Seekonk, MA – The Pro Four Modified Racing Series of New England
(PFMNE) took to the "Cement Palace," Seekonk Speedway, on Saturday,
June 6, for their fourth event of the 2009 season. A strong field of
19 four-cylinder modifieds signed into the paddock area for the extra
distance main presented by Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment. "Stormin'
Norman" Wrenn made it four for four this season, picking up his first
career victory at the famed Massachusetts oval.
The #73 of Jim Darlington wasn't able to make it out after the
practice due to motor problems. The remaining 18 cars competed in two
qualifying heats. In the first heat, a three-car wreck collected the
#34 of Mark Giordano, #16 of Stan Mertz, and the #99 of Billy Joerres.
The wreck proved terminal for Giordano, but Mertz and Joerres both
were able to repair their Limited Pro Fours before the main event.
The 30-lap main event started 17 strong, with the #13 of George
Sherman on the pole and the #10 of Brian Vincent on the outside. At
the drop of the green, the #4 of Cory Cleary began challenging the #07
of Phil Lausier for the fourth position. Meanwhile, Mertz advanced
from his scratch starting spot, passing #19 of Tim D'Amico.
The first of four yellows slowed the race on lap six when the #12 of
Rob Richardi, Jr. spun around coming out of turn two. Richardi, Jr.
would go pitside, but return several laps later after repairs were
made to his #12 family-owned racecar. On the restart, Vincent powered
by Sherman, placing his machine firmly in the lead. While those two
duked it out for the top stop, the #1m of Wrenn continued to improve
from his 11th place starting position. By the time lap nine was
complete, Wrenn had already passed both Cleary and Sherman, and had
his eyes set on Vincent, who continued to show the way. As Wrenn
began to challenge Vincent for the lead, the second caution flag of
the event was displayed when the orange #4 of Cory Cleary lost its
motor, setting him on the sidelines for the remaining 18 laps.
On the restart, the #07x of Robin Berghman—who was competing in her
first event of the 2009 season—moved under Lausier to firmly plant
herself inside of the top five. Just shy of the halfway signal, the
#29 of Matt Sagar rebounded from pitting early on to wrestle the
seventh position away from the #11 of Keith Caruso. Further up in the
field, Vincent got loose coming off of turn four, allowing Sherman to
take over his spot. On the very next lap, Vincent got loose again,
but this time he was unable to save it, necessitating the third
caution flag of the event on lap 21.
Problems on the restart caused the field to get bottled up, damaging
the cars of Vincent and the #83 of Franky Perry, resulting in the
final yellow flag of the event as both cars came to rest on the
racetrack. This restart was a success with Sherman proving to be no
challenge for Wrenn. When the five to go signal was shown, Berghman
made her move under Sagar on the frontstretch, and completed her pass
on the backstretch to move into third position. When the checkers
were unfurled it was Wrenn picking up his fourth consecutive victory,
followed by Sherman, Berghman, Sagar, and Lausier who rounded out the
top five. Positions six through ten went to Caruso, Mertz, Mark
Charette, Richardi, Jr., and D'Amico. Eric McGovern, Vincent, Perry,
Joerres, Cleary, Henry Sirignano, and Dan Meservey rounded out the
rest of the field.
On Saturday, June 20, 2009, the PFMNE will make their second
appearance of the season at Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, New
Hampshire.
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