Woody Pitkat Continues SK Modified® Winning Streak at Stafford

Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway returned to racing action on Friday night, August 24th with Porter and Chester Summer Heat. The action on the racetrack certainly lived up to the sponsor’s billing as Woody Pitkat continued his SK Modified® winning streak by taking down his fifth consecutive feature victory. Tom Fearn ended Ryan Posocco’s three-race Late Model winning streak by taking his third Late Model feature win of the 2007 season, Josh Sylvester came home a first time winner in the SK Light Modified feature, Rick Lanagan won his sixth Limited Late Model feature event of the 2007 season, and Duane Provost joined Sylvester as a first time winner by taking the DARE Stock feature event victory.

The 40-lap SK Modified® feature took the green with Richie Pallai, Jr. leading the first lap and then surrendering the lead to Todd Owen on lap-2. Zach Sylvester took the lead from Owen on lap-7, and by lap-10, Woody Pitkat was on Owen’s bumper looking to take the lead. Pitkat got the lead on a lap-11 restart by powering to the outside of Sylvester. Pitkat led lap-20, which earned him a $100 bonus from event sponsor Porter & Chester. The race began to take on a long green flag run, and Pitkat slowly built his advantage up over Sylvester and the rest of the field. With 5 laps to go, Pitkat’s lead was about 2 seconds ahead of Sylvester and Pitkat cruised to his fifth consecutive SK Modified® feature victory. Sylvester finished second, with Owen, Malave, and Ted Christopher rounding out the top-5.

The 30-lap Late Model feature took the green with Michael Bennett powering into the lead. Bennett held the race lead until lap-13 when Tom Fearn moved past to move out front. Fearn’s pass allowed Corey Hutchings to follow Fearn past Bennett. Fearn led lap-15, which earned him a $100 bonus from event sponsor Porter & Chester. Hutchings would hound Fearn’s bumper for the final 17 laps of the race, several times getting into Fearn and getting Fearn sideways, but Fearn was able to recover and hold his position out front. Fearn was too strong for Hutchings to overtake as Fearn collected his third feature win of the 2007 season. Hutchings finished second, with Jim Peterson, Woody Pitkat, and Dillon Moltz rounding out the top-5. Ryan Posocco, who had won the last three Late Model feature events at Stafford, finished 6th.

The 20-lap SK Light feature took the green with Mike Lane taking the lead ahead of Aaron Goff. Lane held the lead until lap-3 when Goff took over the top spot. Goff held the lead until lap-6 when Josh Sylvester moved out front. SK Light points leader Chris Matthews moved into second and hounded Sylvester for the lead through several restart situations, but was not able to move out front. The SK Lights ran past their 20-minute feature event time limit with 11 laps complete, and the race was red/checkered, making Sylvester a first time feature winner. Matthews finished second, with Goff, Lane, and Joe Allegro, Jr. rounding out the top-5.

The 20-lap Limited Late Model feature took the green with Charlie Newman taking the early lead. Several cautions slowed the early action, but Newman continued to hold the lead. Newman held the lead until lap-15 when Rick Lanagan moved to the front of the line. Lanagan’s moved opened the door for Kevin Gambacorta to move into second and Joey Ferrigno to move into third, dropping Newman back to fourth place. Sean Foster would also get by Newman in the closing laps, but at the front it was all Lanagan, who scored his sixth feature win of the 2007 season. Gambacorta finished second, with Ferrigno, Foster, and Newman rounding out the top-5.

The 15-lap DARE Stock feature took the green flag with Duane Provost taking the lead. Norm Sears quickly worked his way up to second and began to apply heavy pressure to Provost for the lead. A mid-race caution slowed the field and left Sears and Jeff Jolly dueling for second with Carla Botticello and Bill Dunn dueling for fourth place, which gave Provost all the margin he needed at the front of the field. Provost led the entire race as he wired the field to pick up his first career victory. Jolly finished second, with Sears, Botticello, and Dunn 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.

Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR