Christopher, Bennett, Membrino, Gambacorta & Membrino Score May 22nd TSI Harley-Davidson 100 Feature Wins at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — Friday night, May 22nd was the 19th Annual TSI Harley-Davidson 100 at Stafford Motor Speedway. With the Whelen Modified Tour in town, weekly feature winners were Ted Christopher in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Michael Bennett in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Tommy Membrino, Jr. in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Kevin Gambacorta in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Tony Membrino, Jr. in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.
The 40-lap SK Modified® feature took the green flag with Curt Brainard taking the early lead. Brainard had Matt Gallo all over his back bumper looking to move to the front. After several laps of trying both the high and low grooves, Gallo was able to make a move into the lead on lap-6. Gallo’s pass brought Frank Ruocco past Brainard and Ruocco moved by Gallo on lap-9 to move to the front.
Ted Christopher was behind Ruocco and the middle stages of the race saw some great racing between the top-2 as Christopher was searching for a way around Ruocco. Christopher was finally able to make a move to the inside of Ruocco on lap-28 and take the lead for the first time. The field was slowed by the caution with 30 laps complete.
On the lap-30 restart, the cars of Chris Jones and Ruocco came together in turn 1 while battling for second place, with Ruocco spinning and collecting the cars of Brad Hietala and Dave Salzarulo. Jones was sent to the rear of the field for rough riding by NASCAR officials. This put Brainard back alongside Christopher for the restart.
Several late cautions kept the field in close contact, but Christopher was up to the task on each restart and he held off Brainard at the checkered flag for his first SK Modified® feature victory of the 2009 season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Christopher and Brainard was Gallo, Wade Mattesen, and Mark Bakaj.
The 30-lap Late Model feature took the green flag with Billy Snow, Jr. taking the early lead. Snow stayed out front until a restart on lap-7 when Tom Fearn moved to the front of the pack. Fearn held the lead until the caution came out with 11 laps complete.
On the ensuing restart, Fearn’s car got out of shape sideways, which allowed Ryan Posocco to power into the lead with Michael Bennett right behind him. Two laps later, Bennett would move past Posocco in turn 4 to take over the race lead. Posocco took the lead back from Bennett on a lap-18 restart, but the race complexion changed when the caution came back out with 20 laps complete.
Posocco didn’t come up to speed on the restart, which bogged down the entire inside line and allowed Bennett to move back to the lead. Fearn followed Bennett and the two cars began to distance themselves from the rest of the field. It was a two-car race for the win, but Fearn could not get by as Bennett picked up his first win of the 2009 season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Bennett and Fearn was Rick Charette, Doug Blowers, Jr., and Jim Peterson.
The 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event took the green flag with the car of David Webb setting the early pace. Webb stayed out front for the first 6 laps of the race before giving way to Tommy Membrino, Jr. Membrino took command and began to set a blistering pace out front, but his lead was erased by the caution flag with 14 laps complete for a spin by Jay Goff and Lauren Cooper.
On the restart, Michael Gervais, Jr. powered by Membrino to take over the race lead, but Membrino came back strong on the following lap to retake the lead from Gervais. Once back to the front of the pack, Membrino was too strong to be overtaken as he pulled away from the pack to record his first career victory at Stafford Motor Speedway. John Montesanto finished second, with Gervais, Heather DesRochers, and Erica Santos rounding out the top-5.
The 20-lap Limited Late Model feature took the green flag with Norm Sears taking the early lead from the pole. Kevin Gambacorta fell into line behind Sears and immediately began to apply pressure. Gamacorta powered past Sears on lap-4 and they ran in line with Dave Yardley, III behind them until the caution came out with 13 laps complete.
On the restart, Gambacorta powered into the lead with Sears fading back several spots. Yardley, Carla Botticello, Bill Davis, and Dennis Botticello all got by Sears before he settled back into line. Carla Botticello worked her way around Yardley for second in the closing laps, but Gambacorta had the race under his control as he led the final 16 laps to take his first feature victory since the 2006 season. Carla Botticello and Yardley finished second and third, with Davis and Sears rounding out the top-5.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature Tony Membrino, Jr. took the early lead from the pole position, with Victoria Bergenty and Duane Provost behind him. Membrino began to slowly pull away from the field, building a nearly full straightaway lead over Bergenty by lap-10. Membrino continued his domination over the final 5 laps of the race as he scored a green to checker feature victory, the first of his career at Stafford Motor Speedway. Albert Saunders finished second with Provost, Jeff Jolly, and Don Wood 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