Stafford Speedway Kicks Off 20-Week Friday Night Race Season this Friday Night, May 6th
Stafford Springs, CT — Friday, May 6th will mark the first of 20 consecutive weeks of Friday night NASCAR racing at Stafford Motor Speedway. The 2011 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series kicked off last weekend with the 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, and last week’s feature winners were Ryan Preece in the SK Modified® feature, Keith Rocco in the Late Model feature, Joey Cipriano in the SK Light Modified feature, George Nocera, Jr. in the Limited Late Model feature, and Kyle Casagrande in the DARE Stock feature.
In his first full season of SK Modified® competition, Preece drove a strong race to take down his second career SK Modified® victory. Chris Matthews, who is the winningest driver in Stafford’s SK Light Modified division with 17 career wins, took a career best 2nd place finish behind Preece, driving around 7-time SK Modified® champion Ted Christopher to take the position. Christopher rounded out the podium finishers in third place with Dan Avery and Glen Reen making up the remainder of the top-5 cars. Defending Whelen All-American Series National Champion and SK Modified® track champion Keith Rocco came to pit road early in the feature and fought his way through traffic to a 6th place finish.
The Late Model division saw Rocco end up as the winner of the race after Woody Pitkat was issued a post-race penalty. Tom Fearn was second and Jim Mavlouganes rounded out the podium finishers, while defending track champion Ryan Posocco had a strong effort to finish in fourth place. Pitkat’s teammate, Corey Hutchings, came home in fifth position after running among the front-runners all race long.
The SK Light Modified division saw a great fight between two young guns for the race lead and win. Defending track champion Matt Galko tried to reel in Joey Cipriano for much of the race, but Cipriano was able to hold Galko off and took the checkered flag. Earl Pelletier was third, with Jay Goff finishing fourth and Tommy Membrino, Jr. rounded out the top-5.
The Limited Late Model feature saw a great fight for the race lead between Nocera and Kevin Gambacorta for most of the race until Gambacorta slipped in the closing laps and fell back to fourth place. 3-time DARE Stock track champion Norm Sears made his return to the Limited Late Model division a success with a second place finish, while Shawn Thibeault came home in third. Gambacorta, who is a former two-time Limited Late Model track champion, finished fourth with 2008 track champion Bill Davis rounding out the top-5 cars.
In the DARE Stock feature, Kyle Casagrande continued his winning ways of a year ago by taking the checkered flag ahead of second generation racer Josh Wood. David Arute finished a career best third, while Don Wood and Cliff Saunders rounded out the top-5 cars.
With 21 races left on the 2011 schedule, the race for the track championships are wide open. Tickets for this Friday night’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Opening Night program are priced at $15.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is priced at $18.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available. May is Youth Organization Month at Stafford Motor Speedway and any child age 6-14 who wears a team shirt or uniform to the track will be given a free admission when accompanied by an adult.
For more information on the May 6 Opening Night Program, or to order tickets, 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