By Shawn Courchesne & Denise DuPont
WINCHESTER, N.H. – With the Valenti Modified Racing Series in town for the night, weather issues ruled the road on Saturday at Monadnock Speedway.
Todd Patnode of Swanzey, N.H. got by Les Hinckley III for the lead on lap 25 and then scored the victory in the rain shortened Valenti Modified Racing Series feature at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H.
The race was stopped because of rain after 66 laps were completed of the 100 laps scheduled for the event.
“I went a little earlier than I normally do,” Patnode said. “I told my crew guys that I thought that the weather might come in so we could not ride like we normally like to. Honesty it was a good thing for us that we got rain shortened because my right tire is on the rim over there in tech. So we had a tire going down. I knew that it was starting to get free. I did not know if it was the water on the track because it was misting or if it was a chassis thing. I guess I got my answer.”
After a day of brutal heat at the track, heavy storms moved into the Winchester area just before the start of feature events at Monadnock, causing numerous weather delays for the evening.
Patnode was leading the field when the second caution came out on lap 67. Rain returned to the area while the race was under caution, forcing series officials to bring an end to the show.
Jeffrey Gallup of Agawam, Mass. was second and Rob Richardi of Taunton, Mass. third.
“I would have liked to have seen those last 35 laps or so to go,” Gallup said. “I may have had a shot for him. I had a really good car the whole race and was able to there at the end. I was just a little short with the rain.”
Said Richardi: “Honestly this is the best that this car has ever been at this track in a Modified. I love this track and run good here in a [Pro Four Modified]. It felt good to run well in a Modified. We passed our way back up to the front and I felt that we deserved to be there.”
Hinckley, of Windsor Locks, who started on the pole and led the first 24 laps, was fourth. Brian Robie of Sunapee, N.H. rounded out the top-five.
The Valenti Modified Racing Series returns to action on Friday at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H.
Schedule Changes
Valenti Modified Racing Series operator Jack Bateman announced that the originally scheduled Aug. 24 event at Monadnock has been moved up to Aug. 17. The change was made to avoid a conflict with the Tri-Track Open Modified Series event at Oxford Plains Speedway in Oxford, Me. on Aug. 24.
The Valenti Modified Racing Series was originally scheduled to compete at the New London-Waterford Speedway on Aug. 17, but with the Speedbowl’s reopening in question that event was pulled from the schedule.
Goes to show,behind the WMT the TTOMS controls the scheduling in the northeast. MRS had no chance against Oxford. I never really understood why Monadnock was going against TTOMS on Aug 24th and hosting them in September. Is that the final nail for Waterford in 2019. MRS might also be in survival mode at this point.
How is the “postponed” Bullring Bash race date coming along???
Congratulations to you Rob, and the whole #12 team on the third place finish! I know it’s been such a tough last year(s) with a lot of bad luck and such, so to hang in and start getting positive results is huge, and speaks volumes about how great your team and family are! Keep it going!!!
Shawn,
First thank you for all you do with the site. Is it possible to get run downs on these post race articles? Thank would be great info! Thanks again.
Racer 101,
When they’re available at publishing time they are added. Unfortunately the full rundown is not always available at the time of publishing. Still waiting on the official release from the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
Without hearing much about forward progress at the Speedbowl, I wondered if the Monadnock date would be moved up a week. I wasn’t able to go Saturday, but the results show 18 starters. I’m sure the racing was good, but too bad it’s not the VMRS usual 24 car field of the last few years. So now it’s this week’s Stafford Open vs. the VMRS Twin 50’s at Lee USA. Although north is much closer, more Modifieds down south.
30% of showers at Lee Friday night vs showers hopefully ending by race time at Stafford.
Wonder if that would influence any fans or teams.
Probably not.