Breakthrough: Todd Szegedy Gets First Valenti Mod Racing Series Victory With New Team At Stafford

Todd Szegedy (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

STAFFORD – It was clear out of the gate in the season opening Valenti Modified Racing Series event on April 13 at the Waterford Speedbowl that the new relationship between Todd Szegedy and team owner Kevin Stuart seemingly had what it took to work.

On that day Szegedy, with the help of his new team, rallied back to third from a wreck that likely would have ended the day for most teams. It was a triumphant day for a team and driver working together for the first time.

And all has been good since as Szegedy, the 2003 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, has rattled off quality finish after quality finish through the first five races of the season.

The first win together though? It seemingly slipped away when Szegedy was knocked out of the lead by Tommy Barrett Jr. on the last lap at Thompson Speedway on May 29.

Friday, there was no knocking Szegedy from anything as he rolled to victory in the Town Fair Tire 80 at Stafford Motor Speedway.

It was the first victory for the combination of Stuart and Szegedy, who came together in the offseason after Stuart’s regular driver – Lou Mechalides – had back surgery.

“I’ve got to thank Kevin Stuart for putting me in this racecar,” Szegedy said. “… It’s nice to finally get a win. I think I deserved that win at Thompson. But good things come to those who wait. It’s a good nigh for us. We lengthened our points lead a little bit.

It was the second career Valenti Modified Racing Series victory for Szegedy, of Ridgefield, who won in 2012 at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. driving for his former Whelen Modified Tour team owner Mike Smeriglio III.

Ted Christopher of Plainville was second and Keith Rocco of Wallingford third. Szegedy became the sixth different winner in six Valenti Modified Racing Series events this season.

Szegedy went diving under Christopher in turn three on lap 58 and came out of turn two on lap 59 holding the lead, an advantage he continued to stretch out to the checkered flag.

“[Crew chief Billy Calicchio] just put a setup underneath this thing that was unbelievable,” Szegedy said. “We had an unbelievable racecar at Thompson and we had an unbelievable racecar here.”

Said Christopher: “We’re just still searching. We’re just too tight in the center [of the corners]. I knew that was going to kill me. I knew like halfway through that that was the downfall with it. But hey, third at Thompson, second here, next spot we’ll see what we get.”