McKennedy Ready For Modified Racing Series Waterford Blastoff
Waterford, CT — Its been a little over four months since Jonathan McKennedy was honored for his 2009 championship. The trophy is on the mantel, and now it’s time to get back to work. The young charger from E. Chelmsford, (MA), who has fast become a household name in modified racing, is ready for what lies ahead, and so is the race team.
Father, car owner, and crew chief, Dennis McKennedy, said this week the team is eager to get going. “Cars ready, truck’s ready, we plan to run the whole thing, give the championship another shot. That’s the plan right now.”
McKennedy, winner of four races last year, leads the list of entries for this weekends Modified Racing Series, sponsored by Bob Valenti AutoMall.Com, season opener at the historic Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, (CT). The two-day event kicks off the 60th season of racing at the famed oval. The MRS will compete in a 100 lap green flag race on Sunday.
McKennedy will pilot his own race car with the MRS and will do some driving for noted race car builder and owner Art Barry on the NASCAR sanctioned Whelen Modified Tour this season.
McKennedy was chased in the run for the title last season by veteran driver Rob Goodenough, W.Swanzey, (NH), with Goodenough, winner of last years season opener at Monadnock Speedway, finishing only 15 points behind McKennedy. Goodenough is also an expected entry for this year’s season opener.
MRS mainstays expected at Waterford include, 11-time winner Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, (CT), Ed Dachenhausen, Danbury, (CT), and Jack Bateman, Canaan, (NH), both former winners, veteran modified driver Eddy Spiers, Beacon Falls, (CT), Kevin Iannarelli, Framingham,(MA), Joe Doucette, Framingham,(MA), former winners Stephen Masse, Bellingham,(MA), and 2009 Rookie of the Year Jacob Dore, Sanford, (ME), the father/daughter team of Butch & Shelly Perry, Ashaway, (RI), and second generation drivers, Richard Savary, Canton, (MA),Todd Annarummo, Swansea,(MA), and Mike Holdridge, Madison, (CT).
Andy Seuss, Hampstead, (NH), winner of the recent WSMT race at Caraway Speedway, Asheboro, (NC), three-time series winner Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro,(MA), 2009 Monadnock Speedway champion Todd Patnode, Swanzey, (NH), David Roys, Coram, (NY), and Bobby Drown, Milldale,(CT), have all indicated they expect to enter the Waterford event.
Newcomers to the series, preparing for Waterford and entered are, Bill Perry, Holbrook,(MA), Max Zachem,Preston,(CT), Bryon Chew, Inlet, (NY), Eric Goodale, Wading River, (NY), and Keith Rocco, Wallingford,(CT).
Waterford regulars, Jeff Malave, Manchester, (CT), Rob Janovic, Waterford, and Jeff Pearl, Salem, (CT), have expressed their plans to compete.
Because it’s the first race of the new season, a special practice session will be conducted on Friday, March 26, from 12 PM to 5PM. Practice and qualifying will take place on Saturday, March 27, with the 100 lap green flag feature race for the Modified Racing
Series, sponsored by Bob Valenti AutoMall.Com, on Sunday, March 28. Valenti dealerships are located in Mystic, CT., and Westerly, RI.
For additional information, log on to www.speedbowl.com.
Sources: John Spence, Sr./Modified Racing Series PR