Last weekend things got off on a good note as Teddy won the SK Modified 40-lap feature at Stafford on Friday night, his 101st career feature victory at his home track. His win, combined with a third place finish by point leader Keith Rocco, closed the gap in the championship standings to 30 points while Woody Pitkat struggled to a disappointing finish and was later placed last in the final rundown.
“It was a good night for us,” smiled TC. “I started eighth in the feature and soon fell back to 11th in the early laps. But once I got going on the outside I was able to move up and eventually took home a big win. It wasn’t as memorable as the 100th win earlier in the year but this one was very important to our championship hopes.”
On Saturday night Teddy was on Long Island, competing for car owner Eddie Whelen in a Whelen Modified Tour event at Riverhead Raceway. TC fought tooth and nail on the quarter-mile oval, battling hard with such local favorites at Jimmy Blewett and Bill Park. After finishing second in the first heat race, he lined up 3rd in the feature lineup and then drove his way to the front. Using the outside groove Teddy was able to pass Park for the lead on the 59th circuit.
After 42 laps at the front of the field, TC was muscled out of the way as Jimmy Blewett took over the lead. He got pinched on the outside and eventually fell back to fourth, where he eventually finished.
“It was disappointing to lose positions at the end of the race after leading for so many laps,” admitted Teddy. “Blewett pinned me on the outside and took over the lead. He went on to win the race.” But TC was all smiles after his fourth place finish closed the gap to championship leader Chuck Hossfeld by 46 points.
The Tour returns to Stafford this Friday night, August 8, for the New England Dodge Dealers 150.
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