Ryan Preece Wins 38th Annual Coors Light SK Modified® 100 At Stafford; Moltz, Barrett, Gambacorta, & Wood Also Score Wins
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Speedway’s SK Modified® division took center stage with the running of the 38th Annual Coors Light SK Modified® 100. Ryan Preece took home the $2,600 winner’s check by taking the checkered flag in 38th Annual Coors Light SK Modified® 100, Dillon Moltz captured his second feature victory of the season in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Tommy Barrett, Jr. took down his third win of the season in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Kevin Gambacorta picked up his first win of 2011 in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Josh Wood was a winner for the second consecutive week in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.
The Coors Light SK Modified® 100 took the green flag with Mark Bakaj taking the lead ahead of Tom Bolles. Dan Avery moved into third, with Sean Foster fourth and Woody Pitkat was fifth. Bolles nearly had a pass for the lead on lap-4, but he fell back into line behind Bakaj.
Pitkat moved into fourth on lap-4 and he brought Eric Berndt with him past Foster. The caution came out with 9 laps complete as Bakaj went around in turn 3. Michael Gervias, Jr. also spun as he tried to avoid hitting Bakaj.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Pitkat took the lead back under green with Avery moving into second. Bolles was third, with Fosger and Berndt side by side for fourth place. Nichole Morgillo went through the backstretch grass but was able to keep going. However the caution came out with 13 laps complete for a spin by Michael Bennett and Glenn Sullivan in turns 1+2.
Pitkat took the lead back under green with Avery and Berndt behind him. Bolles and Malave were side by side for fourth with Ted Christopher and Foster side by side behind Bolles and Malave. Berndt was beginning to take a look to the inside of Avery for second and he made the pass on lap-17. Ryan Preece moved into the fifth spot as he got by the cars of Christopher, Foster, Malave. Preece continued his charge and he moved into third place on lap-20 behind Pitkat and Avery.
At the lap-25 mark, Pitkat, Berndt, and Preece were locked nose to tail while Avery, Bolles, Malave, Christopher, Glen Reen, Foster, and Todd Owen were in a single file train behind the lead trio. The caution came back out with 31 laps complete as Bolles and Foster went around in turn 1. Malave was sent to the rear of the field for contact with Bolles.
Pitkat took the lead back under green with Preece moving into second. Preece went under Pitkat in turn 4 on lap-32 to take over the race lead. Berndt was third behind Preece and Pitkat with Avery and Owen making up the top-5. Glen Reen, who was running right behind the top-5 cars, lost an engine to bring the caution out with 33 laps complete. Just as Reen’s engine expired, Morgillo’s car let loose a plume of smoke and she had to be pushed to pit road. Morgillo would return to the race after several laps behind the wall.
Preece took the lead on the restart with Berndt moving to the inside of Pitakt for second. Pitkat was able to hang tough in the outside groove and fought off the challenge from Berndt to maintain second behind Preece. Avery was fourth with Owen in fifth. Preece was comfortably in the lead ahead of Pitkat and Berndt when the caution came out with 52 laps complete for a spin by Chris Matthews, who was running in the fifth position.
Preece again took the lead back under green with Pitkat, Berndt, Avery, and Owen making up the top-5 behind him. Jeff Baral was sixth, with Curt Brainard, Christopher, Malave, and Foster making up the second half of the top-10. Christopher worked his way by both Brainard and Christopher before the caution came back out for a spin by Ron D’Alessandro in turns 1+2. Preece took the lead on the restart with Berndt getting by Pitkat for second. Owen got by Avery for fourth place and Christopher, Brainard, Foster, Matthews, and Baral in line behind him. Christopher was hounding Avery for fifth, but Avery was able to hold him off. Up front, Pitakt was all over Berndt for second, but was unable to make a pass. The caution came back out with 67 laps complete for Ron D’Alessandro, who stalled on the pit road exit.
Preece again took command on the restart with Pitkat getting back by Berndt for second. Avery, Owen, and Christopher were locked in a three-car fight for fourth with Avery taking the spot. Christopher fell into line in fifth and Owen settled into sixth. Avery’s car suddenly dropped off the pace on lap-77 and he crawled around the track back to pit road.
At the front of the field, Preece had again opened up a comfortable margin over Pitkat in second, who was several car lengths ahead of Berndt in third. Christopher was fourth, with Curt Brainard and Frank Ruocco fighting for fifth. Ruocco made the move on Brainard and took the spot on lap-84. The caution came out with 88 laps complete for a spin by John Montesanto, which erased Preece’s lead and set up a 12 lap dash to the checkered flag.
Preece took the lead on the restart but the caution came back out one lap after the restart as Berndt nearly spun in turn 4 and then Mark Bakaj went around in turn 4. The new restart order was Preece and Pitkat on the front row with Christopher and Ruocco making up the second row.
Preece powered into the lead on the restart with Pitkat able to keep second ahead of Christopher, Ruocco, and Mathews. The caution came back out with 89 laps complete as Brian Sullivan drove up and over the car of Jeff Malave as Todd Owen and Joe Gada also spun in turn 1.
Preece took the lead on the restart with Pitkat, Christopher, and Ruocco behind him. Ruocco made a move inside of Christopher to take third on lap-91 as Preece was able to pull several car lengths on Pitkat. The caution came back out with 95 laps complete for a spin by Heather DesRochers and Montesanto.
Preece again charged into the lead on the restart with Ruocco moving to the inside of Pitkat for second. Christopher closed in right behind the side by side duo of Ruocco and Pitkat while Preece was pulling away. Ruocco was able to complete the pass on Pitkat on lap-99, but no one had anything for Preece as he took the checkered flag. Ruocco nipped Pitkat at the line for second, with Christopher and Brainard rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, J.J. Hill took the lead at the green with John Kasper, Dillon Moltz, Ryan Posocco, and Corey Hutchings making up the top-5. Woody Pitkat spun in turn 1 to bring the caution out with 2 laps complete. Tony Lafo was sent to the rear of the field for making contact with Pitkat.
Hill again took the lead back under green with Moltz moving into second. Hutchings moved into third and Posocco moved into fourth as Kasper slid from second back to fifth place in line. Tom Butler was sixth and Pitkat was on the charge after coming to the pits for new left side tires and he was in seventh.
Moltz was hounding Hill for the lead and he made a move to the inside of Hill on lap-8 to take over the lead. Moltz’s pass opened the door for Hutchings and Posocco to take over second and third as Hill fell back to fourth place.
Moltz began to slowly stretch out his lead over Hutchings, who had Posocco, Hill, Kasper, and Pitkat lined up nose to tail behind him. Posocco made a pass on Hutchings on lap-14 to take over second and the next lap saw Kapser move by Hutchings. Kasper’s move opened the door for Pitkat, Hill, Butler, and Jim Peterson to all get by Hutchings as he fell back to eighth place. With 10 laps to go, Moltz still held the lead with Posocco, Pitkat, Kasper, and Butler making up the top-5. Moltz looked to be maintaining his lead over Posocco, while Pitkat was creeping ever closer to Posocco for second. Pitkat made the pass on Posocco on lap-24 and set his sights on Moltz in the lead. As strong as Pitakt’s car was in catching and passing Posocco, he couldn’t catch Moltz in the lead as Moltz took his second win of the season. Pitkat finished second, with Posocco, Kasper, and Butler rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Zach Aszklar took the early lead ahead of Earl Pelletier, Dylan Kopec, and Harry Wheeler. Tommy Barrett was on the charge as he sliced his way through traffic to move into third behind Pelletier. Barrett went by Pelletier on lap-8 to take over second while Aszklar continued to lead. The action was slowed by the caution with 9 laps complete for a spin by Shayne Prucker in turns 1+2.
Aszklar and Barrett were locked in a side by side duel for the lead back under green. Barrett was able to get by Aszklar in the outside groove just before the action was slowed by the caution flag for a multicar incident involving the cars of Tommy Membrino, Jr., Earl Pelletier, and Frank Cardile, who all spun and came to a stop in the backstretch grass. On the restart, several cars found the turn 1 wall as Harry Wheeler, Dylan Kopec, Jesse Ruocco, and Cody Gneiting were all involved to bring the caution back out.
Aszklar and Barrett were again side by side for the lead on the restart, but Steve Greer spun in turn 3 to bring the caution back out with 11 laps complete. On the next restart, Joey Cipriano and Shayne Prucker made contact in turn 2 with Prucker spinning to bring the caution back out. On the next restart, Cipriano didn’t come up to speed and Aszklar charged into the lead with Matt Galko and Barrett behind him. Barrett came back strong and he moved back to the front on lap-14 while Galko settled into third behind Barrett and Aszklar.
Barrett began to pull away once he moved into the lead, leaving Aszklar and Galko dueling for second place. Galko took the place on lap-19 only to have Aszklar come right back and move back by Galko on the white flag lap. But it was all Barrett at the front as he collected his third win of the 2011 season. Aszklar finished second, with Galko, Tony Membrino, Jr. and Bob Charland rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Jesse Hinze and Joe Nogiec raced side by side for the lead for the opening lap before Hinze moved to the front of the field. Duane Provost moved into second and Kevin Gambacorta moved into third as Nogiec fell back to fourth place. Dan Flannery was running in fifth, but he made a move to the inside of Nogiec on lap-5 to move up to fourth.
The action was quick at the front of the pack as Gambacorta moved by Hinze for the lead on lap-7. The order was shuffling behind Gambacorta as Provost was now in second, with Norm Sears in third, George Nocera, Jr. in fourth, and Shawn Thibeult in fifth as Flannery was falling back with a loose racecar.
Sears took second from Provost and he began to close the gap to Gambacorta, who had built up a comfortable lead while the rest of the field was swapping positions behind him. With 5 laps to go, the order was Gambacorta, Sears, Nocera, Thibeault, and Provost.
Sears was never able to mount a challenge to Gambacorta as Gambacorta took his first feature victory of the 2011 season. Sears finished second, with Nocera, Thibeault, and Cory Casagrande rounding out the top-5.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, Albert Saunders took the early lead at the drop of the green and he immediately began to open up a lead over Nick Salva, Josh Wood, Kyle Casagrande, and Don Wood. Josh Wood took second from Salva on lap-5 and his move brought Casagrande and Don Wood with him as Salva fell from second back to fifth place. The caution came out with 6 laps complete for a spin by Kaitlyn Brice in turn 3. Josh Wood took the lead on the restart with Albert Saunders right behind him. Casagrande was third in line, with Don Wood and Salva behind him to make up the top-5. Johnny Walker and James Carroll spun in turn 3 to bring the caution out with 9 laps complete.
Josh Wood took the lead back under green with Casagrande and Albert Saunders behind him. Casagrande got a bit loose in turn 4 on lap-12, which allowed Saunders to take the position from Casagrande. Wood would lead the field around for the final 6 laps to take his second consecutive DARE Stock feature victory. Albert Saunders finished second, with Casagrande, David Arute, and Cliff Saunders 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.
SK MODIFIED® (100)
1) Ryan Preece, Berlin
2) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
3) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
4) Ted Christopher, Plainville
5) Curt Brainard, Canton
6) Jeff Baral, Enfield
7) Chris Matthews, Stafford
8) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
9) Joe Gada, Salem
10) Vincent Anglace, Ansonia
11) Ron D’alessandro, East Hartford
12) Tom Bolles, Ellington
13) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
14) Todd Owen, Somers
15) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
16) Sean Foster, Willington
17) Jeff Malave, Manchester
18) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
19) Kurt Lenahan, Roxbury
20) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
21) John Montesanto, North Branford
22) Dan Avery, Somers
23) Donny Travaglin, Winsted
24) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
25) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
26) Glenn Sullivan, Westbury, Ny
27) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
2) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
3) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
4) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
5) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
6) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
7) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
8) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
9) Corey Hutchings, Salem
10) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
11) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
12) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
13) Jeff Rocco, Wallingford
14) Tony Lafo, Higganum
15) Walt Wosko, Jr., West Suffield
16) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
SK LIGHT MODIFIED (20)
1) Tommy Barrett, Jr., Millis, Ma
2) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
3) Matt Galko, Meriden
4) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
5) Bob Charland, Stafford
6) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
7) Rick Williams, Haddam
8) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
9) Jesse Ruocco, Cheshire
10) Paul Tommasino, Meriden
11) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
12) Shayne Prucker, Stafford Springs
13) Steve Greer, Harwinton
14) Dylan Kopec, Palmer, Ma
15) Cody Gneiting, Broad Brook
16) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
17) Tony Massaro, Hamden
18) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
19) Earl Pelletier, Wolcott
20) Frank Cardile, Bolton
LIMITED LATEL MODEL (20)
1) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
2) Norm Sears, Andover
3) George Nocera, Jr., Plainville
4) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
5) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
6) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
7) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
8) Dan Flannery, Ellington
9) David Burnham, East Hartford
10) Chris Cook, Pepperell, Ma
11) Joe Nogiec, Bristol
12) John Lelas, III, Guilford
DARE STOCK (15)
1) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
2) Albert Saunders, Stafford
3) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
4) David Arute, Tolland
5) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
6) Kris Fluckiger, Enfield
7) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic
8) Vince Gambacorta, Ellington
9) Nick Salva, Prospect
10) Brandon Michael, Cranville, Ma
11) Andrew Hayes, Charlton, Ma
12) David Macha, Columbia
13) Robert Spinnato, Wallingford
14) Austin Bessette, Stafford Springs
15) Andrew Marchese, Tolland
16) Don Wood, Palmer, Ma
17) Johnny Walker, Ludlow, Ma
18) James Carroll, West Hartford
19) Doug Phelps, Jr., New Salem, Ma
20) Kaitlyn Brice, Manchester
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR