Hinckley, Pennink Provide Modified Sparks at Airborne

Modified Racing Series coverage presented by GossCars.com

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Rowan Pennink had it all but won 99 and ¾ laps into the inaugural Modified Racing Series event at Airborne Speedway.

But after lap 100, Les Hinckley walked away – literally – with the winner’s trophy.

Hinckley, of Windsor Locks, Conn., led the race from the outset until a lap 74 restart brought Pennink, who started 15th, to the front row and eventually the lead. Pennink led through two more quick restarts, but had a rear view mirror full of Hinckley and Dwight Jarvis over the final eight laps.

As the white flag flew signaling the final lap, Pennink appeared to have the race in hand. Geoff Gernhard, about to be put one lap down, pulled to the inside lane in turns three and four to stay out of the leaders’ way.

Pennink, of Huntington Valley, Pa., closed on Gernhard’s car quickly and appeared to get out of the throttle exiting the final corner. Hinckley’s car made contact with Pennink’s rear bumper, causing Pennink to get sideways. At that moment, Hinckley swept to the outside, beating Pennink by less than a foot in a drag race to the finish line. As they crossed the stripe, both cars came into contact again and both slammed into the wall in a shower of sparks, grinding to a halt in Turn 1.

With both cars heavily damaged, Hinckley and Pennink walked to victory lane where they exchanged a war of words through the media.

“The 06 (Hinckley) just flat-out wrecked us there coming to the checker,” Pennink said. “He wasn’t gonna beat me to the start/finish line so he had to try something, and I guess that’s how he wanted to do it. He just destroyed two cars when we’ve got a race tomorrow [at Thunder Road] as well. It’s a shame that people gotta drive like that. The 06 just drove like a complete retard tonight.”

Hinckley admitted getting into Pennink, but felt that the post-race wreck was intentional on Pennink’s part.

“I got into the back of him a little bit in the left-rear when he turned down on me [in turn four],” Hinckley said. “His momentum was broke, I drove up the outside of him, cleared him at the start/finish line, and then he turned right on me and drove us both down the frontstretch [wall]. He doesn’t like it, and I don’t like being torn up, but I didn’t turn left on anybody, and I didn’t turn right on anybody. He can point the finger at me all he wants but he knows what he did.”

Both drivers were critical of lapped traffic not yielding to the leaders.

Jarvis, of Ascutney, came from 14th to finish third. Carl Pasteryak of Lisbon, Conn., was fourth with Ken Barry of Preston, Conn., fifth. Todd Annarummo, Jimmy Kuhn, Eric Goodale, rookie Norm Wrenn, and Eddy Spiers completed the unofficial top ten finishers in order.

The Modified Racing Series will complete its weekend doubleheader at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., on Sunday at 1:30pm. Hinckley’s car owner, Chuck Montville, said that while the frame of their car was slightly damaged, they expected to be at Thunder Road to compete. Pennink’s car suffered heavy damage to the front and rear ends and his Gary Casella-led crew was preparing to work throughout the night to try to repair the car.

Patrick Dupree of Saranac Lake, N.Y., won his third Airborne Speedway Modified feature in four starts, beating out Leon Gonyo of Chazy, N.Y., and Maxime Viens of St-Cesaire, Que., who finished a career-best third. Brandon’s Don Scarborough was fourth, and Napierville, Que., driver Martin Roy recovered from a flat tire at mid-race to finish fifth.

Bucko Branham of Plattsburgh, N.Y., won the Sportsman feature over Morrisonville, N.Y.’s Shawn Duquette, with Jamy Begor, Robin Wood, and Nick Heywood completing the top-five.

Lonnie Rivers of Cadyville, N.Y., won the Renegade feature, followed by Keith O’Neill of Mooers, N.Y., and Swanton’s Kevin Boutin. Randy Martin inherited the Mini-Modified win in the technical inspection line when Rick Doner was disqualified, and Billy Joyal was the Bomber winner.

RESULTS: Modified Racing Series at Airborne 5/29/10

Modified Racing Series coverage presented by GossCars.com

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – US Army/Greg Atkins Logging/Taylor Rental 100
Modified Racing Series – Airborne Speedway, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Saturday, May 29, 2010

(Pos.-Driver-Hometown)
# - denotes rookie

1. Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, Conn.
2. Rowan Pennink, Huntington Valley, Pa.
3. Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney
4. Carl Pasteryak, Lisbon, Conn.
5. Ken Barry, Preston, Conn.
6. Todd Annarummo, Swansea, Mass.
7. Jimmy Kuhn, Jr., Bridgewater, Mass.
8. Eric Goodale, Wading River, N.Y.
9. #Norm Wrenn, Nashua, N.H.
10. Eddy Spiers, Beacon Falls, Conn.
11. Geoff Gernhard, Salem, Conn.
12. Max Zachem, Preston, Conn.
13. Bobby Drown, Milldale, Conn.
14. David Cranmer, North Hanover, N.J.
15. Jacob Dore, Sanford, Me.
16. Joe Doucette, Framingham, Mass.
17. Kenny White, Jr., Weare, N.H.
18. John Cleary, Madison, Conn.
19. Steve Masse, Bellingham, Mass.
20. Shelly Perry, Westerly, R.I.
21. Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, Conn.
22. Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, Mass.
23. #Joey Jarvis, Ascutney
24. Sean Bodreau, Claremont, N.H.
25. Rob Goodenough, Swanzey, N.H.

Airborne Speedway Modified
1. Patrick Dupree, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
2. Leon Gonyo, Chazy, N.Y.
3. Maxime Viens, St-Cesaire, Que.
4. Don Scarborough, Brandon
5. Martin Roy, Napierville, Que.

Sportsman
1. Bucko Branham, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
2. Shawn Duquette, Morrisonville, N.Y.
3. Jamy Begor, Mooers Forks, N.Y.
4. Robin Wood, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
5. Nick Heywood, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Renegade
1. Lonnie Rivers, Cadyville, N.Y.
2. Keith O’Neill, Mooers, N.Y.
3. Kevin Boutin, Swanton
4. Keith Pelkey, Clintonville, N.Y.
5. Chad Provost, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Mini-Modified
1. Randy Martin, Keeseville, N.Y.
2. Steven Bressette, Keeseville, N.Y.
3. Kris Clark, Keeseville, N.Y.
4. Speedy Bressette, Castleton
5. Bobby LaVair, Gabriels, N.Y.

Bomber
1. Billy Joyal, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
2. Michael Whalen, Jr., Plattsburgh, N.Y.
3. Curtis LaGrave, Jr., Plattsburgh, N.Y.
4. Josh Durivage, West Chazy, N.Y.
5. Cody Meyers, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Jarvis Wins Modified Racing Series at Monadnock

(From MRS press release)

WINCHESTER, N.H. – Despite 12 caution periods Ascutney, Vt., racing veteran Dwight Jarvis scored his first win of the season Saturday night in front of a large opening night crowd when he captured the Bond Auto Parts Spring Dash 100 for modified race cars at Monadnock Speedway.

The win by Jarvis was his sixth career victory with the Modified Racing Series, sponsored by BobValentiAutoMall.com.

Starting 17th in a 24 car field, Jarvis methodically worked his way through the lineup, taking the top spot on lap 76. It was a hard fought victory for the popular driver who chased hometown driver Jim Boniface for several laps before making the pass. Boniface led the race for 68 laps.

2009 Koszela Speed Rookie of the Year Jacob Dore of Sanford, Me., made a late race charge to finish second. Boniface settled for third, while Rowan Pennink of Huntington Valley, Penn., finished fourth with Sean Bodreau of Claremont, N.H., fifth.

Pennink, who started 24th in the field, was involved in an early race skirmish on lap 36, that forced him to start last again. He made a late race charge that led to his fourth place finish.

32 race teams entered the event, the third of 19 races for the popular touring series.

The next scheduled race for MRS is the Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Malta N.Y., on May 21.

PHOTOS: Budweiser Blastoff 100

Presented by "Fifty Years of Excitement"

Budweiser Blastoff 100

Coby Starts Short Season Off on Right Foot at Waterford

Budweiser Blastoff 100 coverage presented by "Fifty Years of Excitement"

WATERFORD, Conn. -- Doug Coby probably wishes the Modified Racing raced at Waterford Speedbowl every week. Coby, of Milford, Conn., is now a perfect two-for-two in MRS events at the track, winning Sunday's Budweiser Blastoff 100. Coby, who has only five races scheduled for 2010, held off another Waterford powerhouse in Rowan Pennink for the win.

Pennink came from 25th starting spot -- last -- to race on Coby's back bumper with ten laps remaining, but mysteriously went to the pits during a caution period on lap 90. Coby contends that although Pennink was strong, his own car was better.

"Rowan's got a good car, and we're the last two winners here (in MRS events)," said Coby. "I was just trying to hold the bottom. I figured there was so much junk on the track (from the race's many wrecks) that he couldn't really go up, and I figured if he went up top I would try to make my car a little wider. I know Rowan had a good car, but we had the car to beat."

Pennink, who had to change engines on Sunday morning, said he was unsure what the problem was that made his car shut down on lap 90, but his car had enough to get by Coby before then.

"We had an awesome car and got right up to the front pretty quick. The car was working awesome on the outside," said the Huntington Valley, Pa., driver. "I had him. I know I would have got him on the outside for the win."

Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., inherited second place after Pennink pit, and held off defending MRS champion Jon McKennedy of Chelmsford, Mass., for the runner-up spot. Andy Seuss of Hampstead, N.H., was fourth with Sanford, Me., sophomore Jacob Dore fifth. The unofficial top ten was completed by Les Hinckley, Eric Goodale, Steve Masse, Dave Etheridge, and Pennink, who returned and finished as the last driver on the lead lap.

Ascutney rookie Joey Jarvis finished eleventh, one lap down.