Mad-Dog Motorsports

MDM Closes Regular Season with Top 10 Finishes

2010-10-05T12:53:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-26T13:49:00.001-04:00

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

2010-07-14T02:18:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-27T10:42:00.001-04:00

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

2010-06-11T02:07:00.001-04:00

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

2010-05-16T09:53:00.001-04:00

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

2010-05-03T19:58:00.001-04:00

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.

MDM Ends Season with Disappointing 19th Place Finish

2009-10-11T17:38:00.000-04:00

Seekonk, MA - October 11, 2009 - Jake and the team entered the season ending DAV Fall Classic 100 with high hopes, looking to bring their #16 Reese's Service Center Fusion with a good finish. It looked like the team would have just that until a slew of events with 20 to go relegated the team to a 19th place finish.

Jake started the race in the 10th position. Quickly, he used the outside groove to advance position. Surviving several caution periods, he had worked his way into the top five shortly after the halfway signal.

"We had a good car. I wanted to go, but my spotter kept telling me just to be patient and by my time because we knew our stuff was good enough for the end. He usually spots for the True Value Modifed Racing Series 100-lappers, so we took his advice and just tried to ride around in the first half of the race."

With just over twenty-five to go, Jake began to work on the #51 car of Bobby Tripp. Looking inside and outside, Jake did all he could to get by the seasoned Seekonk Speedway veteran, but his efforts were to no avail.

Eventually, Tripp got sideways coming off of turn four and Jake, with nowhere to go, made contact with Tripp, sending him around. ARC officials, then, penalized Jake, sending him to the rear of the field.

"The 51 was taking up so much room out there. We had a great car, and it was getting to the point where we needed to go. He would not give any room.

He ended up getting loose, and I either had to get run over or run him over.

They thought that I took him out, so I had to go to the rear. He obviously wasn't happy because he hit me four or five times under caution. Finally, they parked him. Its just crazy that they way things happen out there sometimes."

A few short laps later, the #16 Pro Stock began to show smoke, and Jake brought the car pit side, to the attention of his team. It was then determined that there was rearend damage, and the team would be unable to continue, forcing them to retire from the race.

"I just feel bad for the team. This has been a rough season, and we finally had a great car and a day with a lot of promise. It was just not meant to be today. At any rate, its time to work on it in the off season and get ready for next year."

Stay tuned to www.mad-dogmotorsports.com for all of the latest off season information as the team begins to plan for 2010.

Good Run Goes Bad With Early Race Accident

2009-08-30T16:54:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA – (August 30, 2008) – Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team looked like they had the car to beat early on Saturday night, but contact with another car put a damper on any such hopes. After going to the rear for being involved in the accident, Jake brought the DeSouza Motorsports Late Model home in the seventh position.

Gridding from the second position, Jake blasted into the lead on the second go-around. Using the outside lane, Jake led the next three laps. Coming off of turn four, however, another car slid up into the #28 Late Model, hooking tires and bringing out the yellow. As an accident car, Jake was repositioned at the rear of the field.

“We really had a fantastic car tonight. It¹s really frustrating to see such impatience at the beginning of the race. To go three-wide on lap-5 is unnecessary.”

Jake used the remaining 25 laps to work back through the pack and bring the car home in the seventh position.

“The car was not right the rest of the night. The suspension was not right and then we had a tire rub which we had to come down pit road to fix. I would have liked to see what we could have done without the wreck. This year has just been tough and I am really frustrated for our team.”

The team will be back in action this Saturday in the Pro Stock division. Post time is 6:00pm.

Good Run Goes Bad With Early Race Accident

2009-08-22T16:39:00.000-04:00

The Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team looked like they had the car to beat early on Saturday night, but contact with another car put a damper on any such hopes. After going to the rear for being involved in the accident, Jake brought the DeSouza Motorsports Late Model home in the seventh position.

“We really had a fantastic car tonight. It¹s really frustrating to see such impatience at the beginning of the race. To go three-wide on lap-5 is unnecessary.”

Jake used the remaining 25 laps to work back through the pack and bring the car home in the seventh position.

“The car was not right the rest of the night. The suspension was not right and then we had a tire rub which we had to come down pit road to fix. I would have liked to see what we could have done without the wreck. This year has just been tough and I am really frustrated for our team.”

The team will be back in action this Saturday in the Pro Stock division. Post time is 6:00pm.

Another Top Ten for Jake & Company

2009-08-15T17:27:00.000-04:00

After taking a week off, the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team returned to competition at Seekonk Speedway Saturday night. In keeping with where they left off, the team notched its fifth consecutive top ten.

During the week off, the MDM team was busy taking the motor out of the #28 Late Model and moving it into Jake's old Late Model, which is also now owned by DeSouza Motorsports. With the work being performed by veteran fabricator, Joe Lillie, the car was quick out of the gate.

"It was like night and day driving this car. Last time we drove it, it did not have the crate motor so it was a challenge, but with the crate engine, its a world of difference. "

Jake bounced back from an early race spin, racing his way back into the top ten. Once inside of the top ten, Jake was a strong contender for positions. Wrestling with some mechanical issues, Jake came across the line in the ninth position.

"Its too bad we had a few issues because otherwise we may have had a better finish. This was like racing a brand new car, though, so there is going to be a learning curve again. I look forward to coming back next week and seeing what we can do once we square our issues away."

The MDM Motorsports team will return to action Saturday, August 8, for a full card of racing at the Seekonk Speedway.

MDM Finishes Fourth in Extra Distance Feature

2009-07-18T16:41:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA July 18, 2009 Jake Vanada and the Mad Dog Motorsports team finished in the top five for the first time this season in their #28 late model on Saturday. The day¹s festivities were part of the Mid-Season Championships presented by Francis Farms.

For the 35-lap feature, Jake started in the third position behind Robert Hussey and Randy Burr but within two laps was able to clear below Burr for second. By lap 7, he nosed under Hussey in turns three and four for the lead. Two laps later, he was still holding strong in the lead position.

"The car was really good for this race. Every week we have been able to gain a little bit on it and we finally were able to get things working together for a good finish."

Following a mid-race restart, Vanada was forced high when Mike Cavallaro stuck the nose of his #87 Late Model underneath the DeSouza Motorsports-owned Late Model. Several other cars followed suit, as Jake fell all the way back to the 11th position. On lap 27 several top five cars got tangled up, relegating them to the pits. Jake made it through the wreckage unharmed and was able to restart in the fifth position when racing went back to green. In the remaining few laps, Jake was able to find his way underneath Al Clements to take control of the fourth position.

"I saw them all getting a little crazy up front and, thankfully, was able to avoid getting involved. That was a hard wreck those guys took. It is nice to bring the car home in one piece and get our first top five of the season.I'm really happy for our car owner, Eric DeSouza, because both of his cars finished in the top five tonight."

The Mad Dog Motorsports team will be back at the ³Action Track of the East² on Saturday, July, 25.

MDM Survives Marathon to Collect Fourth Consecutive Top Ten Finish

2009-07-13T16:42:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA – (July 13, 2009) – Jake and his Mad Dog Motorsports crew added another top 10 to their 2009 tally this past Saturday as part of the Everett’s Auto Parts night at Seekonk Speedway. They started the night strong with several fast practices and a second place finish in the heat race en route to a 10th place finish in the 30-lap feature event .

Jake started the main event in the outside pole position, rolling off alongside veteran Bob Hussey. Using the outside lane, Jake powered by Hussey on the second go-around to take over the top spot. After an early caution, Jake restarted alongside of Jon Dickerman, who was able to nose Jake for the lead at the drop of the green flag. The two would be dancing partners once again after another quick yellow slowed the event. Dickerman continued to lead with Jake following along in a close second. On lap-5, the marathon event was slowed again for debris on the Speedway, but not before Bill Bernard snuck his #47-mount under Jake for the lead.

“The first few laps of that race felt like an eternity. We could not get a long green flag run. We do ok on those, but it felt like we were just slowly going to the back as one car would pass us before we would have a chance to get our position back. It was just caution after caution after caution.”

Once the race resumed, Gerry DeGasparre, Jr. got under Jake, just as the #28 Late Model got sideways. A lap-8 caution, however, spared Jake from losing too much ground. Kevin Casper took advantage of his restart position on the inside lane, as he wrestled the fourth position away from the 17-year old young gun. Mike Cavallaro and Ryan Vanesse also tried to advance by Jake, making it three wide. In the end, Jake and Cavallaro got the short end of the stick as the two got together, relegating both drivers to the rear of the field.

“That deal with Cavallaro was rough. Going three-wide so early in the race does not really make sense. There had already been a lot of equipment torn up, and I don’t understand why guys were continuing to pull moved like that. I am happy that we were able to rebound for our fourth consecutive top ten. I’m really proud of our team for all the time and energy that they have put into this thing. I just wish we could get something better to show for it.”

MDM will be back at the Seekonk Speedway this Saturday night for the extra-cash, extra-laps Mid-Season Championships presented by Francis Farm. Race time is 6pm.

MDM Notches Back-to-Back Top Tens

2009-06-30T16:45:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA - (June 30, 2009) – The Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team was back in action Saturday night, after a week off due to rain. The team battled for their second consecutive top-ten finish in the 50-lap main event presented by Phil’s Propane.

As a result of his heat race win, Jake started the main event in the second position, outside of veteran driver Bob Hussey. At the drop of the green, Jake battled with Hussey for the top position. After a few laps, Gerry DeGasparre, Ryan Vanesse, and eventual race winner, Bill Bernard, made their way by.

“We had a good car to start the race tonight. It was definitely the best that we have had all season. We have worked hard on it, and it was good to make some strides. Unfortunately, the car did go away a bit as the race went on,” Jake noted after the race.

As the car got worse, drivers continued to find their way by until Jake was in the tenth position. Without a caution to come in and make an adjustment, Jake did his best to hold onto tenth, the position he would finish in.

“It was tough to have the car go away like that. It is really finicky and everytime we feel like we make a gain on it, we are left scratching our heads. The heat race win and the beginning of the feature were huge gains for us, though, and so we know we are getting close.”

The next race for the MDM team will be in the DeSouza Motorsports Late Model, this Saturday at 6:00pm.

MDM Grabs Top Ten Finish

2009-06-15T16:44:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA - (June 15, 2009) – After a one-week layoff, the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team returned to action Saturday night for a 30-lap main event at Seekonk Speedway (MA). Rolling the #28 Eric DeSouza-owned Late Model off in the thirteenth starting position, Jake crossed under the checkers in the tenth finishing position.

After a false start, Jake went to work, quickly clearing the #57 of Colby Fournier and the #80 of Bob Hussey. He then set his eyes on the #87 of Mike Cavallaro and the #47 of Bill Bernard. The three drivers waged a lengthy battle, which Jake appeared to have won, as the halfway signal was displayed to the field.

“The car was much better than it has been in the past few weeks. We worked really hard on the week off to go over the car with a fine-toothed comb. In practice and the heat race it felt like we hadn’t done a thing, but the car was really good in the feature. We found some stuff with the stagger that really helped to tighten the car up,” Jake said after the race.

With ten laps to go in the race, Jake got loose coming off of four allowing Cavallaro to sneak back by. Jake was able to keep Bernard at bay, however. In the waning laps, Jake was unable to reel Cavallaro back in and ended up bringing the car hope with a strong tenth place finish.

“Tonight was a step in the right direction. We really have not spent much time in the Late Models, except for those handful of races in 2007. We basically went right to the Pro Stocks, and these [the Late Models] are definitely not the same as the Pro Stock. So we are still learning and compiling information. I think that we definitely could get this car in the top five when we get all the setup nailed.”

The next race for the MDM team will be Saturday, June 20, 2009 at Seekonk Speedway.

Jake Finishes Twelfth in Dusty Young Memorial Race

2009-06-01T16:43:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA - (June 1, 2009) – For the second consecutive week, Jake drove the #28 Desouza Motorsports-owned Late Model in competition. After getting stuck out on the outside on a late-race restart, Jake brought his racecar home in the twelfth finishing position.

Rolling off from the twelfth position, Jake was on the move from the drop of the green flag. After racing his way into the top ten, though, he began to suffer from an ill-handling racecar. Jake made good use of an early caution to adjust the car, tightening it up.

“We pitted early and that seemed to help. The car went from being loose to just about right. Before that, though, I was just holding on out there.”

Jake soon began to make his way through the field during the green flag run. His progress, however, was impeded when his car became too tight, making it unable to turn. At the time that this condition developed, he was running eighth. In the end, however, Jake became trapped in the outside groove, which resulted in him loosing four positions and settling for a twelfth place finish.

“We weren’t great tonight, to be honest about it. We had glimmers of hope, but the car was just not on. Part of it is me, because I need to figure out how to drive a Late Model again. It is not like the Pro Stock. A clear example is the fact that you cannot drive the outside like I do in the Pro Stock. We would have had a top ten, but that outside groove is non-existent in the Late Models and so we will have to deal with twelfth. We now have some time off to go over things and really go through the car.”

The Late Models will have next week off, so their next event will be June 13, when they will be the top-tier weekly division with the visiting True Value Modified Racing Series coming to town.

MDM Notches Eighth Place Finish In Return to Late Models

2009-05-28T16:50:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA - (May 28, 2009) – With the Pro Stock in the shop for repairs, Jake returned to competition on Saturday, May 23, 2009 in the DeSouza Motorsports-owned #28 Late Model. Jake bounced back from involvement in an early caution to finish in the eighth position.

Gridding from the ninth position, Jake immediately set his eyes on the front of the field. By lap two he was already contending with the #13 of Jon Dickerman for the fifth position. Fighting a loose condition, though, he quickly lost those spots, dropping back to eighth on lap 5.

On the 12th go-around, Jake slowed his car down to avoid the 41 and 47, who had already spun out, but unfortunately another car came up from behind, running over the #28 Late Model and pushing Jake into the accident. Immediately after this incident, the team took the car pit-side in order to make sure that there was no serious damage to the racecar.

“That was an unfortunate deal there. We had the thing wowed down and were going to be able to get through without a problem. I don’t know what happened to the guy behind me, but he clearly didn’t know about the wreck because he ran us over. Thankfully, the damage is not that bad, though, so we can fix it,” Jake said after the race.

During the next 10 laps, the race was littered with three yellow flags. On the lap-19 caution, the MDM team took the opportunity to pit again and tune on the racecar. Making it back out before the green was displayed, Jake survived an additional three yellows to finish in the eighth position.

“That race tonight was strange. We had a car capable of a top five finish before we got run over from behind. Just by going back out we were able to gain positions. It basically was a race of attrition, and we, thankfully, were able to get through with minimal damage.”

The next race for the MDM team will be Saturday, May 30 at 6pm. The Late Models will be taking center stage as they compete in the 50-lap Dusty Young Memorial race, a special event honoring the late father of former Late Model standout Glenn “Fireball” Young.

Jake Teams Up with DeSouza Motorsports

2009-05-20T16:49:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA - (May 20, 2009) – In a joint announcement, Mad Dog Motorsports Driver, Jake Vanada, and DeSouza Motorsports Owner, Eric DeSouza, announced that the Berkley, MA driver will be the team’s newest addition. Jake has been tabbed to drive one of the Late Models in the DeSouza Motorsports stable, beginning Saturday, May 23.
“I’m really pleased to have this opportunity. I am honored to be asked by Eric to run his team’s Late Model. They have some good equipment, and I am looking forward to seeing exactly what it can do,” Jake said about the deal.
The agreement between the two parties will span the next several weeks, the time it is expected to take for the MDM team’s #46 Pro Stock to be repaired. The MDM car was damaged in the season opening 75-lap main event when another car made contact with Jake’s nose, bending the front clip.
“I am just happy to be able to keep racing while we make the repairs to the Pro Stock. Thanks to Eric and his team’s generosity we will be able to do just that. This will give us the opportunity to take our time and go through the whole car very carefully, making sure that everything is in good working order before we bring the Pro Stock back out onto the track.”
Jake’s first event in his new ride will be this Saturday, May 23, at Seekonk Speedway (MA) for a 30-lap main event.

MDM Struggles to 14th Place Finish

2009-05-18T16:47:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA - (May 18, 2009) – It is often said that “the third time is the charm,” but that was not the case for the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team on Saturday. Fighting damp weather conditions and an ill-handling racecar, MDM diver, Jake Vanada, became the victim of a mid-race accident, relegating him to the pits for the latter half of the race.
With qualifying having been completed on May 3, it was already determined that Jake would be starting in the second position. At the drop of the green flag, Jake immediately began fighting a tight condition which made the car nearly impossible to drive. Falling back to the rear of the field, Jake rode around until the first caution flag, when he brought the #46 Skater’s Edge/Grey Wolf Design Chevrolet to the attention of his crew.
“We had to make that stop early on because the car was just awful. I could not get it to turn at all. When we came in and made some adjustments it made it a lot better, but that only lasted for about 10 laps. After that we began to fight the same problem,” Jake recanted.
Just after the halfway signal, the MDM team’s day went from bad to worse when the drivers in front of Jake checked up, causing him to climb the left front tire of the car in front of him. As a result, Jake spun only to be clipped by the #99 of Dan O’Brien. This accident ended the MDM team’s day early.
“That race was just a racing deal. It’s really unfortunate that it happened like this in the first race, though, because money is tight for everyone this year. To bend the clip in the first race and have to it replaced is just a devastating blow. We definitely are going to be out for a bit. We’ll work on it and hope to get it back together, though,” the downtrodden driver said after the race.
Stay tuned to www.mad-dogmotorsports.com for all of the latest information and news regarding the team’s plans.

Rain Dampens MDM Opener

2009-05-04T16:52:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA (May 4, 2009) Despite the best efforts of race teams and Seekonk Speedway (Seekonk, MA) officials, the opening event for the ARC Pro Stocks had to be postponed. A persistent rain began to fall on the second qualifying heat for the Speedway’s top division, forcing management to pull the plug on the first event of the 2009 campaign, rescheduling the 75-lap main it for this Saturday, May 9.

The #46 Mad Dog Motorsports Chevrolet did complete their qualifying effort, though. Jake finished the first Pro Stock heat race in the third position, behind veteran drivers Fred Astle, Jr. (Westport, MA) and Kenny Spencer (Taunton, MA). He started the qualifier on the outside of row two and wasted no time advancing position.

At the drop of the green flag, Jake immediately began working on the #07 Pro Stock of Kyle Casper (Somerset, MA). Just one lap after passing Casper, the lone yellow flag of the 12-lap qualifier was displayed. Restarting in the third position, Jake got as close as Kenny Spencer’s left rear tire, but could not complete the pass. He crossed under the checkers in the third position.

“We had a pretty good car,” Jake commented after the heat race. “As it went on, though, we started to tighten up. That is why I could not get by Spence, because the car was just too tight. It really did not want to turn as easily as I would have liked.”

By virtue of his third place heat finish, Jake has been informed by Seekonk Speedway officials that he will roll off fifth in the extra-distance 75-lap main event.

“I’m happy with where we are starting. Hopefully the weather won’t be as variable as it was today, because that really made the setup a challenge. Despite the weather, though, it was a good day. It was good to be back to competition,” Jake said following the Speedway’s decision to postpone the event.

The rescheduled race program will begin at 6:00pm this Saturday night, picking up at the point that the event was rained out – with five laps completed in the second Pro Stock heat race. That will complete the starting lineup for the 75-lap grind, which will take place after the other four weekly series’ feature events.

Rain Postpones Racing Again

2009-05-04T16:47:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA ¬ (May 4, 2009) ¬ Once again Mother Nature put a damper on racing at the 1/3-mile oval, Seekonk Speedway (Seekonk, MA) . With heavy rain falling early in the morning, and a questionable forecast being predicted for later in the day, Speedway officials elected not to try and continue the program that they began on Sunday, May 3. The race program has been rescheduled to this Saturday May 16, when teams will once again try to complete the opening day card.

Jake qualified the #46 Skater’s Edge Chevrolet on Sunday, May 3, bringing his Pro Stock mount home in the third position in his heat race. By virtue of this finish, he has earned the fifth starting spot in the extra-distance, 75-lap main event.

The race program is set to roll off at 6:00pm with the remaining heat races. Feature events will follow immediately following the conclusion of qualifying.

MDM Prepares for Speedway Expo

2009-02-18T04:26:00.001-05:00

Berkley, MA (February 18, 2009) Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) is readying for their sixth annual trip to Speedway Expo, a racing convention held at the Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts. The team will be displaying their Pro Stock, which will be entered into weekly competition at the Seekonk Speedway (MA). Following the harrowing wreck which ended 2008, Jake is back to full strength and ready to go.
"I was very fortunate to have such a quick recovery. It took a while to get my strength all the way back, but I am finally there, and I cannot wait for the season to start. It will feel good to get back behind the wheel and turn some laps again," said Jake.
The team will be sporting a new number and a new paint scheme in 2009, announced Chuck Vanada, one of the team¹s owners. "We are going back to the #46 and to our original blue, orange, and white colors. We decided to bring things back to the way we originally started."
To check out the newly-numbered and newly-designed paint scheme on the Mad Dog Motorsports, be sure to check the team out at Speedway Expo between February 27-March 1. The show¹s hours are from 5pm-9pm on Friday, 10am-9pm on Saturday, and 10am-5pm on Sunday.

Jake Injured in Practice Day Accident

2008-10-13T05:29:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (October 13, 2008) – While practicing for the D. Anthony Venditti Memorial 100 on Friday, Jake sustained several injuries when the transmission exploded in his #16 Propane Plus / Aubuchon Hardware Ford Fusion. Coming to take the green flag, Jake brought the car up to speed only to have it come around in a puff of smoke. When officials arrived at Jake’s car, the ambulance was called for immediately as Jake had sustained serious injuries to his right arm and right leg. At Rhode Island Hospital, he was diagnosed with a broken right arm, a broken tibula bone in his right leg, and a deep gash into his right elbow.
“That was a scary thing. I have hit the wall wide open before and this does not even compare. It was like a bomb exploded in the racecar. I am really grateful that I was not hurt even worse. A broken arm and a broken bone is nothing compared to what could have happen,” Jake said after being released from the hospital early Saturday morning.
These injuries could not keep Jake away from the season-ending event at the Seekonk Speedway (MA), though. After being released from the hospital, Jake, with the assistance of his race team, went immediately to the racetrack, only to be greeted by hoards of people who were happy to see the fan favorite at the Speedway.
“It was an unfortunate way to end an otherwise awesome season. The last two weeks, with my Dad’s injury and mine, has kind of put a damper on it, but overall, we had a good time, we did well, and we learned a lot. I am already for 2009 to start.”
For all of the latest information on the upcoming 2009 season, be sure to check the official website of MDM (http://mad-dogmotorsports.com/www.mad-dogmotorsports.com) periodically.

Accident Sidelines MDM

2008-09-23T05:31:00.002-04:00

Berkley, MA – (September 23, 2008) – In the final points race of the 2008 season, Jake was involved in an accident which resulted in a 15th place finish.
“It was an unfortunate night. We had a great car and we got hit from behind only 10 laps into the race. There was no doubt that we would have finished in the top five, and we may have even had a car good enough for the win.”
In the overall point standings, Jake ended up finishing in the seventh position despite the fact that he missed a race. He also finished second in the Rookie of the Year running.
“I am pleased with how our first season in this division went. This was a lot different from the Allison Legacy car which we were in last year, and we showed that we were up for the challenge. We did not win a race, but we were competitive every week.”
The next race for the MDM team will be Sunday, October 12, 2008 – the D. Anthony Vendetti Festival of Auto Racing 100. Qualifying will take place on Saturday, October 11.

Jake Powers to Third Place Finish

2008-09-16T05:46:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (September 16, 2008) – The Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team returned to action Saturday night after a week off due to the remnants of Hurricane Hannah hitting up the east coast. The team looked as if they had not missed a beat, though, finishing third in the strong eighteen car field.
Jake started the race in seventh position, but quickly fell back due to slower cars in front of him, preventing him from making his move. Jake dropped back as far as fifteenth before being able to get out of line and pass.
“Getting stuck in the back was frustrating because I knew that we had a good car, a real good car in fact, and I wanted it to show. Once we got with the #11 car, we were able to get something going.”
By the time that the halfway signal was displayed to the field, Jake had already made his way up into the top 10. During the remaining 20 laps, Jake used the outside to blast past several cars in route to a podium finish.
“I wish that the race was a little bit longer because I think with 5 more laps we may have won our first one here tonight. Hey, that’s racing, though, and we are more than happy with our third place finish. The team made some great adjustments after the heat and it put us in a good position during the feature.”
Despite missing a race, Jake now sits seventh in the overall point standings, ahead of several drivers who have competed in every race. Ryan Vanesse currently has a comfortable lead on Jake for the Rookie of the Year title.
The next race for MDM is this Saturday night, September 20, at Seekonk Speedway (MA) where it will be championship night.

MDM Readying for Final Races of 2008

2008-09-03T05:48:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (September 3, 2008) – The Mad Dog Motorsports team is busy readying for their final races of the 2008 season. Fresh off of a scheduled week off by the track, the team will be back in action this Saturday night, September 6, for a 40-lap event at the Seekonk Speedway. This week will kick off a three-week stretch, leading up to the final points race of the 2008 season, scheduled for September 20.
The team will then end their season with the annual D. Anthony Venditti (DAV) Festival of Auto Racing, an event in which the team will be featured in the 100-lap Pro Stock race. When asked about the DAV, Jake said, “The DAV has been on my radar since I knew that we were going to be racing a Pro Stock. To race with people like Dave Dion will be one of the greatest honors of my career so far. I cannot wait.”
Jake was at the Speedway last Saturday until the event was rained out, going to support his friend Vinnie Annarummo, the former owner of his car and a current standout on the True Value Modified Racing Series. He took advantage of that time to wander through the pit area mingling with stars like Dick Houlihan.
The team’s last race was August 23, a special 75-lap Miler Gold Cup event. Jake started the event in the 16th position after a poor finish in his heat race, but rebounded to finish in the top ten. He took advantage of the long green-flag runs to finish in the 9th position.
“The car was not as good as ones that we have had in other races. I could not get to the outside at all really and that has been the place where we have done most of our passing this year. Without that lane, it was tough to get by people.”
Reflecting on his season so far, Jake said, “I think that we have done awesome for our first year in the Pro Stock. It has not been without any problems, but that is expected whenever you try something new. Overall, though, I think that we have surprised a lot of people and I am happy with what we have learned and the direction that we are going.”
The team currently sits eighth in the overall point standings, only 22 points behind Tom Scully Sr. He is second in the running for the Rookie of the Year title.
Stay tuned to http://www.blogger.com/www.mad-dogmotorsports.com for all of the latest information during the final leg of the season

Jake Struggles for Seventh

2008-08-18T05:50:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (August 18, 2008) – The Mad Dog Motorsports team survived seven caution periods and scoring issues to cross the line in the seventh position.
Jake earned a fourth place starting position by virtue of his third place heat finish. Jake quickly moved into third at the drop of the green flag and stayed there through the first third of the race. Dave Darling snuck by Jake, shuffling him back to fourth. Once in fourth, Jake would begin a torrid battle with Ryan Vanesse and Scott Dion for the third position, one that he would eventually win.
“That was some good hard racing out there with Ryan and Scott. David was quick and got by us on the inside, but we had a good car tonight, and were able to get back into the third spot.”
Just 10 laps later, Jake would begin another battle for the third position, this time with Fred Astle, Jr. and Tom Scully, Jr. Jake got shuffled back several positions into the fifth position. This is when the third caution of the event flew, and also when things began to get interesting. When the restart lineup came down from the tower, Jake was listed in tenth, a position he had not vacated for the previous 32 laps. Then, when the caution came out again for a false start, Jake had been moved up into the seventh position despite not completing a lap.
“Tonight was an extremely frustrating night, not only for me, but for all the guys. Just like everyone else here, we put a lot of time into our car and to come here, be running in the top five, and then be put back five positions is just frustrating. It seemed like there was no rhythm or reason to the way that tonight’s race was scored and that is too bad for all of the competitors, just not us.”
Despite the fiasco, the team gained a position and moved themselves into eighth in the point standings, trailing Tom Scully, Sr. by a mere 6 points. Jake is also second in the running for the Rookie of the Year crown.
MDM will be back at it this Saturday night as they will compete at Seekonk Speedway (MA) in a special 75-lap event – the Miller Gold Cup Classic. Heat races will begin at 6:00 PM.

Jake Cruises to Third Place Finish

2008-08-11T05:51:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (August 11, 2008) – In their return to competition this past Saturday night, Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) brought their #16 Pro Stock home in the third position.
Jake started the 40-lap feature event in the third position, a result of his third place heat finish. Powering by on the outside, it did not take him long to make his was past the top two cars and into the lead. Jake paced the race from lap seven all the way until lap 22.
“When we wrecked, we took that week off to go over the whole car and make sure that we had everything in working order. Vinny (Annarumo, former owner of the car and current True Value Modified driver) came over and helped us out a ton. It is obvious to see that really was beneficial. We were able to get ourselves back on track and into the top five.”
Following a lap-19 restart, Fred Astle, Jr. passed Jake to take over the lead. Jake would run in the second position all the way until lap 30 when Kenny Spencer snuck by Jake for the bridesmaid position. A penalty assessed by ARC officials to race leader Fred Astle, Jr. moved Jake into the second position on lap 33. During the last seven laps, Jake would do his best to hold onto the second position but eventually would relinquish it to Mike Brightman, resulting in a third place finish - the team’s second podium finish of the season.
“Tonight’s race had a lot of cautions (6) for a 40-lap race. Unfortunately for us, they kept coming at inopportune times. If we could have had some long green flag runs, I think that we might have had our first win. Nevertheless, to come back after our wreck and finish third is more than satisfying. I just have to thank everyone for all that they did to get us back out here. It was humbling to have so many people jump to throw a hand in,” said a grateful Vanada following the race.
Despite missing a week of racing, MDM still sits ninth in the overall point standings, trailing the John Dabrowski, by a mere 2 points. Jake is also second in the running for the Rookie of the Year title.
MDM will be looking to make up some more ground this Saturday night as they will compete at Seekonk Speedway (MA) for the 40-lap ARC-sanctioned Pro Stock race. Qualifying is slated to begin at 6:00 PM.

Wreck Takes MDM Out of Contention

2008-07-22T05:53:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (July 22, 2008) – Jake and the MDM team were sidelined on lap 33 when they were involved in a multi-car wreck while trying to avoid a spinning car.
Jake started the special 45-lap main event in the 4th position after finishing fifth in his qualifying race. Fighting an ill-handling racecar, Jake did his best to hold his position. Quickly, though, the Propane Plus/Aubuchon Hardware Ford Fusion began to lose several positions.
"We missed the set up tonight. It seems like the further we got into the night, the harder the car was to drive," Jake said after the race.
On lap 31, Jake was contacted from behind by another car and was sent spinning, bringing out a caution flag. The team took the opportunity to go pit side and bring the #16 Pro Stock to the attention of the crew.
Before Jake could see if any of the adjustments were successful, he was trapped against the front stretch wall while trying to avoid the spinning car of Scott Dion.
"That was a hard hit," Jake reflected. "We were not good enough tonight, but that wreck certainly did not help. We basically have to rebuild the whole front end this week.”
MDM is going to do everything in their power to be ready for this Saturday, July 26, but at this point it is too early to tell whether that will be possible. Stay tuned to the official MDM website for schedule updates.

Jake Salvages an Eighth Place Finish

2008-07-14T05:54:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (July 14, 2008) – Prior to the race, Jake and the #16 Aubuchon Hardware Ford Fusion were set up in victory lane for a meet and greet with all of the fans. Following the autograph session, many fans were walking around, sporting MDM tee shirts and brandishing autographed hero cards of Jake and his #16 Pro Stock. These were the same fans who cheered Jake on to an eighth place finish.
Starting the race from the thirteenth position, Jake was boxed in at the back of the pack for the first 16 laps before the first caution of the event was thrown. “We were just stuck back there behind the 52. I was planning on following David through the field, but the lane just did not go as we expected,” Jake said after the race.
During the next green flag run, Jake began working the outside lane, when another car made contact with the left rear quarter panel, sending him spinning into turn one. Maneuvering the car like a veteran, he was able to keep it both off of the wall and out of the way of oncoming traffic.
“That was a tough deal in turn one. We were trying to work the outside groove and the guy on the inside of us just came right up into us and took us out. It is unfortunate that some of the drivers don’t respect each other so early in the race. I mean there was still 20 to go.”
Jake’s string of bad luck would continue on lap 30 when he would make contact with the spinning car of David Hutchins. Hutchins spun down off of the track coming off of turn number four, leaving Jake and three other competitors no place to go. The result was four cars being collected in the melee.
“That thing with Hutch was tough, but I had nowhere to go. I feel bad for Hutch too because it looks like someone got into him and spun him to cause that whole deal. Tom, Sr. and the other guys that got into me had nowhere to go either.”
The end result was a top ten finish, though, as Jake worked his way back from his restarting position at the tail end of the field into the eighth spot.
“Our finish was not bad. We would have liked to finish a little bit better with Aubuchon here tonight, but that’s racing. We just have to get ready for next week now. There is a lot of work to do on the chassis, but we are going to throw all we have at it and be back next Saturday.”
Jake is now tied for fifth in the point standings with Mike Brightman and Kenny Spencer. He is second in the running for the Rookie of the Year title, trailing Ryan Vanesse by 30 points.
The next race for MDM is Saturday, July 19, at the Seekonk Speedway (MA) – a 50-lap event as part of the Mid-Season Championship presented by Francis Farm.

Jake Notches First Podium Finish

2008-06-30T14:20:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (June 30, 2008) – Jake and the rest of the Mad Dog Motorsports team brought the yellow, white and blue Ford Fusion home in the second position in the Propane Plus-sponsored 75-lap main event Saturday night, surviving a caution-marred race. This was the team’s first top five on the young season.
Starting from the fourth position, Jake fell back to fifth at the drop of the initial green. He would not be there for long, though, working his way past the third and fourth place cars before a caution flag slowed action. Restarting in the third position, Jake passed the #95 of Steve O’Brien (Scituate, MA) for second, and a few laps later the #4 of Scott Dion (Taunton, MA) for the lead.
Jake set the pace for thirteen laps before relinquishing the lead to Pro Stock veteran Fred Astle, Jr. (Westport, MA) on lap 45 of the 75-lap main. Jake would not go down without a fight, though, racing side-by-side with the veteran ace.
“It was great racing with Freddy! We had a great time out there, rubbing a little bit and racing the old-fashioned way,” Jake said after the event.
Shortly after Astle, Jr. got by, the #52 of defending track champion David Darling (Rehoboth, MA) passed Jake, shuffling him back to third. With just six laps to go, though, Jake was able to get by Darling and restake his claim on the second position.
“We are thrilled with our finish tonight. The guys worked hard to give me a great car and it really showed because we were definitely one of the fastest cars here tonight. We are really happy to post such a solid finish with one of our partners (Propane Plus) here sponsoring tonight’s race,” said an exhausted Vanada.
The next race on tap for MDM is this coming Saturday at the Seekonk Speedway, July 5, for a 40-lap main event.

Another Solid Top Ten

2008-06-23T16:35:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA – (June 23, 2008) – MDM returned to action this past Saturday night after a week off, and logged their fourth consecutive top ten finish of the season.

Jake started the 40-lap feature event from the tail end of the field because of a poor heat finish. “We decided to run our older tires in the heat because we thought that they were better in practice, but they actually were not. Once we bolted on the newer rubber in the feature, it was clear that that would have been the best choice,” said Jake in a post-race interview.

The poor starting position would not stop Jake, though. Using all 40-laps, he weaved his way in and out of traffic, circuiting the 1/3-mile oval nearly effortlessly. A late race caution, however, slowed Jake’s progress as he got boxed in while vying for a position in the top five.

“All in all, it was a good day. If we hit the set-up, we probably had a top five car, but we still worked our way through the field and managed a seventh. This is another strong finish for our team, which shows that we are competitive. Pretty soon we’ll crack the top five.”

In the overall point standings, Jake sits eighth, trailing Tom Scully, Sr. by six. He also is second in the running for the Rookie of the Year title to Ryan Vaneesse, who currently has a 37-point lead.

The next race for MDM is a 75-lap main event – being brought to the fans of Seekonk Speedway by MDM partner Propane Plus – scheduled for Saturday, June 28.

Jake Leads Laps, Finishes Eighth

2008-06-07T14:23:00.001-04:00

Berkley, MA – (June 7, 2008) – In what turned out to be a wild race, Jake brought the Aubuchon Hardware/Propane Plus Ford Fusion home in the eighth position – the third straight top ten for the team based out of Berkley, MA.
Jake started the 40-lap event from the fifth position. Using the outside lane, Jake methodically stormed his way to the front of the field. By passing David Hutchins on lap 18, Jake took over the lead and paced the field for the first time behind the wheel of his #16 family-owned mount.
“We were fast on the outside. There was a lot of grip out there tonight and the car just drove the best when we were out there. It was great getting those three positions and leading the race. It was yet another notch on our belt,” Jake said after the race.
On lap 24, contact from behind upset the #16 Ford Fusion and sent Jake into the infield. Like a seasoned veteran, Jake was able to keep the car going despite losing seven positions.
This was not able to deter Jake, though, as he went back to work during the next 13 laps. A lap-37 caution would slow the field, but by this time, Jake was already back in the fourth position. Several restarts on lap 37 resulted in another car making contact with Jake, sending him spinning into turn one. It was determined by ARC officials, however, that the caution had already been displayed to the field for an unrelated incident and so Jake was reinstated to the fourth position. The contact did prove to be harmful, though, as Jake had to complete the last three laps with a deflating left rear tire. Despite all of this Jake held on to come home in the eighth position.
“There is no doubting that this was a tough race. I am still proud of the team, though, we hung in there during several sticky situations and have a top ten to show for it. Leading those five laps was huge, it shows that we are making progress, and should not be overlooked,” Jake concluded.
The team will not be racing this week as the Pro Stocks have a scheduled week off with the visiting True Value Modified Racing Series in town. This does not mean that the team will not be busy this week, though. They will be making an appearance Saturday, June 14, at the Community Covenant Church in Rehoboth, MA. The team will be displaying their #16 Pro Stock as part of GearFest ’08, a Father’s Day event featuring heavy power equipment and other machinery. The team will be there along with partner Propane Plus. For more information on GearFest, visit http://www.gearfest08.com/.

Another Top Ten

2008-05-27T14:24:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA – (May 27, 2008) – Jake logged yet another top ten finish this past Saturday night in the Coors Light Silver Cup. Rebounding from a poor restart early in the race, Jake climbed back into the top ten from this and logged a sixth place finish.

Gridding from the fourth position for the special 75-lap event, Jake lost several positions when the outside lane did not come to speed. “We just didn’t go. We went from a spot in the top five to pretty far back in the field. That put us at a handicap early in the race. Thankfully, though, the race was 75 laps, and not the customary 40,” Jake recalled. An early caution slowed the race and allowed Jake to regroup.

During a 50-lap green flag run, which followed the lap-4 caution, Jake went to work, attempting to make up some of the lost ground. He was able to do just that as he was sixth across the line when the checkers were unfurled.

“We had a good run. It was unfortunate that we got shuffled back like that because if we could have stayed in the top five, who knows what could have happened. We passed a lot of cars, though, and got some more seat time,” Jake reflected.

The next race on MDM’s schedule is Saturday, May 31, at the Seekonk Speedway (MA).

A Night of Firsts

2008-05-19T14:26:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA – (May 19, 2008) – In the second event of the season, Jake and the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team brought home the team’s first top 10 finish in their newly-purchased #16 Ford Fusion. Avoiding an incident which could have ended his night halfway through the race, Jake kept the Propane Plus/Aubuchon Hardware-sponsored machine within a car’s length of the top five.

Jake started the 40-lap event in the fifth position by virtue of his heat race win. It was Jake’s first heat race win in only his second start. Situated in the midst of veteran drivers like Kenny Spencer, David Darling, and Fred Astle, Jake battled with Seekonk’s best drivers throughout the main event.

“We had a great car for the feature. It was tough getting there, though. We were too tight in the first practice then over corrected and were too loose. The adjustments after the second practice seemed to be right on because the car was great from the start of the heat race on,” Jake said after the race.

The only close call of the race came on lap 20 when Jake and Tom Scully, Jr. were battling for position. Coming up on the lapped car of Joe Melberg, contact was made between the three cars which resulted in Scully, Jr. and Melberg making contact with the outside retaining wall.

“That was too bad with what happened to Tom, Jr. We were battling for position and were trying to get around the #100, but we really were not getting enough room. That could have been an ugly finish for us,” Jake recalled.

As the laps continued to click off of the scoreboard Jake battled with both defending track champion David Darling and fellow young-gun Mike Brightman for a place in the top five. The result, however, was a sixth place finish. Jake concluded, “We had a great night. We won our heat and then finished sixth in the main event – our first top ten. We continue to get some quality seat time, and that is the name of the game in this sport. It’s all about seat time. Thankfully, we are logging some solid finishes in the process. I can’t wait until next week’s 75-lapper.”

The next race on MDM’s schedule is The Coors Light Silver Cup, a 75-lap feature event scheduled for Saturday, May 24, at the Seekonk Speedway (MA).

For all of the latest information on MDM, stay tuned to www.mad-dogmotorsports.com.

Jake Rebounds for Eleventh in Opener

2008-05-11T14:26:00.000-04:00

Berkley, MA – (May 11, 2008) – Jake and the Mad Dog Motorsports (MDM) team competed in their first event of the 2008 season this past Saturday, logging an 11th place finish. Jake rebounded from a mid-race incident to finish in the top 15 in just his first race behind the wheel of the #16 Propane Plus/Aubuchon Hardware Pro Stock.

Jake started the 40-lap event in the ninth position by virtue of his fifth place heat finish. Once under green, Jake went to work, following the likes of David Darling and Fred Astle to the front.

“The car was real good. After the first few laps, I really started to get into a rhythm. Fortunately we were behind some guys that know their way around this place and were able to follow them through,” commented Vanada.

Avoiding spinning cars, Jake was able to make his way through several sticky situations on his way into the top five. By the time that the fifth caution flag flew with 20 laps complete, Jake was sitting in the fifth position, looking for fourth.

Things changed, though, on lap 26 when another car made contact with the blue, white, and yellow Ford Fusion sending it into the frontstretch wall backwards. “We got tapped from behind and I tried to correct it, but just couldn’t; we were too far sideways. Its unfortunate because the guys gave me a great race car here tonight and we were on our way to a top five finish in our first Pro Stock start. That’s racing though,” Jake recounted.

Jake was able to earn back eight positions in the final 14 laps, resulting in an 11th place finish. Jake concluded, “It was good comig back through the field. We were able to pass several cars using both the inside and the outside. Despite the wreck, we still had a good night. Now we have some work ahead of us, though, to straighten the clip and get the car back to where it was before the wreck.”

The next race on MDM’s schedule is Saturday, May 17, at the Seekonk Speedway (MA).

For all of the latest information on MDM, stay tuned to www.mad-dogmotorsports.com.