Brian Robie used a second place and ninth place finish in twin 40-lap features Saturday at Lee USA Speedway to clinch the 2021 Modified Racing Series championship.
It was the first series title for Robie, of Sunapee, N.H.
Robie came into the day holding a 36-point lead in the standings over Jacob Perry of Pawcatuck.
Robiie finished second to Perry in the first 40-lap feature of the night.
It was the third series victory of the 2021 season for Perry, who finished 13th in the second feature for the division, which is part of the Octoberfest weekend at Lee.
Rusty Poland of Windham, Me. won the second 40-lap feature. Tommy Barrett of Millis, Mass. was second and Derek Griffith of Hudson, N.H. third.
The driver line up for MRS yesterday was the most diverse group of northern New England racers I’ve ever seen. A lot of the best mod and full fendered guys up here were racing, almost like an all star race.
Probably one of the best days I’ve had at a racetrack. Every car, every division, sliding sideways off of turn four.
Third place in the NEMA race one lap slid all the way through 3 and 4 from the middle up to the top while driving around lap traffic. When the right rear hit the slightly less worn asphalt up top it looked like he was hitting a cushion on a dirt track.
It used to be announcers could sleep walk through races knowing that the people in attendance could only hear a small percentage of what they were saying and probably didn’t pay that much attention to what they could hear. That’s all changed now with streaming and their call and how they interpret the race to the fans at home critical to the success of the streamcast. Spence was definitely on his game last night with great energy and some good insights and it’s a shame the audio was horrible for the entire Speed51 presentation. You just can’t afford to be doing that especially if it’s a first impression of a race on TV.
All I cared about was the MRS. It was notable and perhaps a bit of a disappointment that the front runners in the first segment could not make their way through the field to contend in the second. Not one did not even Robie. While the also rans in the first were the all stars in the second. Rusty Poland is saving his tires in 15th in the first segment and is unbeatable in the second. That has to be evidence of a fundamental draw back to two segment racing when a large percentage have more incentive to sand bag then try to move up.
The Casella 25 is known to be a great car runs in front pretty much everywhere they go. Full bodied wonder Derek Griffith got his feet wet in the first coming in 9th and a 3rd in the second. For me watching him was the highlight of the two races.
How about that home boy hot shoe Derek Griffith getting out of a “taxi cab” and running a Mod..In a good piece but still a nice run..
Rob it sound like you had a great time at the track yesterday. Good to hear it. Hopefully you werent alone and there was some fans in the stands for Lee. I looked at race monitor it looks like they had some pretty good fields there.
Doug, I didnt watch the broadcast. Did Speed51 cover the entire show or just the mods. My sub lapsed and I had some other races to watch. I figured maybe I will probably sign up for a month and watch it on demand maybe some time this week. is the race worth watching?
NHmodman. Watch out world if we get Derek Griffith in a modified regularly. He is a contender at all the big national Late model events he attends. I would love to see it but there is more money racing fenders than in a modified right now at least nationally. He doesnt seem to mind traveling to some of the big shows around the country. It certainly would be interesting to see him in a mod for the Thompson 300. That would be something.
I can tell you Speed51 had a start time of 7 PM and the first 40 lap segment was well under way at 7. They showed all the features near as I could tell wrapping it up with the second MRS 40 lap segment. What they showed before 7 I couldn’t say.
One thing about the NWMT you can count on them to stick to a schedule. These other races have to be monitored on Live Timing.
Yes I Agree, Derek Griffith is a Tremendous Shoe, I was lucky to see Him Start His driving Career in the 4 cylinders at Hudson Speedway & Star… Learned early how to finish races , avoid contact and Eventually Win and Move up the racing Ladder…Derek is super SMOOTH and takes His time coming through traffic on His way to the FRONT.. Now He has Won Super Late Model Championships and Big Money Super Late Model / Pro Stock Races. Driven in Trucks, & now OUR BELOVED Mods…. Great Showing in The MRS in the # 25 Casella Mod….. Felt it out in 1st Feature to Finish 9th , Then to Follow that up to Finish to Get a 3rd in second Feature was quite Impressive start to hopefully more Modified Starts… We would have another New England Driving Star on the Rise…. Best of Luck Derek !!!!!