Oktoberfest At Lee USA Speedway Next Up For Valenti Modified Racing Series

(Press Release from Valenti Modified Racing Series)

The Valenti Modified Racing Series returns to Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H. this weekend

When the Valenti Modified Racing Series rolls into Lee, New Hampshire, this weekend, it will be four weeks since the series last raced at Maine’s Beech Ridge Motor Speedway.

Nothing has changed since then. A scheduled race at Waterford, CT, was cancelled adding the drama of a championship run to Lee USA Speedway on Sunday afternoon October 7. The season finale will be the weekend after in Thompson, CT.

The final two races could end with 16-year old driver, Sammy Rameau, of Westminster, MA, or reigning champion, Anthony Nocella, who turns age 26 next month, battling for the 2018 Championship down to the wire.

Both drivers shared victory lane at Lee this past summer. Rameau scored his first series win in July. Both have notched two wins this season. The stage will be set for a great finish to the season at Thompson. Rameau is looking to become the youngest tour-type modified racer in Valenti Modified Racing Series history to win a series title.

The annual Lee Oktoberfest event, will feature twin 50-lap Cone Races, first tried and enjoyed by fans in August, when Todd Patnode, of Swanzey, NH, was the winner. Patnode will give it another try this weekend. Patnode said in August he thought the Cone concept, popular in southern racing circles, was good for the fans and the Lee track was the right place for the interesting concept.

Woody Pitkat, of Bellingham, MA is slated to drive the Stan Mertz # 6 on Sunday. Veteran drivers Richard Savary, of Canton, MA, and Tony Ricci, of Westbrook, ME, both coming off a strong run at Beech Ridge, are slated to be at Lee.

Dylan Izzo, of Monroe, CT, Cameron Sontag, of Sterling, MA, Donnie Lashua, of Canaan, NH, Derek Robbie, of Bellingham, MA, Jacob Perry, of Pawcatuck, CT, Russ Hersey, of Swanzey, NH, Mike Holdridge, of Madison, CT, and Mike Willis, Jr, of Grantham, NH. are expected entries.

Additionally, Jeff Gallup, of Feeding Hills, MA, Dylan Rock, of Enfield, NH, Troy, NH’s T.J. Bleau, Chris Bolton, of Weare, NH, and Roy Seidell, of East Hampton, MA, are expected to compete.

Race fans and competitors need to know; unlike in the past when qualifying races were held on Saturday and the feature race on Sunday, the entire VMRS race will be contested on Sunday, October 7.

Practice for divisions competing on Sunday will begin at 12 noon with qualifying races scheduled for 2:00 pm.

Pit Gates on Sunday open at 8:00 AM.

Comments

  1. Fast Eddie says

    There’s no other tour-type Modified racing around here this weekend. Maybe there will be enough cars for a consi! 19 listed above, should be a good event!

  2. I haven’t been to Lee in a few years and I’m thinking about making the long drive on Sunday to watch the MRS. Does anyone know the usual crowd capacity and estimated end time of the festivities for Sundays program? I don’t see Silk’s name on the entry list yet. Is he going to show?

  3. Dramabaga,
    Entry list and schedule information is in the story you commented on.

  4. The last time I went Oktoberfest, the VRMS pulled that bizarre DQ on Tommy Barrett for “using the front bumper.” Then did not explain things too well to the crowd as why the car that finished second was now in victory lane. Anybody that did not have a scanner had almost not idea was going on.

  5. Thanks Shawn…
    I’ve been watching the MRS fb page as well which shows 26 entries for Sunday’s race.

  6. I am surprised there hasn’t been more talk about this race. From what I gather, there was a 3 hour rain delay Sunday. They cut the twin 50’s to twin 40’s. Then started counting caution laps at lap 19 of the first race to get to lap 30 and called the event. From what I have seen they have no plans on making up the second 50 um 40 lapper. So of 100 green flag laps advertised you got about 1/5th of green flag laps. Who says qualifying and starting up front doesn’t matter certainly would have as MRS makes up rules as they go along. I understand you cant control the weather but an explanation from the track or series would be nice. I haven’t seen anything. It was supposed to be 2 point paying events are they awarding double points for the first race or single points. Is there a makeup for the second race and other events that didn’t run. I guess you cant blame anyone but the lousy weather. I wouldn’t have been happy sitting around all day then only seeing 20 laps of modifieds.

  7. Fast Eddie says

    I try to keep my comments positive but cg’s comments have forced my hand. CG was very charitable in his description of the event, particularly the last one. This was my first time at Lee with the new ownership and I understand there can be growing pains. HOWEVER… I expected a racing family to be more fan and touring series friendly with the threat of bad weather. It rained for 2 hours, took 2 hours to dry the track (not bad for the amount of water and equipment) but it rained again after another 75 minutes. There could have easily been one 50 lapper for the Modifieds if the running order was different. I went & paid primarily o see the VMRS and the GSPSS. Instead we finally saw the VMRS heats AFTER the NEMST and a marathon (45 minutes) street stock features!! At the very least, one VMRS race should have been before the GSPSS feature. With rain likely, it should have been GSPSS scuff, VMRS heats, NEMST, VMRS 1,GSPSS, VMRS 2, street stocks, & LLM’s. Time wise, it would have probably rained initially before the 2nd VMRS race. The touring series should have priority with a weather threat!!

  8. I made the trip also and the weather was quite nice up until I’ll say about 4:30pm. I can’t criticize because I don’t own and operate a New England short track, but they seemed to dilly-dally with practice, heat laps, qualifying, moving the pit carts to the infield, introductions etc., etc. Knowing there was a possibility of rain (drizzle) late afternoon, they could have moved the pit carts and pushed the modifieds into the infield prior to noon, condensed the practices, qualifying and gave the tour racing priority. Other tracks get their entire event completed within 4 to 5 hours and sometimes less. A little organization goes a long way, just saying. Regardless, I had a good time and enjoyed some Oktoberfest beverages but I would probably attend another tour program at Lee in the future, but only if the weather was guaranteed 100% to be free of rain.

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