Riverhead Contact Results in First DNF of Season
NASCR’s Whelen Modified Tour rolled into Riverhead (Riverhead, Long Island, New York) for the running of the ‘Riverhead 200’ on Saturday night.
The day began with an hour long practice session, followed by qualifying and a 25-lap heat race. In the end, Renee took a provisional starting position and started 27th in the field.
Starting from the back, the team began the race with a strategy of just trying to stay on the lead-lap, while avoiding any accidents. Riverhead Tour races are notorious for being caution-filled, as it’s a track where passing is difficult.
That plan came to a tire screeching haul on lap 26 when Renee spun to the infield after being hit from behind by the 88 car (Riverhead regular Dave Brigati). At that point, the car went a lap down as Renee attempted to pull back onto the race surface.
“We obviously weren’t happy to flat out get turned, but we kept at it hoping to get the lucky dog,” offered Renee.
That opportunity never came. On lap 73, Renee was again dumped by the 88 car entering turn three. This time, several other cars piled in – with significant contact to the left rear of the No. 90 car. The team pitted and changed the left rear, speedily returning the car to competition. Just a few laps later, Renee felt something let go in the rear of the car and pulled to the infield. Upon inspection by the crew, a broken left-side axle was found. Versus’ broadcast footage of the accident can be found in this video clip (the accident is featured at about the 2 minute 10 second mark).
Renee explained: “Axles don’t usually just break. The guys soon discovered that the contact in the left rear was severe enough to bend the axle tube. When we went back out, the tube was rubbing on the axle – and that friction quickly caused the axle to snap. If we had put another axle in, the same thing would have just happened again. Aside from replacing the straight rear with a quick change – which wasn’t going to happen in the time we had left, we didn’t have any option but to take a DNF (did not finish).”
The team was credited with a 25th place finish and remains 17th in points.
“I was clearly pissed to get wrecked by the same guy twice. There’s no history between us and there was absolutely no reason for him to get into me. I expressed my frustration. Twice. During the second confrontation – when his crew members started to get a little too mouthy for my liking – he shut them up by flatly admitting that he just plain wrecked us both times. He didn’t have much else to offer other than, in his opinion, ‘that’s short track racing.’ I don’t know, maybe he’s watched too much Madhouse or something – but that’s not short track racing.”
Riverhead marked the start of a busy stretch for the WMT – with four races scheduled over just 18 days. The team will race again this Friday night at Stafford Motor Speedway (Stafford Springs, CT) for a 150-lap race.
Tour Returns to Monadnock after 20-year Absence
The No. 90 UNION Insurance Group Chevrolet comes off turn four at Monadnock. Hodge Photo.
On Saturday (July 17) NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour returned to Monadnock Speedway (Winchester, NH) for the first time in 20 years. The trip to ‘Mad Dog’ – as the .25-mile facility has been nicknamed – marks the halfway point in the 2010 season.
Following registration and inspection, two 45-minute practice sessions were held. With some radio assistance from Dale Evonsion, the team picked up the pace in the second session.
“When I saw Carol (our spotter) chatting with Dale – I thought ‘he has a ton of laps here, maybe he can help me figure this place out.’ The two of them helped tremendously,” recalled Renee.
After practice, came qualifying. In qualifying, Renee timed 17th – and, as a result, had to run a 25-lap heat race. She finished third.
At about 9 PM, the green flag dropped on the 175-lap feature. The team struggled with an ill handling race car for most of the race.
“We pitted for adjustments several times and the guys did an excellent job in the pits. Running on .25-mile tracks requires super fast pit stops – if you don’t want to lose laps. The guys made all the changes we called for while keeping us on the lead lap. The pit stops are the best thing that happened all night.”
On lap 135 several cars got together in front of Renee, while she slowed to avoid the wreck, she got shoved into the accident from behind. It took two laps to pull away from the pile-up and another three laps in the pits while the crew repaired the front end.
In the end, Renee finished 18th – and is now ranked 17th in the points standings.
Next up, on Saturday, July 31 the Tour will compete at Long Island’s .25-mile Riverhead Raceway in another 175-lap feature. The race at Riverhead will be broadcast in primetime on Versus on Wednesday, August 4 at 8 PM.
Turning Right
Renee runs with a pack of cars through LRP's optional uphill chicane. Hodge Photo.
This past weekend, NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour visited the hallowed grounds of Lime Rock Park (Lakeville, CT). The Tour’s appearance at the 1.53-mile road course marked the Series’ first event on something other than an asphalt oval in a decade; as well as the inaugural event at LRP (previous road course events were held at Watkins Glen).
Friday (July 2) offered up two practice sessions and qualifying for the WMT; as well as the same for NASCAR’s K&N East Series. In the group qualifying session, Renee ran two laps – before missing the chicane on the third lap, followed by a car going off course directly in front of her on the forth lap. In the end, she qualified her UNION Insurance Group Chevrolet to the 19th position.
On Saturday morning, while the team made final preparations on the car, Renee attended a driver’s meeting and participated in an autograph session. She also spent time – not just on Saturday, but throughout the event – with Molyslip representatives Stephen Joyce and Wayne Johnson.
“Earlier this season, we developed a relationship with Molyslip – a Canadian-based company that produces high-performance lubricant products,” offered Renee. “To have Steve and Wayne make the long trip from Toronto meant a lot. They are a couple of super guys and the entire team enjoyed getting to know them. It’s the icing on the cake that they also happen to have a great product line.”
The UIG No. 90 heads under the bridge at Lime Rock. Hodge Photo.
Shortly after noontime, the green flag waved for the 66-lap race. Renee maintained a competitive pace – pitting along with the rest of the field for a mandatory fueling pit stop on lap 20. When the race resumed, Renee picked up spots here and there. She notably went off course just once – in Big Bend – with just a few laps remaining in the race.
“When NASCAR first announced this event, we knew survival was going to be key. We figured if we could just survive, we would end up with a decent finish. We kept all the suspension on the car; we took care of the engine; and the transmission (courtesy of race winning team owner Wayne Darling) survived unscathed. And, because of that, we ended-up with a respectable finish.”
In the end, the team earned a 13th place finish – moving up to the 16th spot in the tight season long points championship. For those who weren’t able to make it out to the track, the race will be televised on SPEED on Thursday, July 22 at 6 PM EST. Please check out our gallery for photos from LRP.
“I have to send out a special thanks to all of the crew. This was an incredibly difficult race to prepare for – many, many long hours went into changing the car over for road course racing. It was difficult to accomplish – especially given the tight time constraints between Loudon and LRP – and it will be a long process converting everything back over to get ready for Monadnock. On another note, at the track, the three spotters did an awesome job. Carol, Charli and Steve worked together like they had been doing it for years – despite never having worked together before. I really want to thank everyone involved for all their hard work.”
Next, the WMT moves to the .25-mile Monadnock Speedway (Winchester, NH) on Saturday, July 17. In the meantime, check out an interview Renee did with Kate Wedman on her blog ‘Work Hard, Play Harder.’