By Lou Modestino

19-year old Tommy Barrett, of Millis, MA, cashed in on a lap 66 caution flag, moved to second on the restart, then passed race leader, Todd Szegedy, of Ridgefield, CT, on the final lap to win the Valenti Modified Racing Series 75-lap feature race Thursday night at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Thompson, Connecticut.

Barrett’s victory was his seventh series win and his first series victory at Thompson. Barrett becomes the fourth different winner in as many races this season.

Barrett, piloting the # 9 Victory Lane Bar and Grill Modified, started outside front row and fell back several positions.

“We tend to lay back but I wanted to stay up front and not let those guys (leaders) get to far away from me. It was just the way we wanted it. Top ten, top five. At the end we got the caution I needed and got a good restart.,” Barrett explained in victory lane. “ They told me on the radio we were faster than those guys up front. “I got up on the wheel and did what I had to do”  No doubt that intelligence  from his crew played played a part in the winner’s strategy

Barrett’s victory is his seventh series win and his first series victory. Brian Brady of Stoughton, MA moved from Richard Savary’s crew this season and no doubt Brady’s presence proved to be another asset to Barrett’s team.

Reigning champion Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA., started 19th and finished a strong second at the end.

“We started a little further back than we like too 17th). A race going green like that a long time and everyone spread out we tried to take it easy and save our stuff. At some point you gotta go when the laps are counting down. We had a slight vibration, the 9 (Barrett) and 85 (Szegedy) were wicked fast so I’m happy with a second.”

Ted Christopher, of Plainville, CT, in the Joe Brady Bunch entry out of Stoughton, MA, chased Szegedy from the start of the race and finished a strong third.

Richard Savary, of Canton, MA., and Dave Etheridge, of Portland, CT., rounded out the top five.”We knew that we had a top five car here tonight and we were right on,” said Savary.  Some of that credit had to go to his crew chief Joe Kourafas of Randolph, MA who replaced Brian Brady over the winter.

Szegedy, Tom Carey Jr, Anthony Nocella, Jeff Malave, and Chris Pasteryak, finished sixth through tenth. Carey, of New Salem, MA, is running just a few races on the VMRS this year. “It’s all about finances and not racing every week is hard because you loose a lot of stride when you compete in only a few races a season, “revealed Carey.

Some 26 cars started the race with 10 cars finishing on the lead lap.

A total of 34 teams attempted to qualify. Heats winners were Keith Rocco, Ryan Preece, Barrett, with consolation races going to Max Zachem, and Chris Pasteryak.

The series returns to Seekonk Speedway in Seekonk, MA on  Saturday night, June 7.

Race Summary:

Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park

May 29,2014

Entrants (34)

Distance: 75-laps

Time of Race: 40:13:709

Margin of 1.206

Best Speed: 119.218 (Szegedy)

Best Lap Time: 18.873

Lead Changes: 1

Lap Leaders: Szegedy (1-74) Barrett (75)

Cautions: Laps- 1,66,68

Unofficial Order of Finish: (1) Barrett (2) Pennink

(3) Christopher (4) Savary (5) Etheridge (6) Szegedy

(7) Carey Jr. (8) Nocella (9) Malave (10) Chris Pasteryak

(11) Schneider (12) Zachem (13) Jeff Rocco (14) Willis Jr.

(15) Kopec (16) Meservey Jr. (17) Owen (18) Abele Jr.

(19) Masse (20) Keith Rocco (21) Goodale (22) Bonsignore

(23) Holdridge (24) Preece (25) Seidell Jr (26) Charlie Pasteryak