Rocco, Pitkat, Galko, Flannery, & Hayes Score June 25th NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Victories at Stafford
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway returned to racing action with a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program on Friday, June 25th. Keith Rocco picked up his third consecutive and sixth overall win of the 2010 season in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature, Woody Pitkat got win number four of 2010 in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Matt Galko scored his second victory of 2010 in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Dan Flannery won his fourth race of 2010 in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Andrew Hayes picked up his first win of 2010 in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Tom Bolles took the lead at the green with Mark Bakaj, Zach Sylvester, Josh Sylvester, and Jeff Malave behind him. Zach Sylvester quickly worked his way into second and he began to hound Bolles for the lead. On lap-9, Sylvester was able to pull alongside Bolles, but Bolles ran strong in the outside groove and he maintained control of the race lead.
The caution came out with 12 laps complete for Woody Pitkat, who stalled in turn 2. Bolles was the leader back under green with Zach Sylvester behind him. Frank Ruocco moved into third, with Josh Sylvester and Ted Christopher rounding out the top-5. Pitkat and Dan Avery spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow back out with 15 laps complete.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Bolles again took the lead on the restart with Ruocco moving by Sylvester to take over second. Bolles held the lead until lap-17 when Ruocco moved to the front. At the halfway point of the race it was Ruocco out front with Bolles, Christopher, Keith Rocco, and Zach Sylvester making up the top-5.
The top-5 ran in line until the caution came out with 26 laps complete for a spin by Bolles. Ruocco took the lead back under green with Christopher right behind him. Rocco moved into third with Zach Sylvester and Malave making up the top-5.
The field was slowed by several caution periods over the next several laps, but the field took the green flag for what would be the final restart on lap-34. Ruocco was still out front with Christopher and Rocco behind him. Ruocco held the lead until lap-37 when Christopher moved to the front. Christopher’s move gave Rocco enough room to also move by Ruocco.
As the field came to the white flag, Christopher got out of shape a bit, which gave Rocco all the room he needed as he charged to the inside of Christopher and took the lead. Rocco would lead Christopher back around and he took down his third consecutive and sixth overall win of the 2010 season. Christopher came home second, with Zach Sylvester, Ruocco, and Pitkat rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Corey Hutchings took the lead at the green ahead of Keith Rocco. Rocco took the lead on lap-2 in turn 1, but Hutchings used a cross-over move and was back out front in turn 3. Hutchings led the race until lap-7 when Woody Pitkat moved to the front. Scott Cook was third behind Pitkat and Hutchings, with John Kasper and Michael Bennett rounding out the top-5.
By lap-10, Bennett had moved by Kasper for fourth while Ryan Posocco and Dillon Moltz were just out of the top-5 in sixth and seventh place. Bennett would get by Cook for third and he moved into second on lap-16.
At the front of the field, Pitkat was pulling away from everyone while Posocco and Moltz were moving themselves into fourth and fifth place behind Bennett and Hutchings. The race ran green to checkered and Pitkat scored a dominating win, his fourth of the 2010 season. Bennett finished second, with Hutchings, Posocco, and Moltz rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Earl Pelletier took the early lead followed by Kyle Spencer, Zach Aszklar, John Hanafin, and David Webb. With 7 laps complete, Spencer spun coming out of turn 4 to bring the caution out.
Back under green, Hanafin powered to the outside of Pelletier to take over the race lead. Hanafin’s move brought Matt Galko by Pelletier as well, dropping him down to third. Hanafin held the lead until lap-10 when Galko moved to the front. The caution came out with 12 laps complete for a multi-car incident in turn 4 involving the cars of Victoria Bergenty, Shayne Prucker, Rick Williams, and Neil Provost, Jr.
The field was slowed twice more by cautions on lap-13 and lap-14, before going green for the final time on lap-15. Galko took the lead with Joey Cipriano and Tommy Barrett, Jr. behind him. Galko was able to stay in front of the duo for the final 5 laps and he nailed down his second win of the 2010 season. Barrett finished third, with Pelletier and Hanafin rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Jesse Hinze took the lead at the drop of the green from pole sitter Duane Provost. Rob Dow moved into second, with George Nocera, Jr., Andrew Durand, and Carla Botticello making up the top-5.
Durand quickly moved by Dow for second while Shawn Thibeault was on the charge moving into third. Dow ran fourth with Dan Flannery up to fifth place by the halfway point of the race. The action was slowed with 11 laps complete for a spin by Durand after contact with Thibeault while racing for second place.
Hinze took the lead on the restart with Flannery moving into second. Flannery then took the lead from Hinze on lap-13 and the caution came back out for Dave Yardley, III, who made hard contact with the frontstretch wall.
Back under green it was a free for all at the front with Kevin Gambacorta making a three-wide move to take the lead from Flannery. One lap later, Flannery charged back past Gambacorta to retake the lead. Just as Flannery took the lead, he got loose in turn 1 and Nocera moved to the head of the pack.
Flannery gathered his car up and went back by Nocera in turn 3 for the lead. Debris on the track slowed the action with 16 laps complete. Back under green Flannery took the lead ahead of Hinze. Gambacorta moved by Nocera for third, only to have Nocera take the position back in the next corner. Michael Wray spun to bring the caution back out with 18 laps complete and set up a green white checkered finish.
Flannery powered into the lead on the restart and went unchallenged over the final two laps to take down his fourth win of the 2010 season. Nocera finished second, with Dow, Hinze, and Durand rounding out the top-5.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, the field completed one lap before the caution came out for Kaitlyn Brice who hit the backstretch wall and Nick Salva, who spun. Vinny Gambacorta took the lead and he led the first 4 laps before giving way to Andrew Hayes on lap-5.
Hayes’ pass opened the door for Stephen Daddio, Cory Casagrande, Kyle Casagrande, and Tony Membrino, Jr. to all get by Gambacorta. The top-5 cars then ran in line until the caution came back out with 10 laps complete for debris on the track.
Hayes took the lead on the restart with Kyle Casagrande taking second. Membrino moved into third, with Cliff and Albert Saunders moving into fourth and fifth. The caution came back out with 13 laps complete for a spin by Kristen Bonaiuto in turn 1.
Kyle Casagrande took the lead on the restart, but Hayes hung tough in the outside groove and he powered back into the lead on lap-14. Hayes and Casagrande ran side by side for the final lap, with Hayes taking the checkered flag by a half car length to take his first victory of the 2010 season. Kyle Casagrande finished second, with Membrino, Albert Saunders, and Jeff Jolly 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) Ted Christopher, Plainville
3) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon
4) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
5) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
6) Chris Matthews, Stafford
7) Jeff Baral, Enfield
8) Curt Brainard, Canton
9) Joe Allegro, Jr., Vernon
10) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
11) Tom Bolles, Ellington
12) John Montesanto, North Branford
13) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
14) Jeff Malave, Manchester
15) Raymond Grassetti, Monson, Ma
16) Dan Avery, Somers
17) Vincent Anglace, Ansonia
18) Todd Owen, Somers
19) Josh Sylvester, Lebanon
20) Matt Gallo, Kensington
21) Adam Skowyra, Brimfield, Ma
22) Chris Jones, New Milford
23) Sean Foster, Ellington
24) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
25) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
2) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
3) Corey Hutchings, Salem
4) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
5) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
6) Scott Cook, Uncasville
7) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
8) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
9) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
10) Keith Rocco, Meriden
11) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
12) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
13) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
14) Tony Lafo, Higganum
15) Doug Blowers, Jr., Newton Highlands, Ma
16) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
17) Joe Rzeszutek, South Hadley, Ma
18) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
SK LIGHT MODIFIED (20)
1) Matt Galko, Meriden
2) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
3) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Ma
4) Earl Pelletier, Wolcott
5) John Hanafin, Quincy, Ma
6) David Webb, New Milford
7) Chad Trombley, Bethany
8) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma
9) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
10) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
11) Victoria Bergenty, Plainville
12) Ted Cain, Plymouth
13) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
14) Todd Clark, Bristol
15) Anthony Flannery, East Hampton
16) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
17) Dylan Liseo, East Hartford
18) Erica Santos, Franklin, Ma
19) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
20) Rick Burwood, Enfield
21) Rick Williams, Haddam
22) Shayne Prucker, Stafford Springs
23) Neil Provost Jr., Union
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Dan Flannery, Ellington
2) George Nocera, Jr., Plainville
3) Rob Dow, Stafford Springs
4) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
5) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, Ma
6) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
7) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
8) Carla Botticello, Manchester
9) Brian Clement, Wethersfield
10) Joe Nogiec, Bristol
11) Michael Wray, Northford
12) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
13) Chris Cook, Pepperell, Ma
14) Dave Yardley, III, Meriden
15) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
DARE STOCK (15)
1) Andrew Hayes, Enfield
2) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
3) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
4) Albert Saunders, Stafford
5) Jeff Jolly, Wallingford
6) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
7) Vince Gambacorta, Ellington
8) Stephen Daddio, Seymour
9) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
10) Stephanie Berardi, Broad Brook
11) Donald Cook, Agawam, Ma
12) David Arute, Tolland
13) Ky Jensen, Stafford Springs
14) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
15) Kristen Bonaiuto, East Hartford
16) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic
17) Nick Salva, Prospect
18) James Carroll, West Hartford
19) Kaitlyn Brice, Manchester