MDM Closes Regular Season with Top 10 Finishes

Over the past several weeks, the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team has been busy closing down their regular season at the Seekonk Speedway (MA).  On the heels of several strong performances, MDM closed their 2010 season with three straight top ten finishes. 

"We really got the car running well here at the end of the year.  We were able to work on improving our setup, as opposed to fixing the car, which was nice for a change.  All of our hard work, coupled with a little bit of luck helped us to post some strong finishes down the stretch."

The best finish the team posted was on Saturday, Sept. 11, when the team brought their #46 Pro Stock home in the runner-up position. Jake was running solidly in the top five all day, despite many restarts.  Following Fred Astle, Jr. through, Jake was able to avoid a late race accident and cruise to a second place finish.

"We definitely got some breaks to go our way.  I think that is a product of all of our hard work.  I am really happy for our team, that we could post some good finishes and bring our car home in one piece.  They deserve it for all the time they spend in the garage, and at the racetrack. They really put in a Herculean effort every week." 

As a result of these strong finishes, Jake and the team amassed enough points to finish seventh in the championship point standings. 

The next race for the team will take place on Sunday, October 10.  The race will be a 100-lap grind, held in honor of Seekonk Speedway Pro Stock pioneer, the late D. Anthony Venditti.  Post time is 1:00pm.

Rain Spoils Another Saturday Night at Seekonk

Yet again, the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team showed up to the Seekonk Speedway Saturday night only to have rain dampen the day's activities.  Midway through practice a heavy shower rolled through the area, forcing Speedway management to pull the plug on the special 75-lap event.  This all comes as the team earned a strong sixth place finish the week before in the track's mid-season championship event. 

"It's too bad that we could not get this one in.  A lot of water was drpped around the track, but it cleared up quick.  I would have liked to have made a chance at it. We really excel in these 75-lap races because we just take our time and work our way to the front, just like we did last wee."

In the 50-lap mid-season special, Jake started in the 17th position due to the fact that he missed his heat race with mechanical failure.  Thanks to some hard work by the MDM team, the car was completed in time for the main event.  Surviving several cautions and avoiding a wreck which collected four cars, Jake methodically worked his way towards the front, crossing the line in sixth.

"Even though we did not win last week, that race was a victory for our team.  We thrashed to put it back together for the feature, and we were able to do it in time.  The track was gracious enough to give us a few laps, which was a huge help.  I'm really proud of the effort that everyone put in, and I am glad that we salvaged a decent finish for their sakes."

The next event for the Mad Dog Motorsports team will be Saturday night, July 31.  Post time is 6:00pm.

Rain Spoils Yet Another Week for MDM

The Mad Dog Motorsports team had another event cancelled due to rain this past Saturday, July 10.  The team was coming off of the heels of a strong second place finish in their 40-lap main event on July 3.  Starting from the fifth position on the field, Jake methodically worked his way to the front, working both the oustide and inside grooves to cross the line just behind eventual race winner, Fred Astle, Jr.

"What a huge difference this year for our team.  We started our season off slowly, but we really have been able to string together a slew of strong finishes.  I'm proud of what this team has been able to accomplish, as we continue to gain ground on the leaders."

A mid-race restarte positioned Jake on the inside of the second row for the final 13-lap shootout.  After looking on the inside of Dave Hutchins for several laps, Jake hopped up to the outside groove, methodically taking over the second position from the Pro Stock veteran.  He would not relinquish that position as he came under he checkers with an impressive second place, podium finish. 

"Now that we are working our way into the middle of the season, the track really is starting to come to us.  We could not have passed anyone on the outside earlier in the season, but between the warmer weather and our setup, we were able to do that tonight.  We have a few big events coming up with the mid-season championship and the $2,000-to-win 75-lapper.  We need to start getting ready for those now."

Jake currently sits tenth in the point standings.  He looks to improve upon that position as the team returns to competion Saturday, July 17, for the 50-lap mid-season championship race.  Post time is 6:00pm. 

Rain Puts the Spoils On Saturday Night's Event

 

Coming off of the heels of a disappointing 40-lap event, the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team did not get a chance to rebound Saturday, June 26, because of heavy rain moving into the area just prior to the start of the race program. 

On Saturday night, June 19, Jake came off of his first career win, looking to make it two in a row.  That proved to be quite a challenge, however, when the 19-year old driver was unable to avoid several accidents in front of him, causing two flat tires and broken suspension pieces.

"It was a tough night tonight  The car was not as good as it was in the week prior, but there were a lot of wrecks tonight and we tried to sneak through them, but just couldn't get by unscathed.  One time we tapped the wall, bending some stuff in the rear, giving us a flat, and snapping our spindle.  The other time we had a slow leaker when we were forced up near the wall, which is probably where something sharp cut the tire."

The end result was a fifteenth place finish.  With the June 26th rain out, the team will now have an extra week to ensure that the car is prepared for competition.  MDM's next race will now be on July 3.  Post time is 6:00pm.

Vanada Powers His Way Into Pro Stock Victory Lane

With rain putting an abrupt end to last week's race program, and rear end woes plaguing the team the week before, the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team was back following a two-week break.  Gridding from the pole position, Jake outlasted 18 other challengers to pick up his first win in the Pro Stock division.

"Before our rear end broke two weeks ago, we were lightning fast.  We were having trouble keeping it together, but it came together this week.  I knew in the heat race that if nothing broke we were going to be real tough to beat."

Jake survived several mid-race restarts, and only faced a real challenge on one of them when he missed a shift, allowing former Pro Stock division champion, David Darling, to pull up even and challenge for the lead.  Jake bested Darling, and all other competitors, however, as he dominated the 40-lap main.  He enjoyed his biggest lead - a half-straightaway - as the checkered flag came out.

"What a rush here tonight.  Everything has finally come together for us and I am so proud of our accomplishment.  We have been working at this for three years and have been close before, but tonight we were able to seal the deal."

The next race for the Mad Dog Motorsports team will be June 19 at the Seekonk Speedway.  Post time is 6:00pm.          

Rear End Seal Spoils Strong Performance

Following a week off due to inclement weather, the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team returned to competition at the historic Seekonk Speedway, Saturday, May 15, 2010.  Jake and the crew brought a well-prepared racecar for competition, and were racing for a position when a rear end seal broke, forcing the team to end their night 12 laps early.

As a result of Jake's third place finish in the season-opening 75-lap main event, the #46 Pro Stock earned a handicapped starting spot in the rear of the field.  Rolling off from the 13th starting position, Jake was able to gain several positions before an early race caution slowed the event.

"The car was pretty fast all day.  We really hit the set up and were making some good progress early in the race.  Everyone did a nice job to make sure that the car was well-prepared for tonight's event." Jake said following the event.

After lining up from the 10th position, Jake would advance several more positions before an incident with several of the cars running around him brought out another yellow flag.  Once again, Jake was lined up on the outside in the sixth position.  He, quickly, was able to clear the car down to the bottom in his pursuit for a position in the top five. 

All of the sudden, three of the cars running in the top five went spinning as they made contact attempting to advance position.  With the help of his spotter, Jake was able to find his way through the melee, inheriting the third position for the restart.  Unfortunately, during that caution period, Jake's #46 Reese's Auto Service-sponsored Chevrolet came to a rest at the bottom of turn one, needing the assistance of the safety crews. 

"I hate what happened here tonight.  We worked so hard on the car to get it running well and we have nothing to show for it.  With twelve to go, I think we would have had a good shot to win the race, but we won't know.  We will have to fix the pinion seal, which was what broke on the car, and see if we can get back at it next week."

The next event for MDM is currently scheduled for next Saturday night, May 22.  Post time is 6:00pm. 

Strong Showing for MDM on Opening Day

Coming off of the heels of a promising run to close down the 2009 season, Jake and company began the 2010 season with an impressive third place finish. Jake began the extra-distance main in the sixth position, and quickly moved into the top five, eventually crossing the line behind David Darling and Fred Astle, Jr.

Starting in the outside lane, Jake held his own, hanging with Kevin and Kyle Casper as they were battling for the fifth position.  A caution one-third of the way through the race involving the #7 of Kyle Casper turned the #5 spot over to Jake. He would never turn back either, maintaining a position in the top five for the remaining 50 laps.

"We had a strong car in the beginning of the race.  Unfortunately, we were up on the outside for a bit longer thn we wanted to be and that burned the tires up abit too much.  Thankfully, we were eventually abe to get down about a third of the way through the race."

Jake would eventually take over the fourth position after Mike Brightman went spinning into the infield.  Brightman had been battling with Jake for the previous two laps before he sent his #37 down into te infield, bringing out a caution flag. 

Restarting in the fourth position, Jake was able to clear himself to the bottom, setting his eyes on the driver holding the third position, Mike Parks.  He eventaully caught Parks, making a move to the inside and wrestling the position out of the Monadnock Speedway regular's hands. Once in the third position, Jake put a stranglehold on it until the checkers.

"I was real happy with our run.  We put some hard work in over the course of the winter and, today, we reaped the benefits.  It felt good to run up front and I am proud of what we accomplished here today.

The team will now turn their eyes to weekly competition as the Saturday night ARC race program begins on May 8.  Post time is 6:00pm.