Dillon Moltz Wins Late Model 100 at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — The Late Model division took center stage at Stafford Motor Speedway this past Friday night with the first of two extra distance 100-lap feature events of the 2008 season. Dillon Moltz drove to his third consecutive Late Model feature victory of the season in the 100-lapper, with Woody Pitkat winning the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Mark Bakaj winning the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Joey Ferrigno winning the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Robert Thompson winning the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event.
The 100-lap Late Model feature saw Dillon Moltz continue his hot streak by recording his third straight Late Model feature victory. Scott Cook took the early race lead from the pole and led the first 18 laps before contact from Brian Chapin sent him spinning in turn 4. Corey Hutchings took over the race lead and he led the race to lap-27 when Joe Rzeszutek took over the top spot. Rzeszutek held the lead under a long green flag stretch of the race until Moltz ran him down and took the lead on lap-67. From that point to the finish, Moltz was never seriously challenged as he scored his third consecutive feature win. Rzeszutek finished second, with Hutchings, Ryan Posocco, and Scott Foster, Jr. rounding out the top-5.
The 40-lap SK Modified® saw Woody Pitkat drive to his first feature win of the 2008 season by outdueling last week’s feature winner, Keith Rocco. Doug Coby led the first three laps before Pitkat streaked into the lead on lap-4. Pitkat then led the rest of the way to pick up his first feature win of the year. Pitkat first had to contend with Chris Jones and then Ted Christopher over the first 31 laps of the race until Christopher spun in turn 2. Jeff Malave then hounded Pitkat until Rocco moved to second on a green white checkered restart. Rocco applied pressure to Pitkat, but was not able to get by. Rounding out the top-5 behind Pitkat and Rocco was Malave, Todd Owen, and Dave Salzarulo.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, it was Mark Bakaj driving to his second feature victory of the 2008 season. Harry Wheeler held the lead from the green to lap-4 when Joe Allegro, Jr. moved to the front of the pack. Allegro held the lead to lap-18, when Mark Bakaj moved past Allegro after a restart. Bakaj held Allegro off over the final two laps to take home his second victory of the 2008 season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Bakaj and Allegro was Chris Matthews, Neil Provost, Jr., and John Walmsley.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, saw Joey Ferrigno drive to his first feature win of the 2008 season. Michael Nadeau took the lead at the drop of the green and he led the first 12 laps before giving way to Ferrigno on lap-13. Kevin Gambacorta followed Ferrigno past Nadeau with Bill Davis also moving by Nadeau. Gambacorta and Davis began to race side by side for second place, which gave Ferrigno all the cushion he needed out front as he took the checkered flag. Gambacorta beat Davis to the line by a nose for third place, with Nadeau coming home fourth and David Capriati rounded out the top-5.
The 15-lap DARE Stock feature event saw Robert Thompson score his first career victory, the second week in a row that there has been a first time winner from the DARE Stock division. Cliff Saunders took the lead at the green and he led the first 4 laps of the race before being overtaken by Saunders on lap-5. Thompson would stay out front for the remainder of the race, holding off a hard charging Norm Sears at the checkered flag to take the win. Last week’s winner Scott Roy finished third, with Don Wood and Saunders rounding out the top-5.
The Late Model 16 feature event saw Michael Bennett take the lead from Doug Blowers, Jr. on lap-9 and lead the rest of the way to take the win. Dillon Moltz finished second, with Blowers, Mike Quintiliano, and John Warren rounding out the top-5.
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
SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
2) Keith Rocco, Wallingford
3) Jeff Malave, Manchester
4) Todd Owen, Somers
5) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Ma
6) Corey Hutchings, Salem
7) Donny Travaglin, Winsted
8) Ted Christopher, Plainville
9) Glenn Griswold, Vernon
10) Kenny Horton, Guilford
11) Curt Brainard, Canton
12) Willie Hardie, Jr., Willington
13) Brad Hietala, Ellington
14) Keith Carzello, Enfield
15) Fran Siana, Enfield
16) Kirk Zervas, Winthrop, Ma
17) Tom Bolles, Ellington
18) Jimmy Blewett, Howell, Nj
19) Chris Jones, New Milford
20) Doug Coby, Milford
21) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
22) Wade Mattesen, Tolland
23) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon
24) Steven Reed, Freehold, Nj
25) Bo Gunning, Bethlehem
26) Brett Gonyaw, Manchester
27) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, Ny
LATE MODEL (100)
1) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
2) Joe Rzeszutek, South Hadley, Ma
3) Corey Hutchings, Salem
4) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
5) Scott Foster, Jr., Willington
6) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
7) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton
8) Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford
9) Cliff Stakey, Southington
10) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
11) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
12) P.J. Zarrella, Waterbury
13) Brian Chapin, Three Rivers, Ma
14) Dave Wray, Meriden
15) Duane Noll, Monroe
16) Rick Charette, Ellington
17) Steve McQuillan, Bolton
18) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
19) Joe Perry, Ashaway, Ri
20) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
21) Scott Cook, Uncasville
22) Walt Wosko, Jr., West Suffield
23) John Warren, Chicopee, Ma
24) Don Acker, Jr., West Haven
25) Michael Connelly, Feeding Hills, Ma
26) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
27) Doug Blowers, Jr., Brighton, Ma
SK LIGHT (20)
1) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
2) Joe Allegro, Jr., Vernon
3) Chris Matthews, Stafford
4) Neil Provost Jr., Union
5) John Walmsley, Scotland
6) Raymond Grassetti, Monson, Ma
7) Aaron Goff, Stafford Springs
8) George Nocera, Jr., Plainville
9) Alan Provost, Monson, Ma
10) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
11) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
12) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
13) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
14) Adam Skowyra, Bromfield, Ma
15) David Webb, New Milford
16) Mike Lane, Middlefield
17) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
18) Paul Colla, Jr., Portland
19) Steve Zukowski, Wallingford
20) Shawn Brule, West Thompson
21) Rick Burwood, Enfield
22) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma
23) Ted Cain, Plymouth
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
2) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
3) Bill Davis, Monson, Ma
4) Michael Nadeau, Enfield
5) David Capriati, Ludlow, Ma
6) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
7) Carla Botticello, Manchester
8) Rob Dow, Stafford Springs
9) Michael Chaves, South Windsor
10) Darrin Havanec, Storrs
11) Dave Yardley, III, Meriden
12) Brian Clement, Wethersfield
13) Lauren Cooper, Southbury
14) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, Ma
15) Chris Cook, Pepperell, Ma
16) Lori-Jo Rzeszutek, Hadley, Ma
17) Jeff Hubbell, Naugatuck
18) Sean Foster, Ellington
19) Charlie Newman, Stafford Springs
20) Ed Charette, Jr., Plainville
DARE STOCK (15)
1) Robert Thompson, Springfield, Ma
2) Norm Sears, Andover
3) Scott Roy, Windsor
4) Don Wood, Palmer, Ma
5) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
6) Jeff Jolly, Wallingford
7) Matt Chiarizio, Stafford Springs
8) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
9) Dean Casagrande, Stafford Springs
10) Dan Flannery, Ellington
11) Vince Gambacorta, Ellington
12) Todd Laporta, Waterbury
13) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
14) Melissa Blowers, Cromwell
15) Mike Como, Jr., Warren, Ma
16) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
17) Victoria Bergenty, Plainville
18) Albert Saunders, Stafford
19) Paul E. Jensen, East Hampton
20) Tony Membrino, Jr., Southington
21) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
22) John Lampro, Jr., Enfield
LATE MODEL 16 (16)
1) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
2) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
3) Doug Blowers, Jr., Brighton, Ma
4) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton
5) John Warren, Chicopee, Ma
6) P.J. Zarrella, Waterbury
7) Dave Wray, Meriden
8) Don Acker, Jr., West Haven
9) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
10) Walt Wosko, Jr., West Suffield
11) Rick Charette, Ellington
12) Michael Connelly, Feeding Hills, Ma