Westbrook, ME., racer Tony Ricci should consider the numbers 6 and 5 in any chance drawings he plays, as those two digits represent how many laps remained in the two races he’s won this season on the True Value Modified Racing Series tour. Ricci drove to a win last month at Lee USA Speedway with 6 laps remaining in a 100 lap race there, then on Saturday night as flagman John Spence Jr. displayed five laps remaining, Ricci, for the second time in five weeks, left the crowd buzzing, this time passing race leader, 16 year old Ryan Preece, Kensington, CT., to go on and win the “North-South Shootout” qualifier for modified race cars. The race, held at the Concord, NC, Motorsports Park Nov 3 & 4, features top competitors in modified racing from both north and south of the Mason-Dixon line.  The 24 year old driver joins defending champion Kirk Alexander as the only two time winners on the tour this season. The win is Ricci’s third career victory. All three wins have come at the seacoast area speedways. 

Driving the J.A. Ricci and Sons, Mulkern Excavating, Rebound Technologies Pontiac #4 modified, Ricci started 13th in a field of 24 starters, was strong at the finish when he needed to be, and was pulling away from  runner up finisher Preece at the finish.

Jimmy Dolan, Bethel, CT., from his pole stating position, led the first 13 laps with Andy Seuss, Hampstead, NH, and Eddie Dachenhausen, Danbury CT., in tow. Seuss quickly became the class of the field with a fast and well handling race car jumping into the lead on the 14th go around. Dachenhausen was equally as strong chasing Seuss for several laps but was unable to take the top spot. Bucky Demers, Cornish, NH, running in a strong third spot, was able to pass Dachenhausen and eventually Seuss to take the point on lap 27. Demers, driving the Nils Linstedt # 10, held the lead to lap 54 when Seuss grabbed it back and set a torrid pace for 22 laps with Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT., now chasing the race leader. Hinckley dove low in turn three with a great move on lap 76 that resulted in both cars fighting for the lead coming together in the fourth corner. With both drivers relegated to the rear of the field with minor damage, Preece, fresh off an impressive fourth place run the week before at Beech Ridge Speedway, Scarboro, ME., inherited the front spot and appeared to be the car to beat until Ricci pulled along side to make the pass for the lead 5 laps short of the finish.

Following Ricci and Preece to the checkered flag were point leader and third place finisher Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT, fourth place finisher, Jimmy Kuhn. Jr., W.Bridgewater, MA, and Peter Jarvis, Ascutney, rounded out the top five. Sixth through tenth were, Bobby Grigas, Tom Abele, Jr., Johnny Bush, Seuss, and Demers.

The race was slowed by 8 caution periods and one red flag when Richard Savary went over the third turn embankment into a wooded area, out of view of officials. The area, is also the exit road to the pit area and for safety purposes, the red flag was displayed to check on the status of Savary who was not injured and too remove his racer from the area.

Heat races were nabbed by Dolan, Rob Goodenough, and Seuss, while Springfield VT’s Bruce Batchelder won the 15 lap consolation race.

Race awards were captured by Dwight Jarvis as he won the Sunoco Race Fuels Hard Charger award, passing the most cars, starting 21st and finishing 3rd, the Black Mountain Painting award went to Demers for leading at the 50 lap mark, the Sherwood Wheels 4th place award went to Kuhn with the Koszela Speed award going to Peter Jarvis for 5th and Goodenough for 15th.

The next event for the TVMRS will be Saturday August 19 at the famed “Cement Palace,” the Seekonk Speedway, for the running of the “Airgas 100”