Tommy Barrett Captures VMRS Feature at Stafford
STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT — After a disappointing finish last week due to engine troubles at the Star SBM 125, Tom Terrific came back and bested a field of highly competitive drivers to win his first feature of the year. Thirty-three cars signed in to compete and after three heats and a consi, the stage was set for twenty-six of the best to race for 80 laps on Stafford Springs Speedway’s 1/2-mile oval. After qualifying, the top six drivers drew for starting spots in the feature, with Keith Rocco of Wallingford ,CT drawing the pole and Tommy Barrett of Milis, MA outside pole. As the green flag dropped for the start, Timmy Jordan of Plainfield, CT made contact with Dana Smith of Sunapee, NH and Jordan received extensive damage to his racer, ending up against the front stretch wall.
The yellow flag brought everyone under control and Ted Christopher of Plainville ,CT made a stop on pit road for what appeared to be rear end problems. Christopher would only last 17 laps before being black-flagged for not keeping up the race pace.
On the ensuing restart, Keith Rocco, being no stranger to the Stafford Springs surface, settled into the lead with Barrett in tow. By lap 5, Dave Etheridge of Portland, CT and Ryan Preece of Berlin, CT found the needed power to get by Barrett on the inside. Etheridge wasted little time and two laps later, his #34 caught and passed the Keith Rocco ride going down the front stretch for the lead.
A lap later,Preece pulled off the same maneuver in the same place. Now it was Etheridge in the lead with Preece challenging while the rest of the field strung out in single file. On lap 20, caution was displayed for Max Zachem’s stopped car on the backstretch. On the restart, Preece out-powered Etheridge for the lead and Barrett shot by Keith Rocco for third, but a lap later Preece would pit for trouble with his car, handing the lead over to Etheridge. Barrett would settle into second place with Keith Rocco, Jeff Rocco of Meriden, CT and an always-fast Steve Masse of Bellingham, MA rounding out the top five. A long stretch of green flag racing gave Etheridge the opportunity to lengthen his lead, while back in the pack Eric Goodale of Riverhead, NY and Rowan Pennink of New Egypt, NJ put a move on Mark Bakaj from Lebanon, CT, moving themselves up to sixth & seventh, respectively.
At the midpoint of the race, Keith Rocco’s’ mount developed trouble and he pitted out of third place, giving the spot up to brother Jeff. Masse, Goodale and Pennink were bunched up in a tight group behind Jeff, all looking for the right time to make their move. All the while, Etheridge was putting himself in another time zone.
Caution #3 came on lap 59 for a coasting #57 of Jeff Rocco. This gave Barrett the chance he needed, closing up the gap and restarting beside Etheridge. With 20 laps to go, Barrett over powered Etheridge for the lead and Goodale slid by Masse for the third spot. Barrett was now in clean air and taking advantage of it by pulling away. Behind the Victory Bar & Grill sponsored black #9, Goodale kept making attempts on Masse, and with 15 laps to go, the #58 got by the #13 for third place. Behind the leaders, the jousting for positions was getting intense as the laps wound down. A lap 71 yellow flag would calm things for the moment, but the racing became high pitched as soon as the green was waved and Masse worked the outside of Goodale for third. He kept up his torrid pace by catching, and then passing, Etheridge for second on lap 74. Now all Masse could do was follow Barrett the final few laps to the finish line. Etheridge had an amazing night finishing third, Goodale fourth, and Richard Savary rounded out the top-five.
Race Summary
Track: Stafford Springs Speedway
Distance: 80 Laps
Margin of victory: 0.491
Best lap time 18.704
Fastest MPH 96.236
Lead Changes: 4
Leaders: Keith Rocco 1-7, Dave Etheridge 8-21, Ryan Preece 22-23; Dave Etheridge 24-60, Tommy Barrett 61-80.
Cautions: 5 (Laps 1, 20, 59, 71, 73)
Order of Finish
9 Tommy Barrett
13 Steve Masse
34 Dave Etheridge
58 Eric Goodale
99 Richard Savary
45 Dan Messervey Jr
18 Eddy Spiers
29 Woody Pitkat
53 Norm Wrenn
85 Louie Mechalides
25 Rowan Pennink
17 Todd Owen
77 Matt Mead
66 Dylan Kopec
52 Mark Bakaj
92 Anthony Nocella
8 Danny Cates
79 Max Zachem
74 Dana Smith
57 Jeff Rocco
68 Keith Rocco
78 Tom Bolles
31 Ryan Preece
09 Brad VanHouten
00 Ted Christopher
47 Tim Jordan
Sources: Jim Snape/YankeeRacer.com