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A big field of top Modifieds is expected for today’s race at the Cement Palace
Track Talk
- By Lou Modestino (for Sat. 10/28/17)
- The Tri-Track Open Modified Series finale at the Seekonk Speedway will close out the very busy 2017 season today, Saturday afternoon, Oct.28. Some 36 paved track Modified races, from four different touring series, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Valenti Modified Racing Series , Exit Reality Modified Tour Series and the Tri-Track Open Modified Series, created some of the best entertainment and interest for Modified fans in the current modern era.
- Taunton’s Rob Richardi, Jr. gave us his spin on what’s going to happen at the Route 6 1/3 mile oval this afternoon. ” It’s going to be tough just making the starting grid and If I make it ,I expect that I’ll do well. I’ve raced with a lot of those guys in other divisions and beat them. The feature is only 100 laps and it should be a quick race.There’s no infield pitting and if you get into trouble or need to make adjustments, it’s all over. Practice is going to be very important to get the right set up out of the hauler then qualify in the heats and not in the consis. Starting up front is the key to winning. My strategy is to stay out of trouble and manage my tires. I’ve run this race before and that’s how to do it.”
- Richardi went on, “I raced in the Valenti Modified Racing Series this year and I only missed one race. I made that decision because I wanted to win the Pro 4 Modified Championship and that meant really focusing on the Finale at Waterford (Conn.) last weekend. I won the special championship for the Waterford races but came in second behind Brett Meservey in the overall Pro 4 Modified Tour title.”
- Rob works on his car in his parents’ garage in Easton near Borderland State Park. We got his insights as he took a break in the race car prep.The Taunton driver is a graduate of Wentworth Institute and earned his Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering which helps him in preparing his race cars.
- Officials of the Tri-Track Open Modified Series (TTOMS) announced a bounty on Matt Hirschman of Northampton, PA, in today’s Haunted Hundred at Seekonk Speedway. Hirschman is undefeated in TTOMS competition thus far in 2017 scoring victories in the lucrative Open Wheel Wednesday and SBM IV events at Seekonk and Star Speedways. Any competitor who dethrones Hirschman will receive a $1,500 bonus (should Hirschman also be on the lead lap). If Hirschman out-duels the competition yet again, he will take home the $1,500 bonus.
- There are plenty of contenders who can earn themselves the $1,500 bounty. The likes of newly crowned champions Anthony Nocella, the 2017 Modified Racing Series (MRS) Champion, and Jon McKennedy, 2017 International Supermodified Series (ISMA) Champion, top the list of red-hot competitors. Ryan Preece, Rowan Pennink, Woody Pitkat, have to be among the favorite drivers having filed early entries for the Haunted Hundred.After securing the pole at the Modified Tour event during World Series Weekend at Thompson, Chase Dowling will undoubtedly take a shot at Hirschman for the victory and the bounty. Fresh off his win in the VMRS finale at Lee USA Speedway, Russ Hersey will be looking to put his prowess at the Cement Palace to the test. Hersey is a former Pro Stock winner of the prestigious D. Anthony Venditti Memorial.You can never count out the likes of the hometown heroes Vinnie Annarummo and Ryan Vanesse. Dark horses to score the bounty include: Chris Pasteryak, Derek Ramstrom, Jon Kievman and Richard Savary of Canton.
Pit gates will open at 8 am today Saturday. Grandstands will open at 11 am with racing starting at 1 pm. Pit admission is $35. Adult general admission is $25 and children 12 and under are admitted free. Also on the racing card is a 50-lap main event for Late Models and a 30 lapper for the INEX Legends. Building on a Seekonk Speedway Halloween tradition, prizes will be awarded for the best costumes. Children and adults alike are invited to participate in the costume contest. The rain date for the Haunted Hundred is tomorrow, Sunday, October 29.
- A total of 34 teams have filed entries thus far for the Haunted Hundred with more expected because the other three tours have completed the 2017 racing season . Other teams with local connections are Ron Silk driving the Bob Katon Berkley Racing car and Tommy Barrett of Millis.
- Two new modified Tours could be in offing for 2018 in New England! That’s going to be a major discussion during the long upcoming winter . We will be covering this at great length in the upcoming weeks. (end)
- Information for this column came from press releases, Area News and personal notes