White Mountain race results

openwheelracer · Admin/Mod/Eyewitness

White Mountain race results

bratmaster · Administrator

Written By: Michelle C. Lavigne

North Woodstock, NH: The True Value Modified Racing Series made their first appearance in 2005 at White Mountain Motorsports Park Saturday, June 25th. The boiling heat did not keep fans home as they packed the grandstands at the 1/4 mile semi oval track in North Woodstock, NH. Twenty-five teams made the haul to the mountains to over come the heat to hold one of twenty four starting spots for the New England Dodge Dealers 100.

The True Value Modified Racing Series would roll out onto the track for the 100 lap feature presented by New England Dodge Dealers. Veteran driver Jack Bateman of Canaan, NH would start on the pole in his number 17. Gary Casella of Saugus, MA in the number 25 would start on the outside of Bateman. The second row would be the 62 or Roger Raymond and Jimmy Kuhn in the 72 of Bridgewater, MA. Flagman John Spence Sr. would bring the rolling thunder into turn four for the green. Bateman would power to the front and take Raymond with him to drop Casella back to the third spot. Lap twelve would bring out the first caution of the night for the 96 of Butch Perry of Ashway, RI. Perry would become very loose out of turn four and slap his machine against the front stretch wall. Perry would retreat to the pits with right side damage parking him for the night. Bateman would continue to lead on the restart holding off Roger Raymond and now third spot holder Jimmy Kuhn. Only two laps would pass until the second caution of the night would fall. Dwight Jarvis of Asctuney, VT would spin coming through turns three and four after receiving contact to the rear of his car by Ed Dachenhausen in the 48. Both Jarvis and Dachenhausen would restart at the rear of the field. Bateman would continue to lead but another caution would plague this 100 lap feature on lap fourteen for a multi car pile up in turns three and four.   Cars spinning would appear to be the result of racing contact between the 8 of Kirby Monteith and the back of the 11 driven by Les Mardanes. Mardanes would get loose and spin making contact with the 71 of Jim Boniface. Also involved in the caution would be Gary Casella and the 70 of Andy Seuss sending these teams to the pits to attempt repair while the track was cleared. Boniface would endure the most with extensive left side damage ending his night short.

Bateman would battle side by side Jimmy Kuhn in the 72 for the lead. Kuhn would overpower Bateman to take the lead on lap eighteen. Bateman would now focus on cohort veteran driver Bruce Batchelder in the 77 of Springfield, Vermont who was now in the third spot. Bateman and Batchelder would have their hands full holding their position as the 2004 True Value Modified Champion Kirk Alexander would make his charge from his twelfth starting position now in the fifth spot. Bateman and Batchelder would hold off Alexander but eventually Alexander would make his way into second with his sights set on Kuhn now leading the field. Lap thirty two Alexander would over power Kuhn on the outside to take the lead away.    Alexander would cash in on lap fifty for the Black Mountain and Painting half way bonus.

The final caution of the night would come on lap fifty four for the 22 of Dave Nichols spinning in what appeared to be water in turn one. After a few laps of TVMRS officials checking cars in question the 62 of Roger Raymond was sent to the pits for fluid leaking.   Alexander now on the inside of Bateman would pull away leaving Bateman to fend off Kuhn and Batchelder.   To the surprise of Bateman, Kuhn and Batchelder last weeks winner Louie Mechalides in the 47 of Tyngsboro, MA had cautiously paced himself from his last starting position now putting him in the top five. A unique rule within the TVMRS is that the previous weeks winner must start at the rear of the field for the following feature event. Leader Alexander has been the only driver to repeatedly come from the last starting position to win consecutive events in 2004 and 2005.

While Bateman, Kuhn, Batchelder and Mechalides battled it out for the second through fifth position Alexander had pulled away to an almost half a track lead of this pack of cars. Mechalides would eventually get by Kuhn and Bateman to take over the second spot. With minimal laps left Mechalides would have no chances of challenging Alexander without a caution. Mechalides would not have the luck of the yellow flying as Alexander would take the checkered on lap 100 to win his fifth race of the 2005 season. Mechalides would place second followed by TVMRS founder Jack Bateman in the 17. Peter Daniels who had been a quiet force throughout the night would finish fourth followed by Jimmy Kuhn who rounded out the top five.

Coming into the night Les Hinckley of Windsor Locks, CT would be points leader but after have racing contact during the feature would have an eleventh place finish giving up the points lead to Peter Daniels in the RSD number 76. Daniels now holds only an eight point lead of Hinckley with Dwight Jarvis and Kirk Alexander following. This weeks Sunoco Hard Charger Award went to Louie Mechalides in the 47 for gaining 22 positions during the feature event. Sherwood Racing Wheels fifth place award would go to Jimmy Kuhn in the 72.

Saturday, July 2, 2005 the True Value Modified Racing Series returns to Monadnock Speedway for the 4th of July 100. With plenty to prove can Alexander take home win number six or will hard chargers Jimmy Kuhn and Louie Mechalides bring home the win at Alexander's stomping ground.  For more information on the True Value Modified Racing Series and their schedule of events please visit www.modifiedracingseries.com.

Results

43
Alexander, Kirk

47
Mechalides, Louie

17
Bateman, Jack

76
Daniels, Peter

72
Kuhn, James Jr.

28
Jarvis, Dwight

77
Batchelder, Bruce

8
Monteith, Kirby

35
Evonsion, Dale

83
Wenzel, Chris

06
Hinckley, Les

2
Royea, Luke

20
Ball, Rusty

22
Nichols, Dave

32
Abele, Tom

62
Raymond, Roger

48
Dachenhausen, Ed

69
Dolan, Jimmy

7
Polverari, Bob

11
Mardanes, Les

25
Casella, Gary

71
Boniface, Jim

70
Seuss, Andy

96

Perry, Russell

3

Failed to Qualify
Douglas, Mike