Les Hinckley And Chuck Montville Racing Won’t Make Trip To Valenti Mod Series Event At Monadnock Speedway

When the Valenti Modified Racing Series runs its second event of the 2013 season Saturday at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. the series’ second-winningest driver of all-time will not be in the lineup for the second consecutive event.

Les Hinckley III behind the wheel of the Chuck Montville owned Valenti Modified Racing Series car.

Les Hinckley of Windsor Locks said Tuesday he and the Chuck Montville Racing team he drives for will not make the trip to Monadnock.

Hinckley said at this point it’s unclear what the future of the team is.

Team owner Chuck Montville of Windsor Locks passed away unexpectedly on April 4. The Valenti Modified Racing Series season opener was on April 7 at the Waterford Speedbowl.

“It’s kind of hard to actually deal all this right now because two weeks ago we were heading to Waterford ready to chase a championship,” Hinckley said. “Obviously it’s not easy to think about it when we kind of had our plans made it out and then so much happens so quickly.”

Hinckley had driven for Montville in the series since the division’s inception in 2004. Driving for Montville, Hinckley became the the second winningest driver in series history, with 17 Valenti Modified Racing Series victories.

Hinckley said he spoke to Montville’s longtime girlfriend Debbie Marquis this past weekend, but it’s still unclear what the future holds for what remains of the race team Montville built. Though Hinckley said financial restraints could spell the end of the organization.

“Debbie can’t do what we did without Chuck and I can’t afford to do it,” Hinckley said. “Basically, I think as far as what happens with our race team now is, I don’t know if it’s official yet, but it’s probably at the end of the road.

“There’s not a lot of opportunities, not a lot of seats that are open. I don’t know what the future holds for me driving. I certainly wasn’t anticipating the end of my racing career being now, and I hope it’s not. I’m not ready for that. But we’ll see what’s in my future.”