Berghman Picks Up First Pro Four Win
Seekonk, MA — The Pro Four Modifieds of New England (PFMNE) came out twenty-three strong on Saturday, October 10, for their thirteenth event of the 2009 campaign. As the checkers unfurled, it was Robin Berghman picking up her first win as part of the DAV Fall Classic.
On the start, Dave Richardi jumped out to an early lead, besting the other 21 starters. Eric McGovern was in attendance, however, mechanical troubles in practice kept him from participating in the main event. Richardi would continue to lead the event until lap six when his car came out from underneath him and he went spinning on the front stretch, bringing out the first of six yellows. Berghman inherited the lead with Rob Richardi, Jr., Dan Meservery, Jr., Cory Cleary, and Dan Meservey rounding out the top five.
Berghman took advantage of her restart position, jumping out to a comfortable lead. Meanwhile, further back in the pack Norm Wrenn and Brookfield, MA-native, Andy Major, were navigating their way through traffic, securing positions in the top ten. Progress would be slowed for the two four-cylinder modified standouts as Dick Dubois, who was competing for the first time in 2009, went spinning.
On the restart, Berghman picked up where she left off, continuing to lead the race. Richardi, Jr. got hung up on the outside, and as a result, Meservery, Jr., and Cleary got by. Cleary would then pass Meservey, Jr., taking control of the bridesmaid position. Wrenn had also advanced several more positions, and was running in fifth by the time the halfway signal was given to the field.
On lap sixteen, the third caution of the event was displayed when Mike Patnaude and Mike Crawford came together. At this point, Matt Sagar, who had been struggling with smoke billowing from his family-owned mount, retired from the race, as did Dan Meservey.
The race would only be resumed for three laps before another yellow slowed the 30-lap main. This time the caution was issued for Billy Joerres, who went spinning off of turn four. On the restart, Berghman got the advantage with Cleary, Meservey, Jr., Wrenn, and Richardi, Jr. rounding out the top five. Positions six through ten went to Brian Vincent, Franky Perry, Andy Major, Phil Lausier, and Tyler Anderson, who brought his newly completed racecar out for the first time this season. Randy Clark and Henry Sirigano retired from the race during this caution period.
Green flag racing would be brought to a screeching halt twice in the last five laps. Mike Patnaude and Mike Crawford got together for the second time on lap 25, drawing the fifth caution of the event. Both drivers retired from the race along with Massachusetts-native, Dave Bedard. A lap 27 caution collected several front runners, and resulted in a red flag for track clean up. The trouble began when Dan Meservey, Jr. appeared to develop a mechanical problem which almost brought his car to a stop. Franky Perry, Dave Richardi, and Norm Wrenn were also involved. Richardi was the only driver able to continue. At this point the top five had been completely reaaranged with Berghman still at the point, Cleary in second, Vincent in third, Major in fourth, and Phil Lausier in fifth.
Berghman was challenged several times by Cleary in the closing laps, but the youngster did not have enough to get by the seasoned veteran, as Berghman collected her first win of the season. Vincent, Major, and Lausier all maintained their top five positions. Sixth through tenth went to Tyler Anderson, Dick Dubois, Stan Mertz, Dave Richardi, and Dan Meservey, Jr. Positions eleven through twenty belonged to Perry, Wrenn, Patnaude, Bedard, Crawford, Richardi, Jr., Sirigano, Clark, Joerres, and Sagar. Meservey and Mark Charette rounded out the field.
Sources: Ashleigh Vanada/PFMNE PR