Ruocco, Posocco, Matthews, Newman, and Flannery Score July 4th Wins at Stafford
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway celebrated the fourth of July holiday with a multimedia fireworks display set to music. The fireworks on the track were provided by Frank Ruocco, who won the SK Modified® feature, Ryan Posocco, who won the Late Model feature, Chris Matthews, who won the SK Light Modified feature, Charlie Newman, who won the Limited Late Model feature, and Dan Flannery, who won the DARE Stock feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Frank Ruocco drove to his first feature win of the 2008 season by outdueling Keith Rocco over the final laps. Doug Coby took the early race lead and held the top spot from the green flag to lap-22, when Ruocco overtook him on a restart. Rocco moved by Coby for second place on lap-27 and brought Ted Christopher with him past Coby. Christopher and Rocco would swap the second position several times over the final laps through several restart situations, with Rocco taking the spot on the final green white checker restart. Rocco stayed glued to the back bumper of Ruocco, but couldn’t make a pass for the win. Rounding out the top-5 behind Ruocco and Rocco was Tom Bolles, Christopher, and Jimmy Blewett.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Ryan Posocco drove to his second feature win of the 2008 season. Scott Cook took the lead from the pole and held the early lead. Cook and Brian Chapin ran 1-2 for much of the feature, while Ryan Posocco was picking his way towards the front of the field. Posocco moved into third on lap-11 and the top-3 cars ran in line with Cook beginning to pull away from the field. Posocco dogged Chapin for second and was able to get by Chapin on lap-25. Cook had a sizeable lead, but his lead was erased by a caution. Posocco stayed glued to Cook’s bumper, and on lap-27 Posocco moved by Cook to take the race lead. Cook got back in line in second, but was not able to get close enough to Posocco. Posocco took the checkered flag ahead of Cook, Michael Bennett, Wayne Coury, Jr., and Tom Butler.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Chris Matthews drove to his 5th victory of the 2008 season in dramatic fashion, losing the lead to Mark Bakaj on a restart and then moving back into the lead to take the victory. Mike Lane took the early lead and led the first 10 laps before Matthews moved to the front on lap-11. Bakaj followed Matthews past Lane to take second. A caution with 12 laps complete slowed the action and set up a restart. Bakaj powered past Matthews in the outside groove on the restart, but Matthews hung tough with Bakaj and moved back to the front on lap-15. Matthews held Bakaj off on a late race restart to take his 5th checkered flag of the 2008 season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Matthews and Bakaj was George Nocera, Jr., Lane, and Alan Provost.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Charlie Newman drove to his first feature win of the 2008 season. Jeff Hubbell led the first two laps before Newman took over the race lead on lap-3. Rob Dow followed Newman past Hubbell as Hubbell began to drift back through the field. Newman and Dow would run 1-2 for the remainder of the race as no one could mount a challenge to the top-2 cars. Rounding out the top-5 behind Newman and Dow was Michael Nadeau, David Capriati, and Bill Davis.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, it was Dan Flannery taking down his second feature victory of the 2008 season to join Norm Sears as the only repeat feature winners in the DARE Stock division this season. Jesse Hinze took the lead at the green and he held the lead until lap-7 when Todd LaPorta took over the top spot. Don Wood and Flannery were right behind LaPorta and followed him past Hinze. Flannery took second from Wood on lap-11 and on lap-12 he powered to the outside of LaPorta to take over the race lead. Flannery was able to hold Wood off to the checkered flag for his second feature win of the 2008 season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Flannery and Wood was Jeff Jolly, Scott Roy, and LaPorta.
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