Goodenough Regroups For Monadnock Opener
Winchester, NH — Swanzey, NH., modified driver, Rob Goodenough returns home Saturday night and he could not be happier. Following a hard crash during practice at Waterford, CT., last month coupled with last weekend’s rained out program at Malta, NY., Goodenough will be pleased to wheel his Hamshaw Lumber sponsored, 1NH car, onto neighboring Monadnock Speedway this Saturday night May 1. That’s the next stop for the Modified Racing Series, sponsored by BobValentiAutoMall.com.
The race, The Bond Auto Parts Spring Dash 100, is the third event of a 19 race schedule this season for the MRS and the first of two appearances at the Winchester, NH., oval by the popular open-wheel modified tour. The second event will take place July 3.
Goodenough is coming off his best season (2009) to date in modified competition. He was in the hunt for the series championship down to the final race of the season at Lee, NH., but ended the year runner-up to champion Jon McKennedy. He is a two-time MRS winner at Monadnock and the defending champion of last year’s spring race.
The Waterford crash, March 27, almost caused Goodenough his season before it started. He is quick to point out that the support of his family and fellow racers allowed him to make the trip to New York last week and be ready for this week’s race at Monadnock.
“The help with parts from Jacob Dore, (series driver) and his team, and parts and repair from Rusty Ball is the reason we are racing, ” said the second generation driver. Ball is a longtime fixture in New England modified racing and one of the original competitors when the series started seven years ago. When called on, Ball has helped many race teams over the years get back on track.
This Saturday’s race is the 7th annual Spring Dash race for the MRS. Until last year, Kirk Alexander, W.Swanzey, and Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT., were the only winners of the April event. Flip-flopping, Alexander won the inaugural in 2004, Hinckley won it in 2005, Alexander in 2006, Hinckley in 2007, and Alexander in 2008.
Expected entries for this weekends race include Alexander, an 18-time series winner at Monadnock, Hinckley, a three-time winner there, Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT., a two-time series winner, Sean Bodreau, Claremont, NH., victorious in 2004, and Jim Boniface, W.Swanzey, NH., a 2006 winner.
Defending series champion Jon McKennedy, E.Chelmsford, MA., is entered and still looking for his first Monadnock victory. Race time is 6PM. For additional event information log on to www.monadnockspeedway.com.
Sources: John Spence, Sr./Modified Racing Series PR