EPPING, N.H. – Jon McKennedy emerged as the winner of the International Supermodified Ass’n Star Classic on Sunday at Star Speedway after rain postponed the event Saturday night.
The red flag waved after seven laps when Russ Wood spun off the track. While Wood was able to continue, track officials discovered fluid on the track during the caution period, resulting in a lengthy red flag to clean up the track. Â
Oswego Speedway regular Dan Connors took lead when the race resumed and he built up a strong lead out front with Ryan Locke, McKennedy, Chris Perley, Anthony Nocella and Kenny White Jr. in pursuit.
By lap 18, Connors had put Mike Collins down a lap, providing a cushion for himself. On lap 28, he had added Jamie Timmons to the lap down crew. As suddenly as he worked on increasing his lead, the luckless Connors sat in turn four, out of the action on lap 31, a victim of a some contact behind him. This left McKennedy in the front spot, a place he never relinquished.
McKennedy built up a lead of his own. While Locke, Perley, Nocella and Mike Netishen kept site of McKennedy, it was evident that the $1,000 halfway bonus donated by Shea Concrete was going to McKennedy with little challenge as there were at least four lap cars between his car and the battle for second behind him.
Heading into lap 70, Locke and Perley were weaving in and out of lap traffic that McKennedy had already dealt with.
The caution soon waved again for Ben Seitz, whose car overheated and required a lengthy cleanup. It was at that point officials decided to reduce the length of the race to 100 laps due to time and attrition.
McKennedy comfortably led the rest of the race, with Chris Perley, Ryan Locke, Anthony Nocella and Mike Netishen completing the top-five.
“This is a big deal It’s a big week with the Star Classic and having the 350 Super race named after my father who was a big part of my racing career,” said McKennedy after his fourth Star Classic score. “This feels really good. This is our eighth consecutive win in a row in ISMA races I’ve run. It just feels awesome. We had an awesome car. The crew worked hard all weekend. It felt good. That little burnout there was for all the cry babies all year who made a bunch of false accusations of traction control and other things. It feels great. Thanks. Winning another halfway bonus and other awards makes me feel real good.”
The finish:
Jon McKennedy, Chris Perley, Ryan Locke, Anthony Nocella, Mike Netishen, Ben Seitz, Dave Helliwell, Jamie Timmons, Kenny White Jr., Mike Collins, Danny Connors, Russ Wood, Dave Danzer, Otto Sitterly, Joe Gosek, Tyler Thompson.