Lee Oktoberfest this Weekend for Valenti Modified Racing Series
Canaan, NH. — Four former ‘Oktoberfest’ winners and three former Valenti Modified Racing Series champions are expected entries for this weekend’s big 15-division three-day race program at New Hampshire’s Lee USA Speedway Two of the former series champions visited Lee’s victory lane in July.
This weekend’s appearance by the VMRS (October 8, 9) at the popular season-ending race program will be the 12th for the New England touring division.
Former winners Les Hinckley, of Windsor Locks, CT, (2006), Andy Seuss, of Hampstead, NH, (2007), Jon McKennedy, of Chelmsford, MA, (2008), and Richard Savary, of Canton, MA, (2014), will make the trek to Lee. Hinckley is also the defending Oktoberfest champion.
McKennedy and two-time series champion Chris Pasteryak, of Jewett City, CT, already notched wins at Lee this summer. Pasteryak will be seeking his third win at the New Hampshire track.
Anthony Nocella, of Woburn, MA, a four-time VMRS winner this season, is expected to compete. Three-time champion Kirk Alexander, of Swanzey, NH, Rob Richardi, of Easton, MA, David Schneider, of Northport, NH, Geoff Gernhard, of Bozrah, CT, and Donnie Lashua, of Canaan, NH, are entered.
Colbey Fournier, of Berkley, MA, Branden Dion, of Taunton, Ma, Jeffrey Gallup, of Feeding Hills, MA, and Troy Talman, of Oxford MA, are expected.
This week it was announced 16-year old Dylan Rock, of Enfield, NH, will fill in for last year’s champion Woody Pitkat. Pitkat is committed to an event at Stafford, CT.
McKennedy has locked up the 2016 VMRS Driver Championship to become the all-time series champion. He and Swanzey, NH’s, Kirk Alexander were tied at three titles each entering the 2016 campaign. McKennedy has a 190-point lead over Mike Willis Jr. in the point standings.
Taking a page from last year’s script, but adding a different twist than a year ago, this year’s race will be contested in two-50-lap events with each race awarding points and money. Last year’s twin 50-lap events saw each segment winner awarded points with the overall winner declared the victor. The series changed that format for the 2016 season.
Qualifying begins at 2:00 PM on Saturday, and feature racing on Sunday at 12 noon.
For additional information pertaining to scheduling for the weekend, the series website: www.themodifiedracingseries.com
Oktoberfacts :
Race winners: Jimmy Dolan (2005), Hinckley (2006), Seuss (2007), McKennedy (2008), Kenny Barry (2009) Steven Masse, (2010), Rowan Pennink, (2011), Tommy Barrett, (2012, 2013), Savary (2014), Hinckley (2015), 2016 ????
Sources: John Spence, Sr./VMRS PR