On Tap: Try And Try Again

It’s a racing weekend so there’s most likely a Valenti Modified Racing Series event scheduled at Thompson International Speedway.

The series tries for the fourth time in the last five weeks to run its 75-lap event at Thompson Thursday. The event was originally scheduled to be run on July 25 and was also rained out on Aug. 1 and Aug. 8.

Stafford Motor Speedway is back in action with fireworks on the card in addition to their regular Five Star racing card.

At the Waterford Speedbowl, Late Models take center stages with a special 50-lap feature.

Where: Thompson International Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event and Valenti Modified Racing Series
When: Thursday
Schedule: 75-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series, 30-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 25-lap Late Model, 25-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Sportsman, 15-lap Mini Stock and 25-lap New England Truck Series. Grandstands open: 2 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 5:30 p.m.
More: The seventh week of Thursday night racing at Thompson in 2013. … The Valenti Modified Racing Series makes the first of two visits to the track this season. The series had originally been scheduled to run three events at Thompson this year, but an event was rained out on May 19. This event has been rained out three times. It was originally scheduled to be run on July 25 and was also rained out on Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. … Todd Annarummo won the most recent Valenti Modified Racing Series event on Saturday at Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway. After that event, competitors Tommy Barrett Jr., Richard Savary and Steve Masse were disqualified from the race for tire issues. Barrett had been the series points leader before the penalty. Former Thompson Speedway SK Modified division regular Rowan Pennink is now the series points leader. … Masse, Pennink and Barrett are the only multi-time winners over nine events this year. Each has two victories. Other winners this season include Lou Mechalides, Dwight Jarvis and Keith Rocco. … Over 10 Valenti Modified Racing Series events all-time at Thompson, Pennink has three victories and is the only multi-time series winner at the track. Other former series winners at the track are Kirk Alexander, Les Hinckely, Lou Mechalides, Todd Owen, Andy Seuss, Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher. … In the track’s last event, Woody Pitkat recovered from a first lap spin to get his first SK Modified victory of the season at the track. … Pitkat is the division’s points leader. Kerry Malone and Keith Rocco are tied for second, four points behind Pitkat. Rocco has won four of eight SK Modified events at the track this year. Other winners this year include Malone, Ryan Preece and Matt Gallo.

Where: Stafford Motor Speedway
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Friday
Schedule: 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 30-lap Late Model, 20-lap SK Light Modified, 20-lap Limited Late Model and 15-lap DARE Stock. Grandstands open: 5:15 p.m.; Qualifying begins: 6:15 p.m. Features begin: Approximately 7:15 p.m.
More: The 13th week of Friday night racing at Stafford in 2013. … In the last event at the track, Ryan Preece won for the seventh time in 13 events this year in the track’s SK Modified division. … Preece holds a 14 point lead over second place Woody Pitkat in the division’s standings. Doug Coby is third, 34 points out of the lead. Pitkat and Coby are both looking for their first victory of the season in the division. … Preece and Ted Christopher, are the only multi-time SK Modified winners this year at Stafford. Christopher has two wins. Other SK Modified division winners this season include Eric Berndt, Danny Cates, Rowan Pennink and Keith Rocco. … Adam Gray won for the fifth time in 13 events this year in the Late Model division last week. Gray has 12 consecutive top-three finishes. Gray’s only finish off the podium this year was an 18th in the first event of the season. Gray holds a 72-point lead over second place Tom Fearn in the division standings. … Stafford Speedway will also have fireworks on Friday.

Where: Waterford Speedbowl
What: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event
When: Saturday
Schedule: 35-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified, 50-lap Late Model, 25-lap Street Stock, 25-lap Mini Stock and 20-lap Legends. Grandstands open: 3 p.m.; Qualifying: 5:30 p.m.; Features: 7 p.m.
More: The 18th event of the season at the shoreline oval. … Keith Rocco scored his seventh victory of the season in the SK Modified division when he won in a photo finish over Tyler Chadwick last week at Waterford. … Rocco holds a 60-point lead over his father-in-law Todd Ceravolo, who is second in the division standings. Chadwick, the 2012 division champion, is 110 points out of the lead in third place. … Chadwick has three victories this year. With two victories this year, Kyle James joins Rocco and Chadwick as the only multi-time winners in the division this year. Ceravolo, Diego Monahan Jeff Rocco, Joey Gada and Rob Janovic Jr. are the other winners in the division this year. … Jason Palmer won for the first time this year in the Late Model division at the track last week. Keith Rocco has six victories in the division this year and is 65 points ahead of Palmer in the standings. Jeff Smith is third in the standings, 88 points out of the lead.