Moniz Team to Make VMRS Debut Sunday at Thompson
Preece & Defending Sunoco Modified Championship Team Look to Continue Thompson Success with #31
THOMPSON, CT — As has been the case for many years, Albert and Cathy Moniz will field their Falmouth Ready Mix team for another full-time effort in the Sunoco Modifieds at Thompson. Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT piloted the #31 Sunoco Modified last season to their first track championship on the strength of 10 victories. “They’re extremely happy, Preece said. “They’re always people that look at the glass half full not half empty; so they’re looking forward to this year, I’m looking forward to this year and hopefully we can repeat it, but if not hopefully we win a few races and have some fun.”
The team acquired a Tour-Type Modified over the winter. “Mike Paquette from Chassis Dynamics mentioned to us that this car was for sale,” said Cathy Moniz. “He knew we had an MRS motor and would be a good fit if we were interested. We talked to Ryan and he was excited to run a few races as our schedules permit.”
The team is looking to run upcoming MRS races at Thompson and Stafford. “I pretty much committed to running Riverhead as many Saturdays as I can besides the Tour, said Preece. “I imagine were only going to do Thompson’s and Stafford’s. I’d like to go to Waterford or Monadnock but it all depends on the schedule, how were doing at Riverhead and just a whole bunch of different things.”
Preece will drive the red and yellow #31 in Sunday’s VMRS 75. “We’ve been working on the car all week so I hope it runs well. We definitely have plenty of horsepower from Pettit with that. I just hope we unload, we don’t have any problems and we just have a little fun.”
Although Preece has run a limited schedule with the VMRS to date, his best career finish was a 2nd in 2006 at Star. Preece’s goal is”To win. But realistically the tires play a whole way into it; so I may try a few things different inside the car. We have to build a notebook. Were kind of going in blind, but at the same time we’re not because Mike and I, we’ve been working together for so long. So we’ll see so hopefully we’ll have a good day.”
Moniz said the team would also enter the $5,000-to-win SK Modified race at Seekonk Speedway on June 2. While Preece has never won at Seekonk, Preece led many laps in last year’s Open Wheel Wednesday 100-lap race before finishing 2nd. “They have run there in years past with Tommy Cravenho, said Preece. “I’m looking forward to going there. The car’s stout whenever it hits the track so I’m not nervous. I think we’ll be good.”
The SK Modifieds have not competed at the Cement Palace since 2000. “Anytime a car doesn’t go to a race track for a long time and it ends up going back, it’s usually pretty cool so it should be good.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com