“True Value Modifieds Prepare For First Connecticut Race”

As a result of Saturdays rainout at the Seekonk, Ma, Speedway, and with two weeks now to reorganize, reassess, and prepare for the next five week stretch in the 2006 schedule, the True Value Modified Racing Series will get ready for their first trip to the state of Connecticut, to the Nutmeg State’s historic Waterford Speedbowl, Saturday night June 17, for a 100 lap race that will have lots of interest from tour fans and local race followers. Modified fans throughout New England have been anxiously waiting for the event since it was announced in November that the tour would be on the Waterford schedule plus the added excitement it brings in that for the first time in the tours three year history, local racers will compete against the traveling tour giving competitors from the tracks popular SK modified division the opportunity to race the visiting series, in the feature event. 

Waterford standouts Tom Fox, Jeff Pearl, and Rob Janovic Jr. have all shown interest in taking on the visiting TVMRS drivers in the June 17 showdown. After Saturday’s rainout, Speedbowl management announced that both guaranteed spots for the True Value Modified Series 100 will come from this Saturdays (June 10) 35 lap SK modified feature adding further excitement to this weekend’s main event. One of those guaranteed spots was to come from this past Saturdays feature until the rain washed that plan away.

Jack Bateman, tour founder, is “looking forward” to the Waterford race and is happy that the event will have a different twist in that 26 cars will take the green flag from tour flagman John Spence Jr.  The TVMRS generally starts 24 cars at their venues.  When the event was announced, Bateman said, “We don’t have a problem with it. We welcome the concept. We welcome anything that creates more interest for our series.” The Speedbowl visit he added, “opens up additional markets for our sponsor.”

Veteran modified standout Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, Vt., fresh off a win at Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire May 27, brings a 12 point lead to Waterford over Danbury Connecticut driver Ed Dachenhausen, second, and a 16 point advantage over W. Bridgewater, Ma, racer Jimmy Kuhn Jr. who sits third in the standings. Two time champion and defending titlist Kirk Alexander, W.Swanzey, N.H., ranks fourth and Bateman, Canaan, N.H., is fifth going into the sixth event of the season.  Alexander, Hinckley, and Jarvis have been the winners to date. Two races have been lost to rain. 

In addition to Dachenhausen and Windsor Locks, Ct., ace Les Hinckley, other Connecticut drivers expected are TVMRS regulars Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, Ct, a winner last year at Lee, N.H., Norwich, Ct., second year driver Tom Abele, Jr. who is sponsored by the Connecticut Defenders pro baseball team, E.Harland’s Dale Evonsion, Meriden’s Kevin Konopka, veteran Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs, Woodstock’s Jimmy Smith, and Danbury’s Mike Keeler.
 

The True Value Modified Racing Series, sponsored by regional True Value stores throughout New England, qualifies racers through the traditional short track racing process of 12 lap heat races and a 15 lap last chance consolation race to determine the starting lineup. With the special provision of two Waterford racers permitted to compete, 26 cars will start the first ever TVMRS race in Southeastern Ct.  Grandstands open at 3pm.

In another development, TVMRS officials announced Saturday afternoon that the rained out race on Saturday June 3 at Seekonk Speedway will not be rescheduled. The tour will next visit "The Konk" on Wednesday night July 26 as part of the Modified Madness event, a non points race for the tour.