Third Annual Occupy the Oval/#44 Challenge Race Report
Charity Race Raises $1,500 for Racing4Vets
The third annual Occupy the Oval at R/C Madness in Enfield, CT was held on March 8. Valenti Modified Racing Series driver Dylan Kopec won over 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece. Racing4Vets president Lawrence Klamecki was third with Tommy Barrett, Jr. in fourth.
Barrett had a very fast car, but crashed hard in the first corner of the main event and broke his front end. “Preece and Kopec put on a great show in the main, battling for the lead until Preece went wide in a corner, smacked the wall and sheared a kingpin,” event organizer Dean Berry said. Despite a broken front end, Preece came home second.
Donations are still coming in for the event. “We raised well over $1,500,” Berry said. … “Big thanks to Mario Fiore, all the racers, Cliff Nelson, Dale Cote and many more. Special thanks to Joe Papa for taking so many great pics. … Very special thanks to all those that helped Occupy The Oval/44 Challenge be so successful in raising money for Racing4Vets. Mario Fiore, Dale Cote’, Romano Conti, Kenneth Boehm, Christopher Marcy, Lawrence Klamecki.
“(A) very special thanks to the 44 Challenge pros,” Berry said. (Tommy Barrett, Ryan Preece and Dylan Kopec) …” They put on a great show with Dylan beating Ryan in the main event. Also a special thanks to all those who donated race prizes, Ryan from Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting, MaxAmps, Team Associated, Castle Creations Inc., JConcepts Inc, Team Tekin Racing, Boca Bearings Bryan, Reedy, and others. Lastly, thanks to KBE/Dale Cote, The American Legion and Cliff Nelson of Cliff Nelson Motorsports for their direct donations to Racing4Vets.”
Results (starting pos.)
- Dylan Kopec (2)
- Ryan Preece (1)
- Lawrence K (4)
- Tommy Barrett, Jr. (3)
Sources: Dean Berry
Photos by Joe Papa