Canaan, NH – With over $36,000 in purse money posted, and $12,000
going to the winner, drivers from all over the Northeast are expected to enter
Saturday’s 4th annual “Ricky’s Race For Kids” for modified stock cars at Canaan
Fair Speedway, Canaan, NH. This year’s event carries the largest purse in the eight
year history of the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
Mascoma Savings Bank, of Lebanon, NH., and Irving Energy, of Portmouth, NH.
are the Prime Corporate Sponsors for this year’s event.
The race is run in honor of Ricky Miller, a former modified racer and champion who
died in 2004 from injuries suffered in a racing accident.
Four years ago, Miller’s family, headed up by his father, Donnie Miller, a legendary
and successful racer himself, organized a fundraiser in Ricky’s honor.
The race benefits David’s House, of Lebanon, NH, a home away from home for
families with ill or injured children receiving treatment through Children’s Hospital
at Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.
With this years posted purse jumping to an all-time high, the regular competitors of
the VMRS are gearing up for a run at the big purse with several top names from
other modified racing venues expected to compete.
Former “Ricky’s Race For Kids” winners are confirmed entries.
2008 winner Matt Hirschman, of Northampton, PA., 2009 winner, Jacob Dore,
of Sanford, ME., and last year’s winner Eric Goodale, of Wading River, NY.,
will try and score the big payoff. .
Current point leaders Chris Pasteryak, Lisbon, CT., and Rowan Pennink, of
Huntingdon Valley, PA., are entered. Pasteryak is a guaranteed starter from
last weeks race at Lee USA Speedway where he captured the 100-lap qualifier.
He and Pennink are tied for the point-lead.
Two-time and defending series champion, Jon McKennedy, of East Chelmsford, MA.,
a guaranteed starter from the recent Monadnock Speedway race, is ready for the big
event as is Les Hinckley, Windsor Locks, CT., and Dwight Jarvis, Ascutney, VT.
Kenny Barry of Preston, CT., is expected, as is Koszela Speed Rookie of the
Year contender, Timmy Jordan of Plainfield, CT, and three-time series Champion
Kirk Alexander, Swanzey, NH.
Tyngsboro, MA., veteran Louie Mechalides and Norman Wrenn, of Nashua, NH.,
are two long-time racers ready for Ricky’s Race.
Mike Stefanik, Coventry, RI., winner of the first “Chase to the Race” qualifier
at Thompson, CT., Speedway will compete as will Doug Coby of Milford, CT.
Race organizers have announced that McKennedy has been declared the winner
of the “Chase to the Race” points fund.. McKennedy and Pasteryak were tied at 71
points each after the Lee race.. The overall three race finishing average shows
McKennedy coming out on top. With the qualifier at Stafford lost to bad weather,
organizers took the best finishing average without a win and that went to Les Hinckley
the Windsor Locks, CT., driver becomes an automatic qualifier. The race will also
start 28 cars in the 112-lap feature
Post time is 5 PM on Saturday with qualifying at 7:00 PM to allow drivers and fans
time to arrive from New Hampshire Motor Speedway.