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VMRS FIRECRACKER
100
ON THE FOURTH AT MONADNOCK |
The
Valenti Modified Racing Series celebrates
Independence Day, Saturday, July 4, with its
traditional stop at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester,
NH, for the running of the ‘Firecracker 100’
The race, the second of three scheduled at the famed
¼ mile speedway this season, is always a big draw
with local drivers returning to their old stomping
grounds where the series started twelve years ago.
One of those drivers with a strong Monadnock
background and success is Todd Patnode, of Richmond,
New Hampshire.
A former 6-time champion and New Hampshire State
Champion, Patnode teamed with long-time Monadnock
racer Dan Stebbins at the end of the 2014 season
with an eye on the 2015 VMRS schedule.
Patnode enters Saturdays race feeling good about his
chances for victory and adding his name to the list
of Firecracker winners.
“We’ve got a good shot. We missed it a little last
time at Monadnock,” said Patnode. “That was on me. I
ran too hard mid-race. Didn’t have too. But you
learn from it.”
Patnode has successfully fielded his own modified
race cars in the past but likes what he has going
now, wheeling the All-States Asphalt / Fairfield
Auto / Swanzey Oil # 05.
Patnode has quietly worked his way to third place in
the current point standings heading ‘home’ Saturday.
“Excellent team. Couldn’t ask for more,” said the
2014 Monadnock Sportsman-Modified champion. “When I
get in that car I don’t have to be concerned and
never have to worry. That car is ready. Every thing
is checked and double-checked. Very thorough crew.
Great bunch of guys that work hard.”
Patnode is no stranger to the VMRS. He has run well
over the years winning his first race in August 2013
at Monadnock. He acknowledges the series as being
tough to win.
“The series does not lack in talent. Never has. Look
at Woody, (Pitkat) Todd Szegedy, Pasteryak’s a
rocket (Chris), things will fall together for Kirk
(Alexander). He’s struggling but they’ll be okay.
You have a good eight to nine cars if not more that
are strong and capable of winning.”
In addition to Patnode, Alexander and Russ Hersey
are two more locals that always make their presence
known at Monadnock.
Former Firecracker 100 winners; Alexander (6) Jim
Boniface, Jon McKennedy, Szegedy, Dwight Jarvis, and
Richard Savary
(1) each.
Pitkat, last weeks winner at Stafford, Connecticut,
takes a 22-point lead into the holiday program with
226 points. Todd Szegedy, winner at Monadnock in May
is ranked second (204), Patnode third (174) Savary
fourth (172) and Chris Pasteryak fifth (145).
Saturday’s holiday event includes the tracks
traditional fireworks program.
Gates open at 2:00 PM. First race at 5:00 PM.
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Source:
John Spence / Valenti Modified Racing Series
Posted:
July 1, 2015 |
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