Todd Patnode Scores Victor Johnson Memorial 100
Winchester, NH — Todd Patnode of Swanzey, NH could not have picked a better night to win his first ever Valenti Modified Racing Series feature, as Swanzey Oil, Patnode’s major sponsor and the race sponsor for the event was on hand along with a large family fan club. In victory lane Patnode said it was important to win on Victor Johnson Memorial night. “Victor was a good friend and great competitor,” Patnode said.
Patnode started from the outside of the fifth row and seemed to be content sitting back and watching the action up front. Peter Jarvis of Ascutney, VT and Max Zachem of Preston CT led the 25 car field to Rich Keator’s green flag, with Zachem blasting to the lead. Dwight Jarvis, brother to Peter Jarvis, also of Ascutney, VT and Matt Mead of Richmond, NH, trailed the 79 of Zachem like they were tied together until lap 43, when Peter Jarvis saw an opening and scooted by Zachem for the lead. The four front runners opened up a five car length lead over the rest of the pack, but that lead would evaporate on lap 47 when rookie Dylan Kopec of Palmer, MA spun off turn 2, bringing out the first of 8 cautions for this race. The restart had Zachem in the fast outside groove which he used to regain the lead.
At the half way mark more of the heavy hitters started to come to life. Jon McKennedy of E. Chelmsford, MA slipped by Mead for the fourh spot, which also gave Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH in his back up car, and Rob Goodenough of Swanzey, NH the opportunity to move past Mead for fifth and sixth, respectively. A lap 51 yellow flag slowed the action only briefly. When the green was displayed Dwight Jarvis caught brother Peter napping and blew by, taking over second spot. The top-5 at this point were Zachem, Dwight, Peter, Wrenn and Goodenough with Patnode starting to go on the offense.
By lap 63 Patnode worked inside Wrenn picking up the fifth spot, with Rowan Pennink of New Egypt, NJ racing by Wrenn for sixth. A lap 71 caution flag for Thursday Night’s winner at Thompson Speedway, Richard Savary of Canton, MA was displayed when Savary spun on turn 4. The #53 of Wrenn got caught up in that action, with his run up front coming to an end against the turn three wall. With 26 laps to go at the restart, a determined Patnode shot by Goodenough, then passed Peter Jarvis on the same lap, and found himself racing wheel to wheel beside Dwight.
Dwight out motored Patnode for second, then on lap 78 Dwight had enough of following Zachem and took over the lead, with Patnode in tow, dropping Zachem back to third.The Swanzey Oil fan club grew louder. With 20 laps to go, McKennedy, the defending series champion making his fourth start this year in the Art Barry #21, passed Peter Jarvis for fourth and three laps later Peter spun out of fifth place.
In the ensuing action Patnode made the pass on Dwight, but had to go back because of the yellow flag. Tommy Barrett, Jr. of Millis, MA had worked his way through the field into fifth place, but was black flagged and had to pit for consultation, returning to the rear of the field. On the lap 84 restart, Patnode used the outside and took the lead from Dwight, while McKennedy out dueled Zachem for third.
Another caution on lap 91 gave McKennedy the opportunity to muscle his way by Dwight for the second spot. One lap later, the yellow flew again, and the four lead cars of Patnode, McKennedy, Dwight Jarvis and Zachem got away cleanly. Les Hinckley of Windsor Locks, CT moved inside the #25 of Pennink and the two raced beside each other until Barrett, whom had worked his way back to seventh, spun off turn 2 on lap 98, with Peter Jarvis taking a broadside hit, landing his 04 into the turn 2 wall.
With the green flying and two laps to go the potent #06 of Hinckley developed a flat tire and dropped out of sixth spot. At the finish line Patnode crossed 0.502 seconds ahead of McKennedy. Dwight Jarvis, Max Zachem and Rowan Pennink rounded out the top 5, with Russ Hersey of Swanzey, NH being called into action to drive the Boniface ride #88 finishing 6th.
Heat winners were Kopec, Wrenn, McKennedy
Sources: Jim Snape/YankeeRacer.com
Victor Johnson Memorial 100 Race Results at Monadnock Speedway (From ModifiedRacingSeries.com)
1. #24 Todd Patnode
2. #21 Jon McKennedy
3. #28 Dwight Jarvis
4. #79 Max Zachem
5. #25 Rowan Pennink
6. #88 Russ Hersey
7. #17 Todd Owen
8. #5CT Chris Pasteryak
9. #74 Dana Smith
10. #90 Jeff Pearl
11. #9 Tommy Barrett, Jr.
12. #0 Mike Holdridge
13. #66 Dylan Kopec
14. #19 Dave Schneider
15. #85 Louie Mechalides
16. #34 Dave Etheridge
17. #77 Matt Mead
18. #1NH Rob Goodenough
19. #07 Melissa Fifield (last car on lead lap)
20. #06 Les Hinkley
21. #53 Norm Wrenn
22. #99 Richard Savary
23. #62 Roger Raymond
24. #92 Anthony Nocella
25. #04 Peter Jarvis
DNS: #57 Jeff Rocco- Engine
-Event Stats-
Time of Race: 52:18:611
Margin of Victory: .502
Best Lap: #74 Dana Smith (12.766 sec)
Lap Leaders: Max Zachem 1-43, Peter Jarvis 44-47, Max Zachem 48-77, Dwight Jarvis 78-84, Todd Patnode 85-100
Cautions: 8- On laps: 47,51,71,83,83,91,92,98