Preece, Gray, Sorel, Saunders, Fearn, & Bock Score July 11th Girls Night Out / Mid-Season Stretch Feature Wins at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Speedway returned to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action with Girls Night Out / Mid-Season Stretch program with all 6 divisions of racing going an extra two laps in feature distance. Taking down feature victories were on the night were Ryan Preece in a wild and wacky finish in the SK Modified® feature, Adam Gray in the Late Model feature, Jeremy Sorel in the SK Light Modified feature, Albert Saunders in the Limited Late Model feature, Alexandra Fearn in the DARE Stock feature, and Brendon Bock in the Legend Cars feature.
In the 42-lap SK Modified® feature event, Tom Bolles took the early lead but he was quickly passed by Curt Brainard. Ronnie Williams was second behind Brainard and he made a move to the inside of Brainard in turn 3 on lap-5 to move to the lead. Sean Foster was third with Dan Avery fourth and Doug Coby in fifth.
Avery got around Foster to move into third on lap-8 and right behind them Keith Rocco got by Doug Coby to move into fifth. Rocco then got by Foster to move into fourth on lap-9 and he was quickly closing in on Avery for third. Rocco got around Avery for third on lap-12 and he made a move by Brainard for second on the next lap. Rocco was closing in on Brainard for the lead when the caution came out with 15 laps complete as Jessey Mueller and Tommy Membrino, Jr. came together in turn 2.
The race went back to green with Williams and Rocco waging a side by side duel for the lead. The drivers stayed side by side for two laps before the caution came back out with 17 laps complete for a multi-car incident in turn 3 that involved the cars of Matt Gallo, Zach Sylvester, Ted Christopher, Woody Pitkat, and several others.
The next restart saw Rocco get a massive run on the outside of Williams as Rocco streaked into the lead as the field rumbled through the first two corners. Williams was now side by side with Dan Avery for second with Coby back in fourth and Ryan Preece in fifth after making a pass on Brainard. Preece then went by Coby to move into fourth on lap-21 as Avery was beginning to apply heavy pressure to Rocco’s back bumper for the lead. Mueller spun to bring the caution back out with 22 laps complete.
Rocco took command back under green with Avery quickly slotting into second. Preece was trying to make a pass on Williams in the high groove but Williams was able to hold him off after several laps of side by side racing. Foster got by Coby to move up to fifth on lap-25 as Rocco continued to lead Avery and Williams. Coby moved back by Foster on lap-27 to move back into fifth place. The caution came back out with 29 laps complete as Troy Talman did a half spin in the middle of turns 1+2.
Rocco got a good restart and resumed the lead while Williams was able to pull alongside Avery for second. Coby and Preece were side by side for fourth behind Williams and Avery with Foster in sixth. Williams was able to get clear of Avery on lap-32 to move into second and Coby was able to hold off Preece to take fourth. The top-5 then ran unchanged until the caution flew with 41 laps complete for a spin by Brainard in the middle of turns 3+4 to set up a green white checkered finish.
Rocco again nailed the restart and powered his way into the lead but Matt Galko came to a stop backwards against the turn 3 wall to bring the caution back out.
Mayhem broke out on the next restart as Rocco and Williams touched with Rocco climbing up and over the rear of Williams’ car as they spun backwards into the turn 1 wall. Also collected in the melee was Todd Owen, Woody Pitkat, Mueller, and Troy Talman.
Coby got a good run on the outside of Avery and he had the lead by a nose at the line as the field took the white flag. As the cars raced into turn 1, Avery made contact with Coby and Coby spun in turn 1 with Avery coming to a stop behind Coby. This allowed Preece to move from third to the lead and he led Ted Christopher, Sean Foster, Woody Pitkat, and Tom Bolles to the checkered flag to pick up his fourth win of the 2014 season.
In the 32-lap Late Model feature event, Josh Wood streaked into the lead from the pole with Michael Bennett slotting into second. Kyle Casagrande was third, with Adam Gray and Scott Cook behind him. Michael Scorzelli got by Cook to move into fifth on lap-2 and Cook lost several more spots as he was in the outside groove.
Wood was looking like he was shot out of a cannon as he had a lead of a half straightaway by lap-5 over Bennett. Bennett came under fire from Gray on lap-6 and Gray took over the spot with a pass in turn 4. Kyle Casagrane was fourth and J.J. Hill was fifth with Tom Fearn moving into sixth as Scorzelli fell back to seventh place.
Wood was maintaining his gap over Gray while Casagrande got out of shape on the backstretch and fell to the rear of the pack after running in the top-5 for the first 12 laps. Gray was now beginning to close down the gap to Wood while Bennett continued to run third ahead of Tom Fearn and Jim Peterson.
By lap-17 Gray was right behind Wood for the lead while behind them, Fearn had moved up to third and Peterson had moved up to fourth as Bennett fell from third back to fifth. Bennett continued to slide backwards over the next several laps as Kevin Gambacorta, jay Stuart, Cory Casagrande, and J.J. Hill all got by Bennett, who fell from fifth back to ninth.
The lead changed hands on lap-22 as Gray made a move around Wood. Gray pulled out to a several car length lead, but with 7 laps to go the two leaders were starting to encounter lapped traffic. Gray and Wood made quick work of the lapped cars and as Mark Heim slowed to let the leaders go by, it looked like it took Kyle Casagrande by surprise and he had to jam on the brakes. As the cars navigated turns 1+2, Fearn got into the back of Casagrande’s car and Fearn did two 360 degree spins to bring the caution out with 27 laps complete.
On the restart, Gray took the lead with Peterson getting by Wood to move into second. Stuart was now on the inside of Wood on lap-29 and he took the spot as Wood fell back to fourth. Mark Heim and Peter Thickett spun in turns 3+4 to bring the caution out with 29 laps complete.
Gray got a slow restart but he was able to recover down the backstretch and pulled slightly ahead of Peterson. Gray had the lead at the line by a half car length and as the cars rumbled into turn 3 on lap-31 Stuart made a dive to the inside of Peterson to move into second. Fearn spun in turn 4 to bring the caution out with 31 laps complete and set up a green white checkered finish.
Gray took the lead on the restart while Stuart was struggling with his car. Peterson moved into second with Stuart holding off Wood for third. Gray led the field back to the checkered flag for his second win of the 2014 season. Peterson finished second, with Stuart, Wood, and Hill rounding out the top-5.
In the 22-lap SK Light Modified feature event, Rich Hammann took the lead from the pole with Paul French quickly moving into second. Tyler Hines moved into third, with Glenn Griswold and Geoff Boisjolie making up the top-5. The caution slowed the field with 3 laps complete for a spin by Wesley Prucker.
On the restart Hammann and Griswold were putting on a side by side show with Hammann taking the lead after several laps of side by side racing. Joey Ferrigno moved into third, with his teammate Paul French in fourth. The caution came back out with 8 laps complete for Carlos Gray, who spun coming out of turn 4.
The restart saw Hammann resume his command of the race with Griswold, Ferrigno, and French lined up behind him. Ferrigno quickly got around Griswold to move into second and he made a move in turn 3 to pass Hammann for the lead on lap-11. Jeremy Sorel was now third behind Ferrigno and Hammann with Stephen Kopcik in fourth and Griswold was in a side by side battle with Nick Salva for fifth place.
Ferrigno was beginning to stretch out his lead at the front while Sorel was closing in on Hammann’s bumper for second. Sorel was hounding Hammann’s back bumper and he was able to make a pass and take over second on lap-18. Salva was now in fourth with Dylan Menditto in fifth as Kopcik had fallen back to sixth place.
As Ferrigno completed lap-20, his car let out an audible double pop and he slowed and had to limp his way back to pit road. Ferrigno’s misfortune handed the race lead over to Sorel, who led Salva back to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive victory of the 2014 season. Menditto finished third, with Kopcik and Hammann rounding out the top-5.
In the 22-lap Limited Late Model feature event, Paul Arute took the lead at the green but the caution came out with 1 lap complete for R.J. Surdell, who spun in the middle of turns 3+4.
Jesse Hinze got around Arute for the lead on the restart but the caution came out again with 2 laps complete.
The next restart saw Hinze take the lead with Paul Arute in second. Albert Saunders moved past Brian Clement to move into third and David Arute followed suit and passed Clement to move into fourth. Clement was stuck in the outside groove and Norm Sears got by to move into fifth, dropping Clement from third back to fifth in the course of one lap.completed lap-20, his car let out an audible double pop and his car slowed and he limped his way back to pit road. Ferrigno’s misfortune moved Sorel into the lead and he led Salva back to the checkered flag to pick up his second consecutive victory of the 2014 season. Menditto finished third, with Kopcik and Hammann rounding out the top-5.
Saunders closed the gap down to Hinze and he made a move for the lead on lap-9. Over the next five laps, Hinze continued to slide backwards as David Arute moved into second, Andrew Hayes moved into third, Duane Provost moved into fourth, Sears was fifth, and Cliff Saunders was sixth as Hinze fell from the lead back to seventh place.
With 5 laps to go in the 22-lap race, the top-3 of Albert Saunders, David Arute, and Hayes were running nose to tail and Provost was closing in on the top trio to make it a four car duel for the lead. As the field was taking the white flag, David Arute lost several spots as Hayes and Sears both went by to drop Arute from second back to fourth. With the position shuffling going on behind him, Albert Saunders led the field back to the checkered flag to pick up his first win of the 2014 season. Hayes finished second, with Provost, David Arute, and Sears rounded out the top-5.
In the 17-lap DARE Stock feature event, Doug Phelps powered into the lead from the pole with Allison Coelho taking second just in front of her father Gus Coelho, who was third. Trace Beyer was fourth and Brandon Michael was up to fifth. On lap-3 the top-4 cars were lined up in rows of two just like the start with Phelps and Allison Coelho in the front row and Beyer and Gus Coelho in the second row. Allison Coelho moved into the lead on lap-3. Bill McNeil spun and hit the backstretch wall to bring the caution out with 3 laps complete.
On the restart, Phelps got a good run on the outside of Allison Coelho but he spun in turn 2 in front of the field to bring the caution right back out.
The restart saw Gus Coelho get a better restart than Allison Coelho and he moved into the lead. Alexandra Fearn got a good run to the outside of Allison Coelho to move into second with Frank L’Etoile, Jr. also getting by Allison Coelho to move into third. Andy Marchese got by Allison Coelho on lap-6 to move into fourth while her father continued to lead the race.
Alexandra Fearn made a move to the inside of Gus Coelho to take over the lead on lap-7, but no sooner did she take the lead than the caution came out for debris on the track, which put Coelho back into the race lead.
Fearn took the lead back under green with Marchese moving up to second. L’Etoile took third with Gus Coelho and Johnny Walker side by side for fourth place. Walker got the better of the side by side duel to move into fourth place one lap after the restart.
L’Etoile got around Marchese for second and Walker got by Marchese for third on lap-11 as Fearn had pulled away slightly at the front of the pack. Marchese continued to run in fourth with Gus Coelho behind him in fifth. L’Etoile couldn’t close the gap to Fearn as she led the field to the checkered flag to pick up her first career feature victory. L’Etoile finished second, with Walker, Marchese, and Coelho rounding out the top-5.
In the 22-lap Legend Cars feature, Kyle Rogers took the lead at the green with Jordan LaMothe hot on his bumper. The field quickly got into single file racing with Mike Christopher, Jr. third, Dana DiMatteo in fourth, and Brendon Bock in fifth. LaMothe made a move to the inside of Rogers in turn 3 on lap-5 to take over the race lead. DiMatteo followed suit and got by LaMothe to move into second on lap-6 but Bock was right on DiMatteo’s bumper and he followed DiMatteo past LaMothe and he then moved by DiMatteo to move into second. Rogers fell back to fourth with Christopher rounding out the top-5. Caterina LaBella came to a stop against the turn 2 wall to bring the caution out with 6 laps complete.
LaMothe took the lead back under green with DiMatteo slotting into second. Bock fell back to third, just in front of Christopher in fourth with Rogers rounding out the top-5. At the 10-lap mark of the race, the top-4 drivers were beginning to pull away from fifth place. Bock made a move around DiMatteo to move into second on lap-13 and Christopher followed him by to drop DiMatteo back to fourth.
Bock continued his charge to the front by getting around LaMothe for the lead on lap-16. LaMothe slotted into line in second with DiMatteo in third, just ahead of Christopher. Behind Christopher, Cory DiMatteo had gotten around Rogers to take over fifth place.
Bock took the checkered flag to pick up his first Stafford victory in his debut start. LaMothe finished second, with Dana DiMatteo, Christopher, and Cory DiMatteo 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® (42)
1) Ryan Preece, Berlin
2) Ted Christopher, Plainville
3) Sean Foster, Willington
4) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
5) Tom Bolles, Ellington
6) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
7) Joey Cipriano, III, Waterbury
8) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
9) Todd Owen, Somers
10) Troy Talman, Oxford, Ma
11) Jessey Mueller, Olmstedville, Ny
12) Chase Dowling, Roxbury
13) Curt Brainard, Canton
14) Matt Galko, Meriden
15) Dan Avery, Somers
16) Doug Coby, Middletown
17) Keith Rocco, Berlin
18) Ronnie Williams, Tolland
19) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
20) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
21) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
22) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon
23) Matt Gallo, Kensington
LATE MODEL (32)
1) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
2) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
3) Jay Stuart, Preston
4) Josh Wood, Palmer, Ma
5) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
6) Cory Casagrande, Stafford Springs
7) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
8) Michael Scorzelli, Feura Bush, Ny
9) Michael Bennett, Willington
10) George Nocera, Jr., Plainville
11) Dennis Botticello, Suffield
12) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
13) Mark Heim, Ware, Ma
14) Scott Cook, Uncasville
15) Paul Varricchio, Jr., Berlin
16) Peter Thickett, Watertown
17) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
SK LIGHT (22)
1) Jeremy Sorel, Westfield, Ma
2) Nick Salva, Prospect
3) Dylan Menditto, Brooklyn
4) Stephen Kopcik, Newtown
5) Rich Hammann, Tolland
6) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
7) Branden Dion, Taunton, Ma
8) D.J. Burnham, East Hartford
9) Geoff Boisjolie, East Hampton, Ma
10) Glenn Griswold, Vernon
11) Paul French, Andover
12) Bob Charland, Stafford
13) Todd Douillard, Palmer, Ma
14) Wesley Prucker, Stafford
15) Jodi Johnson, Medway, Ma
16) Pete Lopuch, West Redding
17) Carlos Gray, Manchester
18) Joey Ferrigno, East Hartford
19) Chris Gombos, Naugatuck
20) Tyler Hines, North Haven
LIMITED LATE MODEL (22)
1) Albert Saunders, Stafford
2) Andrew Hayes, Charlton, Ma
3) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
4) David Arute, Tolland
5) Norm Sears, Andover
6) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
7) Justin Bren, Palmer, Ma
8) Austin Bessette, Stafford Springs
9) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
10) Paul Arute, Tolland
11) Brian Clement, Wethersfield
12) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic
13) Glenn Bartkowski, Manchester
14) R.J. Surdell, Manchester
15) Joe Nogiec, Bristol
DARE STOCK (17)
1) Alexandra Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
2) Frank L’Etoile, Jr., Wethersfield
3) Johnny Walker, Ludlow, Ma
4) Andy Marchese, Tolland
5) Gus Coelho, Jr., Wilbraham, Ma
6) Trace Beyer, Brewster, Ny
7) David Comeau, Palmer, Ma
8) Brandon Michael, Granville, Ma
9) Nicole Chambrello, Kensington
10) Allison Coelho, Wilbraham, Ma
11) Doug Phelps, Jr., New Salem, Ma
12) Dan Dembek, Hamden, Ma
13) Tyler Trott, East Hartford
14) Ryan Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
15) Jeff Jolly, Wallingford
16) Bill McNeil, Preston
LEGEND CARS (22)
1) Brendon Bock, Franklin Square, Ny
2) Jordan LaMothe, Woodstock
3) Dana DiMatteo, Farmington
4) Michael Christopher, Jr., Wolcott
5) Cory DiMatteo, Farmington
6) Kyle Rogers, Waterbury
7) Scott Joy, Lake Norman, Nc
8) Mikey Flynn, Hampden, Ma
9) Teddy Hodgdon, Danbury
10) Noah Korner, Canton
11) Caterina Labella, Plainville
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR