Pasteryak Notches ‘Stafford 80’ For Fifth Win
Stafford Springs, CT. — Chris Pasteryak of Jewett City, CT, took the lead on a lap-60 restart, held off a hard charging Woody Pitkat, of Stafford Springs, CT, at the finish, to win the Valenti Modified Racing Series sanctioned, ‘Stafford 80’ Friday night, Sept 4, at Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford, CT.
The victory was Pasteryak’s second consecutive, his third in the last four races contested, and fifth in the last eight races on the schedule. Friday’s race was Pasteryak’s 11th VMRS victory and his second at Stafford.
Dylan Kopec, of Palmer MA, brought the field to green leading the first 9-laps when Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA, fronted the field until lap-11. Todd Szegedy held the top spot for one circuit when Pitkat took the lead and became the class of the field.
The race stayed green until lap-58 when the first of a series of caution flags and a red flag were needed for spins and crashes. Todd Szegedy, while running second and after a restart, spun collecting four other cars that would change the scenario for others when the race went back to green.
Pitkat led the field to a short-lived green flag with Pasteryak, Norman Wrenn, of Nashua, NH, Kopec, and David Schneider, Northport, NY, giving chase.
Following another yellow flag on lap-60, Pasteryak sprinted by Pitkat on the re-start when the race leader did not come up to speed. Pitkat then put on a tremendous drive to catch Pasteryak but fell short at the finish by 0.118 seconds.
“I don’t think the best car won tonight,” Pasteryak stated in victory lane.
“We got to the shift point he spun the tires and I didn’t. To really tell ya the truth I really thought he was just going to drive right back around me I didn’t think I had anything for him.”
Pasteryak said he was lucky in the heat and feature he didn’t get collected (wrecks) “It’s been my year and I am going to enjoy it.” Mike Willis Jr. of Grantham, NH, winner of last years top rookie honors finished a career best third, followed by Ted Christopher, of Plainville, CT, and Wrenn.
Dave Etheridge, Keith Rocco, Kopec, Dan Meservey Jr, and Matt Swanson rounded out the top ten.
Race Notes: Stafford SK driver Ronnie Williams, of Ellington, CT, was a last minute substitute driver for Jeff Rocco. Williams drove the John Jensen # 79.
Norm Wrenn finished fifth in his final race at Stafford.
12 of 26 cars finished on lead lap
Heat winners: Keith Rocco, Willis, Szegedy, Kyle James, (Consi)
Race Summary:
Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT.
Sept 4, 2015
Race # 13
Entrants (32)
Distance: 80-laps
Time: 55:30.064
Margin of Victory: 0.118
Best Speed: 95.470 (Rocco)
Average Speed: 43.431
Best Lap Time: 18.854 (Rocco)
Lead Changes: 4
Lap Leaders: Kopec (1-9), Pennink (9-11), Szegedy (12), Pitkat (13-60), Pasteryak (61-80)
Cautions: Lap (6) (58) (59) (59 RED) (60)
Unofficial Order Of Finish: (1) Pasteryak (2) Pitkat (3) Willis Jr (4) Christopher (5) Wrenn (6) Etheridge (7) Rocco (8) Kopec (9) Meservey Jr (10) Swanson (11) Lashua (12) Schneider (13) Keeler (14) James (15) Pearl ((16) Hersey (17) Nocella (18) Szegedy (19) Pennink (20) Patnode (21 Alexander (22) Dowling (23) Medeiros Jr (24) Perry (25) Drown (26) Williams
Sources: John Spence, Sr./VMRS PR