Lee Hosts Valenti Modified Series Final This Weekend
Canaan, NH. — The Valenti Modified Racing Series championship and final race of the season takes place this weekend at New Hampshire’s Lee USA Speedway. The event will be part of the 26th annual Oktoberfest weekend, Saturday Oct 20, and Sunday Oct 21.
Jon McKennedy, of Chelmsford, MA; no stranger to the 3/8th mile race facility, and Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA; lead the list of entries. The two drivers have staged an almost season long battle for the championship.
McKennedy holds a 35-point lead over Pennink. A three-time winner this season, Pennink won last years series finale at Lee.
McKennedy, since the start of the campaign, stated his hope to deliver car-owner Art Barry a championship. Barry, a Hall of Fame car-builder and owner from Preston, CT; has yet to win a series title.
“Hopefully we have no issues at Lee and can close the deal out,” said McKennedy this week. “All year we’ve had a good car, its an awesome team, awesome working with these guys and look who I’m driving for, Art Barry, I have great respect for him. He’s had a lot of great drivers. Ask around the pits and everyone has a lot of respect for the man. Want to get him that championship.”
Chris Pasteryak, of Lisbon, CT; and Norman Wrenn of Nashua, NH; are battling for third place in the standings. 17-points separate the two. Louie Mechalides, of Tyngsboro, MA; a former track champion at Lee, is six points behind Wrenn.
Additional entries expected include, Dwight Jarvis, of Ascutney, VT; Les Hinckley, of Windsor Locks, CT; a three-time Lee winner, 2010 Oktoberfest winner, Steve Masse, of Bellingham, MA., former Lee winner Jim Boniface, of Winchester, NH; and first year drivers, Tommy Barrett, of Millis, MA; and Mark Bakaj, of Lebanon, CT.
Qualifying heat races for the two-day event will be contested at 2:20 PM on Saturday, with feature races on Sunday at 12 noon. Sundays 100-lap race will be run fourth in a 12-feature card.
UPDATED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR LEE….
Friday – October 19th
LEE FRIDAY SCHEDULE – RAIN OR SHINE
Pits Open @ 12 Noon
Concession #1 will be open
Parking Rigs
Tire Sales for Lee cars 2PM – 6PM
Movie Party ( Checkered Flag Pub ) 7PM – 10PM
Saturday – October 20th ** NO MOTORS BEFORE NOON **
Pit Gate Opens @ 8:00 AM
Registration @ 8:30 AM
Tire Corral Opens @ 9:30 AM (Order will be by Owners Points)
Driver's Meeting @ 11:30 AM
Rotating Practice starting @ 2:00 PM ( 1 round each )
3:15 PM – NEMA LITE FEATURE FROM (8/10/12)
Qualifying Starts after the NEMA LITE feature.
50 Lap Pro Stock / Super Late Model Feature
TIRES WILL BE IMPOUNDED AFTER QUALIFYING
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Sunday – October 21st ** NO MOTORS BEFORE NOON **
Pit Gate Opens @ 8:00 AM
Tire Corral Opens @ 9:00 AM for Impounded Tires
Driver's Meeting @ 10:00 AM
Pre Race Activities @ 11:00 AM
Features starting @ 12:00 PM
****12 DIVISIONS OF RACING****
(WE ARE THE 4TH FEATURE GOING OUT ONTO THE TRACK)
Sources: John Spence, Sr./VMRS PR