Annarummo Commands Mods at Open Wheel Wednesday

ANNARUMMO COMMANDS MODS AT OPEN WHEEL WEDNESDAY

Hometown hero Todd Annarummo translated his starting position inside the second row of the starting grid into a solid win in the V8 Modifieds at Seekonk’s Open Wheel Wednesday show, coolly commanding The Konk’s third-of-a-mile in an iron-man duel with Stephen Masse of Bellingham, MA. Outside polesitter Masse had taken the lead from Chelmsford hotfoot Jon McKennedy on lap 8, and McKennedy and Annarummo had doggedly pursued him until the latter worked his way underneath the leader on lap 85.

The “other” Annarummo in the race, Todd’s father and 6-time Seekonk Pro Stock champion Vinny Annarummo, fell two laps short of completing half the 100 laps, but was as jubilant in victory lane as if he had won himself.

McKennedy led off the field from the pole and went to the front in the first turn, while Masse and Annarummo battled for second. Rowan Pennink and Lou Mechalides dueled for fourth spot behind them. On lap 5, the field had strung out a bit, with McKennedy holding the lead, followed by Masse, Annarummo, Pennink and Mechalides. Masse persistently bothered McKennedy and on lap 8 finally succeeded in getting underneath and to the front. Annarummo grabbed third beginning a 3-car dogfight which continued throughout the 100 laps.

Ryan Preece had moved rapidly up from tenth spot into 6th, behind Mechalides.

Racing ended for Rob Summers and Dwight Jarvis in the first wreck of the evening on lap 25. Jarvis sat smoking between turns two and three after the altercation while Summers limped to the pits.

the lap 25 restart saw Masse lead off with McKennedy on his outside. Annarummo was low in the second row and Pennink was at his shoulder. Ryan Preece and Ronnie Silk made up row 3. Bridgewater’s Jimmy Kuhn and Dave Berghman from Seekonk followed. At the green, Masse and McKennedy dueled with Masse going to the front. McKennedy was stuck on the outside and Annarummo took advantage underneath, squeezing into second. Preece also navigated underneath, and by lap 30, it was Masse, Annarummo, Preece, McKennedy and Pennink.

By lap 35, Kuhn had moved into fifth, with Berghman on his tail. This top five continued through lap 70, with Annarummo doggedly pursuing Masse and being pursued by Preece.

Early favorite Mike Stefanik had been having difficulty moving forward, and on lap 71, he went around in turn 3, bringing out the caution lights. Eight cars including Stefanik and Ted Christopher went to the pits to try to change their fortunes. All eight had returned by the time the race re-fired.

On the restart, Masse nabbed the lead once again, followed by Annarummo, McKennedy getting by Preece who held on to fourth, Kuhn and Pennink. They formed up a pace-line, biting at each others’ heels until lap 85. Annarummo had been looking for a way around Masse and discovered it, driving under him and into the lead. This lasted just a lap when a spin set another caution sending 6 cars, including Stefanik, into the pits for adjustments. Stefanik was not to complete the tour, being forced to retire with 10 laps left in the feature.

Annarummo won the contest for the front on the restart, with Masse latched to his coattails. McKennedy and Preece pursued. By the 90th circuit, Kuhn had edged in behind McKennedy, ahead of Preece and Pennink, but now Christopher had come alive and was moving forward.

The lead began to stretch as Annarummo moved away from Masse to about a 5-car lead. The crowd held its breath as the dangerous Christopher moved around several cars, heading to the front; with 5 laps to go, however, the leader was a full straightaway ahead and a string of 3 cars lay between them.

Christopher settled in ahead of Matt Hirschman for fifth spot, while Annarummo ran 5 cars ahead of Masse at the front. It was a matter of remaining pointed toward victory lane for Annarummo who surged under the checkers for the win, followed by his nightlong antagonists, Masse and McKennedy. Kuhn and Christopher filled out the top 5.

Order of Finish: 1: Todd Annarummo; 2: Stephen Masse; 3: Jon McKennedy; 4: James Kuhn, Jr.; 5: Ted Christopher; 6: Matt Hirschman; 7: Ryan Preece; 8: Rowan Pennink ; 9: Max Zachem; 10: Louie Mechalides; 11: Kenny Spencer; 12: Anthony Sesely; 13: David Berghman;1 4: Ronnie Silk; 15: Jeff Malave; 16: Richard Savary; 17: Andy Seuss; 18: Chuck Hossfeld; 19: Kirk Alexander; 20: Glenn Griswold; 21: Mike Stefanik; 22: Michael Ordway, Jr.; 23: Vinny Annarummo; 24: Dwight Jarvis; 25: Rob Summers

CICCONI NABS NEMA 25-LAPPER

Lou Cicconi was up to his old tricks at Seekonk Speedway, driving hard from the middle of the Northeast Midget Association starting grid to the front of the pack before midrace. He had spent much of the mid-race dueling with Randy Cabral through the field until the duo completed a 1-2 finish.

Mike Horn had gone to the front early, taking on Paul Scaly while Todd Bertrand ran hard into third. From there, the attention moved to Cicconi and Cabral, as they moved from the middle of the field to the front.

Telling factor on the combo was a three-wide pass on the frontstretch, with Cicconi taking advantage of the situation and coming out with Cabral at his back. On the next lap, Paul Scaly looped his car between turns one and two.

Cicconi and Cabral were the front row on the restart with Horn and Chris Deritis behind them. Jeff Abold and Greg Stoehr formed up the third slot. Cicconi went immediately to the lead with Cabral behind him ahead of Horn and Deritis. Adam Cantor came up to edge Deritis out of the fourth spot.

Cicconi had the edge on the night, leading a high-speed parade around the third-of-a-mile oval. He moved out to a straightaway lead over Cabral which he held to the finish. Cabral, Horn, Cantor and Russ Stoehr filled out the top 5.

Order of Finish: 1: Lou Cicconi; 2: Randy Cabral; 3: Mike Horn; 4: Adam Cantor; 5: Russ Stoehr; 6: Greg Stoehr; 7: Jeff Abold; 8: Jeff Horn; 9: Jim Miller; 10: Anthony Marvuglio; 11: Erica Santos; 12: Russ Wood; 13: Joe Payne; 14: Lee Bundy; 15: Paul Scaly; 16: Ed LeClerc; 17: Matt O’Brien; 18: Brian Cleveland; 19: Chris Deritis; 20: Anthony Nocella; 21: Todd Bertrand

ROB RICCHIARDI SURVIVES BATTLE-DAMAGED PRO-4 FEATURE FOR WIN

Dave Richardi led off the Open Wheel Wednesday Pro-4 feature at Seekonk Speedway, but it was his brother, Rob, who was at the front under the checkered flag after 25 grueling laps. Dave went to the lead at the start, passing Stan Metz in the second turn, while Rob settled into third place. Dave worked his way out to a 2-car lead. Through the first 5 laps, the two Richardi and Metz held the top 3, followed by Dan Meservey, Jr, Phil Lausier and Frank Perry.

A lap 6 tangle left Bryan Souza, driving Robin Berghman’s 07x, sitting in turn 2, needing a tow back to the pit area. It was a short end to Souza’s first run at Pro-4 Modifieds.

On the restart, Meservey, Jr. ducked under Dave Richardi for the lead, but Cory Cleary, Metz, and Henry Sirignano went around in turn 2, spoiling the restart. Cleary limped off the track trailing sparks.

On the following try, Rob Richardi went to the lead, one he was to hold to the end over many restarts. Late race histrionics saw 5 restarts on lap 20 and a loss of the cars of Doug Meservey, Adam Norton, George Sherman, Randy Clark, Dan Meservey, Sr., Stan Metz, and Billy Joerres. Four others were lost in the lap 6 fracas, while Norman Wrenn was out after 17 laps and Sirignano made 11 circuits.

Six cars were able to finally complete the event. Richardi came home 1.2 seconds ahead of Joe Doucette, followed by Frank Perry, Dan Meservey, Jr., Phil Lausier and Mark Charette.

PAYNE WINS SHOWDOWN OF CHAMPIONS

Joey Payne from the midget and super modified ranks ran out on the field of champions at Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel Wednesday, outdueling a host of tough competitors to wear the laurel wreath and drink from the bottle of milk in a staged race of champions. He defeated names like 6-time Seekonk Pro-stock champ Vinny Annarummo, 3-time champ Freddy Astle, 5-time champ Rick Martin, just to name the home track multi-monarchs. Also hard-to-beat were his other competitors: super modified champ Russ Wood, “Won-It-All” Mike Stefanik, perennial Teddy

Christopher, “Liquid Lou” Cicconi and Chris Perley. The group was ensconced in NEMA Lights, midget racers with the full racing frames but with factory stock engines. Not the wild, 400 horsepower full midgets, but still some real speed merchants.

The event did not disappoint, as Radical Rick Martin came rushing up through the field from the fourth row to duel with Cicconi while Vinny Annarummo battled Cicconi on the front row at the start. Astle, not to be outdone, came rocketing up from his last place on the starting grid to take over the lead by lap 5. Payne went under Cicconi into second and set his sights on Astle. He got by on lap 9, but Freddy continued to try to dig underneath to steal his lead back again.

Caution in lap 9 brought the field back for a restart with Astle outside Payne on the front.row. Payne went back to leading the race as Chris Perley went outside Astle for second. Payne ran it out to a 2-car lead over Perley, who was chased by Cicconi and Astle.

Perley did the best he could to pressure Payne for the remaining 10 laps, but never could close up to better than 2 cars behind. Cicconi drove it home in third, followed by Astle, Annarummo, Stefanik, Christopher, Russ Wood and Martin.

Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR

Ryan Preece had moved rapidly up from tenth spot into 6th, behind Mechalides.

Racing ended for Rob Summers and Dwight Jarvis in the first wreck of the evening on lap 25. Jarvis sat smoking between turns two and three after the altercation while Summers limped to the pits.

The lap 25 restart saw Masse lead off with McKennedy on his outside. Annarummo was low in the second row and Pennink was at his shoulder. Ryan Preece and Ronnie Silk made up row 3. Bridgewater’s Jimmy Kuhn and Dave Berghman from Seekonk followed. At the green, Masse and McKennedy dueled with Masse going to the front. McKennedy was stuck on the outside and Annarummo took advantage underneath, squeezing into second. Preece also navigated underneath, and by lap 30, it was Masse, Annarummo, Preece, McKennedy and Pennink.

By lap 35, Kuhn had moved into fifth, with Berghman on his tail. This top five continued through lap 70, with Annarummo doggedly pursuing Masse and being pursued by Preece.

Early favorite Mike Stefanik had been having difficulty moving forward, and on lap 71, he went around in turn 3, bringing out the caution lights. Eight cars including Stefanik and Ted Christopher went to the pits to try to change their fortunes. All eight had returned by the time the race re-fired.

On the restart, Masse nabbed the lead once again, followed by Annarummo, McKennedy getting by Preece who held on to fourth, Kuhn and Pennink. They formed up a pace-line, biting at each others’ heels until lap 85. Annarummo had been looking for a way around Masse and discovered it, driving under him and into the lead. This lasted just a lap when a spin set another caution sending 6 cars, including Stefanik, into the pits for adjustments. Stefanik was not to complete the tour, being forced to retire with 10 laps left in the feature.

Annarummo won the contest for the front on the restart, with Masse latched to his coattails. McKennedy and Preece pursued. By the 90th circuit, Kuhn had edged in behind McKennedy, ahead of Preece and Pennink, but now Christopher had come alive and was moving forward.

The lead began to stretch as Annarummo moved away from Masse to about a 5-car lead. The crowd held its breath as the dangerous Christopher moved around several cars, heading to the front; with 5 laps to go, however, the leader was a full straightaway ahead and a string of 3 cars lay between them.

Christopher settled in ahead of Matt Hirschman for fifth spot, while Annarummo ran 5 cars ahead of Masse at the front. It was a matter of remaining pointed toward victory lane for Annarummo who surged under the checkers for the win, followed by his nightlong antagonists, Masse and McKennedy. Kuhn and Christopher filled out the top 5.

Order of Finish: 1: Todd Annarummo; 2: Stephen Masse; 3: Jon McKennedy; 4: James Kuhn, Jr.; 5: Ted Christopher; 6: Matt Hirschman; 7: Ryan Preece; 8: Rowan Pennink ; 9: Max Zachem; 10: Louie Mechalides; 11: Kenny Spencer; 12: Anthony Sesely; 13: David Berghman;1 4: Ronnie Silk; 15: Jeff Malave; 16: Richard Savary; 17: Andy Seuss; 18: Chuck Hossfeld; 19: Kirk Alexander; 20: Glenn Griswold; 21: Mike Stefanik; 22: Michael Ordway, Jr.; 23: Vinny Annarummo; 24: Dwight Jarvis; 25: Rob Summers

CICCONI NABS NEMA 25-LAPPER

Lou Cicconi was up to his old tricks at Seekonk Speedway, driving hard from the middle of the Northeast Midget Association starting grid to the front of the pack before midrace. He had spent much of the mid-race dueling with Randy Cabral through the field until the duo completed a 1-2 finish.

Mike Horn had gone to the front early, taking on Paul Scaly while Todd Bertrand ran hard into third. From there, the attention moved to Cicconi and Cabral, as they moved from the middle of the field to the front.

Telling factor on the combo was a three-wide pass on the frontstretch, with Cicconi taking advantage of the situation and coming out with Cabral at his back. On the next lap, Paul Scaly looped his car between turns one and two.

Cicconi and Cabral were the front row on the restart with Horn and Chris Deritis behind them. Jeff Abold and Greg Stoehr formed up the third slot. Cicconi went immediately to the lead with Cabral behind him ahead of Horn and Deritis. Adam Cantor came up to edge Deritis out of the fourth spot.

Cicconi had the edge on the night, leading a high-speed parade around the third-of-a-mile oval. He moved out to a straightaway lead over Cabral which he held to the finish. Cabral, Horn, Cantor and Russ Stoehr filled out the top 5.

Order of Finish: 1: Lou Cicconi; 2: Randy Cabral; 3: Mike Horn; 4: Adam Cantor; 5: Russ Stoehr; 6: Greg Stoehr; 7: Jeff Abold; 8: Jeff Horn; 9: Jim Miller; 10: Anthony Marvuglio; 11: Erica Santos; 12: Russ Wood; 13: Joe Payne; 14: Lee Bundy; 15: Paul Scaly; 16: Ed LeClerc; 17: Matt O’Brien; 18: Brian Cleveland; 19: Chris Deritis; 20: Anthony Nocella; 21: Todd Bertrand

ROB RICCHIARDI SURVIVES BATTLE-DAMAGED PRO-4 FEATURE FOR WIN

Dave Richardi led off the Open Wheel Wednesday Pro-4 feature at Seekonk Speedway, but it was his brother, Rob, who was at the front under the checkered flag after 25 grueling laps. Dave went to the lead at the start, passing Stan Metz in the second turn, while Rob settled into third place. Dave worked his way out to a 2-car lead. Through the first 5 laps, the two Richardi and Metz held the top 3, followed by Dan Meservey, Jr, Phil Lausier and Frank Perry.

A lap 6 tangle left Bryan Souza, driving Robin Berghman’s 07x, sitting in turn 2, needing a tow back to the pit area. It was a short end to Souza’s first run at Pro-4 Modifieds.

On the restart, Meservey, Jr. ducked under Dave Richardi for the lead, but Cory Cleary, Metz, and Henry Sirignano went around in turn 2, spoiling the restart. Cleary limped off the track trailing sparks.

On the following try, Rob Richardi went to the lead, one he was to hold to the end over many restarts. Late race histrionics saw 5 restarts on lap 20 and a loss of the cars of Doug Meservey, Adam Norton, George Sherman, Randy Clark, Dan Meservey, Sr., Stan Metz, and Billy Joerres. Four others were lost in the lap 6 fracas, while Norman Wrenn was out after 17 laps and Sirignano made 11 circuits.

Six cars were able to finally complete the event. Richardi came home 1.2 seconds ahead of Joe Doucette, followed by Frank Perry, Dan Meservey, Jr., Phil Lausier and Mark Charette.

PAYNE WINS SHOWDOWN OF CHAMPIONS

Joey Payne from the midget and super modified ranks ran out on the field of champions at Seekonk Speedway’s Open Wheel Wednesday, outdueling a host of tough competitors to wear the laurel wreath and drink from the bottle of milk in a staged race of champions. He defeated names like 6-time Seekonk Pro-stock champ Vinny Annarummo, 3-time champ Freddy Astle, 5-time champ Rick Martin, just to name the home track multi-monarchs. Also hard-to-beat were his other competitors: super modified champ Russ Wood, “Won-It-All” Mike Stefanik, perennial Teddy

Christopher, “Liquid Lou” Cicconi and Chris Perley. The group was ensconced in NEMA Lights, midget racers with the full racing frames but with factory stock engines. Not the wild, 400 horsepower full midgets, but still some real speed merchants.

The event did not disappoint, as Radical Rick Martin came rushing up through the field from the fourth row to duel with Cicconi while Vinny Annarummo battled Cicconi on the front row at the start. Astle, not to be outdone, came rocketing up from his last place on the starting grid to take over the lead by lap 5. Payne went under Cicconi into second and set his sights on Astle. He got by on lap 9, but Freddy continued to try to dig underneath to steal his lead back again.

Caution in lap 9 brought the field back for a restart with Astle outside Payne on the front.row. Payne went back to leading the race as Chris Perley went outside Astle for second. Payne ran it out to a 2-car lead over Perley, who was chased by Cicconi and Astle.

Perley did the best he could to pressure Payne for the remaining 10 laps, but never could close up to better than 2 cars behind. Cicconi drove it home in third, followed by Astle, Annarummo, Stefanik, Christopher, Russ Wood and Martin.

Sources: Kevin Boucher/Seekonk Speedway PR

Modified Madness 100

1. 12 Todd Annarummo 100
2. 13 Stephen Masse 100
3. 73 Jon McKennedy 100
4. 72 James Kuhn, Jr. 100
5. 52 Ted Christopher 100
6. 60 Matt Hirschman 100
7. 40 Ryan Preece 100
8. 25 Rowan Pennink 100
9. 79 Max Zachem 100
10. 85 Louie Mechalides 100
11. 67 Kenny Spencer 100
12. 11 Anthony Sesely 100
13. 82 David Berghman 100
14. 1 Ronnie Silk 100
15. 3J Jeff Malave 100
16. 91 Richard Savary 100
17. 46 Andy Seuss 100
18. 22 Chuck Hossfeld 100
19. 43 Kirk Alexander 99
20. 68 Glenn Griswold 95
21. 66 Mike Stefanik 90
22. 10x Michael Ordway Jr. 64
23. 07 Vinnie Annarummo 48
24. 00 Dwight Jarvis 25
25. 01 Rob Summers 25

NEMA Midgets 25

1. 4 Lou Cicconi 25
2. 47 Randy Cabral 25
3. 93 Mike Horn 25
4. 7ny Adam Cantor 25
5. 45 Russ Stoehr 25
6. 26 Greg Stoehr 25
7. 29 Jeff Abold 25
8. A1 Jeff Horn 25
9. 3M Jim Miller 25
10. 35 Anthony Mervuglio 25
11. 44 Erica Santos 25
12. 51 Russ Wood 25
13. 9 Joe Payne 25
14. 2 Lee Bundy 25
15. 30 Paul Scally 24
16. 12 Ed Leclerc 24
17. 16 Matt Obrien 23
18. 78 Brian Cleveland 23
19. 75 Chris Deritis 22
20. 29x Anthony Nocella 11
21. 48 Todd Bertrand 5

Pro4 Modifieds 25

1. 12 Rob Richardi Jr. 25
2. 29 Joe Doucette 25
3. 83 Frank Perry 25
4. 5 Dan Meservey Jr. 25
5. 07 Phil Lausier 25
6. 86 Mark Charette 25
7. 71 Doug Meservey 20
8. 01 Adam Norton 20
9. 13 George Sherman 20
10. 93 Randy Clark 20
11. 11a Dan Meservey Sr. 20
12. 16 Stan Mertz 20
13. 99 Billy Jorres 20
14. 1M Norman Wrenn 17
15. 58 Henry Sirignano 11
16. 10 Brian Vincent 9
17. 00 Dave Richardi 6
18. 4 Cory Cleary 6
19. 25 Tyler Anderson 6
20. 07x Bryan Souza 6