08/20/17 - Rowan Pennink Tames “The Dog” in the EXIT Realty Modified Touring Series

The EXIT Realty Modified Touring Series joined the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series weekly divisions for an exciting night of racing. After rain forced last week’s program to be shortened; Mother Nature dialed up a beautiful day for racing and it showed by the large crowd that filled the stands. Due to the previous weeks weather ,it was decided that the Thunder Stocks and Sportsman Modifieds would run double features tonight and the racing action would start an hour earlier at 5pm.

Mike Flynn would capture his 1st Sportsman Modified feature win in only his 6th start in a modified. Tyler Leary (Super Stocks), Nathan Johnson (Sportsman Modifieds feature #2), Matt Kimball (Mini Stocks), Matt Gauffin (Lightening Stocks), Jason Kozacka (Thunder Stocks feature #1), Richard Vincent (Thunder Stocks feature #2), and Cale Skillings (Young Guns) found their way to victory lane in their respected division. The decision was made to not have the Thunder Stocks and Sportsman Modifieds run heat races. So before the other divisions ran their heat races the Thunder Stocks and Sportsman Modifieds ran their first of two features.

The Thunder Stocks would thunder on to the track first. Bruce Clark in the #39 and the 28 of Craig Chaffee started on the front row. At the drop of the green Clark would stumble and Chaffee would capitalize on this by taking the lead. Chaffee wouldn’t have the lead for long as Kozacka motored around him a lap later. Kozacka never looked back on his way to collecting his 3rd win of the season. Kozacka entered the race tied in points with the 9 of James Nowakowski. Unfortunately for Nowakowski, he lost a motor in practice. Nowakowski was able to borrow a car and finish in 5th place. In victory lane Kozacka stated “I would rather have him (Nowakowski) out here in his own car and competing at a high level, but a win is a win.” Chaffee found himself in 2nd when all was said and done. Richard Vincent in the #4 finished 3rd.

The Sportsman Modifieds took to the track for their first feature of the night. The feature would be slowed by 2 caution periods. Cole Littlewood in the 5C and Kim Rivet in the 99 started on the front row. Littlewood led the first 10 laps of the event before turning it over to Flynn and the 54 machine. Once in the lead Flynn never looked back on his way to victory lane. Flynn is still unsure how many more races they will be able to attend as their schedule is pretty busy but is hopeful to run a few more races. Rivet drove a great race and was rewarded with a 2nd place finish. Joel Monahan put his 03 machine on the podium with a 3rd place finish.

After the heat races ,the Young Guns rolled onto the track next for their feature event with the 28 of Sammy Silva on the front row. Silva stumbled at the drop of the green. The 21 of Chris Phelps would only lead for the first lap before Cale Skillings in the 95 drove his car from the back to the front on his way to his 6th win of the season. The 99 of Bella Minchella tried to reel in Skillings but was unable get the job done before the checkered flag flew. Skillings plans to move on to the lightening stocks in the next few weeks. Minchella held on to finish 2nd and Phelps crossed the line in 3rd.

Lightening stocks were next on the track for their chance to electrify the crowd. Alex Barden in the 27 and Leon Keniston in the 13k brought the field to the green. Barden would lead the first 3 circuits before the 3 of Dylan Stebbins would muscle his way to the top spot. Stebbins time at the top would be short lived as he would make contact with Barden causing him (Stebbins) to spin out a lap after taking the lead. Barden inherited the lead but the 68 of Matt Gauffin had other plans, as on the ensuing restart he wasted no time taking the lead. Gauffin walked away from the battle for 2nd place between Keniston and the 88 of Hillary Renaud. Renaud took 2nd place from Keniston just after halfway and was able to hold on to finish 2nd. Jon Fultz finished 3rd.

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Mini Stocks raced on to the track next for their 25 lap feature event. Tim Paquette in the 93 and Kevin McKnight in the 76 made up the front row. Paquette took command of the top spot at the drop of the green and McKnight decided to drop into 2nd place. The 50 of Matt Kimball wasted no time in getting to the front after starting towards the back of the field. Kimball was in 3rd place by the 4th lap and 4 laps later on lap 8 Kimball completed the pass for the lead. Kimball lead the rest of the way to capture back to back Mini Stock wins. Alexander Pearl in the 43 finished 2nd and Louis Maher in the 69 finished 3rd.

Up next on the track came the Super Stocks for their 25 lap feature. Entering the race Joel Monahan (03) held an 18 point lead in the point standings over Tyler Leary (11x). At the end of the night Monahan would take a major hit in his points lead. Justin Littlewood in the 37 would be on the inside and Cole Littlewood in the 12 led the division to the green. Justin Littlewood jumped out in the lead at the drop of the green. Cole Littlewood raced side by side for 4 laps with the 11x of Tyler Leary. On Lap 5 Leary made his move to take sole control of 2nd place. On Lap 9 Leary would be scored with leading his first lap of the night. Justin Littlewood didn’t make it easy on Leary as they went back and forth for the top spot. Leary eventually was able to get past Justin Littlewood on lap 12. Cole Littlewood found his way around his younger brother to take 2nd place on lap 13. On lap 19 Geoff Rollins in the 02 drove around the outside of Justin Littlewood to take 3rd place. Leary captured his 6th win of the season and back to back wins. Cole Littlewood held on for 2nd and Rollins finished 3rd.

Thundering on to the track next was the Thunder Stocks for feature #2. James Nowakowski in the borrowed #45x and Craig Chaffee in the 28 made up the front row. Nowakowski and Chaffee would go thru turns 1 and 2 side by side but Nowakowski got a little lose making contact with Chaffee. The contact would be minimal and it only slowed both cars down. Chaffee was able to get by Nowakowski for the lead. Nowakowski was running 2nd when he got stuck behind a lapped car causing him to lose 2 spots. On lap 9 Chaffee slowed coming out of turn 2. Chaffee managed to keep the car out of the wall and headed back to the pits. Richard Vincent in the 4 assumed the lead and James Kozacka in the 43 took over 2nd. The race was slowed on lap 17 by Nowakowski spinning. It was determined he had help from the 5 of Scott Vien. Both cars were sent to the rear. On the ensuing restart Vincent held on the lead. Vincent captured his 2nd win of the season. Kozacka crossed the line in 2nd and Jon Goddard in the #25 found himself in the 3rd spot.

Sportsman Modifieds roared onto the track for their 2nd feature next. Todd Warren in the 62 and Kim Rivet in the 99 brought the field to the green. Warren found himself in the lead at the drop of the green. The race wouldn’t get to go far as the 09 of Chris Ignazio spun in turns 3 and 4 due to a flat left rear tire. On the restart Warren took the lead but Nathan Johnson in the 5j had different plans as he (Johnson) passed Warren for the lead before a lap could be completed. The caution came out on lap 12 as the 8 car had their right front tire go down. The 24 of Todd Patnode was caught up in that accident but was able to continue on. Johnson wouldn’t surrender the lead as he drove to his 2nd win of the season. The move of the race had to be on lap 18 when the 44 of Brain Chapin made contact with the back stretch wall but was able to keep going. Chapin went on to finish 3rd. Ben Byrne in the 6 finished 2nd. In victory lane Johnson mentioned it was his team’s decision to save the new tires for the 2nd feature that paid off for them.

The last feature of the night would be the 125 lap EXIT Realty Modified Touring Series race. West Swanzey, NH’s Kirk Alexander in his famous #43 was on the pole and Riverhead, NY’s Eric Goodale in the 58was on the outside. The race would be mired with cautions every few laps as all of the drivers appeared anxious to get to the front. After an 11 lap caution the drivers seemed to settle in a bit and the next caution wouldn’t fly until lap 35. Thru all of the restarts Alexander held onto the lead. Alexander would lead the first 91 laps of the race before Goodale would get past him for the lead. Alexander would fall off the pace quickly before he would spin out on the front stretch on lap 93. Goodale would lead from lap 91 to lap 108. On lap 109 Rowan Pennink would get his #25 under Goodale going into turn 3 and finish the pass exiting turn 4. Pennink would hold on to capture his first EXIT Realty Modified Touring Series victory. Woody Pitkat brought home his #52 in 2nd place and Goodale would hold on to finish 3rd.

Sportsman Modifieds #1: Mike Flynn, Kim Rivet, Joel Monahan, Nathan Johnson, Todd Patnode, Matt Kimball, Brian Chapin, Cameron Sontag, Keith Carzello, Tyler Jarvenpaa, Jason Barden, Ben Byrne, Todd Warren, Victoria Bergenty, Eric Leclair, Richard Ferriera, Chris Ignazio, Cole Littlewwod, Geoff Rollins, Brian Robie, Paul Smith, Glenn Korners

Sportsman Modifieds #2: Nathan Johnson, Ben Byrne, Brian Chapin, Matt Kimball, Cameron Sontag, Joel Monahan, Todd Patnode, Geoff Rollins, Todd Warren, Mike Flynn, Brian Robie, Paul Smith, Glenn Korners, Richard Ferriera, Eric Leclair, Keith Carzello, Chris Ignazio, Victoria Bergenty, Kim Rivet, Cole Littlewwod, Jason Barden, Tyler Jarvenpaa

Super Stocks: Tyler Leary, Cole Littlewood, Geoff Rollins, Nancy Muni, Ryan Currier, Mike McGoldrick, Joel Monahan, Eric Pomasko, Robert Surdell, Justin Littlewood, Scott Beck

Mini Stocks: Matt Kimball, Alexander Pearl, Louis Maher, Tim Paquette, Kevin McKnight, Darren Jacobs, Shelby Avery, Mike Radzuik, Bill Chaffee, Ethan Marsh, Pat Houle, Kevin Pittsinger, Nadine Coates

Thunder Stocks #1: Jason Kozacka, Craig Chaffee, Richard Vincent, Jon Goddard, James Nowakowksi, Bruce Clark, Scott Vien, Jeff Staiti, Michelle Leh

Thunder Stocks #2: Richard Vincent, Jason Kozacka, Jon Goddard, Bruce Clark, Michelle Leh, Jeff Staiti, Chris Colburn, James Nowakowksi, Scott Vien, Briana Akusis, Doug Mclean, Craig Chaffee

Lightning Stocks: Matt Gauffin, Hillary Renaud, Jon Fultz, Leon Keniston, Chris Fultz, Ian Stevens, Kaylee Symonds, Randall Phillips Jr, Robert Petropoulus, Dylan Stebbins, Alex Barden

Young Guns: Cale Skillings, Bella Minchella, Chris Phelps, Sammy Silva, Matt Lambert



Ryan Lawliss