McKennedy Wins Modified Racing Series Titles, Masse Nabs Lee Finale
Lee, N.H. — It was a strange finish to the season. Four hours after Flagman John Spence Jr. dropped the green flag to start the race, Steven Masse of Bellingham, MA, passed under the checkered flag to capture the season ending “Oktoberfest 100” feature race, sanctioned by the Modified Racing Series, sponsored by Bob Valenti Automall.Com, at Lee USA Speedway, Lee, N.H., Sunday afternoon, October 24.
Jon McKennedy, of E. Chelmsford, MA, capped off a great season as he claimed the driving championship and the car owner’s title for the 2010 campaign. McKennedy joins three-time champion, Kirk Alexander, as the only other driver to win back-to-back championships. McKennedy won four races enroute to the championships.
Max Zachem, of Preston, CT., jumped into the lead at the drop of the green flag and led the opening six laps, until Masse motored by to take the top spot, a position he would hold from lap 7 through 100.
The race was slowed on lap 68 when Jimmy Kuhn, W.Bridgewater, MA, spun to bring out the first caution flag. At that point a persistent rain developed forcing the event to be stopped. The red flag period lasted for close to two hours while speedway officials orchestrated the task of drying out the 3/8-mile facility in very damp and cold conditions.
When the modified race was re-started, now 3 hours and 45 minutes later, Masse promptly picked up where he left off setting a fast pace with five-time MRS winner and 2007 Oktoberfest champion Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H., in hot pursuit. Masse maintained the lead over Seuss until lap 84 when a hard charging Kenny Barry, Preston, CT., last years Oktoberfest winner, slipped by to take over the chase of Masse.
Barry brought the crowd alive as he hunted down Masse pulling up behind the leader when the white flag was displayed. Masse was able to hold off Barry at the finish picking up his third win of the season and his fourth career victory with the Modified Racing Series.
Barry finished just 0.194 seconds behind the winner, with Zachem settling for third, Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA, following a late race charge, finished fourth, with Seuss fifth. Sixth through tenth was, Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT., Alexander, Swanzey, NH, Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, McKennedy, and Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT, tenth.
Masse won the $200 bonus presented by Laticrete for leading the race at lap 50.
30 race teams entered the season finale with 24 cars starting the event. 21 drivers finished the race with 15 on the lead lap.
Date: October 24, 2010
Event: Oktoberfest 100 (#19 of 20)
Venue: Lee USA Speedway—Lee, NH
Distance: 100 Laps
Time of Race: 4:12:08
Margin of Victory: 0.194
Best Lap Time: 14.996, 90.204 Todd Annarummo
Lap Leaders: Max Zachem (1-6), Steve Masse (7-100)
Cautions: 2 (68)
Note, 3:45 rain delay
Unofficial Order of Finish:
Finish, Start, Driver, Hometown, Laps, Status
DNQ: Eric Hudson, Joey Jarvis, Jim Dolan, Mike Douglas, John Cleary, and Eddy Spiers
Sources: John Spence. Sr. & Tyler Apanell/MRS PR