Norm Wrenns Wins Harry Kourafas Jr. Memorial Race at Thompson
Welcome back once again, glad that you are back joining us for some more Pro 4 racing. This would be a full weekend of action at the World Series of Racing at Thompson International Speedway. The event kicked off on Friday morning right at nine A.M. Some of the crews had stayed overnight on Thursday to be ready bright and early, as some had dropped their campers off earlier in the week to have a good spot for a fun filled weekend.
The club had nineteen teams arrive to the track, some arriving later in the day being a work day for them. As the first practice of the day was let out there were twelve cars on the track. A pack of seven was running strong together with #1M Norman Wrenn leading them. #00 Dave Richardi heading into the pits with engine troubles having an issue with his carburetor. #13 George Sherman calling it an early day having blown his motor. Returning back since running at Beech Ridge is #29 Matt Sagar. Heading into the pits as well is #49 Joe Lemay with his never ending problem of his car overheating. Over all the practice went well with no accidents.
Back in the pits #13 Sherman was loading up his car and heading home to pull an all-nighter on building a new motor, as we have seen him do his trailer all the way in North Carolina for the Shoot Out in 2006. But he will be returning tomorrow race with little sleep and keeping the other drivers on their toes as he always does. Down at the #00 Richardi the crew had his motor stripped apart to figure out what was creating the issue. Also taking apart components to their car was #4 Cory Cleary, who was having a problem with his oil pump.
Ten cars got out onto the track for the second practice for the day. #25 Tyler Anderson, #12 Rob Richardi, Jr. and #83 Franky Perry were running quickly together for a few laps. #1M Wrenn and #07 Phil Lausier were dueling together for a couple of laps. Everyone looked good with their cars handling well through the turns and running fast down the straights. #49 Lemay looked better after making some adjustments to his vent opening for his radiator. #00 Richardi having solved to problem with his carburetor was back on track running strong as well. Again, another good practice with no incidents.
Getting into the third practice there was again ten cars that would make it out. #4 Cleary taking things slow to get started after having worked on the oil pump. #10 Brian Vincent’s motor started smoking going down the front straight as soon and the flagger gave the green to go. #49 Lemay in trouble once again, except this time he didn’t over heat. Over coming out of turn three there was a loud popping noise, it was his distributor gear being stripped. #60 Andy Major and #19 Tim D’Amico joining in on the ranks as they finally arrived to the track. Being the final practice of the day, it went as well as the others before them.
Making a late arrival to the track and return to racing for the first time in many years is #87 Randy Tucker. Also with him would be #21 Jeff Zuidema and #34 Mark Giordano. The guys with a little time on their side were able to make a few final adjustments before the heat races and relax to chit-chat with each other for a bit. Some guys headed up to the fence to watch some of the other thirteen divisions that were also running in the Series this weekend.
Starting things off for the first heat race #00 Dave Richardi is on the pole and #07 Phil Lausier would be to the outside. Richardi had a good start on the green flag and set the pace. By lap three #00 Richardi and #1M Norman Wrenn would be neck and neck going into turn three. Wrenn completing his pass down the front straight of lap four. The pack would remain tight throughout the eights lap of the heat. It was #1M Wrenn grabbing the checkered flag for the first heat.
In the second heat, starting on the pole is #25 Tyler Anderson with #10 Vincent to the outside. As the green flag fell Anderson would get a great start with #12 Rob Richardi, Jr. following right behind him. Vincent trying to be cautious with his motor looked a little slow on the start. #87 Randy Tucker looked to be having trouble in the fourth lap as he waved the guys past him heading into the pits slowly. It was a side by side race during the fifth lap for the third position between #10 Vincent and #21 Jeff Zuidema. By Lap seven #12 Richardi, Jr. made his pass around #25 Anderson going into turn two.
Zuidema would catch up to Richardi, Jr. on the final lap and pass him in turn three. That made #21 Zuidema the winner of the second heat.
With day one complete the crews packed up their cars for the evening and did one of a few things. They stayed to watch the remainder of the qualifying divisions. Most headed to their tents or campers for the night with barbeques, drinking and fires going ablaze. Others drove home for a good night’s sleep for another full day of racing tomorrow. And some were tinkering with their cars trying to make some more adjustments that would be needed.
There would be only one practice for the day on Saturday because the other divisions that did not qualify on Friday would be doing that today. It would be a tight schedule but a long day as the Pro 4’s didn’t get out for practice until two in the afternoon and the feature wouldn’t be until six thirty.
Practice would be shared with the mini stocks. It was a full track with fourteen Pro 4’s and just as many Mini Stocks out. Practice was good with no incidents, but there were certainly a few close calls with the guys weaving their way between Mini Stocks. #34 Giordano would head into the pits after a few laps.
Finally getting around to start the feature taking the pole position would be #00 Dave Richardi and #25 Tyler Anderson on the outside. As the guys rolled into turn four they would stay tight together as the green flag was pulled.
#00 Richardi would pull away getting onto the back straight. We would get the only caution of the night on the first lap was #16 Stanley Mertz would get loose in turn three and #99 Billy Joerres would give him a little push causing him to spin. With both guys ok and getting back into line quickly things could get restarted without too much of a wait. #00 Richardi would keep the pole and #25 Anderson would be on the outside once again. It was a nice restart between to two boys as they remained side by side for the first lap. Anderson would pass Richardi on the front straight of the second lap, but Richardi would not give up easily as he would get around Anderson in the same place on the next lap. #10 Brian Vincent would close in on the leaders on lap five. The top four cars begin making a gain away from the pack #00 Richardi, #10 Vincent, #25 Anderson and #07 Phil Lausier on lap seven. #10 Vincent makes the pass around #00 Richardi on lap nine going into the back straight, but Richardi would quickly pass Vincent and take back the lead in turn four. There would be a little contact between Anderson and Richardi creating some sparks as they coming down the front straight of the thirteenth lap. They would be neck and neck for the next two laps keeping you on the edge of your seat. Richardi would pull ways and hold his position in the lead spot. #1M Norman Wrenn would pass the leaders on lap sixteen heading down the front straight. #34 Mark Giordano would have a large trial of sparks following him as it looked like he had a flat tire going down the front straight. Wrenn would start gaining a five car lead on #00 Richardi and #25 Anderson by lap twenty. On lap 22 #07 Lausier would get loose in turn three and spin into the dirt but would be out of the way enough to not pull out a caution. He was able to get back out on the track without creating a mess and keeping racing to finish the race. With no one around him it was #1M Wrenn to take the checkered flag for the feature tonight.
Making this win number eight in first place and winner of the Harry Kourafas Jr. Memorial Race #1M Stormin’ Norman Wrenn. In second is #00 Dave Richardi, third #10 Brian Vincent, fourth #25 Tyler Anderson and rounding off the top five #60 Andy Major. For the limited Pro 4’s in first is #99 Billy Joerres, in second #16 Stanley Mertz and in third #34 Mark Giordano. With one race remaining in the season, the overall points lead would be enough for of driver/owner #1M Norm Wrenn to capture the 2008 Season Championship for the Pro Four Division. The #16 Limited Pro Four Modified of driver/owner Stanley Mertz also clinched the Limited Pro Four Modified 2008 Season Championship as well.
Congratulations to all, this was an excellent weekend for racing. Join us once more in two weeks for the final race of the 2008 season at Twin State Speedway in Claremont, New Hampshire. We promise to keep the excitement coming.
Sources: Sarah Lemay/Pro 4 Modified PR