VMRS Firecracker 100 On the Fourth at Monadnock
Canaan, NH. — The Valenti Modified Racing Series celebrates Independence Day, Saturday, July 4, with its traditional stop at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH, for the running of the ‘Firecracker 100’
The race, the second of three scheduled at the famed ¼ mile speedway this season, is always a big draw with local drivers return to their old stomping grounds where the series started twelve years ago.
Of those drivers with a strong Monadnock background and success is Todd Patnode, of Richmond, New Hampshire.
A former 6-time champion and New Hampshire State Champion, Patnode teamed with long-time Monadnock racer Dan Stebbins at the end of the 2014 season with an eye on the 2015 VMRS schedule.
Patnode enters Saturdays race feeling good about his chances for victory and adding his name to the list of Firecracker winners.
“We’ve got a good shot. We missed it a little last time at Monadnock,” said Patnode. “That was on me. I ran too hard mid-race. Didn’t have too. But you learn from it.”
Patnode has successfully fielded his own modified race cars in the past but likes what he has going now, wheeling the All-States Asphalt / Fairfield Auto / Swanzey Oil # 05.
Patnode has quietly worked his way to third place in the current point standings heading ‘home’ Saturday.
“Excellent team. Couldn’t ask for more,” said the 2014 Monadnock Sportsman-Modified champion. “When I get in that car I don’t have to be concerned and never have to worry. That car is ready. Everything is checked and double-checked. Very thorough crew. Great bunch of guys that work hard.”
Patnode is no stranger to the VMRS. He has run well over the years winning his first race in August 2013 at Monadnock. He acknowledges the series as being tough to win.
“The series does not lack in talent. Never has. Look at Woody, (Pitkat) Todd Szegedy, Pasteryak’s a rocket (Chris), things will fall together for Kirk (Alexander). He’s struggling, but they’ll be okay.
You have a good eight to nine cars if not more that are strong and capable of winning.”
In addition to Patnode, Alexander and Russ Hersey are two more locals that always make their presence known at Monadnock.
Former Firecracker 100 winners; Alexander (6) Jim Boniface,
Jon McKennedy, Szegedy, Dwight Jarvis, and Richard Savary
(1) each.
Pitkat, last week’s winner at Stafford, Connecticut, takes a 22-point lead into the holiday program with 226 points. Todd Szegedy, winner at Monadnock in May is ranked second (204), Patnode third (174) Savary fourth (172) and Chris Pasteryak fifth (145).
Saturday’s holiday event includes the tracks traditional fireworks program.
Gates open at 2:00 PM. First race at 5:00 PM.
Sources: John Spence/VRMS PR