Richardi Plans VMRS Run with New Spafco
Rob Richardi will enter his sophomore Valenti Modified Racing Series (VMRS) season with a new Spafco Modified. He is working with former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion crew chief John McKenna, who is preparing Les Hinckley’s car at Wayne Darling’s shop in Seekonk, MA. “I could never turn down help from one of the best crew chiefs around,” Richardi said.
Richardi was a crew member on Darling’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team as a rear tire carrier in 2013 and a front tire carrier last year. Richardi will miss going over the wall during pit stops.
His goal is to make as many races as possible, including the season opener at Monadnock on May 2. He is also planning to race the Northeast Auto Car and Parts Tri-Track Open Modified Series. Richardi and his brother Dave will run some New England Pro 4 Modified races.
With many of the names from all over the Northeast entering for the Northeast Auto Car and Parts Tri-Track Open Modified Series, Richardi would call it an All-Star race.
“I’d definitely call it an all-star race. The best of the best from all Modified series are entered. It’s going to be a challenge to qualify, but the only thing that makes you a better driver is to race against the best. I would feel like I won the race if I qualified. I think what the Racing Guys and Jim Schaefer have done with that series and Modified racing in general is awesome.”
One of the highlights from last year was an eighth in the August VMRS race at Seekonk. The turning point for Richardi was almost winning a Tour-Type Modified race at Star Speedway. He was consistently in the top half of the field of the VMRS races. He also felt that he had a lot of downs.
“It was my first year running only MRS and coming off of two seasons in the Pro 4’s, where I had five wins each year, including a championship and a second place. I knew it was going to be a tough transition and definitely didn’t expect any wins or top fives. My goal was to qualify for all the races and I struggled with that. We were down on power all year, but it was the only motor I had so I had to deal with it. We also had a bad qualifying race at Stafford, where I drove into a good friend of mine Steve Masse. I had a few tough weeks leading up to that and after that I was ready to quit.”
Richardi took a step back and used three races at Star while the Valenti Modified Racing Series was off to get comfortable with the car again.
“Anyone that knows me or my family knows we never give up. That’s why we regrouped over the winter and dad decided to buy a new car. I owe this entire season to him. Last year it was my car and my motor. This year he decided to invest in me and the Modifieds. He and still loves his Pro 4’s, but he knows we can run with the big boys. It’ll take time but we are capable of it.”
Richardi’s goals are to make every race and finish consistently in the top 10. The season opener for the Valenti Modified Racing Series is the Bond Auto Parts Spring Dash 100 at Monadnock on May 2 at 4 PM.
Sources: Matthew Wiernasz/YankeeRacer.com