Rowan Pennink celebrates his second consecutive SK Modified championship Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway (Photo: Stafford Motor Speedway/Driscoll MotorSports Photography)
This year, when the end of the season is celebrated on October 2 at Stafford with the final SK Modified feature of the season, it will be Pennink riding on cruise without worry.
Friday Pennink made sure there would be no championship drama this season.
Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., finished eighth in Friday’s 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature to clinch his second consecutive division championship at the track.
“It’s definitely nice,” said Pennink, who has six wins in 16 starts this year. “Last year we won the championship but it came down to the last race. A couple spots would have made it or broke it. It’s going to be nice to come back for the Fall Final and not worry about it.”
Pennink becomes only the fifth driver in Stafford Speedway history to win consecutive SK Modified championships, joining Jerry Pearl (1984-85), Mike Christopher (1989-90), Bob Potter (1991-92 & 1994-95) and Ted Christopher (2000-01).
Pennink came into the night with a 68-point lead over second place Keith Rocco in the division standings. Rocco finished fifth in Friday’s feature meaning Pennink finished the night with a 62 point lead going to the final event of the season. The most points a driver can earn for an event is 50.
“I can’t thank this team enough,” Pennink said of his Kelly Iverson/Bob Hitchcock owned organization. “I’ve got a great group of guys that work their butts off preparing this thing. They give me a car that I can race to the front and race for wins and championships like we do. … I love racing here at Stafford. It’s awesome racing. It’s real tough and we love coming here every Friday night.”
Last year Pennink struggled late in the season and saw a big lead the standings evaporate over the final month. He went to the final event of the season holding a 12-point lead over Ryan Preece. Preece finished third in the final event and Pennink fourth to give Pennink a final cushion of 10 points for his first title.
“Last year it came right down to the wire between me and Ryan for the championship, so that was a little nerve wracking,” Pennink said. “It’s going to be nice to just come to the Fall Final and not worry about anything and know we’re going to be sitting at the head table at the banquet no matter what.”
Friday wasn’t without drama for Pennink on the way to eighth place. He nearly got caught up in a multi-car wreck early in the event on the frontstretch.
“That first one there I got just clipped a little bit,” Pennink said. “I don’t know if that hurt the car or not. We were able to keep digging. I was trying to get to the front. I wanted to win the race, but I didn’t quite get there. The race just didn’t go how I needed it to go and we got caught back there a little bit. But we stayed out of trouble and got the job done.”
Congratulations! Pennink is good.
Too bad the Tour team has had many engine gremlins. When they run, they run pretty good too.
Congratulations to the 99 team!
Crowley Brothers rule Stafford