Pitkat Scores First VMRS Win At Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs CT – It was a night of firsts Friday at Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford CT, as hometown favorite Woody Pitkat scored his first ever Valenti Modified Racing Series victory,
The win was also the first series victory for car owner Peter Kulessa and the KBR Motorsports team, sponsored by Patterson Farms and Gunsmoke Stables.
And it was a night for 13 first-place position swaps, 11 of them between Keith Rocco, of Wallingford, CT, and Berlin CT’s Ryan Preece over the first 50-laps of the 80-lap main event.
Pitkat beat Rocco to the checkered flag by 0.344 to win the most competitive VMRS race at Stafford to date, the series 12th appearance at the famed oval.
Pitkat post race explained, “ I knew we were going to have a good car. This Spafco chassis was stout. We put a notebook together last year and kept working on it. Greg and Bob.. those guys at the shop work their tails off. Greg (Felton) gives me a great car. Pete Kulessa gives me the opportunity to run this car.”
Pitkat furthered, “I knew we were going to be good. I didn’t know how Keith was going to be. I could see Ryan was getting a little free. Didn’t know what Keith was going to do. Got a good re-start. Was just looking to check out. Thanks to Wayne Darling (Spotter), this is cool to finally get to win one with MRS.”
Rocco finished runner-up with a strong showing throughout the race.
Strong finishes from Todd Szegedy, of Ridgefield, CT, Ted Christopher, of Plainville, CT, and Todd Patnode, of Richmond, NH., enabled them to finish in the top five.
Kirk Alexander, Rowan Pennink, Dan Meservey, Jr, Dylan Kopec, and Mike Willis Jr. finished sixth through tenth.
Race Notes: 26 race teams entered the second race of the season. Carl Medeiros Jr. was sidelined in practice with a blown engine.
The race was completed in 45 minutes 46 seconds. Three caution flags were needed during the 80-lap event.
16- of the 25 starters finished on the lead lap
Kirk Alexander made his first series start at Stafford since 2006.
Mike Keeler returned to the series at Stafford. His last start was in 2010.
Keeler competed with the ISMA Supermodifieds 2012-2014
Next event: Seekonk (MA) Speedway June 6, 2015
Race Summary:
Stafford Motor Speedway
May 22, 2015
Race # 2
Entrants (26)
Distance: 80-laps
Time: 45:46:905
Margin of Victory: 0.344
Best Speed: 96.567 (Pitkat)
Best Lap Time: 18.640 (Rocco)
Lead Changes: 13
Cautions: Laps 50, 51,74
Heat winners: Preece, Pennink, Rocco
Unofficial Order of Finish: (1) Pitkat (2) Rocco (3) Szegedy (4) Christopher (5) Patnode (6) Alexander (7) Pennink (8) Meservey (9) Kopec (10) Willis (11) Savary (12) Schneider (13) Preece (14) Lashua (15) Drown (16) Mead (17) Perry (18) Bolton (19) Sherman (20) Wrenn (21) Seidell (22) Charlie Pasteryak, (23) Masse (24) Chris Pasteryak (25) Keeler
Sources: John Spence Sr./VMRS PR