Rowan Pinnink #73 is a Modified driver to be considered as a potential winner any time he enters a race. (Credit: Rowan Pinnink photo)

By Lou Modestino

The Valenti Modified Racing Series gets back at it Friday night, June 20, when Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, Connecticut, hosts the series for the first of three races this summer.

Friday’s race is the 2nd annual Town Fair Tire 80, race number six on the series 17-race schedule. Five different drivers have been to victory lane this season.

Expected entries include reigning series Champion Rowan Pennink of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, Connecticut drivers Todd Szegedy of Ridgefield, Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon, Ted Christopher of Plainville, a former VMRS winner at Stafford, Ryan Preece of Berlin, also victorious at Stafford (VMRS), and Matt Zachem, of Preston.

Szegedy is the current point leader, a 20-point margin over two-time champion Pasteryak. Current champion Pennink is 23 points back from the top of the standings.

Keith Rocco of Berlin, CT, winner of the season opener at Waterford, CT, and a former VMRS winner at Stafford, is expected. Richard Savary, of Canton, MA, also victorious this season at Seekonk, MA will travel to Stafford. .

Other series regulars expected to compete include Justin Bonsignore, of Islip, NY, Tom Carey Jr., of Wendell Depot, MA, Anthony Nocella, of Woburn, MA, Dana Smith of Sunapee, NH, and Norm Wrenn, of Nashua, NH.

Friday’s race is the 9th VMRS race at the famed ½ mile oval.

Gates open at 4:15 p.m. with qualifying races scheduled at 6:15 p.m.

A VMRS autograph session is slated for 7:30 p.m.  prior to the start of of the feature.