont,
NH). And I love driving a modified and I watched these guys (VMRS) when they
came to town. And you always want to get to this level. So when Twin State
closed down, we thought that this was the direction that we want to go. So
we thought we would give it a shot.”
“It is difficult going to several different tracks during a race season
rather than racing at your home track every week. It is more difficult than
I thought getting use to all the tracks. But it is fun. There are some
beautiful tracks out there. We camp out at the track every weekend and it
makes it fun along with being a nice family thing. I really enjoy touring
now. I cannot think about racing at a single track again.”
Sportsmanship Award - driver of the 66, Dylan Kopec of Palmer, MA- as
John Spence put it, “Dylan showed respect to all drivers, teams and
officials. An impressive first season, Kopec qualified in 13 of the 17
events. He had a great battle for the Rookie championship, Dana and Dylan,
both, real solid efforts and real good representatives of the Valenti
Modified Racing Series.
Tough Luck Award - Mike Holdridge of Madison, CT. “A bad luck
situation plagued the 2013 season for this driver with all sorts of
mechanical woes,” said Spence. “But they always tried their hardest to
overcome adversity.” Holdridge finished the season 10th in the VMRS point
standings.
Spafco Most Improved Driver Award - Anthony Nocella of Woburn, MA.
“This driver earned his first career win at the DAV event at Seekonk in
October. He improved from 35th in the point standings to 9th in 2013,” as
Spence said, “quite an effort.”
Nocella was pleased with the 2013 effort and is looking forward to an even
better 2014. “We got our own car this year, we ended up winning at Seekonk,
that was cool,” said Nocella who just turned 21, “I’ve won that race a
couple of times with a midget, but I always wanted to win it in a modified.
If I was going to win anything in a modified, that was the track where I
kind of have a lot of experience there. It was cool to win one. We ran good
for the most part this year, had some bad luck but a lot of good runs.”
Nocella continued, “Usually we had a top five car, I think we had a good
car, even the times
 we
broke- I think if we get everything together, crew, resources to run full
time, I think we could run with the best guys and I don’t know, we might
have a shot at winning all of it. You never know- need some good luck and
finish every race. It would be pretty awesome to win it.”
Most Popular Driver Award - Max Zachem of Preston, CT. “This driver
amassed a total of 1115 votes tallied on the modifiedracingseries.com,” said
Spence, “17% of the votes.” As if finishing the season sixth in points and
being awarded the Most Popular Driver award wasn’t enough, Zachem was also
celebrating his 21st birthday, enjoying the extra special big night with his
racing ‘family’.
Mechanic of the Year Award - Josh Steeves from #13 Steve Masse team.
“This gentleman is involved with a very small crew,” explained Spence. “Saw
a series high of three wins and three second place finishes despite that.
Led laps in 27% of the races they ran in 2013 for a total of 139 laps.” Chip
Pettengill presented the award to Steeves. “This year was a little tough
picking out one,” said Pettengill. “But we picked out the man we thought
best for this award. Not only for his work with the team but for his work
with other teams, he did an outstanding job. Congratulations to Josh for an
outstanding job with the 13 car.”
Volunteer of the Year Award - Joe Doucette of Framingham, MA. “Simply
put,” said Spence, “when we were strapped for help, he put his race car
aside and pitched in to help.” Pete Newsham presented the well-earned award.
Dedicated to Racing Award - Charlie Pasteryak of Lisbon, CT. “This
goes to a very special guy who has been involved in racing for a very long
time,” explained Spence. “His career dates back to the mid-70’s. He always
brings insight and knowledge to making this Series the best that it can be.
And on more than one occasion, always willing, without being asked, to tow
another car to the show to help the car count.” Pasteryak was surprised to
receive the award. “This Series has the old school, like Jarvis, Goodenough,
Patnode- the kids come to the track, like Monadnock and say ‘you race here?’
They figure it out, my son figured it out. To see the young kids go against
the old guard, it’s really pretty cool.” Charlie’s son Chris Pasteryak was
the 2008 and 2011 VMRS Champion, finishing the 2013 season 5th in points.
Annual Hoosier Jacket Presentation - Dan Anderson awarded the Hoosier
jacket to the 2013 VMRS Champion, Rowan Pennink.
Above and Beyond Award - John ‘Chip’ Pettengill of Westbrook,
ME. “This goes to the Official that serves above and beyond though out the
course of the season. This year, it goes to a guy that is really like our
father. I could say a thousand things about this guy,” said Spence, “because
I travel with him to and from the races on many occasions. I remember the
day he came to me after a MRS race at Lee, several years ago. Waiting at the
bottom of the tower for me, he introduced himself saying he wanted to get
involved with the Series.
Well, give me your name, your telephone number and I’ll pass it along to
Jack Bateman. Ten days go by and he wants to know if I contacted Bateman
yet. I said no, no, it doesn’t happen that fast, we’re just done the season,
give us a little time, we’ll hook you up and we did. Looking back on it now,
it was probably one of the best phone calls I’ve ever made to Jack. He’s so
dedicated and so hard working. He runs a tight tire corral, he has done
anything and everything the Series has ever asked of him, he’s a friend to
everybody, up and down pit row, they respect him and they love him and I’m
very proud to announce this year’s recipient to a guy that is very special
to all of us.”
Hard Charger Award- presented by New England Race Fuels - Charlie
Holland presented the honor to Matt Mead.
Bob Polverari 711 Award - Louis Mechalides of Tynesboro, MA. “This award was
conceived a few years ago by New England Hall of Famer Bob Polverari who was
an active competitor in this Series in the early years. Bob wanted to do
something for the Series and came up with the 711 Award,” explained Spence.
“This award is presented annually to the competitor that represents the
Series compassionately on and off the race track.”
“This award is a complete surprise,” said Mechalides. “I am honored that Bob
recognized what I do as a racer as well as someone who loves this sport. I
never got to race against Bob, our paths didn’t cross back then, but I
certainly know what he contributed to modified racing. This really is pretty
cool.” Mechalides finished the season fourth in points, including a win at
Seekonk Speedway in June.
The award ceremonies concluded with Race Director Scott Tapley at the podium
presenting a special acknowledgement of the three people who have been with
the Series from the beginning- Jack Bateman, Chris Grey and John Spence.
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Wrap-up Notes from The Valenti Modifed
Racing Series 2013 Year:
Why did you decide to run in the VMRS series?
Rowan Pennink
“The MRS series is a racer friendly series. You go to the track it is more
relaxed with a fun atmosphere every week. We go to a bunch of different
tracks and it has developed into a good series and hopefully they have some
good stuff in store for next season. I am excited we are going back to
Airborne. That is an awesome track that is very racy and I cannot wait to
get back to race there.”
Where did you get your start in racing?
Gary Casella
“Thirty years in racing, from a start in 1983 in Colorado in dirt, Casella
learned racing by doing, by building his own cars. It was Wayne Helliwell
who helped step up the learning curve. “Wayne Helliwell, Sr. is the only
person who ever helped me in my career and it was awesome. For whatever
reason, he needed a car and he asked to borrow the car, I had a pro stock at
the time, we took it to his shop, he helped me with the set up and taught me
there was more than just putting a car together, there was technology
involved.”
Was there any major different between your
championship season this year and last year?
Rowan Pennink
“We did not have any DNS this year. We had one DNF (did not finish) but were
able to bounce back and back that up with the thirteen top fives. Also last
year we had a few DNFs which hurt us in the points last year.”
“The competition in the MRS series has been brought up a notch with new
teams competing. There is a lot of good cars every week and for most races
they are sending cars home. It has become a very tough series. The
competition has stepped up a lot and a lot of teams have upped their game
and it is a tough series. We won two races two races this year but I would
have thought we would have won more. The competition is tough and it is real
tough to get a win. It is really cool to see this series grow. It has come a
long way and I am excited for next year.”
From “The Mountain Series” to a “New
England Modified Series”
John Spence, Sr., has grown to be known as the
voice of the MRS. We took some time at the end of the season to ask him some
questions on his opinion of the series most notable points and key history.
Here are a few of his thoughts:
“The first race at Monadnock Speedway occurred after a meeting that Jack
Bateman had in the winter of 2003 with some hopeful competitors in the
series. Nineteen race teams showed up and then he had twenty-two teams’ show
up for the opener. The fact that the opening night race went 85 laps before
the first caution came out was amazing. These guys had never raced long
distance races. They had only ran Saturday night 30-35 lap feature events.
The fact that they went out there and cranked off 85 fast laps in front of a
huge crowd at Monadnock with only one caution thrown got me right from the
get-go and stood out as a notable point for me.”
“The fact that we got into Connecticut is huge. I know when we first started
we were considered the “Mountain Modifieds” because we were principally
running in New Hampshire. And we ended up getting that first call from
Waterford. There was a lot of curiosity with that race. A lot of people
turned out and a lot of people were kind of standing back taking a look at
what this is all about. And that turned out well. We ended up with a good
relationship with Waterford Speedbowl. Then Don Hoenig of Thompson Speedway
came on board and has been so supportive of the series. Then Mark Arute
jumped on the wagon at Stafford Speedway and we are delighted to be there”.
“Just the fact that Connecticut is so well known as a Modified state and we
were right in the heart bed of Modified racing. To think that that would
have ever happened was hard to think that it would have ever happened. Some
would say it is supposed to be a New England series and it really is. That
is what Jack wanted to do from the beginning.”
“But all and all being added to the World Series at Thompson Speedway. That
is huge for this series. And I think that bodes well that the two years that
we have been a part of that weekend show to see how well the race drew.It
drew very well and we saw two very competitive races. I know when I came
from the tower this past fall at Thompson Speedway that Saturday night I was
quite proud of the series. I thought we hit a home run for Don Hoenig
again.” |
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Source: Denise DuPont/Polly Reid / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted: November
27, 2013 |
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