Owen Wins Thompson Finale – Pitkat Takes Series Title – Perry Top Rookie
Thompson CT — It took ten years to get back to victory lane with the Valenti Modified Racing Series, and a promised phone call to do it, but the long wait is finally over for Somers CT, modified driver Todd Owen, as he moved to the front of the field after a late race restart to go on and win the 50-lap, crash-filled, Valenti Modified Racing Series season finale at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, CT.
Owen, whose first and only series win, happened September 7, 2008, at Thompson, was contacted to drive by car owner Gary Casella who fielded two cars for the season finale.
A smiling Owen, who referred to himself as a test dummy for the Casella team in post-race interviews, got the nod to wheel the potent # 25 car that has seen a handful of drivers this season. Ironically the driver Owen passed to win the race was Chase Dowling, Roxbury, CT, who has driven in selected events this season for Casella.
Owen has wanted to drive the winning car all season. Casella called it persistent texting. The end of the season combo hit it right. “I’m kind of speechless – I don’t even know what to say,” said Owen in victory lane.
Casella told Owen he’d pay him back one day for his testing duties. He did.
“This thing is a stout piece,” Owen said.
Dowling finished in the runner-up spot, with Matt Swanson, of Action, MA, posting a third-place finish in the Casella team car, Anthony Nocella, of Woburn, MA, and Anthony Flannery, of East Hampton, CT, rounding out the top five.
Drivers with good runs avoiding the several wrecks that slowed the pace of the event closed out their season with a much-deserved top-ten finish.
Rob Richardi, series newcomer Bryan Narducci, veteran Dave Etheridge, Andy Shaw, and Dave Schneider, rounded out the top 10.
Woody Pitkat, of Bellingham, Mass, overcame tremendous odds to win the 2018 Series Championship.
From no ride three weeks ago, to visiting victory lane with car owner Stan Mertz at Lee, to a ride offer from New Hampshire racer Todd Patnode, to being parked on pit road seemingly done for the season, to back on the track to try to finish the race which he did in 30th position and an incredible 462 to 456 point lead over Nocella with Willis landing third in the standings with 454.
The 2018 Rookie Of The Year is Jacob Perry, of Pawcatuck, CT. Perry wheeled the Norm Perry # 76 to the title. Jacob waged a season long battle with Cameron Sontag, of Sterling, MA. for the Rookie honors.
Race Summary:
Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park
Thompson, CT
October 13, 2018
Race # 13
Entrants: 33
Distance: 50-laps
Lap Leaders: Rocco (1-15) Dowling (16-44) Owen (45-50)
Cautions Flags: (9) Lap-4, 5,16,19,26,26,41,43,45
Margin of Victory: 0.124
Best Lap: Rocco
Best Lap Time: 18.925
Best Speed: 118.890
Unofficial Order of Finish:
Unofficial Order of Finish
1. Todd Owen
2. Chase Dowling
3. Matt Swanson
4. Anthony Nocella
5. Anthony Flannery
6. Rob Richardi Jr
7 Bryan Narducci
8. Dave Etheridge
9. Andy Shaw
10. Dave Schneider
11. Amy Catalano
12. Dan Meservey Jr
13. Keith Rocco
14. Colbey Fournier
15 . Donnie Lashua
16. Derek Robbie
17. Dylan Robbie
18. Roy Seidel
19. Matt Mead
20. Jacob Perry
21. Jeff Gallup
22. Mike Willis Jr
23. Robert Bloxson
24. Jeff Malave
25. Cam Sontag
26. Andrew Molleur
27. Timmy Catalano
28. Steve Masse
29. Richard Savary
30. Woody Pitkat
31. CJ Bolton
Sources: John Spence, Sr./VMRS PR