Hinckley Wins Lee Oktoberfest – Pitkat Takes Point Lead
Lee, NH. — Windsor Lock, Connecticut, veteran Les Hinckley III, raced to victory Sunday afternoon at Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH, in that tracks annual presentation of the ‘Oktoberfest 100. The win was Hinckley’s second this season.
The Valenti Modified Racing Series event was contested in two 50-lap races. Hinckley was credited with the overall win by virtue of his third-place finish in the first segment, and his first place finish in the second 50-lap sprint.
In the opening race, Woody Pitkat, of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, grabbed the lead from pole-sitter Jon McKennedy and went on to victory. McKennedy settled for second followed by Hinckley, Mike Willis Jr., and Todd Patnode. Sixth through tenth were Dennis Perry, Donnie Lashua, David Schneider, Kevin Ianarelli, and Dylan Kopec.
In the second 50-lap race, Kirk Alexander, of W. Swanzey, NH, took the early lead but when the checkered flag fell, it was Hinckley rolling to victory lane from his 19th starting position, winning his 19th VMRS career race and his fourth at Lee.
Mike Willis Jr. made a great late race charge to finish runner-up with Norm Wrenn, Pitkat’ and McKennedy, rounding out the top five.
Keith Rocco, Alexander, Schneider, Todd Szegedy, and Donnie Lashua, completed the top ten.
Hinckley was declared the overall winner while Pitkat regained the lead
in the point standings. Pitkat is now 7-points (450-443) ahead of Chris Pasteryak, who led by 21-points going into the weekend.
The final race of the year is at this weekend’s annual World Series of Speedway Racing at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, CT. Qualifying takes place on Friday, October 16, with a 50-lap season ending feature on Saturday, October 17.
Race Summary:
Race #1
Margin of Victory: 1.027
Average Speed: 41.923
Best Speed: 89.038 Rowan Pennink (# 25)
Best Lap Time: 15.162
Race Summary:
Race # 2
Margin of Victory: 0.339
Average Speed: 48.183
Best Speed: 88.752 Les Hinckley III (06)
Best Lap Time: 15.211
Unofficial Order Of Finish: (1) Hinckley, (2) Pitkat (3) Willis Jr., (4) McKennedy, (5) Wrenn, (6) Schneider, (7) Lashua, (8) Kopec (9) K. Rocco, (10) Seuss, (11) Ianarelli, (12) Alexander, (13) Szegedy (14) Patnode, (15) Perry, (16) Pasteryak, (17) Pennink, (18 Doucette, (19) Swanson, (20) Holdridge, (21) Storace, (93) Sherman, (23) Mead, (24) Medeiros.
Sources: John Spence, Sr./VMRS PR