Ron Silk Wins The Day With Monaco Modified Series At Thompson; Jon McKennedy Saves The Day 

THOMPSON – Ron Silk passed Patrick Emerling following a lap 63 restart and went on to win the 75-lap Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series feature Wednesday at Thompson Speedway. 

“It was a good day,” Silk said. “Had speed from when we unloaded. I think we were fastest in practice and fast in qualifying, so it was good to get the win. It was going to be tough to get Patrick. I don’t know if I would have got him [without the lap 63 caution]. I thought I was maybe a tick better than him, but getting by him was going to be a different story. I think he probably would have had to make a mistake, he had a good car, so restart kind of changed that up a little bit and got us side by side and was able to get a good start and cruise a little from there. But guys did a great job all day.” 

It was the eighth career Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series victory for Silk and his first with the series since winning last September at Stafford Speedway. Silk is second on the division’s all-time win list behind Matt Hirschman (25 wins). 

Emerling was second, Ronnie Williams third and Austin Beers fourth. 

“There was a lot of oil out on the track tonight so it was slicker,” Emerling said. “There was more grip in other areas. But for whatever reason I just couldn’t get it, I just had too much right rear drive on the starts … I just couldn’t get that drive. Once we got up to speed we were fine but I just didn’t have that launch.” 

Said Williams: “After that [lap 39] pit stop, things just kind of went away a little bit. Just not what I needed to compete with Silk or Emerling. So yeah, we have a little more work to do on this thing, but overall, happy about it.”

And while Silk celebrated the big win, it was Jon McKennedy celebrating salvaging a day that looked lost early on. 

McKennedy came into Thursday’s event as a the series points leader, having won the season opener on April 11 at Thompson and finishing second at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl on June 13. 

McKennedy blew his motor in practice. His team loaded up his car and he was leaving the track around 5 pm, headed back to Chelmsford, Mass for a backup car. McKennedy arrived back at the track around 8:15 and started last in the 22-car field. 

He was up to sixth by the time caution flew on lap 39 and he came off pit road second. He ended up fifth in a car that had no practice time before the feature. 

“It was a really long day obviously,” McKennedy said. “We blew an engine today in practice, thrashed, everything loaded, drove an hour north. The guys worked their ass off for me. … Them guys stepped up and dug our heels in the mud and we really thrashed, got this car all ready. This car was at New Hampshire Motor Speedway yesterday doing a tire test so it wasn’t even close to being ready today. Tires, shocks, gears, just a bunch of odds and ends. Still had to scale it but we worked like crazy men, got it done. Flew back down here, started [22nd] and at one point I thought I was going to have a top three out of it. Just got stuck on the bottom there on that last restart and ended up fifth, but overall great day considering the whole situation. Really no practice at all with this car and just a big thanks to all my guys. It’s been a grueling few weeks, a lot of wins but a lot of work so be nice to take a few days off here.” 

McKennedy came into the day with a 22-point lead over Kyle Bonsignore in the standings with Williams in second, 24 points behind and Mike Christopher Jr. third, 25 off the lead. McKennedy left the track still at the top of the standings, with a 20-point cushion over Williams, who moved to second in the standings. Bonsignore fell to third, 26 points behind McKennedy and Christopher remained fourth, 27 points off the lead. 

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