New England’s Modified Racing Series Prepares for 2009 Season
Canaan, NH — The True Value Modified Racing Series and its operatives are busily preparing for the 2009 season, the sixth year for New England’s premier modified racing series. Founder Jack Bateman has submitted a 16 race schedule to track owners for approval but awaits official word from Thompson and Wiscasset Speedways. It is hoped both tracks will be on the schedule but the dates have not been determined. If so, the tour will compete at 11 different race tracks in five states.
The 2009 campaign will open at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH., on Saturday April 25, and return to the high banked facility, July 4, as part of that tracks Independence Day celebration.
The series heads south to Waterford, CT., on May 9th and returns there on August 15 pairing with the ISMAsupermodfied tour, a hugely popular event in 2008.
The tour will venture to Thunder Road, Barre, VT., May 24, on Memorial Day weekend, joining with the ACT late models. The inaugural event last May was deemed a big success with the largest crowd ever to watch the TVMRS filling the historic oval.
The seacoast of New Hampshire will find the ground pounding modifieds visiting All-Star Speedway, Epping, NH., May 16th., and the Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH., July 10, and October, 24 & 25, the tracks annual “Octoberfest,” weekend.
The series, for the third year, will compete on Saturday night, July 18, at Oxford Plains, ME., Speedway as part of that tracks “Oxford 250″ weekend,” and then return to The Pine Tree State Saturday Aug 8 when the tour stops at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarboro, Maine.
The famed Seekonk MA, Speedway, will host three events June 13, Aug 22, and Oct 10 & 11, the D.A.V. Festival ofRacing weekend.
The tour has scheduled a return engagement at Twin State Speedway, Claremont, NH. October 4.
Series Notebook …
Close to 30 teams secured numbers by the Dec 31 deadline for this season with defending champion Chris Pasteryak registered and preparing to defend his title with a brand new Troyer mount. His father Charlie, a longtime Whelen Tour competitor, has also registered, and will run selected events this year. They’ll be the second father-son team to compete with the series. Vinnie and Todd Annarummo raced at Seekonk last year.
Three- time champion Kirk Alexander and 2006 champion Dwight Jarvis have both filed paperwork for the upcoming season as has David Pinkham and car owner Tom Greeley.
Other returnees that have filed include, Ed Dachenhausen, Jimmy Kuhn, Dave Berghman, Shelly Perry, Butch Perry, DaveBerube, Richard Savary, Eddy Spiers, Waterford aces Rob Janovic, and Jeff Pearl, Joe Doucette, Peter Jarvis, KevinIanarelli, Brian Schofield, and Tony Ricci to name a few. Lou Mechalides will return for selected races.
Look for Mike Holdridge to field a brand new Troyer mount for the new campaign. “It will be different, I’ve run nothing but Chassis Dynamics cars, and it will be interesting,” said the Madison, CT., driver, adding, “We plan to run as much as possible.” His long time spotter, John Cleary, a former SK modified competitor will return to driving and will compete with the series. Holdridge will secure the services of cousin Larry Barnett, a long time Thompson Speedway competitor, as spotter, and back up driver, in the event Holdridge is unable to break away from his job. Barnett once spotted for Jerry Marquis on the Whelen Tour. “Our goal is to win a race'” said the second generation driver who enters his 20thyear of competition.
Additional newcomers this year will include Garrison Grubisa and Byron Baker.
The series will be represented by car owners, drivers, and series officials at various race car shows coming up on the calendar. Look for the series to have a presence at Frank Maratta’s show Feb 6-8, with the modified race cars of Jeff Pearl and Jack Bateman on display. Racin Preview, Feb 21, 22, and Speedway Expo, February 27 – Mar 1. Series racers will be added to those shows and will be announced soon.
NH Sunday News motorsports writer Kevin Provencher recently penned a piece on his annual top ten New Hampshire race stories for 2008 including recognition of Rookie of the Year, Kenny White. Provencher ranked White # 8 and wrote,
CALL HIM THE “Comeback Kid” Kenny White Jr., 25, of Weare was the TVMRS Rookie of the Year in his comeback to motor sports. At 14, then known as “The Kid,” White was the youngest driver in history to qualify for a NASCAR Camping World East race.
Look for Peter Jarvis and Lou Mechalides to compete next month at New Smyrna, Florida.
And finally, all officials will be returning for the 2009 season.
Sources: John H. Spence/True Value Modified Racing Series PR