Zach Aszklar Wins SK Light Xtra Mart Xtra D Feature Event at Stafford; Rocco, Quintiliano, Wood, Carroll also Score Feature Wins
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Speedway’s SK Light Modifieds took center stage on Friday, July 6th with their Xtra Mart Xtra D 25-lap feature event. Zach Aszklar was the big winner of the night, picking up his first career victory in the 25-lap Xtra Mart SK Light Xtra D feature event. Keith Rocco picked up his second consecutive SK Modified® victory of the 2012 season, Mike Quintiliano picked up his first feature victory since the 2005 season, Josh Wood picked up his sixth feature win of the season in the 20-lap Ltd. Late Model feature, and James Carroll picked up his first career feature victory in the 15-lap DARE Stock feature.
In the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Joey Ferrigno took the lead at the green with Zach Aszklar moving into second. Rick Williams settled into line in third, with Bob Charland and Tyler Hines behind him. Aszklar moved by Ferrigno to take over the lead on lap-3 and Charland moved by Williams for third. Dylan Kopec took to the high groove to try to get by Hines, but he was blocked by Williams, who was also running the high groove. One lap later. Hines and Kopec were both able to get by Williams to move into third and fourth place.
At the halfway point of the race, Aszklar had built up a 1 second lead over Ferrigno in second, while Charland was still in third, with Kopec and Hines behind him. Kopec made the move to take over third place on lap-12 and Hines moved into fourth as Charland fell from third back to fifth place.
[Photo Gallery] by Nicholas Teto
Kopec was now trying to get around Ferrigno in the high groove with 10 laps to go, which was allowing Aszklar to pull away in the lead. Kopec completed the pass on lap-17 but was unable to gain any ground on Aszklar. The caution came out with 19 laps complete for a spin by Shawn Brule in turn 3, which erased Aszklar’s lead.
Aszklar took the lead back under green, but Kopec was glued to Aszklar’s bumper. Kopec took the lead from Aszkar with a move in turn 4 on lap-21, but Asklzar wasn’t giving up as he stayed right on Kopec’s bumper. Ferrigno was third, with Hines in fourth and Charland in fifth.
Aszklar took the lead back from Kopec in turn 4 as the cars were coming to the white flag. The cars touched coming out of turn 4, but Aszklar held on to the checkered flag to pick up his first career victory. Kopec finished second, with Ferrigno, Hines, and Charland rounding out the top-5.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Glen Reen powered into the lead, but a multicar melee in turns 1+2 brought the caution out with 1 lap complete.
On the restart, Danny Cates shot into the lead but the caution came back out for a spin on the backstretch by Sean Foster and Nick Boivin before the field could complete the lap.
Cates took the lead back under green with Reen behind him. Tom Bolles was third, with Dan Avery and Matt Galko lined up behind him. Eric Berndt had a half spin in turn 2 on lap-4 but he was able to keep going. The caution came back out with 4 laps complete as Matt Gallo, Todd Owen, and Woody Pitkat touched wheels and all three cars went spinning through the grass.
The restart saw Reen get a strong run to the outside of Cates to move into the lead. Cates and Dan Avery were side by side for second with Bolles and Ryan Preece side by side behind him with Keith Rocco behind Avery. Avery spun on lap-6 but he was able to get refired and the race stayed green.
Cates moved back by Reen to take the lead and Preece took to the outside of Reen to move into second place. Rocco was now in fourth behind Reen and Bolles in fifth with Gallo and Frank Ruocco right behind him.
Rocco quickly worked his way by Reen and he took second from Preece on lap-14. Rocco immediately began to pressure Cates for the lead with Preece right behind Rocco in a three-car duel for the lead.
Rocco hounded Cates for the lead before he was finally able to make a pass on lap-19 to take over the lead. Preece pulled alongside Cates and they raced side by side for second with Ruocco right behind them in fourth place at the halfway point of the race.
Ruocco was coming on strong as he moved by both Cates and Preece to take over second place behind Rocco, who had pulled away from his closest pursuers. Ruocco’s good run ended with 27 laps complete as he appeared to lose an engine heading into turn 3.
There was a multicar pileup in turn 2 on the restart which brought the caution back out. Rocco took the lead ahead of Preece, Reen, Cates, and Owen on the restart. Owen moved into third on lap-30 with Woody Pitkat right behind him in fourt. Pitkat moved by Owen on lap-31 to move into third as Cates was back to fifth and Rocco continued to lead Preece.
Rocco led the field around to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive SK Modified® feature victory of the 2012 season. Preece finished second, with Pitkat, Owen, and Cates rounding out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Tom Butler got a good run to the inside of Ed Ricard on the first lap to move into the lead. Joe Rzeszutek slotted into second, with Kevin Gambacorta and Jim Peterson right behind him. Ricard and Mike Quintiliano were side by side for fifth with Quintiliano able to take the position. Peterson moved under Gambacorta for third on lap-4 and Quintiliano followed him by Gambacorta, as did Corey Hutchings as Gambacorta fell from third back to sixth.
Quintiliano made a move to the inside of Peterson on lap-9 to move into third place, while Butler continued to hold the race lead with Rzeszutek right behind him. Quintliano’s time in third was short lived as Hutchings and Peterson both moved back by Quintiliano on lap-11. Tom Fearn and Gambacorta also were able to get by Quintiliano before the caution came out with 12 laps complete for a spin by Sean Foster in turn 3.
On the restart, Hutchings, who was turning the fastest laps of anyone just prior to the caution, made a strong run to the inside of Butler one lap after the restart to move into the race lead. Gambacorta was up to third behind Hutchings and Butler, but Quintiliano moved by Gambacorta for third on lap-14. Fearn was fifth behind Gambacorta and tne caution came back out with 14 laps complete as Peter Thickett was facing the wrong way on the track in turn 4 and Scott Cook’s car was limping around the track.
Hutchings took the lead on the restart with Quintiliano moving into second, but Fearn and Rzeszutek both spun hard into the turn 3 wall to bring the caution back out.
The next restart saw Hutchings and Butler side by side for the lead with Quintiliano making a three-wide move at the start/finish line to move by both Hutchings and Butler to take over the lead. Peterson took second with Butler and Hutchings now side by side for third. Adam Gray made it three wide with Hutchings and Butler to pass them both and move into third place. Woody Pitkat was now into fourth with Hutchings behind him. Butler was falling back in the pack and Hutchings spun on the backstretch to bring the caution back out with 19 laps complete. Hutchings’ car wouldn’t refire and he had to be pushed back to pit road.
Quintiliano and Peterson were side by side for a lap on the restart before Quintiliano got clear into the lead. Gray moved by Peterson to take over second and Pitkat was side by side with Peterson for third place. Pitkat took the spot from Peterson and Butler was riding in fifth behind Peterson.
With 5 laps to go, Quintiliano still held the lead with Gray, Pitkat, Peterson, and Butler lined up behind him. Pitkat was able to get by Gray for second, but there wasn’t enough time to get to Quintiliano took down his first feature win since the 2005 season. Rounding out the top-5 behind Quintliano and Pitkat was Gray, Peterson, and Butler.
In the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Joe Nogiec took the lead at the green and he led the first three laps before contact with Brian Clement sent Nogiec around in the middle of turns 1+2 and brought the caution out.
On the restart, Duane Provost rocketed into the lead with Josh Wood, Andrew Hayes, David Arute, and Cory Casagrande lined up behind him. Provost held the lead until lap-7 when he washed up the track a bit coming out of turn 2, which gave Wood the opportunity he needed to get by Provost and take over the race lead. Hayes continued to run in third, with Arute and Casagrande still making up the top-5.
At the halfway point of the race, Wood was still in command with Provost several car lengths behind him. Several car lengths behind Provost was a three-car train with Hayes leading Arute and Casagrande. But that 3-car train was broken up on lap-14 as Casagrande got by Arute to move into fourth place.
Casagrande continued his charge to the front as he moved by Hayes for third but it was all Wood at the front as he took down his 6th feature win of the season. Provost finished second, with Casagrande third. Hayes and Arute put on a whale of a duel for fourth place, running side by side for the final two laps with Hayes edging out Arute at the line by a nose for the spot.
In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature event, Vince Gambacorta took the lead at the drop of the green and he began to set the pace ahead of James Carroll, Kris Fluckiger, Stephanie Berardi, and Monte Gibbs. Kyle Casagrande and Austin Bessette were on the move in the early laps, quickly working their way into the top-8. Gibbs was able to move by Berardi to take over fourth place while Gambacorta continued to lead the race ahead of Carroll and Fluckiger.
Gibbs continued his charge to the front as he moved to the inside of Fluckiger and took over third place on lap-9. Gambacorta was still the leader with Carroll right behind him. Bessette was making a pass on Berardi to move into fifth place on lap-10 and he brought Casagrande with him as Berardi fell from fifth back to seventh place.
Carroll reeled in Gambacorta and he made a move to take over the race lead on lap-12 with a turn 4 pass. Gibbs followed Carroll by Gambacorta and Fluckiger, Bessette, and Casagrande were also lineup up to the insdie of Gambacorta. Gibbs and Carroll were ready to settle the race between themselves, but the caution came out with 14 laps complete for a spin by Donnie Swan in turn 2 that set up a green white checkered finish.
On the restart, Gibbs got a good run to the outside of Carroll and he briefly pulled ahead of Carroll at the line taking the white flag. Carroll got a good run going down the backstretch and he pulled ahead of Gibbs going into turn 3. Carroll led the field back to the checkered flag to pick up his first career victory one week after a hard crash in practice eliminated him from the competition. Bessette finished second, with Casagrande, Gibbs, and Fluckiger 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 LIGHT MODIFIED (25)
1) Zach Aszklar, Wallingford
2) Dylan Kopec, Palmer, Ma
3) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
4) Tyler Hines, North Haven
5) Bob Charland, Stafford
6) Payton Henry, Willington
7) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
8) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
9) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
10) Rick Williams, Haddam
11) Frank Cardile, Bolton
12) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
13) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
14) Joe Boivin, Belchertown, Ma
15) Paul Tommasino, Meriden
16) Nick Salva, Prospect
17) Shawn Brule, West Thompson
18) Frog Fate, Tempe, Az
19) Dylan Campbell, Southborough, Ma
SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Keith Rocco, Meriden
2) Ryan Preece, Berlin
3) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
4) Todd Owen, Somers
5) Danny Cates, Chaplin
6) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, Ny
7) Matt Gallo, Kensington
8) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
9) Ted Christopher, Plainville
10) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
11) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
12) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
13) Michael King, Agawam, Ma
14) Joe Gada, Salem
15) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
16) Sean Foster, Willington
17) Matt Galko, Meriden
18) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
19) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
20) Tom Bolles, Ellington
21) Dan Avery, Somers
22) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
23) Curt Brainard, Canton
24) Chris Matthews, Stafford
25) Raymond Grassetti, Monson, Ma
26) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma
27) Nick Boivin, Belchertown, Ma
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Mike Quintiliano, Shelton
2) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
3) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
4) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
5) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
6) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
7) Peter Portante, Plainville
8) Keith Rocco, Meriden
9) Wayne Coury, Jr., Milford
10) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
11) Ed Ricard, Stafford Springs
12) Tony Lafo, Higganum
13) Peter Thickett, Watertown
14) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
15) Corey Hutchings, Salem
16) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
17) Joe Rzeszutek, South Hadley, Ma
18) Scott Cook, Uncasville
19) Sean Foster, Willington
20) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
LIMITED LATE MODEL (20)
1) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
2) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
3) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
4) Andrew Hayes, Charlton, Ma
5) David Arute, Tolland
6) D.J. Burnham, East Hartford
7) Dennis Botticello, Suffield
8) Brian Clement, Wethersfield
9) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
10) Justin Bren, Monson, Ma
11) Glenn Bartkowski, Manchester
12) Michael Wray, Northford
13) Joe Nogiec, Bristol
14) Darrell Keane, Srpingfield, Ma
DARE STOCK (15)
1) James Carroll, West Hartford
2) Austin Bessette, Stafford Springs
3) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
4) Monte Gibbs, Killingworth
5) Kris Fluckiger, Enfield
6) Stephanie Berardi, Broad Brook
7) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
8) Vince Gambacorta, Ellington
9) Andy Marchese, Tolland
10) Gary Spinnato, Sr., Wallingford
11) Johnny Walker, Ludlow, Ma
12) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic
13) Doug Phelps, New Salem, Ma
14) Jeremy Lavoie, Windsor Locks
15) Josh Parker, Exeter, Ri
16) David Macha, Sr., Columbia
17) Donnie Swan, Manchester
18) Albert Saunders, Stafford
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR