Annarummo Takes Seekonk, Alexander Clinches Championship

Seekonk, MA — Vinnie Annarummo of Swansea, Mass. passed Kirk Alexander of of Swanzey, N.H with just three laps remaining to win the D. Anthony Venditti Memorial Festival of Racing True Value Modified Series 100 lap event at Seekonk Speedway. Alexander’s second place finish clinched the 2007 series point championship.

It was the third win at Seekonk this season for Annarummo and a hard fought victory. After starting the event in third he was placed to the rear of the field following a lap 2 accident with Andy Seuss. Annarummo methodically worked his way back to the front to take the lead on lap 81. Alexander then retook the lead on lap 86 and held off the challenges of Annarummo for the next 11 laps before the final pass for the win.

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Seuss, Abele & Annarummo Heat Winners at Seekonk

Seekonk, MA — Andy Seuss of Hempstead, N.H., Tom Abele, Jr. of Norwich, Conn. and Vinnie Annarummo of Swansea, Mass were the winners of the True Value Modified Racing Series qualifying races at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday. Those drivers will make up the first three starting positions in Sunday’s 100 lap D. Anthony Venditti Memorial Festival of Racing event.

Dale Evonsion, Jimmy Dolan and current point leader Kirk Alexander will start in positions 4-6. Les Hinckley, currently only 14 points behind Alexander, will start 14th. Dave Berghman the defending champion of this event will start 10th.

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Championship Run Heats Up For True Value Modifieds

With only two races left on the 2007 scehcule, the True Value Modified Racing Series returns to action Saturday and Sunday Oct 6, 7, at the famed Seekonk Speedway, Rte 6, Seekonk, MA., for the running of the D. Anthony Venditti Memorial Festival of Racing, and again this season, the chase to the championship is going down to the wire with only one more race remaining after this weekend’s event, at Lee, NH., to decide the title.

14 points is all that separates two time champion Kirk Alexander, Swanzey, NH., and second place point man, Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT. Both drivers have been victorious at Seekonk.

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Ronnie Silk Wins Career First in WMT Action; Louie Mechalides TV Winner at Mod Mania II at Thompson

ronniesilk1.jpgThompson, CT — The two week wait was worth it for Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, CT, who earned his first career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win at Thompson International Speedway during the running of part two of Modified Mania II. Louie Mechalides of Tynsboro, MA, turned in a dominating performance to win the 75-lapper for the True Value Modified Racing Series.

Ronnie Silk scored a popular win in the Whelen Modified Tour 150 at Thompson in front of a crowded house. In the opening stages of the event current point leader Donnie Lia and Ron Yuhas, Jr. ran at the head of the field.

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Louie Mechalides Wins Modified Mania

modmania2truevaluewin.jpgThompson, CT — Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro Mass. earned his second True Value Modified Racing Series victory of the season in Modified Mania II at the Thompson International Speedway. Mechalides and Tommy Cravenho of Raynham, Mass. waged a torrid battle for the lead over the closing laps with Mechalides finishing just .15 seconds ahead of Cravenho. It was his 4th career series win.

Mechalides, who started fifth in the Maclellan Metal Finishing Pontiac, took over the top spot for the first time from Andy Seuss on lap 12. Seuss and Mechalides traded the point until Mechalides took over the lead for good on lap 22. Seuss pressured Mechalides until lap 27 when his day ended in a Turn –2 accident. Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon, Conn., Jimmy Kuhn of West Bridgewater, Mass. and Cravenho took turns pressuring Mechalides to the finish.

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Modified Mania Continues This Sunday at Thompson

Thompson, CT — The exciting conclusion of the Sunoco Modified Mania race program will be this Sunday afternoon at the Thompson International Speedway. Race teams from both the True Value Modified Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will gather at the ultra-fast Thompson Speedway to compete in their events that were rained out on September 9th.

The six-division racing spectacle began under threatening skies on September 9th. Four of the six races were completed before the rains came and the remainder of the event had to be rescheduled. Weather concerns do not seem to be in the cards for this weekend as forecasters are predicting bright sun and temperatures in the mid to upper 70s.

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True Value Modifieds Head to Thompson for Mod Mania Event

Two weeks ago this Sunday, when a drenching rain forced the starting lineup of the True Value Modified Racing Series to the speedway infield after two laps of competition, Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH; thought his early lead and a shot at his first win of the season was over. The initial makeup date announced by the speedway operatives was Saturday night Sept 22, a day marked on the Seuss calendar for a family wedding. Andy planned to watch his brother, Steve Jr, “go down the aisle” never figuring he’d be the guy bringing the TVMRS field down the aisle, (the long front straightaway) when the race resumed at the historic Connecticut oval.

All that changed when the speedway’s management, made an adjustment to the schedule, to avoid racing the same day as the historic Race of Champions event in upstate New York, another major program for modified race cars. The conclusion of the “Sunoco Race Fuels Mod Mania” weekend will take place this Sunday with the TVMRS picking up where it left and completing the 75 lap feature race. The green flag to restart the event will drop at 2:30PM.

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Schedule Set for Sunday Conclusion of Sunoco Modified Mania

Thompson, CT — The completion of the Sunoco Modified Mania Program has been set for Sunday, September 23rd. Rain forced track officials to look for a date that was compatible for all concerned. Following lengthy discussions the day after the rain out, the new race day was set to be the afternoon of Sunday, September 23rd.

Four of the six-divisions in competition for Sunoco Modified Mania were able to complete their events. But, shortly after the True Value Modifieds hit the track, the skies opened, the rains came and everything was brought to a stop. That left the True Value Modifieds and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour ducking for cover and looking for a date to complete their portion of the Sunoco Modified Mania program.

Grandstands will open at 11:30 AM on Sunday, September 23rd. Racecars from these two divisions will be allowed to practice until 2 PM. The True Value Modified feature event will pick up with two laps complete at 2:15 PM and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will run their entire 150-lap main event at about 3:30 PM.

[Photo Gallery] by Adam Fohlin.

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Hirschman Wires Field in ROC at Thompson’s Mod Mania II; Rain Postpones Whelen Mod Tour & True Value Event

matthirschmanroc090807.jpgThompson, CT — A dominating win by Matt Hirschman highlighted a soggy Sunoco Modified Mania II event. Hirschman led every lap of the Race of Champions main event before the rains came in forcing the postponement of the Whelen Modified Tour 150 and the True Value Modified Racing Series. The True Value Modified Racing Series completed only two laps with Andy Suess of Hampstead, NH, holding the point before torrential rains hit the speedway.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the True Value Modified Racing Series events will be rescheduled for Saturday evening, September 22, 2007. Official starting times will be announced in the coming days.

Three of the other scheduled events of Modified Mania II were completed before the rains came with Todd Ceravolo of Gales Ferry taking down the Sunoco Modified main event and Leo Oliveira scored the TIS Modifieds victory. Thompson regular Norm Wrenn of Nashua, NH, scored the Pro-Four Victory.

[Photo Gallery] by Adam Fohlin.

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Modified Mania Rained Out

Thompson, CT — The 75 lap True Value Modified Racing Series portion of Modified Mania at Thompson International Speedway was postponed after completing only 2 laps because of inclement weather. The event has been rescheduled for Saturday Sept. 22 with a time to be announced at a later date. Andy Seuss of Hempstead, N.H. was leading the event when the rain began. (more…)


Pasteryak, Seuss & Kuhn Lead True Value Qualifying

tislogo2.jpgThompson, CT — Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon, Conn., Andy Seuss of Hempstead, N.H. and Jimmy Kuhn of Bridgewater, Mass were the winners of the True Value Modified Series qualifying races at Thompson International Speedway on Saturday. Those drivers will make up the first three starting positions in Sunday’s 75 lap event.

Dwight Jarvis, Louie Mechalides and Tom Abele, Jr. will start in positions 4-6. The first 18 starting positions were locked in by the qualifying races. The remainder of the field will be determined by a consolation race on Sunday.

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Lia & Hirschman Quick on Qualifying Day at Thompson’s Mod Mania II

donnyliapole09087.jpgThompson, CT — Modified Mania II got underway at Thompson International Speedway on Saturday with qualifying for all divisions. This unprecedented event treats race fans to three of the premier asphalt Modified tours in the country-the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the True Value Modified Racing Series (TVMRS) and the Race of Champions (RoC) Tour. Thompson’s own weekly division Sunoco Modified and TIS Modifieds and the Pro Four Modifieds round out the weekend racing card.

Donny Lia of Jericho, NY, continues to be the man to beat in the Whelen Modified Tour as he topped the speed charts to earn the Bud Pole Award. Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA, who is doing double-duty this weekend, showed the way in time trials for the RoC competitors. The qualifying format for the TVMRS calls for 12-lap heat races. It was Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon, CT, and Jimmy Kuhn, Jr. of W. Bridgewater, MA, each taking down victories.

Modified Mania Event Schedule

Qualifying Results
NASCAR WMT
True Value Modifieds
Race of Champions
Pro 4 Modifieds

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Modified Mania This Weekend at Thompson

tislogo2.jpgThompson, CT — The second annual Sunoco MODIFIED MANIA is on track for this coming weekend of September 8th & 9th. With 400 laps of Modified feature event racing, fans of these open wheel, super-fast racecars will get to see an entire weekend of nothing but their favorite kind of short track racing.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will lead the six-division MODIFIED MANIA race weekend. It will mark the fourth appearance of the Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson this year. Race winners James Civali (ICEBREAKER), Donny Lia (June 21st) and Todd Szegedy (Aug. 16th) will all be on hand along with all of the top competitors on this exciting touring series.

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Alexander Reaches Milestone With Win At Waterford SpeedBowl

kirkalexanderwaterford.jpgWaterford, CT — Two time champion and present point leader Kirk Alexander, Swanzey, NH; reached a milestone and roared to victory Saturday night in the “Town Fair Tire 100” True Value Modified Racing Series event at the famed Waterford, CT; Speedbowl. Alexander scored his fifth win of the season, his twenty fifth TVMRS career victory, and has now become the only driver to win a race at every track competed on by the traveling series, now in it’s fourth season.

Dale Evonsion, E.Hartland, CT; and Todd Patnode, Swanzey, NH; brought the 27 car field to green with Evonsion jumping into the lead and setting a fast pace early on. Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, CT; Patnode, Jack Bateman, Canaan, NH; and Alexander led lap one but by the fifth go around, Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT; moved quickly toward the front. He was running second when the first of seven yellow flags slowed the race for a crash involving Brian Schofield, Monsen, MA. Schofield was not injured.

[Photo Gallery] by Lou Derosier

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Modified Mania II Just Around the Corner at Thompson

tislogo2.jpgThompson, CT — The second edition of MODIFIED MANIA will return to the Thompson International Speedway the weekend of September 8 & 9. Fans of Modified racing are getting excited over this unique race weekend when almost every kind of asphalt Modified imaginable will be in competition. Six distinct Modified divisions will participate in this two-day race program which has been called an “open house for open wheels.”

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will return for its fourth appearance of the year. The NASCAR “Tour” will be joined by the True Value Modifieds, the R.O.C. Modifieds, the Pro Four Modifieds and Thompson’s own Sunoco and T. I. S. Modifieds.

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Fenton Family 100 Ended Short, Severe Storms

robgoodenough1.jpgThe August 25th Monadnock finish has been slightly altered after further research. Please view the updates on our Results page. Mother nature had the final say Saturday night as the Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH; played host to the True Value Modified Racing Series for the final time this season and with the 100 lap race nearing the half way mark, the skies over western New Hampshire opened for the second time forcing a stoppage on lap 42 and the race later declared official by series operatives.

The race program had earlier been forced to stop as a fast moving thunderstorm passed through resulting in a 1 hour 40 minute delay as track personnel scrambled to dry off the high banked quarter mile facility . The tracks management announced that the TVMRS would return on Sept 22 but after further discussion with race teams and series race director Todd Rook, it was decided to call the race an official event. Rook said, “We knew there were more storm cells in the area and we knew we were not going to get back out there to run off 8 laps to make it to halfway, the official lap to call it over. It was a series decision to call it official, not the race tracks. Many of our competitors expressed additional expenses to come back, plus we have a mid week show at Seekonk, a trip to Waterford, and a two day event at Thompson coming up, you have to consider all that, a lot plays into it. If any of those tracks end up using that date (Sept 22) as a rain date it makes it an even bigger problem.” Rook stressed, “We apologize to our fans for any inconvenience or disappointment, it was a tough decision.” Additional downpours happened shortly after 11:00 PM. Lighting continued to flash around the speedway. The town’s curfew also came into play.

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Seekonk Prepares For Wednesday August 29 “Modified Madness”

leshinckley1.jpgSeekonk, MA — The fastest and fiercest competitors in northeastern Modified racing circles are expected to converge upon the historic 1/3-mile Seekonk Speedway oval this Wednesday, August 29, for the third annual Open Wheel Wednesday program, featuring the Viveiros Insurance-sponsored 100 green flag lap Modified Madness event, an open competition race paying $10,000 to the winner. Last July, forty-two competitors from nine states attempted to qualify for the 26-car race, which carries a purse in excess of $31,000.

Among the drivers who have pre-registered for this year’s Modified Madness show are Bobby Santos III, Mike Stefanik, Matt Hirschman, Tommy Cravenho, Vinnie Annarummo, and Dick Houlihan. Santos, 21, a third-generation racer from Franklin, MA, is considered by many to be the best young short track racer in the country. Santos signed to Bill Davis Racing and began competing on the ARCA circuit late last season, has already notched his first pole award and top three finish, and made his debut in the NASCAR Busch Series earlier this year. He’ll join forces with Boehler Racing Enterprises, attempting to qualify the famed blue #3.

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Fenton Family 100 Ended Short, Severe Storms

The True Value Modified Racing Series event held at Monadnock Speedway was cut short due to severe storms. According to Modified Racing Series scorers, 42 laps were scored before the race was ended. Modified Racing Series has made no official determination on the finish of the event. An official finish is expected to be released Monday.

Source: TVMRS PR


McKennedy Scores First Modified Win at Canaan

mckennedycanaan1.jpgWith the largest crowd of the season looking on, 20 year old racer Jonathan McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA; fought off veteran Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT; to win his first True Value Modified Racing Series event Saturday night at the Canaan Fair Speedway, Canaan, NH. The former ISMA supermodified rookie of the year piloted his family owned Power Mist/RH2WAY # 73 to the victory. McKennedy, who started fourth in the 23 car field, earned a guaranteed starting spot in next month’s Mod Mania 400 weekend at the Thompson, CT; Speedway. McKennedy raced at or near the front of the field over the 100 lap grind with his racer, owned and prepared by his father Dennis, getting stronger as the race went on turning the fastest lap of any competitor entered on the 94th circuit.

Former Canaan winner Jack Bateman, Canaan, and Todd Patnode, W.Swanzey, NH; brought the field to green with Patnode jumping into first place. McKennedy and Andy Seuss, two former 350 super modified drivers, ran second and third in the opening laps. The first of seven caution flags flew for Norwich, CT; driver Tom Abele for a front stretch spin that found him straddling an infield creek. Abele was able to return to the race.

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Alexander Nabs Fourth Win at Beech Ridge

alexanderoxford1.jpgThe all time winner on the True Value Modified Racing Series added another victory to his win list Saturday night as Kirk Alexander, W. Swanzey, NH; roared to victory in the “Beech Ridge 100” at the famed Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Scarborough, ME. The win by Alexander, his fourth of the season, was his 24th career win with the traveling series and it lengthens his lead in the point standings in his quest for his third series title.

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Pinkham, Evonsion, Ricci Lead True Value Modifieds to Beech Ridge Saturday

 

Thanks to persistent inclement weather and a forecast for more, the True Value Modified Racing Series caught a break in their busy schedule Saturday night, a cancellation at Monadnock Speedway, Winchester, NH; and now the popular touring division featuring open wheel modified race cars, will shift it’s focus on a return trip up Rte 95 to Scarborough, ME; to the historic Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, Saturday night, August 4, for the “Beech Ridge 100.” The third annual event is also a “guaranteed starter” race for the upcoming Sunoco “Mod Mania” weekend at Thompson, CT;  Sept 8,9. The popular 1/3 mile race facility for years has been rated by fans as one of the best short track venues in the country.

TVMRS fans will find a pair of Maine drivers, a Maine Hall of Fame car owner, and two former Beech Ridge winners leading a long list of entries that will attempt to qualify for the main event. Two years ago, in a surprise move, David Pinkham, Buxton ME, electrified the crowd as he piloted a car owned by Gary Casella, Saugus, MA; to victory. It was the first time the former Beech Ridge standout had driven a modified in several years. Just two weeks ago Pinkham made his first tour start this season in a car owned and prepared by Beech Ridge Hall of Fame inductee Goodwin Hannaford, Hollis, ME. Hannaford came out of retirement and lured Pinkham to wheel his racer. The two have partnered before as owner-driver and know the way to victory lane.

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Racing Electronics Becomes Official Communications Supplier

Canaan, NH — The True Value Modified Racing Series is proud to announce that Racing Electronics has come on-board as the Official Communications Supplier for the 2007 season.

Racing Electronics, the leader in Professional Racing Communications will provide communications equipment for the True Value Modified Racing Series which is in its fourth year of operation. The True Value Modified Racing Series has seen tremendous growth in a short period of time and continues to be the fastest growing motor sports series in New England. The series allows Racing Electronics to be involved in a grassroots racing series that will help the company reach out to new racers and race fans.

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Alexander Scores Oxford Modified Win

alexanderoxford.jpgOxford, ME — Almost 10 years to the day from when he qualified and competed in the famed Oxford 250 race, Kirk Alexander, W.Swanzey, NH; returned to the historic 3/8 mile speedway Saturday night July 21, and won the inaugural True Value Modified Racing Series “Maine-ly Action Sports 100” before a huge crowd on hand for the special weekend.
The win by Alexander was his third of the season and his 23rd career victory with the traveling series. The race was also a qualifying event for the upcoming Mod Mania 400 weekend at Thompson, CT; Sept 8, 9.

30 modified race teams hauled to Maine for the inaugural event with 26 cars qualifying through 12 lap heat races and a 15 lap last chance race.  The prelims were garnered by Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, CT; Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT; and Jarvis, with David Pinkham, Buxton, ME; returning to the series winning the last chance race.

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Modifieds Return in Oxford Spotlight Saturday Night

It’s been 16 years since a full blown 600 horse powered open wheel modified race car has turned a lap at the famed Oxford Plains Speedway, Oxford, ME; but that long stretch of absence will come to an end this Saturday night July 21. “I know, I was there,” said Kalle Oakes, the speedway’s director of communications, “and Jeff Fuller won it.” reflecting on that season. When asked about the last modified race at a track synonymous with full bodied stock cars Oakes continued, “It was 1991, Beech Ridge had phased out modifieds, a few came from there but it was not enough to sustain itself and that was the last one, the last tour type modified race at Oxford Plains.”

The night before the “TD Bank North 250,” one of the nations great motor sports events, the famed 3/8 mile oval plays host to the True Value Modified Racing Series for the first time. The ground pounding modifieds will do battle in the “Maine-ly Action Sports Night 100,” a 100 lap green flag race, the third event in a six race qualifying series for the Sunoco sponsored “Modified Mania 400” program at the Thompson, CT, Speedway, Sept 8,9. The winner of this Saturday’s race will be an automatic qualifier.

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