Rowan Pennink (Photo: Stafford Motor Speedway)
STAFFORD – Rowan Pennink has proved himself one of the big dogs in the SK Modified field at Stafford Motor Speedway.
Friday night he showed he can handle a bite from the biggest dog at the track and survive.
Pennink got knocked sideways by Ted Christopher in a battle for the lead on lap 39, made the save and went on to win the 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford Speedway.
It was the second victory of the season for Pennink, who won the season opening event on April 26.
“I’ve got to thank everyone from the crew,” Pennink said. “This thing was awesome tonight. I was just behind the wheel. It took me a little bit to get by Ted and a couple of other people there. It was a dogfight to the end and we got it done.”
Todd Owen of Somers was second and Ryan Preece of Berlin third.
Christopher went to the lead on lap five past Woody Pitkat and held that spot for the bulk of the event while battles raged behind him in the top five most of the way.
Pennink was up to fourth by lap 18 and the second by lap 31. On lap 34 Preece went by Pennink for second, but Pennink took second place back a lap later.
On lap 37 Pennink went under Christopher for the lead, but Christopher, the track’s all-time winningest drive away didn’t go away quietly
On lap 39 Christopher made a diving move under Pennink going into turn three. Contact between the two cars had both sliding up the track through the corner. While Christopher spun, Pennink was able to right his sideway car and hold the lead.
On the final restart Pennink was able to get away from the field as Owen overtook Preece for second place.
“We had a great chance to win tonight,” Owen said. “We had a great time [racing] up front. If you don’t like that kind of racing you’re not a Modified fan. If you could be in the seat that was pretty intense. That was a lot of fun just to have a chance to run with the big dogs.”
Good race, TC took up a lot of real estate but didn’t wreck anyone. The MRS race was good also, a lot of lead changes back and forth, pretty impressive.
Agree, Steve.
The SK Feature was one of the better ones I’ve seen over the last few years – tight racing up front, no one could get away from anyone. Todd Owen drove a helluva race too!
Still the top weekly racing division in the northeast, if not the east coast.
VMRS was a great show as well – lead changes in the double digits. 26 cars showed up.
SK Lights? not so much. Wreckfest, although the racing early on was tight. Salva and Membrino came from deep in the pack to get to the front and then Membrino ended up taking them both out with a crossover move gone awry.
Both Late Model division races were snoozers.
DARE race was not bad towards the end, good battling up front.
Legends sucked. Best track to see the Legends race is Waterford – night and day difference.
Did anyone notice the #15 LFR car was not there?