Ryan Vanasse to Make Modified Debut at Seekonk
Ryan Vanasse of Warwick, RI will make his Valenti Modified Racing Series debut August 16 at Seekonk Speedway.
Vanasse had planned on last week’s Open Wheel Wednesday event. Vanasse will drive a new car for an undisclosed team, using a mix of their crew and his own. International CDL will provide sponsorship but there is space available on the car. Another race may be added depending on the Seekonk results.
“I truly feel like this is a great opportunity for me personally and I’m truly honored that I was offered this opportunity,” Vanasse said. “I have always wanted to try a open wheel race car and to get the opportunity to debut at my home track in a competitive car is truly humbling.”
“It came together very quickly,” Vanasse said. “A few weeks back while we were in victory lane at Seekonk with the Morsehead racing No. 0 Late Model, I was approached by a gentleman by the name of Dick Williams. Dick was a huge part of this Tri Track Modified Series and asked me if I had any interest in running a Modified, and of course I said yes. So Dick introduced me to a few people and the rest is history.
“He is a class act. Him and his team are really putting a lot of work into local Modified racing. They are true racers and their series had already put life back into local racing.”
Vanasse said his focus will remain with the Pro Stocks and dismissed a jump to the VMRS.
“I am pretty passionate and fully invested in full fender race cars and there is still more I feel I want to accomplish there.”
Vanasse has competed in touring series events on the American Canadian Tour and Pro All Stars Series before and would like nothing better than to win a tour race during his career.
“Winning a tour race is on my bucket list,” Vanasse said. “I feel like Seekonk would be my best chance, but with the ACT and PASS races being dropped, it has left us looking at different venues. Anything can happen in this sport of ours! In the event that it did happen, it would be really special.”
“I feel like we can be competitive, but I am going in with modest goals,” Vanasse said. “1) make the race. 2) finish all the laps. My stretch goal is a top 10. I feel having the home track advantage is going to be a good thing.”
Vanasse won the Pro Stock season opener and led the standings until a month ago. He is seventh in points and finished third in Saturday’s feature.
“It’s been up and down,” Vanasse said. “We have been fast all year, but luck hasn’t exactly been the best. We have won a race and been in contention to win a bunch more. We were in title contention up until a few weeks back when we had a technical infraction. Just gotta take the good with the bad and move on.”
Vanasse is confident in his Team V Racing crew.
“I am so fortunate to be surrounded by great people,” Vanasse said. “I feel like we have one of the best teams in that pit area. I couldn’t do it without Mike Vanasse, Ron Greene, Paul Vanasse, Bob Pelland, Derryck Anderson, Jr. Our sponsors: Ocean State Oil, A&A Auto Parts, T. Morsehead Landscaping and International CDL. Special thanks goes out to Crazy Horse Race Cars. Those guys have been phenomenal to work with and they build bad fast race cars. Last but not least is the all the Team V women and children behind the scenes. Without their support, we would not be able to do what we love every Saturday night.”
A two-time Late Model champion with 48 victories at the 1/3 mile oval, Vanasse set the Late Model mark with 11 victories in 2011. Vanasse is pictured with five-time champion Rick Hanatow, Jr. of Somerset, MA, winner of 10 races in 1992.
Vanasse has run excellent in extra distance races since his first Pro Stock win in 2008. He has won nine in Late Models. His last four wins include some high profile races: the D. Anthony Venditti Memorial, inaugural Crab Manchester Memorial, and a sweep of both Phil’s Propane Triple Crown races this season.
Vanasse mentioned he is working on a ride in the Sport Trucks for the D. Anthony Venditti season finale. A win there would give him a victory in every Saturday class: Pro Stock, Late Model, Street Stock, and the old Formula Four class.
Sources: Nicholas Teto/YankeeRacer.com