Louie Mechalides Wins Modified Mania
Thompson, CT — Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro Mass. earned his second True Value Modified Racing Series victory of the season in Modified Mania II at the Thompson International Speedway. Mechalides and Tommy Cravenho of Raynham, Mass. waged a torrid battle for the lead over the closing laps with Mechalides finishing just .15 seconds ahead of Cravenho. It was his 4th career series win.
Mechalides, who started fifth in the Maclellan Metal Finishing Pontiac, took over the top spot for the first time from Andy Seuss on lap 12. Seuss and Mechalides traded the point until Mechalides took over the lead for good on lap 22. Seuss pressured Mechalides until lap 27 when his day ended in a Turn –2 accident. Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon, Conn., Jimmy Kuhn of West Bridgewater, Mass. and Cravenho took turns pressuring Mechalides to the finish.
Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Mass finished third after starting 32nd. Kuhn held on for 4th and Les Hinckley rounded out the Top-5.
Hinckley entered the race trailing series point leader Kirk Alexander by 49 points. Both drivers were involved in an incident on lap 9. Hinckley was able to continue Alexander was not. Hinckley unofficially picked up 35 points on Alexander and trails by only 14 markers heading into the next event at Seekonk, Mass. on Oct 7.
THOMPSON, Conn. — Results of Sunday’s Modified Mania II True Value Modified Series race at Thompson International Speedway showing starting position, driver, hometown, make of car and laps completed.
1. (5) Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, Mass., Pontiac, 75
2. (15) Tommy Cravenho, Raynham, Mass., Chevrolet, 75
3. (32) Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass., Chevrolet, 75
4. (3) Jimmy Kuhn, W. Bridgewater, Mass., Chevrolet, 75
5. (29) Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, Conn., Pontiac, 75
6. (19) Peter Jarvis, Ascutney, Vt., Chevrolet, 75
7. (7) Dale Evonsion, East Harland. Conn., Chevrolet, 75
8. (12) Mike Holdridge, Madison, Conn. , Pontiac, 75
9. (16) Vinnie Annarummo, Swansea, Mass., Chevrolet, 75
10. (18) Jack Bateman, Canaan, N.H., Chevrolet, 75
11. (1) Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn., Chevrolet, 75
12. (24) Shelly Perry, Ashaway, RI, Chevrolet, 75
13. (26) Joe Doucette, Framingham, Mass., Chevrolet, 52
14. (28) Mike Douglas Jr., Auburn, N.H., Chevrolet, 50
15. (6) Tom Abele Jr., Norwich, Conn., Chevrolet, 44
16. (25) Todd Patnode, Swanzey, N.H., Toyota, 35
17. (10) Brian Schofield, Monson, Mass, Chevrolet, 27
18. (22) Chris Wenzel, Holyoke, Mass., Pontiac, 15
19. (13) Ed Dachenhausen, Danbury, Conn., Chevrolet, 9
20. (21) Ed Brunnhoelzl, III, Levittown, N.Y., Chevrolet, 9
21. (2) Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., Chevrolet, 9
22. (9) Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, N.H., Chevrolet, 9
23. (14) Richard Savary, Canton, Mass., Chevrolet, 9
24. (11) Dave Etheridge, Portland, Conn., Chevrolet, 9
25. (31) Kirk Alexander, Swanzey, N.H., Chevrolet, 9
26. (27) Buck Akley, Millbury, Mass., Chevrolet, 9
27. (4) Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, Vt., Chevrolet, 2
28. (8) Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, Conn., Chevrolet, 2
29. (17) Glen Billings, Glastonbury, Conn, Chevrolet, 2
30. (20) Johnny Bush, Hunnington Station, N.Y., Chevrolet, 2
31. (23) Jim Boniface, Deltona, Fla., Chevrolet, 2
32. (30) Karl Fredrickson, Freemont, N.H., Chevrolet, 2
33. (33) Sean Patterson, Wading River, N.Y., Pontiac, 2
Margin of Victory .15 seconds
Lap Leaders Andy Seuss 1-11, Louie Mechaldes 12-14, Seuss 15-21, Mechalides 22-75.
Sources: Mark Mockovak/TVMRS PR
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