Rowan Pennink (Fran Lawlor/RaceDayCT)
STAFFORD – Fueled by a fiery finish and post-race of the SK Modified feature at Stafford Motor Speedway, Rowan Pennink completed the double dip Friday at the historic half-mile oval.
Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., drove away from the field over the closing stages and then held off Keith Rocco on a green-white-checkered finish to win the 80-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series.
“We had a really really strong car under us tonight,” Pennink said. “The last couple times we’ve been here [with the Valenti Modified Racing Series] we’ve had probably the same type of car, we just haven’t had the luck to make it here to victory lane. Tonight we did. I’ve got to thank all the guys on the Gary Casella [owned] team and everybody that helps out [this team]. Awesome job.”
Rocco, of Wallingford, was second and Anthony Nocella of Woburn, Mass. third.
It was the first Valenti Modified Racing Series victory of the season for Pennink and the 11th overall of his career.
It completed an evening sweep for Pennink, who also won the SK Modified feature, and then was involved in a victory lane fight with Ted Christopher following that feature. There were far less dramatics for Pennink with the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
Pennink took the lead from Dave Etheridge on lap 56 and never trailed again.
Pennink had checked out from Rocco when the caution flew after he had taken the white flag on the final lap. The first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish was scrubbed for a wreck. On the second attempt Pennink was able to easily get away from Rocco for the victory.
“With [this team] here, this place owes us a couple wins so it’s nice to finally to be there at the end of the race in contention for the win and actually be able to get it this time,” Pennink said.
Pennink must have enjoyed the peace and quiet of the VMRS feature after his SK victory land drama. Stafford regulars coming in one and two. Does that make the point the VMRS is weak in terms of top drivers and cars?
Go Teddy