Ronnie Williams Tops Modified Racing Series At Sunoco World Series; Mike Willis Jr. Takes Title

Ronnie Williams (center) celebrates with Gary Byington (left) and John Holland (right) from New England Racing Fuel after winning the Valenti Modified Racing Series feature at the Sunoco World Series Saturday at Thompson (Photo: Shawn Courchesne/RaceDayCT)

THOMPSON – Ronnie Williams knew going into the season that driving for Gary Casella’s Roscoe Racing team came with some big expectations. 

Casella’s organization has long been one of the standard-bearers of success when it comes to racing on the Valenti Modified Racing Series. 

And in 2019 Williams helped to keep those standards riding high for Casella. 

That successful run continued with the perfect ending of the season for Williams and Casella Saturday. 

Williams led every lap on the way to victory in the 50-lap Valenti Modified Racing Series feature Saturday at the World Series of Speedway Racing at Thompson Speedway. 

“We knew were going to start up front,” Williams said. “We knew we had a fast race car. Been fast all weekend. I just had to keep the wheels under it. … This group, they’re one of a kind. Gary puts together a great race car. It’s just my job to go out there and complete it, which is going out there and winning.” 

Chase Dowling of Roxbury was second and Craig Lutz of Miller Place, N.Y. third. 

Williams had three victories for Casella this year. Williams got his first series victory on June 8 at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, N.H. and also won for the team on June 23 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. 

“I don’t know what it is,” Williams said. “They don’t have the biggest crew in the world … but they put their hearts and souls into it every time you go to the race track you know it’s going to be a fast car. It’s basically all up to the driver at that point. I think everyone going into that car knows that the goal is to win. Second place isn’t an option. … He’s had a great group of drivers and hopefully I can be here next year for him.” 

Mike Willis Jr. of Grantham, N.H. used a 22nd place finish to clinch his first series title. 

“It was a great year,” Willis said. “We got our first win this year with the [series]. … We had a good shot at it last year. I thought we were going to get it last year and it didn’t come our way. It was really important to get this championship for me. We’ve always won at our local track so to go out here and win in our touring series at many different tracks is pretty amazing.” 




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Comments

  1. Long night but worth the wait. After the race got going, the cream rose to the top and the 00, 81, and Lutz all had a shot at Williams and he saved his car enough to pull the fastest lap of the race on lap 31. Solid domination. Team owner Gary said after the race that Ronnie is the smartest, most calculating and competitive driver he has ever had. He says nothing in the car unless something is wrong, and gets the most out of what they give him. He’s easy on the equipment and that Ronnie only missed the drivers points championship by 12 points and he missed 3 races!!! Wow! He did win the owners championship for MRS this year. It’s great to see the teams emotion after a long day and a great season. He said this is Ronnie’s 14th Win this year in all the cars he drives, and he is the favorite to win the TriTrack championship too. Congratulations Ronnie, Gary and the team for giving us the thrills this season and I’m looking forward to Seekonk!!

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