(Press Release from Modified Racing Series)
Woody Pitkat celebrates the 2018 Valenti Modified Racing Series championship on Oct. 13 at the Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing at Thompson Speedway
SOUTH WINDSOR – Woody Pitkat, of Bellingham, MA, was crowned 2018 Valenti Modified Racing Series Champion Friday night, at the series annual awards banquet held at Maneeley’s Banquet and Catering, So. Windsor. CT.
The title was Pitkat’s second, the first was in 2015.
The 39-year old Pitkat thanked his wife Erica and family for their support throughout the season, the Valenti Auto Group, Series owner Jack Bateman, series officials and race fans.
Pitkat also recognized car owners Dan Stebbins, Stan Mertz, and Todd Patnode noting if it were not for them the championship would not have been attainable. Mertz and Patnode stepped up late season when Stebbins discontinued his 2018 campaign. Pitkat also recognized drivers, Anthony Nocella, Sammy Rameau, and Mike Willis Jr.
Pitkat was also the recipient of the Hoosier Tire East Award presented by Rob Summers, and the New England Race Fuel Award from John Holland.
Nocella, Wills Jr, Richard Savary, and Jacob Perry rounded out the top five in the standings, Donnie Lashua, Cameron Sontag, Derek Robbie, Todd Patnode, and Jeffrey Gallup, were sixth through tenth,
Tony Ricci, Dylan Rock, Andy Shaw, Brian Robie, and Dave Etheridge ranked 11th through 15th.
A.D.N. Motorsports (Anthony Nocella) won the Owners Points Title over Mike Willis Jr, Sammy Kramer, Stebbins, and long-time car owner Norm Perry.
Achievement Awards were presented to the following:
Rookie of the Year – Jacob Perry
Most Improved Driver – Cameron Sontag
Tough Luck award – CJ Bolton
Sportsmanship Award – Derek Robbie
Dedication To Racing – Roy Seidell
Seidell called it a career in October after 44- years of competition.
For the first time the Valenti Modified Racing Series will be part of four opening events in 2019. The series will be at Thompson Motorsports Park, April 6, Monadnock Speedway, May 4, New London – Waterford Speedbowl May 11, and Lee USA Speedway, May 18 & 19.
Monadnock welcomes the series back on June 8, July 6, and again on August 24.
June 22, & 23 are the dates for the third annual New England Short Track Showdown at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon.
Lee USA Speedway will host the series on July 12 and October 6.
New London-Waterford’s annual Wings & Wheels happens August 17
Single events on the calendar include Speedway 51, July 27,
Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, August 3.
Claremont Speedway, August 9 with a rain date August 10
Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT August 30
Thompson Motorsports Park, October 11, & 12.
CONGRATS to Woody for winning the 2018 MRS Championship. After Stebbins shut down, things looked bleek but Mertz, and Patanude stepped up to keep Woody in the fight, so thanks go out to them. Hopefully Woody has a ride lined up for 2019, and will be able to defend a hard earned championship.
Congratulations Woody. You pulled together rides at the end of tge season and your perseverance paid off.
Great observation from Brian. Many questioned the debacle at Lee and it’s affect on the final champion. When the actual story was a guy with a lot of friends patched together a couple different rides when the rug got pulled out from under him in the home stretch.
Pitkat is very much old school. Multi talented and brutally honest. Almost to a fault.
Congrats!
Ok congrats however it kinda got BLOW AT RAMEAU Motorsports.Enough said
What got Blowin. His father costing him the championship
Doug, I think we have a different definition of “old school”. Granted he is a very talented driver, but he just shows up with a fire suit and a helmet.
I’m guessing you mean not working and campaigning his own car Rick. That would be true so I’ll concede old school was a poor choice.
I was thinking in terms of the pre packaged, say all the right things kind of drivers of today. Sponsor friendly, easy on the ears. Woody says what he thinks no matter if it ruffles feathers and gives as good as he gets on the track.
Rick and Doug who maintained the 28 car on the tour years back when woody drove it , answer Woody had a full time job preparing and driving that car , so maybe Doug your choice of words wasn’t that far off
That is where you are wrong. Woody has worked on hid race cars his whole life.
He was committed to going to the 52 Dam Stebbins race shop once a week to work on the car an hour and a half to there shop one way.
He don’t just show up and drive!