RGeeProductions
05-01-2011, 11:08 PM
PREECE & PITKAT SCORE 40TH ANNUAL CARQUEST TECH-NET SPRING SIZZLER FEATURE VICTORIES AT STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Under bright and sunny skies with temperatures in
the mid-70’s, Stafford Motor Speedway hosted the completion of “The Greatest
Race in the History of Spring”, the 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring
Sizzler. Taking down feature victories were Ryan Preece in the 40-lap SK
Modified® feature and Woody Pitkat in the 30-lap Late Model feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Eric Berndt moved by Ted
Christopher for the race lead on the first lap of the race, but the action
was slowed by Heather DesRochers who came to a stop in turn 4 and Nicole
Morgillo, who had a half spin in turn 4.
Back under green, Berndt got the jump on Christopher, but Christopher came
back strong and moved to the front of the field. Sean Foster was third
behind Christopher and Berndt, with Woody Pitkat and Keith Rocco rounding
out the top-5. The caution came back out with 3 laps complete for a spin by
Vinny Anglace and Brian Sullivan in turn 3.
Christopher and Berndt ran side by side on the restart for a lap with
Christopher able to move in front of Berndt. Foster continued to run in
third with Kurt Lenahan making a strong move into fourth and Chris Matthews
moved into fifth place. On lap-8, Matthews moved by Foster to take over
third, which allowed Lenahan, Ryan Preece and Frank Ruocco to also get by
Foster, dropping him from third back to seventh.
Ruocco made a move by Lenahan for fifth place on lap-13 before the action
was slowed by a spin by Anglace, which brought the caution back out. On the
restart, Christopher didn’t come up to speed right away, allowing Preece to
take the lead and Berndt to take second as Christopher fell from the lead
back to third place. Matthews was in fourth place with Ruocco rounding out
the top-5.
The order remained the same until lap-21 when Christopher made a move around
Berndt to take over the second position. Brad Hietala brought the yellow
back out with a spin in turn 4. Preece continued to hold the lead back
under green with Berndt and Christopher riding side by side for second
place. A spin by Kirk Zervas and Anglace in turn 2 brought the yellow back
out one lap afte the restart.
The field completed another lap before the caution came back out for a spin
by Woody Pitkat and Morgillo, who got together in turn 4. On the resetart,
John Montesanto and Michael Gervais, Jr. spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow
back out. Preece took the lead back under gree with Christopher and Berndt
right behind him. Matt Gallo and Ruocco were side by side for fourth for a
lap before Gallo took the spot.
With 10 laps to go, Preece continued to hold the lead over Christopher by a
half straightaway with Gallo in third and Ruocco in fourth. On lap-32
Berndt’s great run came to an end as the car dropped off the pace and Berndt
coasted onto pit road. With 34 laps complete, Gallo and Ruocco made contact
in turn 1 with Gallo taking a half spin into the infield grass to bring the
caution out and erase Preece’s lead.
Preece took the lead on the restart as Matthews pulled alongside and then
past Christopher to take over second. Christopher settled into line in
third, with Dan Avery fourth and Glen Reen was up to the fifth position.
Preece went unchallenged over the final 6 laps as he scored a strong victory
in the season opening SK Modified® feature event. Matthews finished second,
with Christopher, Avery, and Reen rounded out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Keith Rocco took the early lead
ahead of Woody Pitkat, but the field was only able to complete 2 laps before
the caution came out for a spin by Patrick Townsend in turn 3. On the
restart, Mark St. Hilaire didn’t come up to speed, but everyone was able to
avoid his car. Rocco took the lead with Pitkat, Tom Fearn, Jim Mavlouganes,
and Corey Hutchings making up the top-5 behind him.
On lap-8, Pitkat powered to the inside of Rocco in turn 1 and moved to the
front of the field. Behind Pitkat and Rocco were the cars of Fearn,
Mavlouganes, Hutchings, Ryan Posocco, Jim Peterson, and Dillon Moltz. The
order remained the same until lap-10 when Posocco moved by Hutchings for
fifth place. Posocco then got loose in the next corner, which allowed
Peterson to move by for the spot, but Posocco then came back for the spot on
the next lap. Peterson then had Moltz to his inside on lap-12 and the two
cars made contact, which sent Peterson into a spin and brought the caution
out.
Pitkat took the lead back under green with Rocco in second. Fearn was
third, while Posocco took fourth and dropped Mavlouganes back to fifth
place. Pitkat was beginning to stretch out his lead over Rocco at the front
of the pack, while Rocco had a comfortable lead over the nose to tail trio
of Fearn, Posocco, and Mavlouganes. Pitkat’s lead was erased by the caution
for a spin by Walt Wosko and Scott Cook with 21 laps complete.
Pitkat again took the lead back under green with Rocco, Fearn, Mavlouganes,
and Posocco quickly settling into single file behind Pitkat. Pitkat was
again starting to stretch his lead out over Rocco, who was in turn pulling
away from Fearn in third. Mavlouganes was giving Fearn several looks for
the third position, but was unable to make a pass. Pitkat went unchallenged
to the checkered flag to take the victory. Rocco finished second, with
Fearn third and Mavlouganes held off a hard charging Posocco for the fourth
position.
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).
SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Ryan Preece, Berlin
2) Chris Matthews, Stafford
3) Ted Christopher, Plainville
4) Dan Avery, Somers
5) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
6) Keith Rocco, Meriden
7) Sean Foster, Ellington
8) Jeff Malave, Manchester
9) Curt Brainard, Canton
10) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
11) Tom Bolles, Ellington
12) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
13) Kirk Zervas, Winthrop, Ma
14) John Montesanto, North Branford
15) Bo Gunning, Bethlehem
16) Adam Skowyra, Brimfield, Ma
17) Brad Hietala, Ellington
18) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
19) Matt Gallo, Kensington
20) Fran Siana, Springfield, Ma
21) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
22) Todd Owen, Somers
23) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
24) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
25) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
26) Vincent Anglace, Ansonia
27) Kurt Lenahan, Roxbury
28) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
29) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
2) Keith Rocco, Meriden
3) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
4) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
5) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
6) Corey Hutchings, Salem
7) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
8) Walt Wosko, Jr., West Suffield
9) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
10) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
11) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
12) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
13) Tony Lafo, Higganum
14) Scott Cook, Uncasville
15) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
16) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
17) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
18) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
Scott Running
Under bright and sunny skies with temperatures in
the mid-70’s, Stafford Motor Speedway hosted the completion of “The Greatest
Race in the History of Spring”, the 40th Annual CARQUEST Tech-Net Spring
Sizzler. Taking down feature victories were Ryan Preece in the 40-lap SK
Modified® feature and Woody Pitkat in the 30-lap Late Model feature.
In the 40-lap SK Modified® feature event, Eric Berndt moved by Ted
Christopher for the race lead on the first lap of the race, but the action
was slowed by Heather DesRochers who came to a stop in turn 4 and Nicole
Morgillo, who had a half spin in turn 4.
Back under green, Berndt got the jump on Christopher, but Christopher came
back strong and moved to the front of the field. Sean Foster was third
behind Christopher and Berndt, with Woody Pitkat and Keith Rocco rounding
out the top-5. The caution came back out with 3 laps complete for a spin by
Vinny Anglace and Brian Sullivan in turn 3.
Christopher and Berndt ran side by side on the restart for a lap with
Christopher able to move in front of Berndt. Foster continued to run in
third with Kurt Lenahan making a strong move into fourth and Chris Matthews
moved into fifth place. On lap-8, Matthews moved by Foster to take over
third, which allowed Lenahan, Ryan Preece and Frank Ruocco to also get by
Foster, dropping him from third back to seventh.
Ruocco made a move by Lenahan for fifth place on lap-13 before the action
was slowed by a spin by Anglace, which brought the caution back out. On the
restart, Christopher didn’t come up to speed right away, allowing Preece to
take the lead and Berndt to take second as Christopher fell from the lead
back to third place. Matthews was in fourth place with Ruocco rounding out
the top-5.
The order remained the same until lap-21 when Christopher made a move around
Berndt to take over the second position. Brad Hietala brought the yellow
back out with a spin in turn 4. Preece continued to hold the lead back
under green with Berndt and Christopher riding side by side for second
place. A spin by Kirk Zervas and Anglace in turn 2 brought the yellow back
out one lap afte the restart.
The field completed another lap before the caution came back out for a spin
by Woody Pitkat and Morgillo, who got together in turn 4. On the resetart,
John Montesanto and Michael Gervais, Jr. spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow
back out. Preece took the lead back under gree with Christopher and Berndt
right behind him. Matt Gallo and Ruocco were side by side for fourth for a
lap before Gallo took the spot.
With 10 laps to go, Preece continued to hold the lead over Christopher by a
half straightaway with Gallo in third and Ruocco in fourth. On lap-32
Berndt’s great run came to an end as the car dropped off the pace and Berndt
coasted onto pit road. With 34 laps complete, Gallo and Ruocco made contact
in turn 1 with Gallo taking a half spin into the infield grass to bring the
caution out and erase Preece’s lead.
Preece took the lead on the restart as Matthews pulled alongside and then
past Christopher to take over second. Christopher settled into line in
third, with Dan Avery fourth and Glen Reen was up to the fifth position.
Preece went unchallenged over the final 6 laps as he scored a strong victory
in the season opening SK Modified® feature event. Matthews finished second,
with Christopher, Avery, and Reen rounded out the top-5.
In the 30-lap Late Model feature event, Keith Rocco took the early lead
ahead of Woody Pitkat, but the field was only able to complete 2 laps before
the caution came out for a spin by Patrick Townsend in turn 3. On the
restart, Mark St. Hilaire didn’t come up to speed, but everyone was able to
avoid his car. Rocco took the lead with Pitkat, Tom Fearn, Jim Mavlouganes,
and Corey Hutchings making up the top-5 behind him.
On lap-8, Pitkat powered to the inside of Rocco in turn 1 and moved to the
front of the field. Behind Pitkat and Rocco were the cars of Fearn,
Mavlouganes, Hutchings, Ryan Posocco, Jim Peterson, and Dillon Moltz. The
order remained the same until lap-10 when Posocco moved by Hutchings for
fifth place. Posocco then got loose in the next corner, which allowed
Peterson to move by for the spot, but Posocco then came back for the spot on
the next lap. Peterson then had Moltz to his inside on lap-12 and the two
cars made contact, which sent Peterson into a spin and brought the caution
out.
Pitkat took the lead back under green with Rocco in second. Fearn was
third, while Posocco took fourth and dropped Mavlouganes back to fifth
place. Pitkat was beginning to stretch out his lead over Rocco at the front
of the pack, while Rocco had a comfortable lead over the nose to tail trio
of Fearn, Posocco, and Mavlouganes. Pitkat’s lead was erased by the caution
for a spin by Walt Wosko and Scott Cook with 21 laps complete.
Pitkat again took the lead back under green with Rocco, Fearn, Mavlouganes,
and Posocco quickly settling into single file behind Pitkat. Pitkat was
again starting to stretch his lead out over Rocco, who was in turn pulling
away from Fearn in third. Mavlouganes was giving Fearn several looks for
the third position, but was unable to make a pass. Pitkat went unchallenged
to the checkered flag to take the victory. Rocco finished second, with
Fearn third and Mavlouganes held off a hard charging Posocco for the fourth
position.
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).
SK MODIFIED® (40)
1) Ryan Preece, Berlin
2) Chris Matthews, Stafford
3) Ted Christopher, Plainville
4) Dan Avery, Somers
5) Glen Reen, Wilbraham, Ma
6) Keith Rocco, Meriden
7) Sean Foster, Ellington
8) Jeff Malave, Manchester
9) Curt Brainard, Canton
10) Frank Ruocco, Cheshire
11) Tom Bolles, Ellington
12) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
13) Kirk Zervas, Winthrop, Ma
14) John Montesanto, North Branford
15) Bo Gunning, Bethlehem
16) Adam Skowyra, Brimfield, Ma
17) Brad Hietala, Ellington
18) Mark Bakaj, Lebanon
19) Matt Gallo, Kensington
20) Fran Siana, Springfield, Ma
21) Eric Berndt, Cromwell
22) Todd Owen, Somers
23) Michael Gervais, Jr., Southbury
24) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
25) Nichole Morgillo, Wallingford
26) Vincent Anglace, Ansonia
27) Kurt Lenahan, Roxbury
28) Brian Sullivan, South Windsor
29) Heather DesRochers, Granby, Ma
LATE MODEL (30)
1) Woody Pitkat, Stafford Springs
2) Keith Rocco, Meriden
3) Tom Fearn, East Longmeadow, Ma
4) Jim Mavlouganes, Bethany
5) Ryan Posocco, Stafford Springs
6) Corey Hutchings, Salem
7) Michael Bennett, Stafford Springs
8) Walt Wosko, Jr., West Suffield
9) John Kasper, Wilbraham, Ma
10) Dillon Moltz, Waterford
11) J.J. Hill, Stafford Springs
12) Jim Peterson, Monson, Ma
13) Tony Lafo, Higganum
14) Scott Cook, Uncasville
15) Patrick Townsend, Springifeld, Ma
16) Tom Butler, Stafford Springs
17) Adam Gray, Belchertown, Ma
18) Mark St. Hilaire, Berlin
Scott Running