Dwight Jarvis Wins Victor Johnson Memorial at Monadnock
Winchester, NH. – Valenti Modified Racing Series veteran Dwight Jarvis, of Ascutney, VT., captured his first win of the season Saturday night, winning the ‘Victor Johnson Memorial 100’ at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH.
The race, plagued by 15 caution periods and two red flags, took over 90 minutes to complete.
Jarvis took the lead on lap 80 from Todd Patnode, of Richmond, NH., and was never headed. Patnode suffered a flat tire forcing him to the pit area. Patnode returned to finish 18th in the 24 car field.
Jarvis was right at ‘home’ at his favorite race track where he has enjoyed much success for over 30 years. “I love this track. The fans here are wonderful,” Jarvis said in victory lane.
“Todd and me were having an excellent run. Too bad he got a flat left front,” Jarvis said. “I had something for him. I was saving something for him at the end.”
Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., currently in a battle for the series championship, finished in a solid second place. “It was a marathon out there a long race you never like to see a race go like that but the 25 car was good all night,” Pennink said. We had to start far back and work our way up through. Stayed out of the wrecks and ended up with a good finish.”
The late race story was Millis, MA., high school senior, Tommy Barrett, Jr., who made a late race charge to finish third. Barrett didn’t think he had anything for the front due to early mishaps. “After the third pit stop I didn’t think so,” said Barrett. “We started in the middle of the pack. I was riding around trying to have tires, we had two flats and I just did what I could to get back.”
Kirk Alexander, of Swanzey, NH., and Jon McKennedy of E. Chelmsford, MA., rounded out the top five.
Sixth through tenth were Louie Mechalides, Joe Doucette, Steve Masse, Chris Pasteryak, and Bryan Shumway.
16 of the original 24 starters finished on the lead lap. It took 1 hour, 38 minutes to complete the race due to the excessive caution flags.
McKennedy’s point lead is now 16 over Pennink. Norman Wrenn has moved into third followed, Pasteryak, and Mechalides, who has moved to fifth in the standings. Next event is Friday, August 31, Stafford CT.
Race Summary:
Race # 13 at Monadnock Speedway
Entrants: (31)
Distance: 100 laps
Time: 1:38:31.176
Margin of Victory: 0.953
Best Lap Time: 12.650
Best Speed: 71.146 (Patnode)
Lead Changes: (5)
Lap Leaders: Pasteryak (1) Alexander (2-67) Patnode (68-74) Jarvis (75) Patnode (76-80) Jarvis (81-100)
Cautions: Laps 20,22,46,50,51,51,64,73, 76,76,76,80,80,83,97.
Order of Finish: (1) Jarvis (2) Pennink (3) Barrett (4) Alexander (5) McKennedy (6) Mechalides (7) Doucette (8) Masse (9) Pasteryak (10) Shumway (11) Mead (12) Wrenn (13) Barnett (14) Zachem (15) Bakaj (16) Cipriano (17) Gernhard (18) Patnode (19) Owen (20) Nocella (21) Jordan (22) Goodenough (23) Smith (24) Schneider
Sources: John Spence, Sr./VMRS PR