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RGeeProductions
08-19-2007, 12:26 PM
Second generation racer Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT; passed local favorite Vinnie Annarummo, Swansea, MA; on a lap 84 restart, to win the “Airgas 100,” his fourth race of the season Saturday night, at the famed Seekonk Mass Speedway, before a large crowd. The victory was Hinckley’s ninth career win with the touring series. He started 15th in the 24 car field.

With the pole position left vacant during pre race parade laps in honor of John Blewett III who died Thursday night from injuries suffered in a race accident at Thompson, CT; Annarummo, who started outside front row, jumped into the lead and set a torrid pace with fellow veteran racer Jack Bateman, Canaan, NH; giving chase. Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, CT; Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH; and Jimmy Kuhn, W.Bridgewater, MA; followed.

The top five positions would remain that way until lap 26 when Kuhn would slip by Seuss to fourth place. Louie Mechalides, Tygnsboro, MA: a former Seekonk winner cracked the top five with a lap 31 pass of Seuss. At lap 50, Annarummo, winner of the June race at his hometown track, fronted Bateman, Dolan, Hinckley, and point leader Kirk Alexander, W.Swanzey, NH. The first 50 laps took only ten minutes to run as the field navigated the 1/3 mile oval.

The first of only two cautions flags flew on lap 57 for a spinning Sean Bodreau, Claremont, NH. Bodreau was able to continue. When the race restarted, Hinckley moved to third and then into second on lap 62. At Lap 66, at the request of tour officials, Fans rose to their feet led by flagmen John Spence Jr. and Josh Vanada in honor of John Blewett III, the New Jersey driver who died from injuries Thurday night in a crash at Thompson,CT. Blewett drove car # 66 in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competition.
Three laps later a hard charging Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT; moved into third. Bateman, and Tony Ricci, Westbrook, ME; entered into a side by side battle for fourth with the two time winner Ricci able to squeeze by Bateman. Lap 80 would find Rob Goodenough, W.Swanzey,NH; work his way into fifth as he chased after Ricci.

The second caution flag flew on lap 84 for a two car tangle involving Richard Savary, Canton, MA; and Mike Douglas, Auburn, NH. On the restart, Hinckley moved to the top spot and never looked back picking up the close win over the 43 time Seekonk winner Annarummo by a margin of 0.166 seconds. Ricci drove a flawless race to finish a string third, his best finish to date followed by Jarvis, and Alexander.
Jonathan McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA; Bateman, Mechalides, Dale Evonsion, E.Harland,CT, and Ed Dachenhausen, Danbury, CT; rounded out the top ten. (11) Kuhn, (12) Berghman, (13) Dolan, (14) Seuss, (15) Patnode, (16) Pasteryak, (17) Douglas) (18) Savary, (19) Goodenough, (20) Fredrickson, (21) Bodreau, (22) Abele, (23) Holdridge, (24) Christopher.

The race was run off in 30 minutes, 54 seconds, the second consecutive race run at Seekonk in record time
The June race was clocked at 25 minutes, 55 seconds, a series record. In the last two events at the Rte 6 oval, only three caution flags have been displayed leading to the fastest two races in tour history.

Heat races were won by Bateman, Annarummo, and Seuss with racing journalist Karl Fredrickson, Fremont, NH; nabbing the 15 lap last chance race in a hard fought battle with Savary, Dave Berghman, Rehobeth,MA; and Ted Christopher, Plainville,CT.
Non qualifiers included Frank Le’toile, Mike Brightman, Kenny White Jr, Buck Akley, Joe Doucette, and Brian Schofield.

The race was the sixth and final guaranteed starter event for the Sunoco Mod Mania 400 weekend at Thompson, CT Sept 8, 9
With Hinckley already claiming a guaranteed spot, Annarummo picks up the spot and will represent his hometown track at the prestigious event.

Race Summary: August 18,2007
Seekonk Speedway “AirGas 100”
Race Time: 30:54:575
Leaders: 1-84 Annarummo 85-100 Hinckley
Sunoco Hard Charger Award: Jarvis
Sherwood Wheels Award: Alexander
Rosslea Speed Award: Bateman
Black Mountain Award: Annarummo
Next Event: Monadnock Speedway, Winchester NH Aug 25 6 PM
North-South Shootout Qualifier

John Spence Sr./TVMRS PR