05/22/09 Stafford Divisions Story

[RGeeProductions]

CHRISTOPHER, BENNETT, MEMBRINO, GAMBACORTA, & MEMBRINO
SCORE MAY 22nd TSI HARLEY-DAVIDSON 100 FEATURE WINS AT STAFFORD SPEEDWAY

Friday night, May 22nd was the 19th Annual TSI
Harley-Davidson 100 at Stafford Motor Speedway. With the Whelen Modified
Tour in town, weekly feature winners were Ted Christopher in the 40-lap SK
Modified® feature, Michael Bennett in the 30-lap Late Model feature, Tommy
Membrino, Jr. in the 20-lap SK Light Modified feature, Kevin Gambacorta in
the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature, and Tony Membrino, Jr. in the 15-lap
DARE Stock feature.

The 40-lap SK Modified® feature took the green flag with Curt Brainard
taking the early lead. Brainard had Matt Gallo all over his back bumper
looking to move to the front. After several laps of trying both the high
and low grooves,
Gallo was able to make a move into the lead on lap-6. Gallo’s pass brought
Frank Ruocco past Brainard and Ruocco moved by Gallo on lap-9 to move to the
front.
Ted Christopher was behind Ruocco and the middle stages of the race saw some
great racing between the top-2 as Christopher was searching for a way around
Ruocco. Christopher was finally able to make a move to the inside of Ruocco
on lap-28 and take the lead for the first time. The field was slowed by the
caution with 30 laps complete.
On the 30 restart, the cars of Chris Jones and Ruocco came together in turn
1 while battling for second place, with Ruocco spinning and collecting the
cars of Brad Hietala and Dave Salzarulo. Jones was sent to the rear of the
field for rough riding by NASCAR officials. This put Brainard back
alongside Christopher for the restart.
Several late cautions kept the field in close contact, but Christopher was
up to the task on each restart and he held off Brainard at the checkered
flag for his first SK Modified® feature victory of the 2009 season.
Rounding out the top-5 behind Christopher and Brainard was Gallo, Wade
Mattesen, and Mark Bakaj.

The 30-lap Late Model feature took the green flag with Billy Snow, Jr.
taking the early lead. Snow stayed out front until a restart on lap-7 when
Tom Fearn moved to the front of the pack. Fearn held the lead until the
caution came out with 11 laps complete.
On the ensuing restart, Fearn’s car got out of shape sideways, which allowed
Ryan Posocco to power into the lead with Michael Bennett right behind him.
Two laps later, Bennett would move past Posocco in turn 4 to take over the
race lead. Posocco took the lead back from Bennett on a lap-18 restart, but
the race complexion changed when the caution came back out with 20 laps
complete.
Posocco didn’t come up to speed on the restart, which bogged down the entire
inside line and allowed Bennett to move back to the lead. Fearn followed
Bennett and the two cars began to distance themselves from the rest of the
field. It was a two-car race for the win, but Fearn could not get by as
Bennett picked up his first win of the 2009 season. Rounding out the top-5
behind Bennett and Fearn was Rick Charette, Doug Blowers, Jr., and Jim
Peterson.

The 20-lap SK Light Modified feature event took the green flag with the car
of David Webb setting the early pace. Webb stayed out front for the first 6
laps of the race before giving way to Tommy Membrino, Jr. Membrino took
command and began to set a blistering pace out front, but his lead was
erased by the caution flag with 14 laps complete for a spin by Jay Goff and
Lauren Cooper.
On the restart, Michael Gervais, Jr. powered by Membrino to take over the
race lead, but Membrino came back strong on the following lap to retake the
lead from Gervais. Once back to the front of the pack, Membrino was too
strong to be overtaken as he pulled away from the pack to record his first
career victory at Stafford Motor Speedway. John Montesanto finished second,
with Gervais, Heather DesRochers, and Erica Santos rounding out the top-5.

The 20-lap Limited Late Model feature took the green flag with Norm Sears
taking the early lead from the pole. Kevin Gambacorta fell into line behind
Sears and immediately began to apply pressure. Gamacorta powered past Sears
on lap-4 and they ran in line with Dave Yardley, III behind them until the
caution came out with 13 laps complete.
On the restart, Gambacorta powered into the lead with Sears fading back
several spots. Yardley, Carla Botticello, Bill Davis, and Dennis Botticello
all got by Sears before he settled back into line. Carla Botticello worked
her way around Yardley for second in the closing laps, but Gambacorta had
the race under his control as he led the final 16 laps to take his first
feature victory since the 2006 season. Carla Botticello and Yardley
finished second and third, with Davis and Sears rounding out the top-5.

In the 15-lap DARE Stock feature Tony Membrino, Jr. took the early lead from
the pole position, with Victoria Bergenty and Duane Provost behind him.
Membrino began to slowly pull away from the field, building a nearly full
straightaway lead over Bergenty by lap-10. Membrino continued his
domination over the final 5 laps of the race as he scored a green to checker
feature victory, the first of his career at Stafford Motor Speedway. Albert
Saunders finished second with Provost, Jeff Jolly, and Don Wood 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 (http://www.staffordspeedway.com).

Scott Running

[RGeeProductions]

SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Ted Christopher, Plainville
2) Curt Brainard, Canton
3) Matt Gallo, Kensington
4) Wade Mattesen, Tolland
5) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
6) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
7) Joe Allegro, Jr., Vernon
8) Richie Pallai, Jr., Yorktown Heights, Ny
9) Chris Jones, New Milford
10) Jeff Malave, Manchester
11) Todd Owen, Somers
12) Zach Sylvester, Lebanon
13) Tom Bolles, Ellington
14) Nichole Morgillo, Yalesville
15) Michael Speeney, Newtown, Pa
16) Brad Hietala, Ellington
17) Chris Matthews, Stafford
18) Dave Salzarulo, Monson, Ma
19) Sean Foster, Ellington
20) Kenny Horton, Guilford
21) Keith Rocco, Wallingford
22) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
23) Jim Smith, Woodstock

LATE MODEL (30)
1) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
2) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
3) Rick Charette, Vernon
4) Doug Blowers, Jr., Newton Highlands, Ma
5) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
6) Mike Mordino, Southington
7) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
8) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
9) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
10) Dave Wray, Meriden
11) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
12) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
13) Alan Provost, Monson, Ma
14) Billy Snow, Jr., Berlin
15) Walt Wosko, Jr., West Suffield
16) Joe Krawiec, Bristol
17) Tony Lafo, Higganum
18) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
19) Brian Chapin, Three Rivers, Ma
20) Joe Rzeszutek, South Hadley, Ma
21) Scott Cook, Uncasville

SK LIGHT (20)
1) Tommy Membrino, Jr., Prospect
2) John Montesanto, North Branford
3) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
4) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
5) Erica Santos, Franklin, Ma
6) Ted Cain, Plymouth
7) Tony Santangelo, Middlefield
8) David Webb, New Milford
9) Frank Cardile, Bolton
10) Earl Pelletier, Wolcott
11) Shawn Brule, West Thompson
12) Harry Wheeler, Stafford Springs
13) John Hanafin, Quincy, Ma
14) Rick Burwood, Enfield
15) Lauren Cooper, Southbury
16) Fred Nees, Jr., New Milford
17) Steven Greer, Harwinton
18) Rick Williams, Haddam
19) Jay Goff, Stafford Springs
20) Kyle Spencer, Montgomery, Ma

LTD. LATE MODEL (20)
1) Kevin Gambacorta, Ellington
2) Carla Botticello, Manchester
3) Dave Yardley, Iii, Meriden
4) Bill Davis, Monson, Ma
5) Norm Sears, Andover
6) Andrew Durand, Chicopee, Ma
7) Michael Chaves, South Windsor
8) Dennis Botticello, Suffield
9) Jesse Hinze, Farmington
10) Barry Thomasen, Plainville
11) Vince Gambacorta, Ellington
12) Shawn Thibeault, Plainville
13) Jeff Hubbell, Naugatuck
14) Dan Flannery, Ellington
15) Joe Nogiec, Bristol

DARE STOCK (15)
1) Tony Membrino, Jr., Plantsville
2) Albert Saunders, Stafford
3) Duane Provost, Indian Orchard, Ma
4) Jeff Jolly, Wallingford
5) Don Wood, Palmer, Ma
6) Kyle Nosal, Higganum
7) Barry Fluckiger, Vernon
8) Matt Chiarizio, Stafford Springs
9) Robert Thompson, Springfield, Ma
10) Melissa Blowers, Cromwell
11) Kyle Casagrande, Stafford Springs
12) Bill Dunn, Prospect
13) Cliff Saunders, Stafford
14) Victoria Bergenty, Plainville
15) Tom Stirk, West Haven
16) Donovin Secore, Vernon
17) Brian Routhier, East Hampton, Ma
18) Stephanie Berardi, Broad Brook
19) Andrew Hayes, Enfield
20) Kelsey Rottino, Willimantic

Scott Running