Rowan Pennink (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
STAFFORD – The reigning king of the SK Modified division at Stafford Motor Speedway is defending his throne with a vengeance thus far in 2016.
Last year Rowan Pennink won his first SK Modified championship at Stafford Speedway. Friday he picked up his second victory in as many events this year.
Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., charged back after losing the lead late to Ryan Preece, then held off Preece in the closing circuits to win the 40-lap SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford.
Pennink also scored victory in the 45-lap feature for the division at the NAPA Spring Sizzler on April 24.
“I can’t thank [my team] enough,” Pennink said “Just like the Sizzler the car was right on point where I needed it to be.”
Pennink started 13th in the field. By lap 18 he went by Glen Reen for third.
“We started a little deep there and had to stay patient there coming through the field and missing some wrecks there,” Pennink said.
On lap 20 Pennink moved past Matt Galko for second and began stalking then leader Eric Berndt. On lap 22 Pennink got under Berndt in turn four and half a lap later he moved past Berndt to take over the top spot off turn two.
Preece moved to second past Berndt on lap 26 and by lap 30 he was looking to make a low move under Pennink out front. On lap 32 Preece made the low move work into turn three to grab the top spot.
But it was a short ride out front for Preece, who started 26th in the field. On lap 35 Pennink went diving under Preece into turn one and came out of turn two with a lead he wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way.
“I just really beat [up the car] to get to the front,” Preece said. “That was some racing there. That was a lot of fun.”
Best racing of the nite ,let’s do it again next week……..
Preece probably had more fun in those 40 laps than he has all the Xfinity races combined.