Rocco, Hutchings, Galko, Nocera & Wood Score May 21st Whelen Event Night/NASCAR DAY Feature Victories at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT –Stafford Motor Speedway was back in action on a Friday, May 21st celebrating NASCAR Day with a Whelen Event Night race program consisting of five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions. Keith Rocco picked up his second win of 2010 in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Corey Hutchings took down his first victory of 2010 in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Matt Galko was a first-time career winner in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, George Nocera took down his first win of 2010 in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Don Wood scored his first victory of the 2010 season in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, the caution came out at the start for a multi-car spin involving Woody Pitkat, Jeff Malave, and Adam Skowyra. Brad Hietala took the lead back under green with Mark Bakaj, Tom Bolles, Jeff Baral, and Zach Sylvester behind him. The caution came back out with 3 laps complete for a spin by Chris Jones and Nichole Morgillo in turn 4.
Bakaj hung tough in the outside groove and powered his way by Hietala to take over the race lead on the restart. Baral followed Bakaj to the outside of Hietala with Keith Rocco, Bolles, and Ted Christopher behind them. Hietala went around in turn 2 with 6 laps complete to bring the caution back out. The field completed one lap back under green before the caution came back out for Morgillo and Skowyra, who came together and got into the frontstretch wall.
[Photo Gallery} by Nicholas Teto
Rocco moved to the inside of Bakaj for the lead on the restart to take over the race lead, but the field was only able to complete one more lap before the caution came back out again for spins by Frank Ruocco, Matt Gallo, and Joe Allegro, Jr. to slow the field once again with 9 laps complete.
Rocco again took command on the restart with Bakaj, Baral, Sylvester, and Bolles behind him. Rocco began to stretch out his lead while Baral was all over the back of Bakaj for second with Sylvester behind Baral. Baral was working Bakaj over for the position, but he couldn’t get the pass completed. Rocco was leading comfortably until the caution came back out with 18 laps complete as Josh Sylvester spun in turn 4 and collected the cars of Brad Hietala and Joe Allegro, Jr.
Rocco took the lead again on the restart, with Baral finally making a pass on Bakaj after he couldn’t get by him on the previous green flag run. Sylvester was third, with Bolles and Curt Brainard making up the top-5. With 20 laps complete, the caution came back out for Brit Andersen, who spun in turn 3 and collected 7 cars in a pileup. The race was red flagged so the cars could be removed from the track.
On the restart, Morgillo and Ruocco went around in turn 3, but as they got moving the caution came back out for Bolles, who came to a stop in turn 2. Rocco took the lead back under green with Bakaj and Baral side by side for second. They rode side by side for a lap before Baral was able to get clear. Brainard settled into fourth behind Bakaj and Sylvester was locked in a duel with Pitkat for fifth place. The action was slowed again for a spin by Skowyra with 25 laps complete.
Rocco and Baral again occupied the top two positions back under green with Bakaj third. Sylvester moved by Brainard to take over fourth and Dan Avery followed Sylvester by Brainard to take over fifth. Rocco was beginning to stretch out his lead, but the field was slowed with 29 laps complete by the caution flag for a spin by Eric Berndt in turn 4 that collected several other cars including Ted Christopher and Josh Sylvester.
Rocco took the lead back under green with Baral in second. Sylvester was third, with Bakaj and Avery making up the top-5. The top-5 ran in line until the action was slowed by the caution with 37 laps complete for Frank Ruocco, who had a flat right rear tire that sent him through the turn 4 infield and set up a three lap sprint to the finish.
Rocco powered into the lead with Sylvester getting to the inside of Baral for second. Ryan Preece was now in the mix for second. Rocco led the final three laps to take down his second SK Modified® feature victory of the 2010 season. Sylvester finished second, with Preece, Brainard, and Bakaj rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, a multi-car incident in turn 1 involved the cars of Jim Mavlouganes, Ed Ricard, and Dave Wray and brought the caution out at the start of the race. Alan Provost led the field to the green and he took the early race lead ahead of Jim Peterson. Provost’s time at the front was short-lived however as Peterson moved to the front on lap-3. Provost fell back to second, with Michael Bennett, Corey Hutchings, and Dillon Moltz making up the top-5.
Woody Pitkat got by Moltz for fifth on lap-5 and he followed Hutchings by Bennett on lap-6. Moltz would also get by Bennett to drop him from third to sixth. Tony Lafo lost fluid from his car with 7 laps complete to bring the caution out and slow the field.
Peterson charged into the lead on the restart while Hutchings and Bennett settled into second and third. Pitkat didn’t come up to speed and he fell back to the rear of the field. Moltz was fourth, with Keith Rocco moving into the fifth position. The caution came back out with 10 laps complete for a spin by J.J. Hill in turn 4. The caution came back out on the restart as the car of Hill put fluid down on the track.
On the restart, Hutchings blasted his way past Peterson to take over the race lead, but the caution came back out with 11 laps complete for a spin by Ed Ricard. Hutchings took the lead on the restart with Bennett and Moltz behind him. Peterson fell back to fourth and Rocco was fifth, but the caution came out one lap later for a spin by Ryan Posocco.
Ricard and John Kasper spun on the restart, but were able to get going and the race stayed green. Hutchings was still the race leader, with Moltz moving into second. Peterson settled into third, with Bennett fourth and Pitkat was back up to fifth after falling to the rear of the field earlier in the race.
The top-5 ran in line until lap-19 when Pitkat moved by Bennett for fourth place. Hutchings and Moltz were nose to tail at the front of the pack and pulling away from Peterson and Pitkat. Moltz was able to get to Hutchings’ bumper, but was unable to get by as Hutchings recorded his first feature victory of the 2010 season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Hutchings and Moltz was Pitkat, Peterson, and Bennett.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Zach Aszklar led the field to the green and he led the first two laps of the race, but he would lose the lead to Lauren Cooper on lap-3. Matt Galko moved into second behind Cooper, with Tommy Barrett, Jr., Frank Cardile, and Chad Trombley all moving by Aszklar over the next several laps.
Cooper held the lead until lap-10 when she spun in turn 4. Cooper’s spin collected the cars of Joey Cipriano, Earl Pelletier, and Erica Santos and brought the caution flag out.
Galko powered into the lead on the restart with Cardile moving into second. Barrett quickly pulled alongside Cardile and took over the position. Trombley followed suit several laps later as he also moved by Cardile with Heather DesRochers running fifth.
Barrett quickly ran Galko down and began to apply heavy pressure to Galko’s bumper with 5 laps to go. As Galko and Barrett dueled for the lead, Trombley was closing in on the top-2, but Barrett went around in turn 1 with 17 laps complete to bring the caution back out.
Galko powered into the lead on the restart, with Cardile and Trombley locked in a side by side duel for second. Cardile would get the spot after two laps of side by side racing, while John Hanafin was fourth and DesRochers was fifth. Ted Cain spun with 19 laps complete to set up a green-white-checkered restart.
Galko and Cardile were side by side for the lead on the restart with Trombley and Hanafin side by side for third. Trombley moved ahead of Hanafin while Galko was able to get clear of Cardile on the final lap. Galko led the train around to the checkered flag to pick up his first career SK Light Modified feature victory. Cardile held Trombley off for second place by a nose, with Hanafin and David Webb rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Carla Botticello led the field to the green and she led the first two laps of the race before George Nocera, Jr. powered his way into the lead on lap-3. Duane Provost was third, but he pulled out of line and slowly began to fade to the rear of the pack, moving Jesse Hinze up to third place. Michael Wray was fourth and Kevin Gambacorta was fifth.
Gambacorta moved by Wray for fourth on lap-7 and he moved by Hinze to take over third place on lap-10. Andrew Durand and Dan Flannery followed Gambacorta by Hinze to drop him back to sixth place. Nocera had begun to stretch out his advantage over Botticello while Gambacorta was trying to run down Botticello for second place. Nocera had a very strong car and he led the rest of the way to pick up his first victory of the 2010 season. Botticello held Gambacorta off for second, while Flannery and Shawn Thibeault rounded out the top-5.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, Josh Wood moved to the outside of Nick Salva at the drop of the green flag to pace the field. Wood would lose the lead on lap-2 as he spun in turn 2, but was able to get going and the race stayed under green. Salva took over the top spot, but he found misfortune as well on lap-3 as hi scar dropped off the pace, handing the lead over to Don Wood. Donald Cook settled into second, with Albert Saunders, Stephanie Berardi, and Cory Casagrande making up the top-5 in the early laps.
Saunders would move by Cook for second, but at the front, Wood was stretching out his lead lap by lap. But his margin was erased by the yellow flag with 8 laps complete for a spin by Josh Wood.
Wood assumed the lead back under green, but the caution would come back out for spins by Nick Salva, Stephanie Berardi, and Kaitlyn Brice. Wood again took the lead back under green, with Saunders behind him. Cory Casagrande was now up to third place, with Jeff Jolly and Stephen Daddio behind him.
Casagrande and Saunders got together and slid up the track, which allowed Jeff Jolly to pass them both to move from fourth to second behind Wood. Saunders settled into third, but Casagrande fall back through the field. Wood powered away from Jolly over the final laps to take down his first feature victory of the 2010 season. Jolly finished second, with Albert Saunders, Tony Membrino, Jr., and Kyle Casagrande 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) Keith Rocco, Meriden
2) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon
3) Ryan Preece, Berlin
4) Curt Brainard, Canton
5) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
6) Dan Avery, Somers
7) Chris Jones, New Milford
8) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
9) Jeff Baral, Enfield
10) Brit Andersen, Branford
11) Sean Foster, Ellington
12) Chris Jensen, Wolcott
13) Adam Skowyra, Brimfield, Ma
14) Matt Gallo, Kensington
15) Josh Sylvester, Lebanon
16) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
17) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
18) Tom Bolles, Ellington
19) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
20) Ted Christopher, Plainville
21) Todd Owen, Somers
22) Raymond Grassetti, Monson, Ma
23) Joe Allegro, Jr., Vernon
24) Brad Hietala, Ellington
25) Jeff Malave, Manchester
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Corey Hutchings, Salem
2) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
3) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
4) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
5) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
6) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
7) Keith Rocco, Meriden
8) Scott Cook, Uncasville
9) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
10) Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford
11) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
12) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
13) Tony Lafo, Higganum
14) Doug Blowers, Jr., Newton Highlands, Ma
15) Alan Provost, Monson, Ma
16) Ed Ricard, Stafford Springs
17) Joe Rzeszutek, South Hadley, Ma
18) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
19) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
20) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
21) Dave Wray, Meriden
SK LIGHT MODIFIED (20)
1) Matt Galko, Meriden
2) Frank Cardile, Bolton
3) Chad Trombley, Bethany
4) John Hanafin, Quincy, Ma
5) David Webb, New Milford
6) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
7) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
8) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
9) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma
10) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
11) Shayne Prucker, Stafford Springs
12) Dylan Liseo, East Hartford
13) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
14) Tommy Barrett Jr., Millis, Ma
15) Stephen Greer, Harwinton
16) Ted Cain, Plymouth
17) Victoria Bergenty, Plainville
18) Josh White, Ellington
19) Rick Williams, Haddam
20) Rick Burwood, Enfield
21) Lauren Cooper, Southbury
22) Earl Pelletier, Wolcott
23) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
24) Erica Santos, Franklin, Ma
25) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) George Nocera, Jr., Plainville
2) Carla Botticello, Manchester
3) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
4) Dan Flannery, Ellington
5) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
6) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, Ma
7) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
8) Michael Wray, Northford
9) Rob Dow, Stafford Springs
10) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
11) Keith Minchella, Springfield, Ma
12) Chris Cook, Pepperell, Ma
13) Dave Yardley, III, Meriden
14) Joe Nogiec, Bristol
15) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
DARE STOCK (15)
1) Don Wood, Palmer, Ma
2) Jeff Jolly, Wallingford
3) Albert Saunders, Stafford
4) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
5) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
6) Stephen Daddio, Seymour
7) Vince Gambacorta, Ellington
8) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
9) Nick Salva, Prospect
10) Andrew Hayes, Enfield
11) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
12) Donovin Secore, Vernon
13) Donald Cook, Agawam, Ma
14) Kaitlyn Brice, Manchester
15) Ky Jensen, Stafford Springs
16) Stephanie Berardi, Broad Brook
17) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic
18) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
19) James Carroll, West Hartford