BARRE, VT – The Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series rans its first event at Thunder Road International Speedbowl in 2022 and it wasn’t long after that inaugural race that the decision was made to return for 2023.
That decision to return made plenty happy who were on hand for Sunday’s Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series Granite City 100.
“It is a pretty awesome track first and foremost,” said Granite City 100 runner-up Doug Coby, who was not in the field for the series’ visit to Thunder Road in 2022. “It is super fast and it has a lot of characteristics of a bunch of other places that we race. If our other tracks put the investment into new pavement, we would have as much fun there as we do here.”
Race winner Ronnie Williams said he’s all for multiple series events at the track.
“I wish that it was closer to Connecticut and we came here more often,” Williams said. “It can be hard to pass but obviously our starting 12th and winning the race shows that it can be done. If the [Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series] wants to come here with all six shows, I am fine with that.”
Said third place finisher Woody Pitkat: “I like the track and the facility. The track is definitely a challenge. I ran a Late Model here a couple of times last year. I also know a couple of people that are familiar with the track and they gave me pointers on what was going to happen during the race. I do like the track. I know some people do not like it because it is tough to pass. Everybody here takes a lot more than they give on the track. I saw that when I was on the outside and it makes the track even narrower. It is all part of racing and you try to put yourself in another position the next time.”
Rally Car
It looked like a long trip to Vermont would end up with a short day for Chris Pasteryak Sunday.
On lap eight of the feature Pasteryak and Les Hinckley III ended up in an eye-catching wreck coming off of turn four while battling for 15th place.
Pasteryak spun off of turn four and Hinckley’s car ended up riding up the wall coming onto the frontstretch. Hinckley’s car came to rest on its side against the wall just under the starter’s stand with Pasteryak’s car in front of the Hinckley ride against the wall.
“It was my own fault, I should have gave [Hinckley] more room,” Pasteryak said. “He turned me around and he got wrecked but it was not his fault. It was my fault. My left rear [tire] was flat when that happened. There was no real damage to the wheel so I am not certain if that led to what happened.”
After getting the cars separated, Pasteryak was able to drive away from the incident with little damage.
By the end of the day, Pasteryak was celebrating a fourth place finish.
“After the accident it kind of put me in a position where I was happy to keep going,” Pasteryak said. “So, I was just taking what the track race gave me. I took the bottom on every restart. I did not care if I lost spots. It was just that I was happy to be still racing. And it ended up setting us up real good at the end of the race. It put us in a position where we could come in [to pit for a right rear tire] … because the car was a little free. Even after that, I thought that we were just lucky to keep going and I’ll take the bottom. The car took off on the last restart. I was in the right lane and we ended up fourth.”
Dandy Debut
Stafford Speedway SK Modified division regular David Arute made his Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series debut – and first visit to Thunder Road – one to remember Sunday with a sixth place finish.
“For my first time here I am happy where we ended up,” Arute said. “It is a challenging little track. It is very aggressive and you have to be on top of the wheel the whole time. It was quite the race.”
Arute was running 11th, the last car on the lead lap, and nearly about to go a lap down to eventual race winner Ronnie Williams just before caution flew on lap 71.
“With that long green flag run we were glad the caution came out [on lap 71] because the leader was on our rear bumper ready to put us a lap down,” Arute said. “I came in and they adjusted it and it came out real good. But it was challenging for my first time here. I never expected it to be as fast as it was. And we are happy with sixth place. I want to thank my crew and Monaco Ford for all of their support.”
Denise DuPont contributed to this report
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