Alexander Reaches Milestone With Win At Waterford SpeedBowl
Waterford, CT — Two time champion and present point leader Kirk Alexander, Swanzey, NH; reached a milestone and roared to victory Saturday night in the “Town Fair Tire 100” True Value Modified Racing Series event at the famed Waterford, CT; Speedbowl. Alexander scored his fifth win of the season, his twenty fifth TVMRS career victory, and has now become the only driver to win a race at every track competed on by the traveling series, now in it’s fourth season.
Dale Evonsion, E.Hartland, CT; and Todd Patnode, Swanzey, NH; brought the 27 car field to green with Evonsion jumping into the lead and setting a fast pace early on. Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, CT; Patnode, Jack Bateman, Canaan, NH; and Alexander led lap one but by the fifth go around, Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT; moved quickly toward the front. He was running second when the first of seven yellow flags slowed the race for a crash involving Brian Schofield, Monsen, MA. Schofield was not injured.
[Photo Gallery] by Lou Derosier
Hinckley took over the top spot passing Evonsion on lap 10 with Alexander, Patnode, and Dolan following. A lap later, Evonsion cut a tire and piled into the third turn wall forcing him out of the race. On the restart, Alexander jumped into the lead and set the pace the rest of the way with a strong running Hinckley was in pursuit, often pulling alongside the race leader on restarts, only to have Alexander pull away.
While the race became another Alexander – Hinckley showdown, the battling for advancement to the front was heating up as Madison, CT; veteran Mike Holdridge made his way into the top five and started to become a factor. Holdridge, who had not raced at Waterford since 1999, started sixth and ran strong throughout. By lap 30, the first year tour regular was third and stayed there the rest of the way. Holdridge, on occasion, would pull right up on the rear bumper of Hinckley but fell short each time he positioned to pass. Ed Dachenhausen, Danbury, CT; was also showing strength as he too had a top five going in the first half of the race
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Alexander picked up the half way Black Mountain Painting contingency as he enjoyed a five car length lead but a persistent Hinckley continued to give chase. Holdridge, Dachenhausen, and Patnode made up the top five at lap 50.Patnode would later move to fourth dropping Dauchenhausen to fifth. The top five would stay that way until lap 92, when on a restart, something broke on Dachenhausen’s car, forcing him into the back stretch wall hard and out of the event. Eight laps later Alexander passed under the Sunoco Race Fuels checkered flag for the fifth time this season followed by Hinckley, Holdridge, Patnode, Bateman making up the top five.
In victory lane, Alexander told fans, “The car was a little better on the start but she tightened up about 10 laps into it, I tried to get a big lead and hold onto it. Before that this car was awesome. It was good, I knew Les was gonna be tough tonight. I’d like to thank all the fans and the Waterford Speedbowl; it’s a great place to come too.”
Hinckley said “I was a little surprised he (Alexander) went up into the lead that fast that he’d take off and ride. I figured he’d come back to me. We didn’t fire too good after the restarts but when we had that longer run we were going good. I honestly thought we’d get him back but after that last restart we had a pretty bad vibration. It was a good run.” Third place finisher Holdridge “It feels great, my son is here, my family, my father helped me out a lot, my crew, we came up a bit short, but it’s exciting. Holdridge also said he was cautious not to get into Hinckley respecting the fact that Hinckley is close to the top of the point standings. “It wouldn’t do either one of us any good.” he said.
Heat races were won by Evonsion, Patnode, and Dolan with Chris Pasteryak winning the 15 lap last chance race.
Race Summary:
Town Fair Tire 100 Waterford Ct
Race Time: 1:10:08.786
Lap Leaders – Dale Evonsion 1-9, Les Hinckley 10, Kirk Alexander 11-28, Les Hinckley 29, Kirk Alexander – 30-100
Cautions: 7
Sunoco Hard Charger Award: Chris Pasteryak
Sherwood Wheels Award: Bateman
Koszela Speed Award: Chris Pasteryak
Black Mountain Award: Alexander
Next event – Sept 8,9 Thompson, CT