Woody Pitkat Comes Back From 2 Laps Down to Win CARQUEST SK 150 at Stafford
Stafford Springs, CT — Friday night, July 25th, was the 5th Annual CARQUEST SK® 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway. Woody Pitkat scored the $4,000 winner’s check by coming back from a flat tire which put him two laps down at one point with a late race pass for the win. Joe Rzeszutek wired the field in the 30-lap Late Model feature for his first win of the 2008 season, Harry Wheeler became a first-time career winner in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Andrew Durand nailed down his second feature victory of the 2008 season in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Jeff Jolly scored his first win of the 2008 season in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event.
In the 150-lap SK Modified® feature event, Todd Owen took the lead from the pole and led the first 9 laps before giving way to Chris Jones on lap-16. Jones led to lap-27 when Frank Ruocco took over the lead. Ruocco then led to lap-54 when Keith Rocco took the lead on a restart, but Ruocco would retake the lead on lap-56. Ruocco remained out front until lap-93 when Ronnie Silk moved to the point. Silk then held the lead up to lap-102 when Ruocco went back out front. Ruocco held the race lead until Silk beat Ruocco back to the start/finish line on lap-124 with the caution coming out one lap later.
[Photo Gallery] by Eric LaFleche
Silk held the point through lap-138. On a restart on lap-139, Rocco charged into the lead with a great move in turn 3, but a determined Silk moved back to the point several laps later on lap-141. Woody Pitkat, who had earlier spun with a flat tire and lost two laps, gained his two laps back with lucky dog awards and was now in the thick of the mix for the race lead and the battle for the win.
Pitkat moved to second on lap-142 and he took the race lead for the first time on lap-143. Ruocco got back to second, but it was too late for him to catch Pitkat, who took down his third feature victory of the 2008 season. Ruocco came home second, with Rocco, Kenny Horton, and Jeff Malave rounding out the top-5.
The 30-lap Late Model feature saw Joe Rzeszutek wire the field in a caution free run to pick up his first feature win of the 2008 season. Rzeszutek took the lead from the pole and led Tom Fearn and Wayne Coury, Jr. in the early laps. Coury quickly moved by Fearn for second and set his sights on Rzeszutek. As the race reached the half-way point, it was Rzeszutek and Coury pulling away from the rest of the field. Rzeszutek then began to pull away from Coury and he cruised to his first feature win of the season by leading all 30 laps. Coury took second, with Scott Foster, Jr., Dillon Moltz, and Woody Pitakt rounding out the top-5.
The 20-lap SK Light Modified feature saw Harry Wheeler drive to his first career feature win with a dominating wire to wire victory. Wheeler took the lead from the outside pole at the drop of the green and set the early pace. Wheeler was pressured throughout the race by Jay Goff, but Goff was unable to get close to Wheeler as Wheeler opened up his lead in the final laps of the race to cruise to his first career feature victory. Goff came home second with Raymond Grassetti, Adam Skowyra, and Joe Allegro, Jr. rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, it was Andrew Durand taking down the win, his second win of the 2008 season. Ed Charette led the first two laps before Durand moved to the front on lap-3. Darrin Havanec ran in second behind Durand for the first half of the race before Sean Foster moved into second place on lap-12. Foster would fade back several spots in the final laps as Bill Davis moved into second. Davis couldn’t get by Durand as Durand took down his second feature win of the 2008 season. Michael Chaves finished third, with Foster and Joey Ferrigno rounding out the top-5.
The 15-lap DARE Stock feature saw Jeff Jolly take his first feature win of the 2008 season. Matt Chiarizo took the early lead from the pole and he led the first several laps before Jolly moved to the front of the pack. Once Jolly was in the lead, he slowly began to pull away from the field and he went unchallenged to the checkered flag. Norm Sears finished second, with Albert Saunders, Todd LaPorta, and Scott Roy 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.
1) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
2) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
3) Keith Rocco, Wallingford
4) Kenny Horton, Guilford
5) Jeff Malave, Manchester
6) Ronnie Silk, Norwalk
7) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, Ny
8) Curt Brainard, Canton
9) Donny Travaglin, Winsted
10) Steven Reed, Freehold, Nj
11) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon
12) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
13) Wade Mattesen, Tolland
14) Fran Siana, Enfield
15) Kirk Zervas, Winthrop, Ma
16) Doug Coby, Milford
17) Dave Nordman, Woodstock
18) Glenn Griswold, Vernon
19) Bo Gunning, Bethlehem
20) Willie Hardie, Jr., Willington
21) Corey Hutchings, Salem
22) Todd Owen, Somers
23) Ted Christopher, Plainville
24) Emil Downey, II, Canton
25) Kerry Malone, Needham, Ma
26) Tom Bolles, Ellington
27) Chris Jones, New Milford
28) Lloyd Agor, New Milford
29) Rich Hammann, Tolland
30) Keith Carzello, Enfield
1) Joe Rzeszutek, South Hadley, Ma
2) Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford
3) Scott Foster, Jr., Willington
4) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
5) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
6) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
7) Scott Cook, Uncasville
8) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton
9) Corey Hutchings, Salem
10) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
11) Brian Chapin, Three Rivers, Ma
12) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
13) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
14) Rick Charette, Ellington
15) Dave Wray, Meriden
16) Kyle Nosal, Higganum
17) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
18) Duane Noll, Monroe
19) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
20) Mike Connelly, Feeding Hills, Ma
21) Doug Blowers, Jr., Brighton, Ma
SK LIGHT (20)
1) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
2) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
3) Raymond Grassetti, Monson, Ma
4) Adam Skowyra, Bromfield, Ma
5) Joe Allegro, Jr., Vernon
6) Chris Matthews, Stafford
7) Chris Bakaj, New Britian
8) Earl Pelletier, Wolcott
9) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
10) John Walmsley, Scotland
11) Shawn Brule, West Thompson
12) Fred Nees, Jr., New Milford
13) Paul Colla, Jr., Portland
14) Aaron Goff, Stafford Springs
15) Rick Burwood, Enfield
16) Steve Zukowski, Wallingford
17) Ted Cain, Plymouth
18) Mike Lane, Middlefield
19) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma
20) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
21) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
22) Neil Provost Jr., Union
23) C.J. Lacativa, Poughkeepsie, Ny
24) Alan Provost, Monson, Ma
25) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, Ma
2) Bill Davis, Monson, Ma
3) Michael Chaves, South Windsor
4) Sean Foster, Ellington
5) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
6) Darrin Havanec, Storrs
7) Michael Nadeau, Enfield
8) Carla Botticello, Manchester
9) Robert Dow, Stafford Springs
10) Ed Charette, Jr., Plainville
11) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
12) Dave Yardley, III, Meriden
13) Brian Clement, Wethersfield
14) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
15) David Capriati, Ludlow, Ma
16) Charlie Newman, Stafford Springs
17) Stacey Botticello, Manchester
1) Jeff Jolly, Wallingford
2) Norm Sears, Andover
3) Albert Saunders, Stafford
4) Todd Laporta, Waterbury
5) Scott Roy, Windsor
6) Melissa Blowers, Cromwell
7) Don Wood, Palmer, Ma
8) Dan Flannery, Ellington
9) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
10) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
11) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
12) Victoria Bergenty, Plainville
13) Robert Thompson, Springfield, Ma
14) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
15) Peter Bourque, Stafford Springs
16) Jim Brice, Manchester
17) Allen Anderson, Manchester
18) Tom Stirk, West Haven
19) Matt Chiarizio, Stafford Springs
20) Vince Gambacorta, Ellington
21) Barry Fluckiger, Vernon
22) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
23) Tony Membrino, Jr., Southington