Modifieds Headline Lee USA Speedway Oktoberfest
True Value Series Open Wheel Championship at Stake
Oct 21, 2009
The Oktoberfest event is the 15th and final race on the 2009 True Value Modified Racing Series schedule.
Seekonk Speedway Played Key Role
Goodenough won the opener at Monadnock Speedway, but hasn’t won since despite three top-5 finishes. McKennedy has four wins – at Twin State, Seekonk Speedway, Oxford Plains and Beech Ridge. McKennedy has led the Series since his Seekonk victory in June, but a poor showing at the Massachusetts track in October narrowed his advantage.
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
Defending champion Chris Pasteryak of Jewett City, CT, missed two races because of scheduling conflicts with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and is not in the title hunt. Steve Masse of Bellingham, MA is still mathematically in contention should McKennedy and Goodenough both falter.
A True Value Modified Racing Series crown would be a first for McKennedy or Goodenough. McKennedy’s lead has shrunken a bit of late. In mid-summer, Goodenough and McKennedy ran 2-3 at Lee USA behind winner Jimmy Kuhn. Goodenough’s lone win came at Monadnock where he began racing in a Street Stock 18 years ago.
“At Twin State, I drew 48 out of 50 chips,” Goodenough said. “I didn’t qualify, used a provisional, started 24th and finished seventh. That kept me alive. I was 10th at Seekonk. McKennedy was 16th. We’ve often been racing right around each other. Lee is tough. You wear out tires there. I’ve been talking a lot with my crew chief Roy Blake about what to try. He’s my friend from Swanzey who talked me into racing a modified. “Drive a real racecar, not a taxi cab,” he told me. The only titles I ever won were at Claremont in a Pro-Stock. We yell and shout at each other and then we sit down and figure out what to do next. The True Value Series has been good, but it’s getting more expensive all the time. The travel and the hotels add up. We went to Thompson three times before we got the race in. If it wasn’t for my sponsor, Hamshaw Lumber, I never would have made it this far.”
ISMA Supermodifieds
McKennedy is very experienced in open-wheel cars. He’s competed in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events and turned many a lap in a Supermodified. At age 16, he won the Limited Supermodified Classic at Star Speedway. In 2005, he was named the International Supermodified Rookie of the Year.
Lee USA track manager Bob Watson was pleased to have the 3/8 mile seacoast facility serve as the host for the championship race. Last year, Twin State Speedway, Claremont, NH, held that honor. “We are delighted to have the last race and the championship being decided once again at Lee,” Watson said. “Like the 2006 Oktoberfest race between Dwight Jarvis and Jimmy Kuhn, this points race is going down to the last day and it just adds to the excitement of our weekend. A new driver will become a champion for the True Value Modified Series and he will always remember it happened here at Lee.”
Hoosier Racing Tires
Seventy Modified teams earned points in 2009. The True Value Modified Series began in 2004. Hoosier Tires are the sanctioned tire. Tire purchase limits are in effect, but four tires may be purchased at Lee. Kirk Alexander won the first two titles. Dwight Jarvis of Ascutney, Vermont was the 2006 champion. Alexander won a third crown in 2007. In addition to McKennedy and Goodenough, 2009 winners were Alexander, Masse, Pasteryak, Doug Coby, Jimmy Kuhn, Rowan Pennink, Andy Seuss and Jacob Dore.
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