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ANTHONY NOCELLA WINS VMRS WORLD SERIES 50 LAP FEATURE RACE
#92 Team’s Hard Work Pays Off To Secure 2017 VMRS
Championship
by Denise
DuPont |
 Going
into the Sunoco World Series Valenti Modified Racing
series (VMRS) feature event Anthony Nocella of
Woburn, MA was leading the 2017 championship race by
104 points over second place Canaan, NH driver
Donnie Lashua. Nocella had double duty on Saturday
-- qualifying the #92 NASCAR Whelen Modified (NWMT)
and participating in the VMRS race is the family
owned #92. Nocella qualified and will start the NWMT
150 lap NWMT race twentieth.
With a stout field of thirty VMRS modifieds on track
for the initial green flag, competition was tough
and the field was tight. Nocella began the VMRS 50
lap World Series event eleventh and was in the top
ten by lap 6. He rode there in his comfort zone
waiting for the right time to make a move. Incidents
eliminated cars from the field and by lap 31 there
were only fourteen cars left running. Nocella dodged
the incident and had the front position by the end
of the next lap. He went forward from there to claim
a VMRS victory.
Eric Goodale started on the pole, led the most laps
in the first half of the race and finished the race
second. Jeff Gallup started second, led some laps
and finished fourth. Rowan Pennink began the feature
deep in the field and cross the finish line third.
Sam Rameau took fifth position at race end.
 “I
just cannot thank all my guys enough.” Stated
Nocella post-race. “I had a crazy idea to come here
this weekend with two cars and one crew. I like to
go out and win a bunch of races. We work hard and I
know we can do it. “
The family owned #92 team spend a lot of time in the
shop and always bring to the track a pristine #92
modified. “Everybody stepped up this week and worked
on the car a ton. We knew we won a bunch of races
this year and we knew we had the championship
secured. So we just went out there to win. We wanted
to get in victory lane no matter what. We had a good
car and we just rode the race out. We stayed up
front targeting to get to victory lane.”
Starting on the outside of row one on lap 31,
Nocella had a strong car and it was time for him to
make his move. “On that last restart I had a good
opportunity and my tires were under me. I had a shot
for the lead and I took it. I sailed the car in and
did what I had to do to get to the front.” From
there forward it was Nocella’s race to win. He was
able to maintain a sizable lead to secure his fifth
VMRS win.
“Last year I thought we had the car to win and we
ended up third. I always wanted to win here and at
Stafford to wrap up some big races.” Confessed
Nocella. “It was the biggest race of the year with
the biggest field of cars. To beat the good cars
that are here is pretty awesome.”
The VMRS banquet is schedule for December 2nd where
the Nocella’s team will celebrate in style their
first ever VMRS championship.
Notes from
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park:
When did you know you had what was needed to win
the race?
Anthony Nocella
“Pretty much at the beginning. With about three laps
we were forced to the bottom. The bottom is real
tough for me usually and it was easy to keep it (the
car) running there. I was able to run the car on the
top and bottom of the track so I told the guys I
have a good car. Early on I settled in on the top
and just kept the leaders in sight and kept the car
straight.”
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Source:
Denise DuPont /
TheChromeHorn.com
Posted:
October 15, 2017 |
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