Valenti Modified Racing Series Drivers Prepare For New Qualifying Rules Saturday At Beech Ridge

STAFFORD – It’s a change in the Valenti Modified Racing Series competition operations that some have jokingly referred to as the Tommy Barrett Rule.

Tommy Barrett Jr. celebrates his Valenti Modified Racing Series victory at Stafford Motor Speedway earlier this season (Photo: Stephanie Kimball/Stafford Speedway)

Beginning with Saturday’s event at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Me., the series will award championship points for qualifying heat race finishes.

Over the last two seasons series points leader Tommy Barrett Jr. has made it a familiar site running at the back of the field in series heat races.

Barrett, of Millis, Mass., has five wins in 25 career starts dating back to 2011, including two wins this year.

“I don’t really mind,” said Barrett, who holds a two-point edge over Rowan Pennink at the top of the standings. “As long as everybody has to play by the same rules it’s fine with me. I’m going to do what everybody else has to do. I wasn’t breaking any rules. Now I’m going to have to do something else and make it work. That’s basically the plan.”

Under the new rule, the top five finishing positions in each heat event will earn points, with first place earning five points, second place earning four points, third place earning three, fourth place earning two and fifth place earning one.

The Valenti Modified Racing Series points system awards 50 points to a race winner and then two points less for each subsequent finishing position down to four points for 26th place.

“I think for what they’re trying to put on for a program I think it’s a good deal,” Valenti Modified Racing Series regular Todd Owen of Somers said. “If you’re a fan coming to watch races you want to see all kinds of racing. You want to see people challenging in heat races. You still want to compete. Myself, I guess one thing those guys have over me is that they’re OK finishing in the back. I want to compete for every spot possible. [Series director Scott Tapley] wants to put a show on for the racetracks that are paying for a show.

“Tommy’s been doing it for a while. He’s got something figured out. I can’t believe that you can save a car that much to make it that good. It will be interesting to see now though with the points because if you’re racing for points you’re going to need to go for them. Five points is pretty big deal.”