Tommy Barrett Cruises to Octoberfest Win
Lee USA Speedway hosted the annual Octoberfest. Although the temperatures were cool, the on-track action was hot.
The 2012 VMRS Championship was up for grabs with only 33 points separating the Art Barry owned Jon McKennedy driven #2 and the Gary Casella owned Rowan Pennink driven #25.
At the end of the 100 laps, the championship trophy would be going to Chelmsford MA with Jon McKennedy. Congratulations to Art Barry and crew.
Meanwhile there were 31 Modified teams trying to win the final event of the VMRS Season.
#5 Chris Pasteryak of Jewett City CT and #85 Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro MA brought the field to green, starting a 100 lap nerf bar to nerf bar battle. Pasteryak edged into the lead with a pack of hungry drivers in hot pursuit. The first of 7 cautions came on lap 24 when Dana Smith spun his #14 on the back stretch. On the restart Pasteryak took control again, while Dwight Jarvis of Ascutney VT powered his #28 from 7th to 3rd.
A lap 46 spin by #19 Dave Schneider of Northport NY put the pack under yellow again while the race leader headed for the pits for adjustments. This handed the lead over to Mechalides. #70 Andy Seuss motored into 2nd place and put a ton of pressure on the #85. Through 2 more restarts Mechalides, Seuss, McKennedy, Les Hinckley #06 and Rowan Pennink ran side by side, bumper to bumper and at one point 3 wide until lap 78 when a caution slowed the field. The pace was too much for the tires of Mechalides; giving way for McKennedy and Hinckley to pass by him.
The last caution came on lap 81. On the restart McKennedy and Hinckley led Pennink, #9 Tommy Barrett , and Seuss whom all got by the slowing Mechalides. On lap 85 Barrett powered by Hinckley, then by McKennedy into the lead which Tommy held onto until the end, bringing The Victory Lane Bar & Grill their 3rd win of the 2012 season. Tommy Barrett is the 8th different winner of the annual Octoberfest.
Les Hinckley collected 2nd place and Rowan Pennink takes 3rd. In victory lane Barrett said they stuck to a plan of hanging back for the first part of the race, pitting for adjustments, then going for the win late in the race. Their plan worked perfectly.
Sources: Jim Snape/YankeeRacer.com