Rocco, Moltz, Matthews, Durand & Flannery Score Sept. 7 Wins at SMS
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway returned to Friday night NASCAR racing with the kick-off event to its 2007 September Series, a three-week stretch during September that will lead up to the season ending CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend and determine Stafford’s track champions. Keith Rocco took the SK Modified® feature win, Dillon Moltz won the Late Model feature, Chris Matthews won the SK Light feature, Andrew Durand won the Limited Late Model feature, and Dan Flannery won the DARE Stock feature.
The 40-lap SK Modified® feature took the green with Wade Mattesen charging past Richie Pallai, Jr. to take the early lead. Pallai would battle back by Mattesen on lap-5 to reclaim the lead. Keith Rocco followed Pallai past Mattesen, and Pallai and Rocco ran nose to tail for the lead over the next several laps. Rocco moved by Pallai on a lap-11 restart, and from that point on, he would not be headed at the front of the field as he scored his third SK Modified® feature win of the 2007 season. Kerry Malone finished a distant second to Rocco, with Ted Christopher, Curt Brainard, and Todd Owen rounding out the top-5. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Championship hopeful Woody Pitkat, who saw his five race winning streak come to an end last Friday night, suffered through several spins but came back to finish 9th.
The 30-lap Late Model feature saw 16-year old Dillon Moltz take down his first career victory with a wire to wire performance. Moltz charged from his starting position of third to the lead on the opening lap and he led the rest of the way in dominating fashion to score his first career victory. A caution on the white flag lap set up a green white checkered finish with Late Model points leaders Corey Hutchings and Jim Peterson hot on his heels. Peterson moved by Hutchings on the restart to take second, but was unable to make a move on Moltz over the final two laps and Moltz took the checkered flag to cap off his dominating run. Rounding out the top-5 behind Moltz and Peterson was Hutchings, Woody Pitkat, and Scott Cook.
The 20-lap SK Light feature saw Chris Matthews drive to his fourth victory of the 2007 season. Aaron Goff took the early race lead and he led the first 12 laps of the race before surrendering the lead to Matthews on lap-13. Several late caution periods kept Goff in close contact with Matthews, but Goff’s night ended prematurely with a spin on lap-18. The SK Lights had eclipsed their 20-minute feature time limit and the decision was made to red/checker the race, making Matthews the winner. Josh Sylvester finished second, with Brit Andersen, Raymond Grassetti, and Alan Provost rounding out the top-5.
The 20-lap Limited Late Model feature with Charlie Newman taking the early lead. Newman held the lead until lap-5 when Andrew Durand moved to the front. Newman kept in close contact with Durand while Bill Davis ran third. Davis would get by Newman for second and the top-3 ran in line until the caution flew with 18 laps complete, setting up a green white checkered situation. On the restart, the cars of Newman and Davis made contact with Davis spinning in turn 3 to bring the yellow back out. On the next restart, Sean Foster moved by Newman for second but was unable to run Durand down as he scored his fifth feature victory of the 2007 season. Foster finished second, with Kevin Gambacorta, Rick Lanagan, and Newman rounding out the top-5.
The 15-lap DARE Stock feature came down to a four-lap duel between Dan Flannery and Vince Gambacorta for the race win. Gambacorta took the early race lead and he held the lead until a lap-6 restart that saw Don Wood take over the top spot. Wood held the lead temporarily before Gambacorta went back out front. Gambacorta then held the lead until caution came out with 11 laps complete. On the restart Flannery powered past Gambacorta on the outside groove to take over the lead. Gambacorta fought tough and stayed glued to Flannery’s bumper, but was unable to get back by as Flannery took his second feature win of the 2007 season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Flannery and Gambacorta was Wood, Carla Botticello, and Megan Bienkowski.
For more information contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at (860) 684-2783, or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR