Ted Christopher finally ended his win less streak Valenti Modified Racing Series streak at Waterford’s Wings and Wheels event. (Credit: Yankee Racer photo.)
By Lou Modestino
Veteran driver Ted Christopher of Plainville, Connecticut put an end to a two-year winless streak when he won the Valenti Modified Racing Series 100-lap ‘Wings & Wheels’ race at Waterford (CT) Speedbowl, Saturday, August 9. He was at the wheel of the Brady Bunch entry out of Stoughton. Christopher’s last series win was July 29, 2012.
Christopher started outside front row in the 24-car field at the wheel of the Brady Bunch machine out of Stoughton. Pole sitter Steve Masse, of Bellingham took the lead at the drop of the green flag with Christopher giving chase over the first 42-laps. When Christopher jumped into the lead, he was never headed.
According to race car owner Joe Brady, “The Wings and Wheels drew a big crowd. It was the first time in 10 years for Ted to win at Waterford. Unfortunately the races ran late which was the result of a lot of down time. The entire program should gotten over earlier. It was just before midnight when the Modified race got started. I saw people leaving early and by the time I got home it was 2:30 a.m.” Brady also related that it was his third race with Ted this year.
Justin Bonsignore, of Holtsville, NY, finished runner-up for the fifth time this season. Masse settled for third followed by Chris Pasteryak of Lisbon, CT, and Tom Abele Jr. of Baltic, CT, his best series finish to date.
Pasteryak started off the night a victim of a qualifying race crash. The consolation race was no better. The second-generation driver got in the starting lineup through a series provisional giving him the 24th and final starting position.
Pasteryak worked his way to seventh at lap 88. When a lap-96 melee on the front stretch eliminated six cars, Pasteryak restarted the race in fourth and finished there. Starting 14th Abele, Jr. also stayed trouble free for a solid fifth place finish. Sixth through tenth were; Mike Willis, Jr, Max Zachem, Eric Goodale, Norm Wrenn, and Jonny Kay.
The official time of the race was 50:45 seconds. Four caution flags were needed on laps 42, 78, 96, and 97.
Anthony Nocella, Christopher, and Woody Pitkat won qualifying races and Keith Rocco nabbed the consolation race.
The VMRS returns to action Saturday, August 16 at Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts.
Race Summary:
Waterford Speedbowl
August 9, 2014
Entrants (32)
Distance: 100-laps
Time: 50:45: 942
Margin of 0.225
Best Speed: 95.779 (Masse)
Best Lap Time: 14.095
Lead Changes: 1
Lap Leaders: Masse (1-42) 43-100 (Christopher)
Cautions: Laps- 42,78,96,97
Unofficial Order of Finish: (1) Christopher (2) Bonsignore (3) Masse (4) Pasteryak (5) Abele Jr(6) Willis (7) Zachem (8) Goodale (9) Wrennc(10) Kay (11) Rocco (12) Savary (13) Lashua (14) Kopec (15) Barrett (16) Pitkat (17) Gernhard (18) Pennink (19) Nocella (20) Pearl (21) Etheridge (22) James (23) Medeiros