A Night of First’s For Pinkham at
Waterford:
Sunday, 04 May 2008
 Waterford,
CT – May 4, 2008. -- It was a night of first’s for car
owner Tom Greeley, Auburn, ME., and driver David Pinkham,
Buxton, ME ., as the new race team scored the win Saturday
night May 3 in the 100 lap True Value Modified Racing
Series sanctioned, “ Connecticut National Guard 100” at
the historic Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, CT. The race,
run under heavy cloud cover and chilling temperatures in
the mid-forties at race time, was the first of three
events scheduled at Waterford for the popular New England
modified racing series.
Pole sitter Eddie Dachenhausen, Danbury, CT., jumped into
an early lead with outside front row mate Rob
Goodenough,Swanzey, NH..,and Dale Evonsion, E.Hartland,
CT., in hot pursuit. Dachenhausen set the pace for the
first 16 laps before yielding the top spot to Windsor
Locks, CT., veteran Les Hinckley III. The second
generation racer quickly became the class of the field
with Dachenhausen and a fast closing Ted Christopher,
Plainville, CT., in tow.
At lap 25, Christopher, in his brand new Troyer mount,
moved the Czarnecki Bros # 20 car into second while
visiting driver Rowan Pennink Huntingdon Valley, PA.,
cracked the top five. It was Pennink’s first attempt with
the TVMRS.
Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH., a late arrival, was forced to
start. last. Seuss raced his way up to sixth position. The
Seuss team made a motor swap during the day and then
attempted the two hour plus journey to Waterford. Seuss
looked like he was going to garner a solid finish only to
run out of fuel forcing him out of the race.
The 100 lap grind was stopped on lap 35 when Whelen
Modified Tour standout Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ., making
his first TVMRS start, made contact with another car,
causing his racer to flip onto its roof and skidding for
several feet before coming to a halt amid a shower of
sparks. Blewett was not injured.
When the race resumed, Hinckley and Dachenhausen, while
battling for the lead, made contact in turn three
resulting in both drivers being sent to the rear of the
field by tour officials. Dachenhausen was never a factor
again but Hinckley showed why he led the race as he passed
cars at will to get back to the front. It was Hinckley’s
best run to date this season.
2006 champion Dwight Jarvis inherited the lead for the
restart and would hold it until lap 77. Pinkham, driving a
flawless race, had come up behind the race leader and
tried to stay close to the Vermont veteran .At one point
Pinkham closed to within a car length but Jarvis again
opened up a sizeable lead. On a lap 77 restart, following
a caution flag for a minor spin, Pinkham powered by Jarvis
on the 78th circuit and held on to the top spot for the
final 22 laps. Pinkham drives car # 22.
Other oddities included a list of “firsts” for the Maine
race team. It was Pinkham’s’ first win for car owner
Greeley, It was Greeley’s first win with the True Value
series, It was Pinkham’s first win of the season, and it
was Pinkham’s first ever visit to Waterford Speedbowl. He
told tour announcer John Spence earlier in the day, “I’ve
never been here before, it’s my first time.” Spence held
that comment until Pinkham passed under the checkered
flag. “I told Matt Buckler (Waterford announcer) I have a
surprise but I’ll hold it until the last lap, I did not
want to jinx their finish.” he said. Lastly, it was the
Greeley
racer that was the first to arrive at the pit gate early
Saturday morning prompting crew chief Warren Johnson to
say, “ How about that, our car is the first one here.”
Maybe that was just the beginning of a special day of
firsts for the race team now in first place in the point
standings.
Heat races were won by Dachenhausen, Goodenough, and
Evonsion.
Connecticut National Guard 100
Waterford Speedbowl
May 3, 2008
Cautions - 7
Lap - 8, 35, 39, 42, 53, 77, 96
1 red flag on lap 35
Race Time - 1:28:10
Leaders 10 - 1-16, 06 - 17-42, 28 - 43-77, 22 - 78-100
Black Mountain Painting Halfway Bonus - Dwight Jarvis
Hard Charger - Dwight Jarvis - 12th to 2nd
Official Order of Finish:
1. David Pinkham, 2. Dwight Jarvis, 3. Les Hinckley, 4.
Chris Pastyerak, 5. Vinny Annarummo Jr., 6. Sean Bodreau,
7. Rowan Pennink, 8. Rob Goodenough, 9. Mike Holdridge,
10. Vogel Kenny, 11. Jack Bateman, 12. Jim Dolan, 13. Dale
Evonsion, 14. Joe Doucette, 15. Kevin Iarnnarelli, 16.
Eddy Spiers, 17. Kenny White Jr., 18. Shelly Perry, 19.
Todd Owen, 20. Andy Seuss, 21. Ed Dachenhausen, 22. Ted
Christopher, 23. Jimmy Blewett, 24. Dennis Gada, 25. Steve
Masse.26, Shawn Monahan DNS.
Next Event: May 24,25 Thunder Road International Speedbowl,
Barre Vermont. |
