Masse Claims Beech Ridge 100
SCARBOROUGH, ME — It only took 31 minutes for Steve Masse to pull down his second VMRS feature of the 2013 season, but it was not an easy drive for the Bellingham, MA driver. Masse started the 100 lap event on the pole after the redraw with Tommy Barrett of Millis, MA scheduled to start second, but Barrett made an unscheduled pit stop before the feature started, placing the #9 to the rear of the line up. This gave the second starting spot and opportunity to go green beside Masse to Max Zachem of Preston, CT.
When the green flag flew, Masse blasted away leaving a pack of hungry behind. By lap 15, Masse held a 10 car length lead over Zachem, Richard Savary of Canton, MA, Anthony Nocella of Woburn, MA and David Pinkham of Buxton, ME. Pinkham was making his second VMRS start of 2013. Savary in the Alloy Wheel Repair #99 made the first move, working over Zachem on the outside and sliding into second place. By lap 22, Pinkham gained momentum and raced by Nocella for fourth. Chris Pasteryak of Jewitt City, CT then dropped Nocella back another spot a lap later. With a quarter of the race gone by, Savary was dialed in and shot by Zachem into second. Pinkham and Nocella put pressure on the Dunleavy Truck Repair #79 of Zachem, getting by him to overtake third and fourth. Pinkham was getting comfortable with his #22 and the track, and moved by Savary for second.
While Masse continued to lead, behind him the entire field ran two by two, with Pinkham on the inside of Savary for second, and Zachem on the inside of the Nocella Paving #92 for the fourth spot. The only yellow flag of the event came out on lap 64 when Joey Jarvis of Ascutney, VT and Matt Mead of Richmond, NH made contact, both cars looping in turn 4. Both went to pit road, along with Rowan Pennink of New Egypt, NJ and Zachem, whom dropped from fourth place.
On the restart, Pinkham got a roar of approval from the Maine race fans as he passed Masse, to become the new leader of the race. Nocella also got the upper hand on Masse and raced by into the runner up spot, but Nocella wasn’t done yet, and by lap 71 drove by Pinkham to become the third leader of the event. It looked like Nocella was going to put this one in the win column, but Masse wasn’t going to settle for third, and powered by Pinkham for second spot.
With 25 laps to go, Savary made his way into third when he passed Pinkham. Tommy Barrett in the Victory Lane Bar & Grill #9 whom was hung up earlier at the rear of the field, finally broke free and motored his way into the seventh spot. At lap 80, Pasteryak made an outside pass on Pinkham for fourth. Nocella, running in clean air, tried to get away from an advancing Masse, but Masse wouldn’t allow it and pushed hard until he caught Nocella and passed him on lap 93.
With five laps to go, Masse checked out and drove away for the win in his Rhode Island Dolls #13. Nocella hung on for second, Pasteryak took third, Savary fourth, Pennink advanced from the rear to take fifth; Toni Ricci, Louie Mechalides, Tommy Barrett, Dave Pinkham, and Jon McKennedy rounded out the top 10.
Summary:
Track: Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, ME
Track length: 0.333 Mile
Laps: 100
Tie of Race: 31 minutes
Margin of Victory: 1.810 seconds
Ave. speed 63.797
Best lap Time: 15.249
Best Lap Time Set by Rowan Pennink
Best Speed: 78.615
Cautions: 1, lap 64
Lap Leaders: 1-63 Steve Masse #13, 64-70 David Pinkham #22 71-92, Anthony Nocella #92, 93-100 Steve Masse #13
http://www.mylaps.com/en/classification/2801253
Sources: Jim Snape/YankeeRacer.com