Gervais, Fearn, Kopec, Burnham & Casagrande Score May 25th TSI Harley-Davidson 125 Feature Wins at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT– Stafford Speedway returned to racing with the 22nd Annual TSI Harley-Davidson 125. Taking down feature victories were Michael Gervias, Jr. in the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Tom Fearn in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Dylan Kopec in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, D.J. Burnham in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Kyle Casagrande in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature. For Gervais, it was his first career win in any division at Stafford, Fearn won for the first time since the 2009 season, Kopec was a winner for the third time in 4 SK Light races this season, Burnham ended Josh Wood’s winning streak at three races, and Casagrande became the all-time winningest DARE Stock driver in Stafford history with his 13th career victory.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Brian Sullivan took the lead on the outside of Kurt Lenahan while Todd Owen moved into second. Ted Christopher spun on the backstretch but kept going and Eric Berndt took a spin through the frontstretch grass, but was also able to keep going and the race stayed green. Owen was all over the back bumper of Sullivan looking to take over the lead, but Sullivan was able to stay out front.
Owen was finally able to make a pass on Sullivan and he took the lead on lap-7. Glen Reen was running in third behind Sullivan, while Keith Rocco moved into fourth on lap-9 after starting deep in the field. Rocco continued his charge as he moved by Reen on lap-10 to move into third. Rocco’s pass brought Ryan Preece along with him past Reen. Rocco continued to move towards the front as he took second from Sullivan on lap-14. But Rocco’s good run came to and end in turn 3+4 as his car suddenly began to leak fluid and he spun in the fluid. Also involved were the cars of Preece, Reen, and Sullivan. Rocco, Sullivan, and Reen were behind the wall with damage, while Preece was able to continue in the race.
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On the restart, Gervais got a good run to the outside of Owen to take over the race lead. Dan Avery moved into second as Owen fell back to third, just in front of Tom Bolles and Sean Foster. Ted Christopher was making a move back towards the front after his early race misfortune, but bad luck found Christopher again as Tommy Membrino, Jr. and Curt Brainard touched wheels and Membrino went up the track and into Christopher’s path. Christopher touched wheels with Membrino, which shot his car up into the turn 2 wall to bring the caution out.
Gervais took the lead back under green with Avery locked in a tight duel with Owen for second. Bolles, Foster, and Preece were nose to tail behind Owen and Avery to make up the top-6. Preece quickly took to the outside groove and he worked his way by Foster and then Bolles to move into fourth place on lap-25. While Preece was making his moves for position, Owen was able to get by Avery to move into second behind Gervais, who was setting sail at the front of the field.
With 10 laps to go, it was still Gervais with a comfortable lead over Owen. Behind Owen was Avery and Preece, with Foster beginning to close in on Avery and Preece. Gervais’ large lead was erased with 35 laps complete as Berndt spun in turn 4 to bring the caution out and set up a 5 lap sprint to the finish.
Gervais took the lead on the restart with Owen in second. Preece moved up to third, with Avery and Bolles making up the top-5. Gervais led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his first career victory at Stafford. Owen finished second, with Preece, Avery, and Bolles making up the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Ed Ricard got a good run to take the lead on the outside of Scott Cook while Tom Fearn shot up to second. Fearn continued his charge as he moved by Ricard to take over the lead on lap-2. Tony Lafo was third, with Mike Quintiliano fourth and Jim Peterson fifth. Fearn immediately began to stretch out his lead over Ricard in second, while Lafo and Quintiliano were nose to tail for third. Quintiliano was able to move by Lafo on lap-8 to move into third while Fearn continued to lead Ricard.
Fearn was still the leader at the halfway point of the feature, with Ricard and Quintiliano in a duel for second behind Fearn. Corey Hutchings was now in fourth after following in the tracks of Lafo for several laps. Once Hutchings made his move by Lafo, it opened the door for J.J. Hill to also get by Lafo. Lafo was now in sixth place, just ahead of a host of cars including Patrick Townsend, Woody Pitkat, Keith Rocco, and last week’s winner Mark St. Hilaire.
Ricard’s car began to fade in the second half of the race, as Quintiliano, Hutchings, and Hill were all able to get by. Hutchings and Hill followed in Quintiliano’s tracks until lap-28 when they both got by, dropping Quintiliano from second back to fourth. Fearn led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his first late Model feature win since 2009. Hutchings came home in second, with Hill, Quintiliano, and Ricard rounding out the top-5 in a caution free race.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Rick Williams took the lead at the green and he led the first 7 laps before Dylan Kopec moved to the front. Once Kopec was out front, he began to pull away from Williams, but his lead was erased by the caution flag with 12 laps complete for a spin by Dylan Liseo and Dylan Campbell in turn 2. The order for the restart was Kopec and Williams on the front row, with Jay Goff and Zach Aszklar in the second row.
On the restart, Aszklar and Scott Bouley got into the turn 2 wall and Joe Boivin spun to bring the caution back out.
Kopec took the lead on the restart but the action was behind him as Aszklar, Frank Cardile, and Jay Goff went three wide for second with Cardile coming out ahead of Aszklar and Goff. Williams was in fifth just in front of Tyler Hines while Kopec continued to lead the race with 5 laps to go. Kopec led the field to the checkered flag to pick up his third win in four events this season. Cardile finished second, with Aszklar, Goff, and Williams rounding out the top-5.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Joe Nogiec got a good run to the outside of Justin Bren to take the lead at the drop of the green. Before the field could complete lap 2, Dennis Botticello got loose in turn 3 and collected Carla Botticello to bring the caution out.
On the restart, Nogiec took the lead but one lap after the restart, D.J. Burnham moved past Nogiec to take over the lead. Josh Wood followed Burnham by Nogiec as did Cory Casagrande as Nogiec settled into line in fourth just in front of Jesse Hinze.
At the halfway point of the race, Burnham was still in front of Wood and Casagrande. Duane Provost was now in fourth while David Arute was in fifth, just in front of Andrew Hayes. The top-3 cars had pulled away from Provost in fourth and were getting ready to settle the race between themselves. Wood was able to keep pace with Burnham, but he couldn’t get close enough to make a move for the lead. Burnham was able to hold Wood off to pick up his first win of the 2012 season. Wood finished second after three consecutive wins to open the season, with Casagrande, Provost, and Arute rounding out the top-5.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, Jeremy Lavoie led the field to the green, but he was quickly overtaken by Andy Marchese for the top spot. Stephanie Berardi followed Marchese past Lavoie to take over second, but the caution came out with 1 lap complete for a spin by Kris Fluckiger and Doug Phelps in turn 1. Under the caution, Albert Saunders, who had won the last two DARE Stock feature events at Stafford, came down pit road along with Monte Gibbs and both cars were finished for the evening.
Back under green, Marchese took the lead ahead of Berardi and Lavoie. Kyle Casagrande was on the move, quickly moving into fourth and he took third from Lavoie on lap-4. Cliff Saunders rounded out the top-5 with 4 laps complete as Marchese continued to lead Berardi. Casagrande overtook Berardi for second place on lap-5 and the action was slowed by the caution with 5 laps complete as Phelps spun in the middle of turns 3+4.
Casagrande took the lead on the outside of Marchese as the race went back to green. Marchese slotted into second, with Cliff Saunders side by side with Berardi for third and Austin Bessette was side by side with Lavoie for fifth just behind Saunders and Berardi. Saunders took third with Berardi settling into fourth, but Bessette and Lavoie were still side by side for the fifth position Bessette was able to complete the pass two laps after the restart and he took over fifth place and he was closing in on Berardi for fourth place when the caution came out for Trevor Berry, who lost an engine in a plume of smoke with 9 laps complete.
Casagrande took the lead back under green, but the field was only able to complete one lap before Marchese got loose in turn 4 and as he was correcting his car, he collected the car of Lavoie and got a piece of Berardi’s car as the field took evasive action, which brought the caution out. Berardi was able to continue, while Marchese and Lavoie were finished for the night.
Casagrande again took the lead back under green with Cliff Saunders in second. Bessette was third with Johnny Walker and Berardi behind him. Walker and Berardi spun in turn 2 on lap-13, but both cars were able to get moving and the race stayed green. Casagrande had pulled away from Saunders and Bessette by several car lengths and he went unchallenged to the checkered flag to pick up his second feature victory of the 2012 season. Saunders was able to hold off Bessette at the line for second, with Kaitlyn Brice and Vince Gambacorta 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