Dillon Moltz Wins Third Consecutive Late Model 100 at Stafford; Malave, Santangelo & Durand Also Score Victories
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway opened up its regular Friday night NASCAR Whelen All-American Series schedule with the Late Model division taking center stage for the 15th Annual Late Model 100. Dillon Moltz outlasted veterans Jim Peterson and Ryan Posocco over the final 15 laps of the race to take home his third consecutive extra distance feature victory at Stafford. Jeff Malave drove a strong race to score his first SK Modified® feature win in over 4 years in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Tony Santangelo was the winner of the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, and Andrew Durand made it two-for-two in 2009 with his second consecutive victory in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature. The 15-lap DARE Stock feature was halted by rain with two laps complete.
In the 100-lap Late Model feature event, Tracy Brouillette streaked into the race lead from the pole and he led the first 20-laps of the race before giving way to Jim Peterson on lap-21. Peterson maintained his lead through the first caution period on lap-36 and he had his car in cruise control as a three-car train of Peterson, Ryan Posocco, and Dillon Moltz were clicking laps off the board.
Late Model 100 Feature Results
Updated 2009 Late Model Points Standings
May 8 SK Modified® Feature Results
Updated 2009 SK Modified® Points Standings
May 8 SK Light Modified Feature Results
Updated 2009 SK Light Modified Points Standings
May 8 Limited Late Model Feature Results
Updated 2009 Limited Late Model Points Standings
On lap-76, Peterson was successfully navigating lapped traffic, but both Posocco and Moltz were getting hung up, which allowed Peterson to pull away after the trio had spent nearly 40 laps nose to tail. A caution with 84 laps complete erased Peterson’s lead and put both Posocco and Moltz back in contact with Peterson to battle for the win. Moltz quickly worked his way by Posocco and then took the lead from Peterson on lap-88. Once into the race lead, Moltz began to click off his fastest laps of the race and he led the final 12 laps to take his third consecutive extra distance feature victory. Peterson finished second, with Posocco, Corey Hutchings, and J.J. Hill rounding out the top-5.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Keith Rocco took the lead from the outside pole and led the first 9 laps of the race before Jeff Malave moved to the front on lap-10. Ted Christopher moved into second behind Malave and was applying pressure for the race lead. Kenny Horton moved by Christopher for second place on lap-16 and began to hound Malave for the race lead.
Several times, Horton appeared to have a pass put together to take over the race lead, but he couldn’t make his car stick to complete the pass. Horton’s strong effort went up in smoke with 28 laps complete as he lost his engine and brought out the caution.
Horton’s misfortune put Christopher back into second place and he and Woody Pitkat were putting on a great duel for second. Through several caution periods, Dave Salzarulo moved by both Pitkat and Christopher and gave chase to Malave, but was unable to do anything as Malave drove to his first feature victory in over four years. Salzarulo finished second, with Pitkat, Christopher, and Wade Mattesen rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Tony Santangelo was the beneficiary of contact between race leaders Tony Membrino, Jr. and Brit Andersen midway through the race, which put him into the lead and propelled him to his second career feature win.
David Webb took the early race lead from the outside pole and he held the lead until lap-11 when Andersen moved to the front. Membrino followed Andersen past Webb and lined up to the outside of Andersen for a restart on lap-13. Membrino powered past Andersen to take the lead, but the next lap saw contact made between Membrino and Andersen, which sent both cars for a lazy spin through the frontstretch grass and handed the race lead over to Santangelo. The race stayed under green flag conditions and Santangelo was able to drive to the checkered flag ahead of Jay Goff. Rounding out the top-5 behind Santangelo and Goff was Heather DesRochers, Erica Santos, and Earl Pelletier.
The 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event came down a wild three-car finish between Andrew Durand, Shawn Thibeault, and Bill Davis. Thibeault started the race on the pole and he led the first 8 laps of the race, building up a sizeable lead over second place Kevin Gambacorta. That lead was erased when the caution came out for a spin by Scott Roy.
Thibeault held the top spot on the restart, but Durand was on the charge, looking for a way around Thibeault after quickly disposing of Gambacorta. Durand was able to make the move for the lead on lap-13 restart. Thibeault stayed glued to Durand’s bumper with Davis closing in over the final laps of the race. Thibeault took several shots at getting by Durand, but was not able to make a pass stick. On the final corner of the race, Thibeault made a move to the inside of Durand for the win, but ran into the lapped car of Vince Gambacorta, which allowed Davis to get by Thibeault at the line for second and almost take the victory from Durand. Rounding out the top-5 behind Durand, Davis, and Thibeault was Dennis Botticello and Carla Botticello.
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