Wrenn Keeps Win Streak Alive at Stafford
Stafford, CT – The Pro Four Modifieds of New England (PFMNE) battled with mother nature but were able to complete their fifth race of the 2009 campaign as part of CarQuest Xtreme Tuesday at Stafford Motor Speedway. The #1m of “Stormin’ Norman” Wrenn continued his undefeated season, but not without a fight from the #10 of Brian Vincent—the heat race winner.
After a one-hour rain delay, the 25-lap feature event got under way with fifteen cars parading around the 1/2-mile oval. The #86 of Mark Charette was unable to make it out after qualifying due to mechanical failure. When the green flag waved, the #13 of George Sherman was on the pole with Vincent’s Sprague’s Auto-sponsored modified on the outside. As they rolled off of turn two, Vincent powered by Sherman on the outside. Meanwhile, having started in the 14th position, Wrenn had begun making his way through the field, following the #83 of Franky Perry and the #29 of Matt Sagar. Progress was slowed, however, before two laps could be completed when the #34 of Mark Giordano went spinning in turns three and four.
On the restart, the #4 of Cory Cleary moved his Tools 4 Hire 4-cylinder under Sherman for second. By lap 3, Wrenn had driven his Bot-L-Gas modified past four others to challenge the #12 of Rob Richardi, Jr. for the fourth position. Motoring off of the second corner, Wrenn moved to the inside of Richardi, Jr., eventually besting the N. Easton, MA-native one lap later. On lap 6, the #11a of Dan Meservey and Sagar were able to move their machines passed Perry to claim the seventh and eighth positions, respectively. Sagar and Meservey would race door-to-door until the Meservey Family Restaurant machine dove low and slowed considerably. When he was unable to make it to the pit area, the second yellow flag of the event was displayed.
As the cars lined up for the restart, the top five running were Vincent, Cleary, Sherman, Wrenn, and Richardi Jr. At the drop of the green, Sagar drove his Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment machine by Richardi Jr. for a spot in the top five and Wrenn took the opportunity to move into the third position. By the time the scoreboard showed 13, the racing began to heat up for the top three. Cleary challenged Vincent for the lead, with Wrenn not too far behind. Coming out of turn four, Cleary went high only to have his progress slowed by the third caution flag of the event for Billy Joerres, whose car came to rest sideways in the middle of turns of one and two. As the field began to assemble for the restart, Crawford and Sherman both brought their vehicles down pit road with mechanical difficulties.
The restart was aborted when the cars came up to speed before the start cone. After the dust settled, Cleary headed to the infield with a flat tire, ending a strong run for the family-owned mount. The second restart stuck and Wrenn moved into the lead, with Vincent close behind him and Sagar also gaining ground. As the white flag came out, Vincent closed the distance between himself and Wrenn, but it was all-for-not as he was unable to complete the pass before the checkers.
Wrenn took home his fifth consecutive win as Vincent and Sagar rounded out the top three. Positions six through ten went to Richardi Jr., Lausier, Perry, Berghman, Giordano, D’Amico, and Mertz. Joerres, Cleary, Sherman, Crawford, and Meservey rounded out the field.
The next race for the 4-cylinder modifieds will be the highly-acclaimed Open Wheel Wednesday at Seekonk Speedway on July 15, 2009.
Sources: Ashleigh Vanada/Pro Four Modifieds of New England PR