Preece & Pitkat Score 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Feature Victories at Stafford Motor Speedway Spring Sizzler Sunday
Stafford Springs, CT — Under bright and sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-70’s, Stafford Motor Speedway hosted the completion of “The Greatest Race in the History of Spring”, the 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler. Taking down feature victories were Ryan Preece in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature and Woody Pitkat in the 30-lap Late Model feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Eric Berndt moved by Ted Christopher for the race lead on the first lap of the race, but the action was slowed by Heather DesRochers who came to a stop in turn 4 and Nicole Morgillo, who had a half spin in turn 4.
Back under green, Berndt got the jump on Christopher, but Christopher came back strong and moved to the front of the field. Sean Foster was third behind Christopher and Berndt, with Woody Pitkat and Keith Rocco rounding out the top-5. The caution came back out with 3 laps complete for a spin by Vinny Anglace and Brian Sullivan in turn 3.
[Stafford 04/30/11] by Nicholas Teto
[Stafford – 05/01/11] by Nicholas Teto
Christopher and Berndt ran side by side on the restart for a lap with Christopher able to move in front of Berndt. Foster continued to run in third with Kurt Lenahan making a strong move into fourth and Chris Matthews moved into fifth place. On lap-8, Matthews moved by Foster to take over third, which allowed Lenahan, Ryan Preece and Frank Ruocco to also get by Foster, dropping him from third back to seventh.
Ruocco made a move by Lenahan for fifth place on lap-13 before the action was slowed by a spin by Anglace, which brought the caution back out. On the restart, Christopher didn’t come up to speed right away, allowing Preece to take the lead and Berndt to take second as Christopher fell from the lead back to third place. Matthews was in fourth place with Ruocco rounding out the top-5.
The order remained the same until lap-21 when Christopher made a move around Berndt to take over the second position. Brad Hietala brought the yellow back out with a spin in turn 4. Preece continued to hold the lead back under green with Berndt and Christopher riding side by side for second place. A spin by Kirk Zervas and Anglace in turn 2 brought the yellow back out one lap afte the restart.
The field completed another lap before the caution came back out for a spin by Woody Pitkat and Morgillo, who got together in turn 4. On the resetart, John Montesanto and Michael Gervais, Jr. spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow back out. Preece took the lead back under gree with Christopher and Berndt right behind him. Matt Gallo and Ruocco were side by side for fourth for a lap before Gallo took the spot.
With 10 laps to go, Preece continued to hold the lead over Christopher by a half straightaway with Gallo in third and Ruocco in fourth. On lap-32 Berndt’s great run came to an end as the car dropped off the pace and Berndt coasted onto pit road. With 34 laps complete, Gallo and Ruocco made contact in turn 1 with Gallo taking a half spin into the infield grass to bring the caution out and erase Preece’s lead.
Preece took the lead on the restart as Matthews pulled alongside and then past Christopher to take over second. Christopher settled into line in third, with Dan Avery fourth and Glen Reen was up to the fifth position. Preece went unchallenged over the final 6 laps as he scored a strong victory in the season opening SK Modified® feature event. Matthews finished second, with Christopher, Avery, and Reen rounded out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Keith Rocco took the early lead ahead of Woody Pitkat, but the field was only able to complete 2 laps before the caution came out for a spin by Patrick Townsend in turn 3. On the restart, Mark St. Hilaire didn’t come up to speed, but everyone was able to avoid his car. Rocco took the lead with Pitkat, Tom Fearn, Jim Mavlouganes, and Corey Hutchings making up the top-5 behind him.
On lap-8, Pitkat powered to the inside of Rocco in turn 1 and moved to the front of the field. Behind Pitkat and Rocco were the cars of Fearn, Mavlouganes, Hutchings, Ryan Posocco, Jim Peterson, and Dillon Moltz. The order remained the same until lap-10 when Posocco moved by Hutchings for fifth place. Posocco then got loose in the next corner, which allowed Peterson to move by for the spot, but Posocco then came back for the spot on the next lap. Peterson then had Moltz to his inside on lap-12 and the two cars made contact, which sent Peterson into a spin and brought the caution out.
Pitkat took the lead back under green with Rocco in second. Fearn was third, while Posocco took fourth and dropped Mavlouganes back to fifth place. Pitkat was beginning to stretch out his lead over Rocco at the front of the pack, while Rocco had a comfortable lead over the nose to tail trio of Fearn, Posocco, and Mavlouganes. Pitkat’s lead was erased by the caution for a spin by Walt Wosko and Scott Cook with 21 laps complete.
Pitkat again took the lead back under green with Rocco, Fearn, Mavlouganes, and Posocco quickly settling into single file behind Pitkat. Pitkat was again starting to stretch his lead out over Rocco, who was in turn pulling away from Fearn in third. Mavlouganes was giving Fearn several looks for the third position, but was unable to make a pass. Pitkat went unchallenged to the checkered flag to take the victory. Rocco finished second, with Fearn third and Mavlouganes held off a hard charging Posocco for the fourth position.
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