Hinckley Teams with Barry for MTS Races
Les Hinckley, III will be driving for Spearpoint Racing for the inaugural Exit Realty Modified Touring Series (MTS) season. Hall of Famer car owner Art Barry called to ask about Hinckley’s plans. The opportunity came through a voicemail from Barry Thursday and the deal came together during the follow-up call.
“The guy’s absolutely a legend in racing,” Hinckley said. “The racing community and racing in general has been lucky to have a man like that to have him for as long as we have because he just lives and dies for racing. … For him to call me and ask me to drive his racecar and to be excited about it the way he is is just its humbling. The list of names that have been in his car for me to be one of ’em it really puts me in check. This is bigger than me and I can’t thank Art enough for thinking highly enough about me to be worthy to drive his race car.”
Barry wants to win one more race before he retires. Barry competed last season on the Northeast Race Cars & Parts Tri-Track Open Modified Series (TTOMS) with Justin Bonsignore.
“I think he’s really good,” Barry said. “He’s a gentleman. He talks to you and he’s very, very good about reasoning things out, working together, and he’s really good on equipment that’s for sure. I’m kind of looking forward to it.”
The 10 race schedule visits New London-Waterford (CT) Speedbowl, Monadnock Speedway, Riverhead (NY) Raceway, Seekonk (MA) Speedway, and Stafford (CT) Motor Speedway. Barry spoke of the Modified Touring Series founder, Gary Knight of Charlestown, NH.
“He’s doing a good job,” Barry said. “He’s really working hard for the owners and the drivers, and bring it back to what it used to be.”
Hinckley has driven a SPAFCO for years with Montville and his own car. Kenny Barry helped when he was starting on the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
“It’s kind of like going home,” Hinckley said. “I’m familiar with the cars and familiar with the people. … We’ve always worked well together. … A lot of it is chemistry and the people you’re working with and I’m gonna work with a good group.”
Hinckley has never driven Riverhead and has the least experience at Stafford.
“I don’t see why we can’t compete for wins with the equipment that we have, and the personnel that we have, and the experience that we all have that the tracks that we’re going to, ” Hinckley said.
Barry is seeking sponsorship on his No. 21 SPAFCO car.
Hinckley recorded a top 10 in his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour debut for Brian Brady at Myrtle Beach (SC) last week.
“The day turned out pretty well,” Hinckley said. “I think that was probably a realistic goal that was accomplished going into the race. Obviously, we went there to win but from where the day started to where we ended we were pretty excited with it.”
The Windsor Locks, CT driver has 19 wins, 71 top fives, and 100 top tens in 143 Valenti Modified Racing Series (VMRS) starts.
Hinckley has run a limited schedule since his car owner Chuck Montville’s passing in 2013. He competed full-time on the VMRS and competed in open competition races like the SBM 125 and North-South Shootout.
“It was a tough adjustment from the start when we lost Chuck,” Hinckley said.
Hinckley enjoys the opportunity to coach his children’s sports teams. He has remained a consistent frontrunner in the MTS, TTOMS, and VMRS. One of his highlights was in 2015 when he drove his own car to 2 VMRS wins in 3 starts.
“We really do run within the top five most everyplace we go,” Hinckley said. “To knock on several wins so it’s we’ve been fortunate that I don’t really think I’ve been at any real disadvantage not being in the car regularly. It’s all tracks that I’m familiar with and good equipment, good help, good crew, being well prepared. That all advances that curve so it’s a testament to the guys working on the cars and to the product that we put out.”
“I think it will make me sharper in a racecar,” Hinckley said. “The more you race I think that the better you are. We’ve fared pretty well even with me only running a couple of races a year but it definitely doesn’t hurt to race more often.”
Hinckley will enter the TTOMS events again. He will run his own car at Star, while he will drive for Wayne Darling in the New London-Waterford and Seekonk races. Hinckley may add a race or two in his own car late in the season like the Turkey Derby.
Barry’s grandson Tyler will compete in the INEX Bandoleros at New London-Waterford and Seekonk. Barry said Tyler will also race a Legends Car at Waterford. He hopes to be around for Tyler’s move up to the Modifieds.
“He’s gonna be a good little driver,” Barry said.”
Sources: Nicholas Teto, YankeeRacer.com
Racing-Reference.info
TheThirdturn.com