A Hat Trick For Wrenn At Waterford
Waterford, CT – The Pro Four Modifieds of New England (PFMNE) took to the Waterford Speedbowl on Saturday, May 30, for an evening of crowd-pleasing action. The night was kicked off with a pity party, where fans flooded the track to see the stars and cars of the PFMNE. Just as the sun began to set, the 4-cylinder mods rolled out for their main event before a packed grandstand. In the end it would be the #1m of “Stormin’ Norman” Wrenn who took home the victory, notching his third consecutive win.
Ten PFMNE racecars were signed into the paddock area for competition. After an aborted start, the 25-lap feature got underway with #07 of Phil Lausier on the pole and the #12 of Rob Richardi, Jr. to his outside. Coming off of turn two, Richardi powered by on the high side, moving into the lead as the #4 of Cory Cleary and the #10 of Brian Vincent raced side-by-side for the third position. Meanwhile, Wrenn drove his Bot-L-Gas Inc. machine from his ninth starting position into the top five.
With only four laps completed, Vincent spun in between turns one and two, bringing out the first of three cautions. On the restart, Richardi, Jr. and Lausier were once again dancing partners, but this time it was Richardi, Jr. who had the top spot. The race was quickly slowed, though, as the drivers came to power before the startling line again. After a good second attempt, Lausier’s RF Logic machine drifted high in the outside groove, allowing Wrenn to advance into the second position. Then looking to the inside again, Wrenn peaked under Richardi. His first attempt was no good, but going down the backstretch on lap 6, he was able to complete the pass. Meanwhile, Vincent advanced from his restart position at the rear of the ten-car field back into the top five.
Debris in turn one brought out another caution on lap 11. Wrenn quickly jumped back into the lead with Richardi, Jr. falling in behind him. It was not long before “The Cub,” Cory Cleary, drove his Tools 4 Hire Pro-4 around Richardi, Jr., claiming the second position. By lap 15, Cleary had closed the distance between himself and Wrenn, and was looking to take the lead, as Vincent pulled into the infield, retiring from the race.
The final yellow of the event came out on lap 18 when Richardi spun coming out of turn two. When the green flag restarted the race, the #13 of George Sherman-who had a stranglehold on the fourth position for a majority of the laps-took the low groove and wrestled the second position away from Cleary. Cleary didn’t give up, reclaiming the position two laps later, moving inside of Sherman as they rolled off of turn two. Meanwhile, a littler further back in the field, Lausier threw his #07 mount to the outside of Joe Lemay, who was driving his #49 Bolton Road House Grill-sponsored racecar, but was unable to complete the pass until the twin sticks were given to the field. With the ivory in the air, the veteran driver Sherman brought his modified to the infield with temperature problems. As the dust settled, Wrenn found himself in victory lane for the third week in a row, followed closely by Cleary and Richardi, Jr., who rounded out the podium. Lausier, Mark Giordano (#34), Lemay, Billy Joerres (#99), Stan Mertz (#16), Sherman, and Vincent round out the field.
The PFMNE now turn their attention to the “Cement Palace” of Seekonk Speedway next Saturday, June 6, for their fourth event of the 2009 season.
Sources: Ashleigh Vanada/Pro Four Modifieds of New England PR