THOMPSON – When a brief shower arrived at Thompson International Speedway early Sunday afternoon it meant a change of plans for the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
Ted Christopher celebrates Sunday at Thompson
Instead of using heat races to set the starting field of 34 cars Sunday at Thompson, Valenti Modified Racing Series officials decided to scrap the qualifying heats and set the field by owner points.
It meant starting from way in the back for Ted Christopher, who is not a regular in the series.
But it was no matter for the Plainville driver.
Christopher inherited the lead with seven laps remaining and then held off Timmy Jordan on two late restarts to win the 75-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series event Sunday at Thompson.
Christopher started 30th in the 33 car field driving for car owner Joe Brady.
“That’s just so gratifying coming from that far back to win,” Christopher said. “It was fun that way that’s for sure. From where we started, this means a hell of a lot. I’ve won a lot of races here, but to start 30th and win this race, I’ve really got to hand it to Scott Anderson, the crew chief on this car. He puts a lot of heart and soul into this thing.”
Jordan, of Plainfield, held on for a Valenti Modified Racing Series career best second place finish. Tommy Barrett Jr. of Millis, Mass. rallied after a tough first half of the event to finish third.
Christopher went by Todd Owen for second place on a lap 59 restart and began chasing down then leader Rowan Pennink.
On lap 65 Pennink was shown the black flag by race officials for leaking fluids.
“When I was behind him I couldn’t get any throttle up off [the corners],” Christopher said. “I was wondering why I was so loose. Then I could see him spraying the water all over. I was like ‘That’s why I’m so loose.’ That’s why I started running the bottom when he started getting black flagged.”
Pennink went to the pits on lap 68.
“It sucks because there was only about six laps to go and I think they could have just let me stay out there,” Pennink said. “But you’re not supposed to be leaking so they made the call they had to make. It sucks.”
Jordan lined up second behind Christopher for two single file restarts with six laps to go but couldn’t challenge for the top spot.
“We had the better car, but when you have single file restarts and the leader starts the race, if you’re not a jerk the leader is always going to win,” Jordan said. “I wasn’t going to jack him up from behind.”
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