Glen Reen celebrates victory in the SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford Speedway (Photo: Fran Lawlor)
STAFFORD – When he’s not readying to race in the SK Modified and Late Model divisions at Stafford Motor Speedway Glen Reen spends his weeks as a salesman at Steve Lewis Subaru in Hadley, Mass.
Earlier this week Reen sold a car to multi-time national champion Cyclecross rider Jeremy Powers.
Curious of just how intense getting behind the wheel could be for Reen, Powers offered him a heart monitor to wear while racing at Stafford.
And Reen made sure Powers found out just how heart pounding visiting lane can be.
Reen held off Matt Galko over the closing laps to win the 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified feature Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway.
“The average was 144 [beats per minute] and the peak was 181,” Reen said after checking the monitor following the win. “And they say we’re not athletes.”
Galko, of Meriden, was second, and Tom Bolles of Ellington third.
It was the first points race win in the SK Modified division this year for Reen. On July 13 he celebrated victory in the inaugural TC 13 Shootout non-points event at Stafford.
“I knew we’ve had the cars do it, we’ve encountered bad luck, sometimes we’ve just missed the setup” said Reen, who drives as a teammate to Dan Avery. “We’re learning these brand new cars this year, we have not ever run them. We’ve finally got a notebook halfway through the season where we can actually go ‘Ok, this is what the car should do because this is what’s it’s been doing.’ I think we’re going to start clicking off a lot more of them here in the near future.”
Reen went under Mike Christopher Jr. for the lead on lap 29 and never trailed again.
I’m guessing this won’t be a popular win for many what with him having large parts of the infield grass named after him and all. But I still say he’s one of the most exciting drivers at Stafford so way to go Glen.
Are you having a hard time or are you down on your luck? Stand next to the 50 SK and see if some of that luck can rub off. I don’t know what church Williams attends or what pull he has with the big guy or gal. Maybe he has a witch doctor on the team putting curses on other cars. All I know is the string of not getting involved or caught up in any wrecks that take him out is almost spooky. Yet here we are again. The Roc and Berndt sitting in the infield and Williams bringing it home in an unspectacular but championship making 7th place. Unspectacular in the finish but once again with the most spectacular best lap time. Skill is one thing he has but he also has a healthy dose of pure unadulterated luck this year.
Honorable mention to Matt Galko who has been two ticks off the front runners mostly this year. Ancient Tom Bolles who virtually never has a podium finish. Tyler Hines staying with the front runners and Tony Membrino for moving up 8 spots and avoiding the jingles to finish 8th.
Also honorable mention to Stafford for getting the shows in the last two weeks with completely unfavorable weather forecasts. Are they on a record pace for fewest number of rain outs? Feels like it.